“We would highly recommend Jonathan to anyone seeking top quality land brokerage services in Northern Virginia.”
By the time we received Jonathan’s flyer in April 2019 we had been interviewing recommended realtors for several months. We have received many direct solicitations over the years but we were now considering a sale and the clarity of his letter prompted us to contact Jonathan. Although the particular buyers mentioned in the flyer were no longer in the market, Jonathan described the kind of work he did in land sales. In a follow-up phone call, Jonathan showed that he had already researched our property and realized the complexity of the choices we faced in a sale.
By August we had gathered information regarding development options, spoken to numerous county planning officials, surveyors, and engineers, and walked through our house and across our farm with several realtors. But no one seemed sufficiently informed about how the many (and changing) parts that make up a land sale interrelate and consequently could not offer a well-grounded cost/benefit analysis of several options. Even more frustrating, no one expressed enthusiasm for the project coupled with the knowledge that Jonathan had in his initial response to my inquiry.
What was evident at our first meeting in August is that Jonathan enjoys his work and that he uses his impressive analytical skills to address the concerns of clients. He came prepared with a notebook of thoughtfully assembled regulations, planning documents, plats, and soil analyses that covered material relevant to options we were considering. This was no slick, corporate-produced proposal but one tailored to our specific needs. It served as a springboard for our first extensive discussion and distinguished him from other realtors.
Jonathan’s adept handling of the many aspects involved in the sale supported our initial impression of his capabilities. A realistic outlook of what was attainable tempered his creativity. Jonathan was not only nimble in conceptualizing various options but skilled in following through with the required details. He engaged a number of experienced and cost-effective contractors. He had established relationships through courses with agricultural agents and viticulturists; he was willing to broaden that base and his knowledge by attending an industry meeting with me. His contacts among builders, developers, engineers, surveyors, and inspectors sped the process of getting our property to market. He utilized the latest digital tools with ease. At all times Jonathan was sensitive to our limitations with time, costs, and stamina; he smoothly transitioned as we changed plans.
From having an offer far below market value before we engaged a realtor, Jonathan guided the process so that we had three offers within two days of listing that exceeded the list price. And when the sales process lengthened, he remained attentive and upbeat. We saw him interact with a wide range of people and he was always courteous, helpful, and professional.
We were delighted to work with Jonathan on the sale of our house and farmland. It was clear to us that land sales in our area are in transition as the size and location of properties as well as the rules regarding development change. Jonathan possesses the interest, analytical ability, interpersonal skills, and tenacity to excel in this area. We would highly recommend Jonathan to anyone seeking top quality land brokerage services in Northern Virginia.
Jonathan Kennedy – Realtor – Northern Virginia
