"I Recommend Paul Highly for Anyone Looking to Buy at the Lake"

My wife and I were looking for a second home at either one of the lakes in Virginia or the beaches of North Carolina. After many under whelming experiences with various Real Estate Agents, many of whom were well known in their area, I decided to do my own search and found Paul Moore from his web site. As it turns out, Paul's knowledge of the lake, his extremely professional approach in providing property matches to a questionnaire that he provided us, and his incredible customer service, we found the decision to buy at Smith Mountain Lake and the entire process with Paul to be a very pleasurable experience. Paul not only handled the entire buying process with absolute professionalism, but he went above and beyond the call in helping us with all the details that would have made it much more difficult from Northern Virginia due to the distance. Paul also referred us to one of the best builders we have ever worked with to do some restructuring of our new home. I have recommended Paul to some friends who also recently bought their second home at the lake from him. I recommend Paul highly for anyone looking to buy at the lake.

-- David Stevens
FHA Comissioner
Asst. Secretary Housing and Urban Development"
Fairfax, VA

"A Wealth of Information and Treated Me Like a King"

I was told of Smith Mountain Lake by a neighbor. I knew nothing about the lake so I did a Google search for a real estate agent at SML. After reviewing web sites I contacted Paul Moore who gave me a lot of information, but more importantly, was extremely enthusiastic about ownership of property at the lake. I met Mr. Moore at the lake and we spent a day looking at property from the land and from the water. He was a wealth of information and treated me like a king even though he had no idea if I was really interested in buying property or was simply taking a boat ride on a beautiful day. Although I was able to select a lot that I really liked, I still had to convince my financially conservative wife to make the investment.

A week later Mr. Moore again gave the "king's tour"� by land and by water, this time showing my wife and me the properties and amenities of SML. My wife loved the lake, loved the lot I had selected but still was reluctant to make such an investment. She agreed to make an offer but confessed that it was her comfort level with Mr. Moore and her confidence that Mr. Moore's was providing truthful and accurate information that swayed her to sign a contract. Mr. Moore helped us prepare the contract offer, obtain financing, find a surveyor, select a settlement attorney and find a shorter route for us to drive to our property. Even after our purchase was complete (and therefore there were no more commissions to be earned), Mr. Moore continued to make sure we were comfortable with our decision and continued to provide help. He recommended a couple of builders, a couple of people who build docks, a couple of well diggers, a building materials supply house and even helped us contact a pre-engineered house manufacturer. In short, Mr. Moore did everything you could possibly expect of a real estate agent and then some. He did everything he said he would, when he said he would and was completely dependable.

I continue to call on Mr. Moore with SML questions. I wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Moore for any Smith Mountain Lake real estate needs and invite telephone calls to discuss. (703-968-8000).

--Kenneth Crosson, Attorney at Law
Arlington, VA

"From the first conversation we had all the way through the house closing, you were there for us..."

We just wanted to express our gratitude for the great service you provided. Lauren and I did a lot of "home work" when it came to choosing a Real Estate professional to help us with our lake house purchase and it really paid off. From the first conversation we had all the way through the house closing, you were there for us. The most impressive aspect of your service was the way you listened to our "wants" and had thoughtful, insightful suggestions and tireless devotion to our cause until we found the right house. We are thrilled with our house purchase and the entire process and would strongly recommend your services to anybody looking for Real Estate in the Smith Mountain Lake area..

--Hank & Lauren Pauli
Upstate NY

"Paul Moore accomplished everything I had hoped for and more!"

My family has lived all over this country. We have bought and sold over six homes in the past 14 years. Of all the places that my family has lived, we enjoyed the Virginia area the most. While living in Winston-Salem, we visited Smith Mountain Lake and fell in love with everything about the area and people. Now, years later, we live in California and want to retire on Smith Mountain Lake.

I started the process of looking online for lakefront properties on Smith Mountain Lake that I could build a home on. I needed help from a local realtor that knew the area very well. I wanted someone that would not push me to make a quick decision because of the "it won't last long on the market" pitch that I have heard from the many other realtors that I have worked with in the past. I wanted to work with someone that would listen more than talk, and then take the necessary steps to bring us closer to my objectives. I emailed Paul Moore and asked for all kinds of information.

Along with that request for information was a request to not rush me into a decision to buy something quickly. I just started looking, so Paul sent me loads of information and pictures of the lake and surrounding area. A few months later I flew to Smith Mountain Lake to meet with Paul and look at the properties that we had put on our list. Paul spent 3 entire days with me.

We spent one day on his boat to view many properties from the lake, one day in the car to see the properties from the road, and then we rented a private plane and flew over our favorite lots to get the big picture of the area.

Perfect!! Absolutely the best buying experience I have ever had!

Paul Moore took the worries and pressures of buying a property, and made it a pleasant and worry free experience for me. I now keep in touch with Paul as a friend, and since he has a home on the lake, I am looking forward to the day that I can have him boat over to my new lakefront home for a BBQ on
the lake. Thanks again to Paul Moore, a true professional and new friend
of mine.

Sincerely,

-- Scott Marvin
Director International and Domestic Sales for a Publicly Traded Software Firm (Retired)
-- Jane Marvin
Senior VP Human Resources Ross Stores

San Francisco, CA

"Thoughtful and Kind Treatment"

I wanted to thank you for your kind and thoughtful treatment of all of us, and especially my parents. As you know, it was and still is, a very emotional time for all of us and you handled it with such skill and kindness. I know that all of us felt as if we were with the "perfect realtor"� and I am so grateful for everything you did. Thank you.

--Jane and Ed White
Danville, VA

 "I Never Felt Pressured to Make an Offer"

 "Everything Went Like Clockwork"

My husband and I were introduced to Smith Mountain Lake (SML) a few years ago by family and friends. Calling it "love at first sight"� can only be understood by the thousands who have had the opportunity to experience the jewel of southern Virginia. When we first considered purchasing property at SML, we turned to these same family and friends for a Realtor recommendation.

We initially contacted Paul Moore of Wainwright and Co. REALTORS^® , who met with us, reviewed our wish list, and showed us several properties. To say Paul is knowledgeable about SML, is an understatement. His expertise is unmatched with regard to buying and selling property at SML. I would highly recommend Paul's book, A Definitive Guide to Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate, to anyone who is considering purchasing property on the lake. It answers not only the obvious questions but also details many items (like dock permits) that a novice lake buyer would not think to ask.

At least a year passed from our initial meeting with Paul to our actual decision to purchase property at SML. We again contacted Paul who referred us to Brian Puckett, one of his fellow realtors. Since our primary residence is in northern Virginia, all initial contacts with Brian were via telephone and email. Brian reviewed with us the information Paul had collected at our previous meetings, and promptly composed a list of properties matching our criteria for review - all long distance. With a set of listings in mind, we scheduled a weekend meeting with Brian to view properties. Five hours (and at least a dozen properties) later we had exhausted the list. The first house Brian showed us met ALL our criteria and then some, and was ultimately the house we ended up purchasing.

All contract negotiations were handled long distance, as well as all paperwork associated with the closing. Everything went like clockwork, which I can only attribute to Brian's attention to detail. Brian is not only an outstanding realtor, but also an all-round great guy. He was always available to take my call, no matter the day or time, and was quick to respond to any email, even if only to say "�let me check on that and get back to you."� Five months after closing, I can truly say we LOVE our home at SML. The process was painless, and even enjoyable! I would highly recommend Brian Puckett to anyone looking to purchase property at Smith Mountain Lake.

-- Suzy & Dave Barta
Ashburn, VA

"Thorough attention to detail, generosity, and self-less dedication"

After many months of browsing the internet in search of a waterfront home I finally stumbled across one at SML that really caught my eye. It was Saturday morning at 5:30am so I emailed the broker, Paul Moore.

Much to my surprise I received a reply back just moments later and I was soon on the phone with him discussing the home. The next day my wife and I were being chauffeured by boat looking at numerous homes that met our tastes. Thanks to Paul Moore we quickly found the perfect fit.

Paul Moore's thorough attention to detail, generosity, and self-less dedication to our interests were present from start to finish. Without question this was the most enjoyable real estate purchase we have ever made.

-- Jeff Turner
Former Vice President, Geo-Spatial Technologies, Inc.
Northern VA

"We felt we were in great hands"

Dear Mr. Moore,

My husband and I went to your website and left our information for a realtor to contact us on a Sunday afternoon not expecting to be contacted that day.  An hour later Penny Hodges contacted us.  We were truly surprised at how quickly our call was returned.

Working with Penny has been a true blessing.  There are not enough good words to describe the excellent service she has provided us.  Every time there was a question to be answered or service to be provided Penny was knowledgeable and quick to accomplish our requests.   She is a realtor that goes beyond the call of duty to provide her clients exemplary service.  Penny has a vast resource of knowledge, information and contacts.  We felt we were in great hands working with her.  

We ended up purchasing our vacation home at Smith Mountain Lake.  Penny made our purchase a pleasurable experience.  Penny's honesty, knowledge and promptness were the main factor that made us comfortable working with her.  We would with ease recommend Penny Hodges to anyone looking for a home in your area.  We greatly appreciate the exceptional service we were provided.

-- Jack & Cheryl Beck

"Professionally and efficiently guided"

Having searched the East Coast for the ideal community for a second home and eventual retirement, we finally settled on Smith Mountain Lake. Living in New Jersey, however, presented some unique, long-distance challenges. My wife and I were fortunate to find Brian & Paul. Every step of our search for our "perfect home" was professionally and efficiently guided. We made the right decision in choosing Smith Mountain Homes.

-- Andy Lessard
Annapolis, MD

"Easily the Best Agent We've Dealt With"

We finally found our lake home at SML and are thankful we happened to meet Penny. We've moved around the country a number of times and have bought and sold a number of homes. Penny is easily the best agent we've dealt with.

We found Penny through a chance encounter. You don't have to. Call her if you are looking for a SML lake house.

-- Eric and Sarah Daniels

"What a beautiful morning"

What a beautiful morning! I'm sitting on the dock at our Smith Mountain Lake house enjoying the sun and water. The ducks are swimming and the fish are jumping. I'm really excited about spending time here with our family. This is a place where we will be making memories. And we could not have done it without your help. Thanks for helping Marilyn and me find this place.

-- Ross G. Boucher
President, BJ Engineers

"Patient and Prepared"

My wife and I were looking for a place to retire close enough to the Northern Va. Area where our Children and grandchildren live. We had been looking for a while and were getting discouraged. Through the internet we ended up with Brian at Smith Mountain Lake. He was very patient and prepared. He had made up lists from what we told him we wanted and could afford. We found the house we wanted. We live in Northern Va. and were buying the house long distance. Brian and Paul in the background handled everything for us beyond what they were supposed to do. I would recommend Brian and Paul to any people wanting a house in the Smith Mountain lake area.

--James and Mary Lou Page

"Personal and professional service"

We are the proud owners of a magnificent piece of land at Smith
Mountain Lake. We owe our gratitude to Paul Moore for his assistance and for a job well done. In this day and age, excellent service is
the exception and not the norm and Paul provides this extremely
well. We applaud his personal and professional service. Paul goes
the extra mile, keeping you in mind long after the closing. We
heartily recommend Paul to anyone who is in the market for real estate.

--China & Hunter Levan
Williamsburg, VA

"We found exactly what we were looking for!"

When our family was looking for a property on Smith Mountain Lake, we
looked around and found Smith Mountain Homes impressive website and
sent a request for property listings to Paul Moore. Within hours of
our request, Paul had contacted us by phone and introduced us to Brian
Puckett one of his team members.

After finding out what our criteria was, Brian emailed us numerous listings of which we selected several properties to look at. Brian met us up at the lake and spent the whole day showing us around. He answered every question we had and if he didn't know the answer, he immediately phoned around and found out.

Brian & Paul put in a lot of extra effort to make sure we were getting
everything we expected. It didn't take long before we found exactly
what we were looking for and with Brian and Paul's help and guidance,
were able to purchase our beautiful lake house.

Being a real estate agent in another part of Virginia, I was very impressed at the
expertise and professionalism of everyone who was recommended to us by
Brian & Paul from the home inspector to the closing company to the
yardman. The transaction went very smoothly and whenever help was
needed, Brian & Paul were there for us. Thanks guys for a doing a
great job!

--The Johansen Family

Virginia Beach

"A much-appreciated knowledge of the market"

I just wanted to thank you again for all your help last week and yesterday.
We really enjoyed looking at properties with you far more than I typically enjoy being with real estate agents. I feel like you have done an excellent job providing just the right amount of service along with a much appreciated knowledge of the market.

Your willingness to pull your boat out on the water for us at this time of year was much more than necessary. Honestly, this type of extra service really gives the impression that you're committed to helping us find the "right" property and that you genuinely enjoy providing your services.

--John Liptak
Carey, NC

"An Excellent Agent"

Brian Puckett was an excellent agent! He went way above and beyond in servicing my needs, especially as an out of town client. I would highly recommend him to any potential buyer at Smith Mountain Lake.

--Craig Merrills
Washington DC

Teresa, we truly appreciate all the hard work you put into helping us to locate, research and purchase our vacation home.  You provided exceptional personal service and you can definitely count on our recommendations for your services to our friends and family.

--Paige & Kevin Moses

I just wanted to let you know that when I was originally looking for a Realtor partner your Web presence is what got my attention. These professional (and not nagging) mailers are what made me decide to give you guys a try. We are so glad we did!

--Mike Cotrone

Thanks for keeping me on your mailing list for your SML newsletter.  Teresa Criner has been absolutely awesome at sending us current home and lot listings.

We visited SML for the first time, this past week, from New Jersey.  While it looked like a terrific place in all of the listings and materials that Teresa has been sending, we fell even more in love with it during our stay at the Westlake Waterfront Inn (suggested by Teresa).

As we plan for our 2009 retirement, I am very grateful for the emails that we receive from your office.  I feel we will be very prepared when our time to purchase has arrived.

--Toni Hoffman

"Very Knowledgeable and Even Fun"

[Teresa Criner of the Smith Mountain Homes team] has been the most knowledgeable, patient, experienced and organized agent we have ever worked with.

She spent countless hours showing us properties all over the lake, some listingswere at our request and some listings were ones that she thought mightmeet our criteria for a lake house.

She always knew the answers to our questions regarding AEPrules and regulations on docks, shoreline management, and propertyeasements. We even asked her to show us some properties several times;she always was patient and happy to do this for us. When we finallyfound a property to purchase, she continued to support us with dozens ofphone calls and support through the entire process to closing andbeyond.

If and when we need another real estate agent, we will turnto Teresa because we know she will be there for us. Teresa is a verykind, pleasant person and it was always fun to be around her.

-- Ron and Linda Adams
Northern VA

"Above and Beyond the Call of Duty"

Dear Mr. Moore:

This letter is extremely overdue. All too often, companies only hear of poor performance, inattentiveness, or poor quality on behalf of their employees. My husband and I are writing to you only to commend one of your employees.

In September 2007, we retained Teresa Criner to help us find a home at Smith Mountain Lake. We wanted to relocate from Woodbine, Maryland. Teresa spent several days with us showing us many, many homes, too numerous to count! She had the utmost patience with us as none of the many homes were exactly what we wanted. She continued to look for us while we were back in Maryland and communicated with us on a regular basis.Then finally, in January 2008, we found our home, contingent on us selling in Maryland. We sold our house this past August and had to vacate within three weeks. The home we picked here was not completely finished being built.

Teresa, knowing that we had to move quickly, took the "bull by the horns" and went above and beyond the call of duty. She worked with the builder and other real estate agent day in and day out to get our new home finished. She made several trips to Franklin County to research covenants, etc. Prior to carpeting being installed, she went to the house and deep cleaned all the floor boards so that the carpet would be installed perfectly. The house was not very clean as it had been sitting since January and builder was not willing to clean it again. Teresa and her daughter and a friend spent an entire day deep cleaning our home so we could move in without worrying about dirt.

These are just a few of the remarkable things that Teresa took upon herself to do for us.

Teresa is a wonderful employee, a great real estate agent, and now, a great friend. We want to let you know just how valuable she is. We will highly recommend Teresa and Wainwright and Company every opportunity that we get.

--John and Donna Miller

"I Would Not Hesitate to Recommend You"

We will be happy to pass your name along as a referral to anyone interested in moving to the lake. Your book tells volumes about your knowledge and my husband and I would not hesitate to recommend you so that anyone interested in coming into the area may avoid some of the issues we ran into, some of which was costly and time consuming. Most of the issues would have been avoided had we of read your book first.

-- Carol Ridgely

"Why would anyone look elsewhere?"

To anyone considering either buying or selling a home at Smith Mountain Lake, or in the area surrounding Smith Mountain Lake I recommend they work with Penny Hodges wholeheartedly.

I was not familiar with Smith Mountain Lake before purchasing a home there last August and spent quite a few months visiting and looking before making the purchase. Penny was a Godsend as she saved me countless time with her ability to quickly learn what my tastes were and to determine what I would be happy with Since I live in excess of a 4 hour drive from the lake it was imperative that I not waste time looking at homes that would not meet my needs. Penny would quickly sort through all the potential listings I had identified as possibilities and eliminated those that based on her professional and advanced personal inspection and deep knowledge of all the subtle differences each neighborhood and location held, had determined it would have been a waste of time. She also all but insisted we re-visit properties that may have been too quick to eliminate after the first visit. A Realtor that knows the area, the history, the community can save you literally thousands of dollars, and hundreds of hours.

It was apparent that not only does Penny know just about everything and everyone at SML, everyone also knows Penny and holds here in high regard. She also was a true champion for me when it came time for negotiating a contract and ultimately closing. At no time did I ever have any thought but that she was looking about for what was in my best interest and was not afraid to tell me if she thought I was headed in the wrong direction. Her recommendations for home inspection and survey, literally saved me from a making a huge mistake with one of the first homes I put out a contingent contract on.

SML offers a tremendous range of properties, not only in price range but also in style, neighborhoods, and water-based amenities. There is truly no way I could have navigated the choices and ended up purchasing the home I did without wondering if I had missed something along the way without her help.

Its, sadly all to rare today to meet someone who personifies integrity and personal service in almost any type of business. I am glad to say that Penny is that rare exception who leaves you knowing you made the right decision. I can't begin to tell you how much Penny played in my feeling of confidence, and sincere joy I have in the selection of my retirement home at SML.

You might find others who can help you in your quest with similar qualifications and experience. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who can make you feel as good about your ultimate decision as Penny. You'll never find anyone more dedicated to making your experience as painless as possible, and then becomes a lifelong friend.

Why would anyone look elsewhere?

-- Barbara A. Hennessy
President, Command Decisions Systems & Solutions

"Looked after our interest every step of the way"

We had a very good experience with Wainwright Reality when looking for our retirement home on Smith Mountain Lake. Their website was great.

Paul Moore's book on buying property on SML is a must read. And our realtor, Teresa Criner was outstanding. Teresa showed us many houses and lots on the lake: Eastside, Westside, north of Rt. 122 bridge and south of the bridge. She even took us out on her boat to see properties we liked from the water. But where Teresa was extraordinary is after we went to contract. We live 500 miles away, she kept us well informed and took care of everything. Our contract had several contingencies and Teresa worked to close each one of them. Many of them should have been handled by the seller/seller's agent but they were less than stellar. Teresa did all the work to obtain a dock permit. She applied for it with AEP and had a number of meeting with AEP, and got the permit issued. She looked after our interest every step of the way as though she was buying the property. In short, Teresa was a tremendous agent and a wonderful person. When the time comes to sell our home she will be our agent.

-- Linda and Judd Riedinger

"Exemplifies southern hospitality and always makes us feel like a neighbor"

I can certainly say that without the knowledge, guidance, support, and perseverance of Teresa, we probably would not be the proud owners of a beautiful lakefront home at Smith Mountain Lake. With our permanent residence 8 hours away, and although we made a dozen or more trips to the SML region to explore our options and look for lakefront homes, Teresa was extremely patient with us as we became a bit more knowledgeable of the area and of the homes. We changed our minds on type of home, location, and other factors and through it all, Teresa was the foundation for us to keep coming back and try again. She exemplifies southern hospitality and always makes us feel like a neighbor, whether we're up north or back at Smith Mountain Lake. A real pleasure to have worked with, and gotten to know Teresa.

-- Brian & Eleanor Wilson

"Knows the market well"

Penny's in-depth product knowledge enabled us to find our dream home on the lake after only one day of looking. She really understood what we were looking for and knows the market well.

-- Theresa Newhouse
Alexandria, VA

"Please share my wonderful experience!"

Last spring I met Teresa Criner and asked her to be my relator. I purchased my first home with her help. Teresa was more than willing to work around my schedule. She met me morning or night weekdays or weekends. I couldn't have asked for a better realtor and friend through my first home buying experience. I love my new home and I am thankful everyday for purchasing it. Teresa helped me choose that house that was absolutely perfect for me.

Please share with anyone my wonderful experience buying my first home through Teresa Criner.

-- Ashley R. Showalter

"Very organized and responsive"

We found Penny to be very knowledgeable about the Smith Mountain Lake area. Penny only showed us homes that were within our budget and had the features we had reviewed with her. She is very organized and responsive. Buying our Smith Mountain Lake house was the most positive real estate experience we have had. We highly recommend Penny as a realtor.

-- Tom & Julie Heller

"Teresa gave us her full support right from the start"

Hi Paul, we wanted to drop you a note to thank you but also say how much we enjoyed working with Teresa Criner. As you may recall, we're the folks originally from Michigan, who are now in California, who were looking for a home in Virginia. No we are not on the witness protection program, we have family in DC and Blacksburg. We were originally looking for property near our family on Claytor Lake but saw an ad for your book and Smith Mountain Lake during our search.

We contacted you and you referred us to Teresa. She is fabulous! Obviously, when someone contacts you from California there must be some amount of skepticism about how genuinely interested they are but Teresa gave us her full support right from the start. She asked us a number of very good questions and helped us narrow our search. Having never seen the area or the lake we were clueless but through her guidance and what we learned from your book we began to focus in a bit.

We committed to visiting last March. Frankly, we wanted to see the area at it's worst, we knew we'd love it at it's best. Teresa was great. She helped us find a place to stay. She had a binder prepared with all of the homes we had expressed interest in. It was organized to make the travel between properties as efficient as practical. When you're looking at homes on a lake that is 40 miles long, that makes a huge difference.

She then spent two solid days driving us to each of the properties on the list. Providing insight and also listening to us and gauging our reactions. We have pictures of us trudging through snow, Teresa bundled up patiently waiting for us to examine this or that.

We found what we felt was a great opportunity and with Teresa's help and guidance made the deal. The main point is that Teresa, while being a consummate professional also, became a good friend. This has extended beyond the sale and as we are still in California she has been invaluable as our eyes and ears at SML. We can't wait to be able to move there permanently and spend time with Teresa and her husband Marlon.

Thank you so much for the knowledge you shared with us through your book and emails, but most of all by your introduction of Teresa.

-- Brian D. Bissell, CFP®
Vice President - Investments
Graham - Bissell Group
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

"Skills as a negotiator came shining through!"

I can’t say enough about how much Teresa Criner helped me in the buying process for my lake lot I purchased in late November. While the actual selection of a lot to make an offer on took place in one day…the vetting and bidding process took more work, and that’s where Teresa’s skills as a negotiator came shining through!

She used her knowledge of the pricing and ownership history of the lot I ultimately purchased, and knowledge a lot nearby that had just foreclosed, and leveraged that information into a great buy for me. Three realtors all jointly owned the lot I bought which certainly made Teresa’s job even more challenging!

In fact, if she hadn’t advised me to “chill a little” and let my last bid “sit awhile” I would likely have ended up paying about $14,000 more for the lot. But, she coached me to “be cool” and the net result is I purchased a lot at what I consider to be comparable to a foreclosure price. So the bottom line is that Teresa played the game masterfully on my behalf (as a buyer’s agent should), and she definitely earned her commission based on her communication/negotiation skills with the seller(s).

And, even though the sale is over, and closed in late November, Teresa continues to keep in touch with me and give me advice on getting things done (rip-rap, dock building, etc.) to my lot. In fact, she’s trying to help me get my title to my lost from David Bullington’s office…for some reason they’re taking longer than the 3-4 weeks promised.

I would recommend her to anybody!

-- Chase Turner
Marketing Manager
Homestead Materials Handling Company
Roanoke, VA