“We stumbled across Cole and quickly realized we could not have dreamed up a better realtor. He is incredibly knowledgeable, and even more important - was very honest with us. There is no doubt that we would not be moving into our dream home if it wasn't for his intelligence and enthusiasm. We highly highly recommend Cole !”
Meet Your Richmond
Original Real Estate Team
Core Values, Proven Results and Team Excellence
After graduating from James Madison University in 2004, James Strum knew he wanted a career that would allow him to help others. At first he didn’t know exactly what that was. He worked part time for the local schools here in the Richmond area helping with fundraising and he also worked part time in the “Kids Zone” at American Family Fitness. After a couple of years, James knew exactly what he wanted to do.
James’ father, Sherwood Strum, was a long time realtor himself here in the area, co-owning his own company in the 70’s called Strum and Dunnington and then also working for many years thereafter with Porter Vaughan. Sherwood passed away in 1989 after a long battle with cancer, and surely left a legacy behind pertaining to Richmond real estate.
So in 2006, James had made up his mind. He would follow in his father’s footsteps, or as he refers to it, his father’s “Big Ole Boots” because of the tremendous impact his father left behind. James met with several firms before deciding on Long and Foster in July of 2006. There, he learned all about the residential real estate world from the ground up and in his very first full year in 2007 he was named “Rookie of the Year” for his branch. By 2012, James was the “Top Individual” agent with Long and Foster out of 1000+ agents in 18 offices throughout the region.
With continued success, James had to ensure that each client was getting exactly what he built his book of business on…providing the highest level of customer service through honesty, knowledge base, and making sure the clients best interest was his first priority. And in 2013 THE STRUM Group was born!! James knew that creating something that was bigger than him required a special team model in order to maintain the correct level of service for each client, every time.
Our Real Estate Experts
What We Stand For
Honesty and Integrity
What can you expect when you sign on with the Strum Group? Truthfulness, straightforwardness, loyalty and the utmost con…
What can you expect when you sign on with the Strum Group? Truthfulness, straightforwardness, loyalty and the utmost confidentiality.
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Industry Expertise
With more than 35 years of combined experience, we are well equipped to advocate on behalf of our clients no matter what…
With more than 35 years of combined experience, we are well equipped to advocate on behalf of our clients no matter what situation may arise.
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Selflessness
We pride ourselves on putting our clients' needs before our own. Strum Group agents are champions for their clients and …
We pride ourselves on putting our clients' needs before our own. Strum Group agents are champions for their clients and will do what it takes to make sure their clients are more than just happy!
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Service
We got into this business to help people. Whether it’s assisting clients in achieving their dreams or through giving a p…
We got into this business to help people. Whether it’s assisting clients in achieving their dreams or through giving a portion of each of our transactions to a local charity, we take serving others seriously!
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Professionalism
We respect this industry and the trust you have placed in us. Throughout each step of the process, you can count on us t…
We respect this industry and the trust you have placed in us. Throughout each step of the process, you can count on us to provide steadfast guidance.
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Teamwork
We believe in the team model of real estate and use the talents of all of our team members to ensure 5 Star Customer Exp…
We believe in the team model of real estate and use the talents of all of our team members to ensure 5 Star Customer Experiences.
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When Our Clients Speak, We Listen
“We are so lucky to have met James at a property back in September. New to the home buying process, he really impressed us with his knowledge of properties, school districts, renovation costs, and so much more. He responded immediately to all of our questions and concerns and made our home search so easy and convenient. When we finally found the ho … use we wished to make our home, he was very helpful and available asap when we needed to make a move on putting in our bid. James is a killer at negotiations as well! We ran into some things after receiving the inspection report and he fought for us the whole way through. The only reason we got exactly what we wanted was because James was on our side as our realtor. We truly feel that if it weren't for James we would still be renting. Thanks to him we are living in and loving our new home” Read More ▾
James Strum
“I had a fantastic experience using James Strum to sell our house. I was extremely happy with the price and we were able to get full asking, and on top of that the process moved very quickly from list to close. Even beyond those important factors, he was extremely helpful and responsive throughout the entire process, from getting the house ready … for listing, recommending high quality and fair priced contractors, and coordinating all the steps along the way. Not surprisingly given his Richmond background and years of experience, it's very apparent that he knows everything about the greater Richmond market and that alone I think is extremely valuable. No doubt I'll be recommending James to friends and family, but on top of that I'll definitely be using James again myself when the time comes” Read More ▾
James Strum
“Working with James is a pleasure. James has been my realtor on 2 purchases and 1 sell. All 3 transactions were more than I could hope for. He is honest and hardworking. He is extremely knowledge about the area and I would trust to use him again. His was able to make the home buying process easy and fun. He never push me beyond my budget. Hi … s is a firm negotiator with excellent people skills” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James Strum and his team exceeded our expectations. We've bought and sold 7 homes over the past 20 years and have experienced good and not so good experiences with various Real Estate partners. James offered guidance, suggestions, and practical tips throughout the process from pre-listing phases to contract conclusion and closing. He had a genui … ne interest in us, our family, and stayed in close contact with us at every step. We had two contracts in less than 20 days, one of which we accepted and successfully closed at a price we are happy about. James "stands out" from his responsiveness, loyalty to your best interests, and demonstrating authentic care and professionalism. If we need to sell another home, we will definable engage James.” Read More ▾
James Strum
“As soon as my house was listed, I had a revolving door of prospective buyers. Fater than I could ever even imagine,my house sold for full asking price. I truely have found a knowledgeable, trustworthy, and committed agent. I will always use James for all of my selling and buying needs. I recommend him without any hesitation as I am completely sati … sfied with him. I recommend you ask for James Strum at Long and Foster!” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James was very professional, attentive and just the realtor we needed! He got our home sold and was there to answer questions and walk us through every step of the process. We will gladly recommend him to anyone and he is the only realtor we will contact for any real estate needs we have in the future!”
James Strum
Jeramy Young Seller • Southern Barton Heights, Richmond, VA
“Ashley Grant was simply, AMAZING! Not only was it our first time selling a home, but we were challenged with a need for a fast sale due to a cross-country move for work. In what could have been a very stressful scenario, Ashley showed up huge by simplifying the process, understanding our wants and needs, and honestly, over-delivering on every step! … She was extremely organized, and her communication was clear and responsive. Her knowledge of the market was spot-on, and her suggested pricing resulted in a sale of $30k+ over asking price. Additionally, Ashley coordinated some top-notch resources for fixes and painting (covering up marks from our lovable dogs!), both before listing the home, and after the sale— ensuring the final product was in perfect shape. Finally, she helped us coordinate all required signatures before closing, and prior to us leaving Virginia, saving us the trouble of an extra flight back from the west coast. Ashley did a fantastic job and was a game-changer for our situation. I would highly recommend giving her a call if you have real estate needs” Read More ▾
reyesjjocelyn9519 Buyer • Chester, VA
“Jennifer was a pleasure to work with! You can easily tell she has years of experience and was a big help every step of the way! She made buying our first home a stress-free process! Jennifer exceeded expectations throughout the entire buying process and was incredible through every stage of buying our home. She was an ally, friend, and advisor a … nd helped us navigate a difficult time to buy a house! We felt like we were constantly “ahead of the curve” in every step of the process, which was entirely due to Jennifer’s thoroughness and dedication. We always knew Jennifer had us covered. We cannot imagine a better experience and cannot wait to refer her to other people moving forward. She is a wonderful person and we loved working with her! Thank you Jen for all your help we really appreciate you” Read More ▾
Jennifer Stevens
Ssara804 Buyer • Richmond, VA
“Joanna is amazing!!! Very patient with us, we searched High and low and finally found something all thanks to her. Any questions or concerns we had she was able to answer them. Another thing that is great about her is that she is always there any text or call was answered almost right away. We can’t highly recommend Joanna enough!”
Joanna Rodriguez
“Mr. Strum could not have been more attentive and helpful in literally every single part of the home buying process. He was patient in showing possible homes, never once making me feel pressured or trying to sway me a certain way; however, he was always thorough with answering questions and looking at the ins and outs of each house depending on my … interest level. He listened to me, gave strategic suggestions and went to bat for me in the negotiation process, putting me at ease through it all, and getting me down to the price I was comfortable with. He guided me through all of the details of purchasing the home (inspections, loans, closing, insurance, home improvements before move-in, etc), again, never being overbearing or making me feel he was trying to force me to use certain people, but giving me those options and guiding me through them when I did decide to go with his suggestions. I have highly recommended him to friends and family members in their home buying and selling process due to his flawless job with me. I have been in my home for almost 3 years and he continues to check in every now and then making sure there aren't any issues that I may need help figuring out who to call to get them fixed/covered. You will not be disappointed in this EXTREMELY hard working and dedicated real estate agent. He will make you feel like you are his only client, when that is certainly not the case” Read More ▾
James Strum
“My wife and I lived in Monacan Hills on Briarcrest Dr. in Chesterfield, VA from 2011 to 2016. When the time came to move, 3 of our ex neighbors that we keep in contact with, HIGHLY recommended James as he is known around our neighborhood as the go-to realtor. When I contacted James, he was on vacation with his family in Chicago, but still took m … y call. He scheduled a visit to our house and walked us through the staging/selling process. My wife and I listened and followed his every instruction for preparing our house to be sold at maximum asking price. Our house was on the market for around 52 days and we sold at our asking price, just as James had predicted! James was amazing at answering every one of my phone calls the entire time our house was on the market. He is quick with solutions and very clear with his instructions. James made the sale of our house VERY stress-free. His contacts are unlimited and his actions mirror his words, a skill very hard to find in salespeople today. I highly recommend James Strum and his team! They truly care about their customers and their actions are proof!” Read More ▾
James Strum
“He knew what would be a good fit for me, in a suitable area, but was willing to show me a number of other places to help me compare and make up my own mind.”
James Strum
“James is simply unbeatable. He is available for you whenever you need him, whether it's by phone, email or text, making you feel like you are his only client. We saw a home listed one evening and told him we wanted to see it, and he took us there the very next day. That was on a Friday, and he and his staff drew up our offer over the weekend so we … could sign it and get it submitted on Monday. He listens to you and is dedicated to what you want and doesn't stop until you get it. James went above and beyond for us as our buyer's agent; the home we fell in love with and just had to have was very difficult to get. It was a foreclosure and was only available on a wretchedly-run auction site, but James was there each night to put bids in for us, all the while giving us advice until we finally got it. James steered us through the entire process of buying a home, making it as easy for us as possible. His expertise with all aspects of buying a house was invaluable to us. He calmed our fears and guided us all the way through. He read and explained every document we signed and made any corrections and changes that were needed to protect us. He has a network of top-notch partners including an inspection company, lending agents, appraisers and an excellent closing attorney. And he works with all these experts to make sure things progress on track, all the while keeping you informed with each step. He even has an army of skilled plumbers, electricians and HVAC specialists who you can trust to help get your property perfected before moving in. I highly recommend James to anyone in the Richmond area looking to buy a home. Not only did we find an extraordinary realtor in James Strum, we found a friend” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James was excellent during our relocation/first house purchase. He was very knowledgable of the area and was in our best interest throughout the process. He helped us get the best deal for our house (and even negotiated some furniture and appliances!).”
James Strum
“James grew up in the Richmond area and knows this town like the back of his hand. His patience through the process was amazing and his negotiation skills got me the deal I was looking for! I would recommend James to anyone!!!”
James Strum
“James Strum is an outstanding realtor! I could tell when working with him that he truly listened to what we were looking for and wasn't just trying to sell us a house but was trying to help us find a home. I will be recommending James to anyone I meet who is looking to buy or sell a home.”
James Strum
“James was professional, responsive, and fun to work with. We highly recommend him. Our home buying experience was pleasant and we felt like our needs and wants were always top priority.”
James Strum
“We highly recommend working with Jamie when it comes time to buy/sell a home. I had accepted a job relocation out of state when we reached out to have him sell our house. He was very helpful when it came time to prepare our home for listing recommending things we needed to address and worries we had that turned out not to be worries at all. We … were a little nervous trying to sell our home in December (not the prime time to do so), but Jamie assured us that he would get us top dollar within 30 days. We listed the house on a Wednesday and had a FULL PRICE OFFER in 5 days (as Jamie promised we would accept nothing less!). Jamie is a determined, knowledgeable, detail-oriented professional in the real estate market. His contacts in the industry including other agents and residential contractors made the process seamless and headache-free. Neighbors looking to sell their home have asked for his contact information already. Working with the James Strum team was a great experience! He has certainly set the bar high for our future real estate transactions” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James sold our house after we had been working with a realtor that just didn't know how to market our home. James came over and knew exactly what to do and got us the right visibility, good strategy and strong showings. James took our expired listing and got us the price we wanted! His experience, honesty, level of engagement and professionalism a … llowed us to quickly transition from the stress of selling a house to new beginnings. His team is A-1” Read More ▾
James Strum
“We chose James based on his excellent reviews on Zillow. James has a vast knowledge of the area and what to look for in a home. He would never let us settle on anything until we found the home that we loved. He never made us feel like an inconvenience, even unusual times. I will highly recommend to anyone looking for a realtor in the Richmond area … ” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James sure exceeded our expectations, especially when comparing to our past experiences with realtors. There are truly not enough words to describe him. He is very personable and extremely easy to work with. He makes you feel like you are his only client. All that he does is just amazing and his negotiating skills are incredible. He has true knowl … edge about the market and what is and isn't realistic. He is one to not guide his clients wrong. He is honest and works extraordinarily hard. He certainly has his client's best interest at hand. We can't recommend him enough” Read More ▾
James Strum
flexappealdc Buyer/Seller
“Jennifer was very professional and made our experience buying and selling our home a very stress free process. We highly recommend her for your needs in finding or selling a home!”
Jennifer Stevens
“I was a first time home buyer with not much knowledge of the Richmond area and not knowing where to look for my exact price range with what i wanted. But James definitly knows what he is talking about and definitly cares about what the buyer wants. He doesnt care if he has to turn in 20 different offers he will do it so that you feel like you reci … eved the best one. I knew what I wanted and he took that and ran with my idea and found me a great home in a great location” Read More ▾
James Strum
“We had contacted three realtors in preparation to sell our home, seeking to get an idea of what was needed to be done to the home to sell, as well as market values. The first two left us dismayed as to changes and upgrades needed as well as their opinion of what our home was worth and current market conditions. A business acquaintance referred us … to James. After inquiring about him on line, we decided to give him a call. James visited our home, and was direct and forthright in his suggestions and recommendations of what was needed, and backed it all up with facts and results. After making the changes James wanted we called him back in to look at the house and see if he thought we were ready to sell. He stated that the changes were perfect and suggested we list it immediately. That was on Friday, they showed the house the very next day, and 8 more times in the next 20 days. On the 21st day we had an offer and we sold it. James' marketing strategy and knowledge of the areas and what sells is the key to his success. He knows his stuff, and goes the extra mile to make it happen both for the seller as well as the buyer. James Strum Rocks!!!” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James was partly in this deal of my home buying process. He was representing the seller and did a overall good job handling the deal well for both parties. Linda Elmore was representing us during our home buying process. She was deligent, honest and prompt in her approach throughout the process. Was patient and answered … all my queries and was able to follow up with her associates when needed to clarify. Made us help purchase our dream home in a efficient and timely fashion. She got the whole process of application, offer, inspection, appraisal, home insurance and closing as smooth as it could be..... As a first Ike home buyer I definetly recommend Linda to anybody who is in the market and of course James strum has been a good team player in this” Read More ▾
James Strum
jkuhnert1 Buyer • Huguenot, Richmond, VA
“Great realtor, really helped us a lot in purchasing our first home. Entire process was fun and we got the first house we wanted in addition to lots of follow up help with contacts and questions first time home buyers likely always have. ”
Lee Hutchinson
“This is our second time using James as our realtor. He did such a fantastic job the first time around that there was absolutely no question in our minds about using him again. His extensive knowledge about real estate, the market and the area are hands down the best. He is a tuff negotiator and fights hard for his clients during the negotiating … process. James and his team did an outstanding job both in helping us sell our house and finding our dream home. Within 48hours of listing our property, we had an offer on the 2nd showing for full asking price, including closing costs! He also went above and beyond in helping us find our new home. He was open and honest with us in regards to the properties we previewed and helped us find exactly what we were looking for and much more. He was always available, courteous and gave his honest opinion when asked. We love our new home, had a great buying and selling experience and are extremely pleased with James as our realtor. We would highly recommend him and his highly qualified team to anyone wanting to buy or sell” Read More ▾
James Strum
“I could write a novel about all the wonderful things James did for us, but I will try and keep this review short. Three years ago we started looking for a home on and off and happen to come across a few realtors on the side of Zillow. We called three of them to no response and when we called the fourth, (James), he answered his phone right away. … We are so fortunate that the first three realtors didn't answer, because James is THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS!!! Patient, knowledgeable, responsive and most of all TRUTHFUL are all words I would use to describe James. We saw a few houses that we might have put offers in on and James could have made a quick sale, but he would point out reasons why he wouldn't touch it like cracking driveways, too close to highways, overpriced etc. He is always looking out for his clients. His negotiation skills are second to none! Even though we closed on our house six weeks ago, James is still available to us to answer any question we have and he knows a boatload of top contractors, plumbers and electricians that have done amazing jobs as well and have helped us make our house our home. You will never find another realtor who makes you feel as if you are his only client, EVER! His team is really wonderful as well! In closing, if you are on the fence about hiring a realtor, please do yourself a favor and hire James, I promise you will NOT be disappointed!!” Read More ▾
James Strum
diana12Navarro Seller • Midlothian, VA
“Joanna Rodriguez assisted us with the sell of our townhouse and the purchase of our new home in Chesterfield! She did it with exceptional care, ease, class, and fantastic expertise. She makes the difference between an average experience and an absolutely personalized and high end service that leaves nothing out and covers all your bases. Joanna is … well connected and has a strong and competent team so that you really don't have to worry or track anything because she does it all for you. We can't recommend. Joanna to you more highly because besides being remarkably knowledgeable, she is also a gem of a human being in whom we’ve placed our trust” Read More ▾
Joanna Rodriguez
“James is not only a subject matter expert he also produces incredible results. My wife and I just recently sold our home thanks to a man that truly understands his enviroment and market because of this we had mutiple offers and a sold home in a recovering market extremely fast. James is the real deal for thoes of us that still believe in the power … of a hand shake and a honest person to do business with then James is the partner you need hands down. James is not only great at selling he also is a great buyer's agent . The only thing I have left to say is thank you Jame” Read More ▾
James Strum
“The thing that surprises me the most about James is that he has 8 years of experience. After my first phone call with him, I would've guessed that he had 28 years instead. I've dealt with several realtors through my years, and they all could have used some lessons from him. His relaxed style, vast knowledge, and superior professionalism sets him a … part from the rest. He made what can be a highly stressful process almost effortless for us. I wouldn't recommend anyone BUT James for one's real estate needs.” Read More ▾
James Strum
“The Strum Group provided us with a remarkably smooth, professional, and worry-free experience with both selling and buying a home. We whole-heartedly recommend their services.”
James Strum
“James helped us to sell our house and negotiate into a new one. His knowledge and expertise allowed us to set the right price and sell quickly. I would recommend James to anyone I the Richmond area in need of selling and/or buying a home.”
James Strum
“Sean was amazing! He made the home buying process super easy. He was always available to talk or answer questions. He wasnt pushy in any way. Would work with him again in a heartbeat. He was on time for any meeting we had and always solving issues for us with ease. Highly recommend him!”
Sean Carlton
“Bottom Line: If you don't go with James, your doing yourself a disservice. My wife and I were very happy with the service James Strum provided in the recent sale of my home in Richmond's Northside (Rosedale). He was able to sell a home I had owned for almost 10 years and hadn't lived in for 7 years. He was there for me when I returned from an … Iraq deployment in 2009 and helped me find a tenant to occupy the home when it got slow. Then when the opportunity came to sell, when it was financially right for me, he was there to market, price, advise, help, befriend, negotiate, and sell the home. James is a class act, honest, a man of integrity, and, in my opinion one of Richmond's finest real estate agents. He's not only served me, but my closest family members, and his service has transformed into friendship. I can honestly say there is no other agent in Richmond that I will ever do a real estate transaction with unless their name is James Strum. Please consider this to be a frank and honest assessment of a great agent; you need not look elsewhere for a greater professional for this industry.” Read More ▾
James Strum
“I chose James as our buying agent based on the reviews that I found here on Zillow. He was very prompt to return my initial call and began looking for properties immediately. When we started looking at properties, he was very straightforward with what he thought was good or bad about the homes. As first time home buyers, we were very inexperienced … in the home buying process and James always made us feel comfortable with our decisions. He made sure we didn't rush into a purchase, and in the end we got exactly what we wanted. When we went into contract, James did an excellent job negotiating terms and ensuring that those terms were met. For example, the sellers had work done on the crawl space which did not meet our standards. James worked with the sellers' agents, the company who completed the work, and a company he trusted to correct it to quickly find a solution and allow us to close on the home. We would definitely recommend him to anyone looking to purchase a home” Read More ▾
James Strum
“Drew helped my wife and I purchase our first home. He was patient, thorough, and had excellent attention to detail. We were not financially ready to buy when we first met Drew, but when we met our goals, he was ready and helpful setting up our search and considerations. He worked with us scheduling visits, which was no easy task given … my wife's hectic nursing schedule and my commitments at work and at church. He caught little details such as listings that used alternative names for the schools we wanted to be near, which could have cost us opportunities at houses we wanted to look at. He even sought to secure homes that were not on the market yet, keeping us from undesirable bidding wars in an aggressive market. He also shared his experience with kitchen remodeling and other potential home improvements that we considered that helped us find the home we really wanted and not just a house” Read More ▾
Drew Setzer
“This was our first home purchase and James was amazing. We are the type of people who are impatient when it comes to things we want, and James kept us grounded and on track. He never allowed us to reach for house we were really didn't like/want just because we wanted a house already. He is extremely knowledgeable with all aspects of the housing pr … ocess, from school districts, builders, neighborhoods, house pricing levels, etc. He was always available when we needed him, even late at night. :) James is very easy to talk with and you can trust that he is looking out for your best interest and your long term value. I would highly recommend James to anyone that is looking to sell or purchase a house. I know when we are ready to purchase our next home, James is the ONLY Realtor we am calling!!” Read More ▾
James Strum
James Whalen Buyer
“James Strum was beyond excellent to work with! I would highly recommend him to anybody looking for a Realtor who really gets involved with his clients and finds them exactly what they are looki ng for! This was my first home purchase and he was extremely responsive to all of my 10 million questions at all hours of the day and night, he has extensiv … e knowledge of the area, and he fought extremely hard for six months to get my short sale to closing when most Realtors would have thrown in the towel. he dealt with multiple lien holders and he really went above and beyond his job description to get me what I wanted. He really educates you on the entire home buying process and in the end makes you feel a lot more comfortable with it all. Not only did I find the best Realtor, but I gained a great friend in the process! There is a reason he is #1 with Long and Foster for 2012 and 2013! Thanks James” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James was great to work with. He listened to the things my wife and I both wanted as far as type of house, location, etc... and paid a lot of attention to the things that arent part of the house, but part of the area that comes with the house. There were never any surprises, and he was very good about answering any questions we might have in a t … remendously timely fashion. He definitely had a great feel for the areas (specially the areas we wanted to end up, and made the entire process about as painless as could be. Id definitely recommend him to anyone” Read More ▾
James Strum
“I have so many positive things to say that I'm struggling to squeeze it all in a review! James Strum not only listed and sold our previous home, but simultaneously found and handled the purchase of our new home. I have 3 key themes to share: (1) James is exceptional at his job. James is 5 star … s on all of the above criteria. His local knowledge is immense, is process understanding is masterful, he is unbelievably responsive at all hours, and negotiated for us very well on all counts. He has great local connections for everything you need in the home buying and selling process and understands all of the intricate inner workings of real estate. (2) James is creative, pragmatic, and persistent in getting the job done. He was extremely pragmatic in situations of what seemed like insurmountable obstacles that came up along the way during our simultaneous home sale and purchase. I am still amazed that it all worked out and I hold James personally responsible for the success of both deals. Without James, the deal on all fronts would have likely fallen apart. He bridged the gap not only for us as his clients, but also really helped inform and support all parties involved. To say that he went above and beyond is a major understatement. (3) James is truly a one-stop shop. He provided great advice to us on all fronts - including how to get our house ready, what to negotiate, how to follow the whole process from beginning to end, and reassurance and real advice when things were tricky. No detail fell through the cracks. I could sleep better at night when things were complicated with the deal knowing that James had our back. Don't waste your time with any other realtors. There are a lot out there who try to sell themselves as knowing the game. James Strum should be your first call. He will sell your house and/or get you the house that you want - Call him” Read More ▾
James Strum
“If you are looking for someone who is qualified to list your home on MLS and qualified to walk you through the legal paperwork to sell your home, you can hire just about any Realtor. On the other hand, if you are looking for someone who can hold the line and represent your interests when dealing with the Buyer's agent who wants you to go below … your bottom line, if you're looking for someone who can effectively deal with people who are stressed over such a serious purchase, if you are looking for someone with a TON of experience that results in an almost intuitive feel for the current market and how to best to present your home in that market, if you're looking for someone with a proven ability to negotiate with the bank in your best interests under the stress of a short-sale, if you're looking for someone who won't waste your time with minutia but will deal with it head-on, if you're looking for a straigh-shooter who is transparent with what is going on behind the scenes, if you're looking for someone to help you logically and realisticly view the offer in front of you, well after having bought and sold eight homes, I've only met one of those. James Strum” Read More ▾
James Strum
“Drew is a fabulous agent. He was very responsive to what we were saying and helped to find our dream home. He is very knowledgeable of the area. Great agent and great all-around guy!!!”
Drew Setzer
“After working with Cameron on our first day of showings, we knew we wanted to work with him throughout the process. We never felt like he was steering us wrong, and he always was realistic with us about our options, about the homes we'd looked at, and about what we should expect. He was patient and understanding with us, even when we asked the same … question 10 times. It took us two years and a pandemic, but we recently closed on a home! The experience of home buying can be arduous and frustrating, but Cameron helped to make the process less painful. I'd absolutely recommend working with The Strum Group, and would doubly recommend choosing to work with Cameron if you're able” Read More ▾
Cameron Staples
“James is a dedicated, professional, and hard-working agent who was excellent to work with in buying our first home. From the beginning, and throughout the home buying process, he guided us in finding exactly what we were looking for and honed in on what we needed in our first home. He truly listened to our input and concerns, while making recommen … dations along the way. I would highly recommend James as a buyers agent for anyone looking to buy a house in the Richmond area. His responsiveness, availability, and flexibility made it easy to work around all our busy schedules. If and when we are in the market again, we will undoubtedly look forward to working with James in the future” Read More ▾
James Strum
“Drew took the time to become familiar with what me and my husband were looking for. And he was always available to us at any time of the day which made working with Drew a pleasure. I can’t thank him enough with helping us find a newly built move-in ready home in just a week.”
Drew Setzer
“I cannot say enough about James, or his knowledge and his persistence to achieve his goals. I was in a short-sale situation and had listed with another agency... during the entire listing agreement, they had few to no showings. I re-listed with James, people were coming to see the house almost immediately, Considering the market conditions, he h … ad an offer for me in a very short period of time. This is where his work really began. Because this was a short sale, he had to deal with the banks negotiator regularly. Normally this would not be impressive, but we'll simply say the negotiator was "challenging" he knew short sale regulations and procedures better than they did. He was meticulous providing documentation and answering their questions almost immediately. I never once needed to call him or his office, he kept me completely updated on all aspects of the process. Even when the banks negotiator dropped the ball and missed several deadlines (no fault on our part), he and I worked together and were persistent and successful in getting decisions reversed to continue the process which led to the sale. While speaking with the legal team assisting me with the closing, they identified they have worked with him on past short sales and were extremely impressed with his knowledge of short sales and his negotiating ability and persistence to close on his listings. I highly recommend James.... you will not be disappointed!!” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James Strum recently assisted with the sale of my home which was a phenomenal success. James walked me through each stage of the process and was highly engaged from a leadership and listening standpoint. His planning and strategic vision helped secure an offer, above asking price, within 24 hours of the listing. James was a fair and keen negoti … ator and held firm to our requirements while also balancing his experience with market standards. Given the opportunity to work with James again, I would not hesitate. I HIGHLY recommend James Strum!” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James was highly recommended by several of my fraternity brothers who have used him along with the Prosperity Mortgage team. From getting us staged to sell, having an amazing photographer, many showings, and a couple of offers, we sold our house on a nice but busy street. On the buy side, we couldn't be happier. We didn't have many options in Bon … Air but James came through with our Forever Home. The place wasn't even on the market and the man convinced the owner it was time to sell. One of the easiest, most seamless transactions I've ever done. We love our new home and hope anyone else in the market to buy or sell in the Richmond area wants to take the easy road and signs with James.” Read More ▾
James Strum
“I moved from out of state with my girlfriend and we did not know anything about the Richmond Area. James was very helpful in our search for a home as well as showing us the Richmond area. We were also first time home buyers and James went above and beyond answering our questions and explaing items we did not understand. Both my girlfriend and I … enjoyed our experience with James. 1/14/13***Just want to take some time to update my review of James, and again say that I would recommend him to anyone I know. After I had purchased the home above with James as my relator I was transfered 6 months later and needed to sell the same house. After I talked with James about this situation he called me back 1 day later and said he had the perfect people to buy my house. After that he took care of everything and sold the house before it was even on the market and for more $ than what I had paid 6 months prior. James always told me he brings buyers and sellers together for the best deal possible and that is exactly what he did. You can't find anyone better in the Richmond area to buy or sell a hous” Read More ▾
James Strum
“I would highly recommend James to anyone looking for an excellent agent. James was extremely helpful from the moment he introduced himself. In addition to information on the listing and sale, he helped arrange contractors in instances when scheduling of our usual ones proved difficult. He was always available for questions or information. He w … as exceptionally knowledgeable about the market and our area. In our circumstance, he found a qualified buyer who committed to a strong contract. For reasons unrelated to James' work with the negotiations and/or contract the buyer indicated that he might breach the contract. Despite not being able to put the house back on the market, James still found another buyer within just days. And not just any buyer, but one that offered the full asking price for the home. James constantly followed up on details and made sure everything went through smoothly. I would certainly recommend him to my family and friends” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James Strum of the Strum Group sold our home at full price in under a week! Couldn't be more impressed with him and his team's ability to get everything put together and on the market so fast. My family and I needed to relocate for work fairly quickly, so quickly in fact that the majority of the paper work was handled online through James. It was … a big relief having him handle the buyers and the selling coordination. We were very impressed with his professionalism, attention to detail and responsiveness. We would highly recommend James and the Strum Group to anyone buying or selling in the Richmond area” Read More ▾
James Strum
“We interviewed 7 realtors, James Strum was our last interview. We were impressed with James professionalism and knowledge but also with his strategy approach to sell our home. We also loved his personality and we believed he was honest and a go getter. James Strum is a Seller's realtor that is his specialty! He listed our home and on the first … day we got an offer. Our home sold in three days but fours day to do the paperwork. The first loan fell through. James relisted our home and within 48 hours we were under contract. He brought us a full offer with no closing cost to buyer.. We moved 2300 miles before the completion of the closing but we never worried about anything. James handled every aspect of the sell and our closing to the end. If you are serious sellers or buyers do not overlook James Strum, he is a loyal and hard worker for his clients” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James helped us find our first home. James was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. With his guidance we were able to find a house that not only worked within our budget, but for our family size and in our desired location. James steered us clear of houses that we liked, but would've been far too much work for us as first time homeowners (and … I'm so grateful for that now that we're in our new home). He helped us stay focused and precise in our search so that we weren't overwhelmed or looking at houses that would't fit our needs. James helped us navigate not only finding the house, but our mortgage, and the company for the home inspection. One thing I heard a lot from other people was "don't use the inspector your realtor suggests because they will just try to help them get the house sold". James absolutely suggested a great inspector that saved us from buying a house that needed major repairs. I felt completely supported in walking away from the first house we made an offer on when the owners wouldn't budge on the repairs. James gave us realistic goals of what to offer and what to ask for throughout our home buying process. The process through the closing was seamless and easy and he was available for questions whenever and was whenever we needed him. After the inspection he was able to get us what we needed to get some major repairs completed, and we even had enough left over to fix some other things as well. It was a long process from beginning to end, but James made it as easy as possible. I would recommend him to anyone who's looking for a new home and we will definitely use him again if we need to purchase our next home” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James was very helpful in my home search and knew what I needed immediately. I was unfamiliar with the area in which I was purchasing a home and he informed me of the most desirable locations, even eliminating places before I wasted time looking. The first and only house he showed me was the one we purchased and he negotiated into the night for … a great deal. Before and after closing he was helpful in providing specialist that I needed to complete the purchase. He is personable, professional and I highly recommend him for real estate needs in Richmond VA.” Read More ▾
James Strum
Elizabeth Munyan Buyer • Bellevue, Richmond, VA
“We can't speak highly enough of my experience with Lee. I am a first-time homebuyer and had a lot of anxiety about the process. Lee was honest and always looking out for my best interest. I never felt like he was just trying to sell me a house. Lee is extremely responsive and worked very hard to answer calls, emails and to get me into showings. I t … rusted Lee on every step of the negotiation side, and he knew how to advocate for the best outcome for me. He went above and beyond, highly recommend” Read More ▾
Lee Hutchinson
“James saves us from the a terrible realtor experience where we just wanted to not even search for houses any more. I inquired about one of his properties online one day and he immediately within an hour or two emailed me back about my request. Soon after that we began cooresponding and that's when our search when James began. He hooked us up wi … th the MLS website where we would get the daily listings that matched our criteria and ONLY our criteria which we wanted in a house and whenever my husband and I were available and there were a few properties we wanted to look at he would fit us in his already busy schedule to show us houses all the way from Powhatan to the country of Chesterfield. He really works hard, and you can tell. When going in houses with him it was such an easy and no-pressure situation. He would never push you in one way or another, he was great about giving suggestions on what could be better. He was not your normal agent, he just sat back, was relaxed and never tried to sway your decision. I happened to fall in love with a HUD house, which is usually a difficult process to go through. In the iniital bid we did not get the house, but James kept checking back and never game up on it. It just so happened that something fell through with the initial bid and ours was actually the accepted bid. He made, what could have been a crucial process, very timeless and easy. We closed in exactly 45 days on the dot and I am very thankful to have had James come into our lives and help us make our first home purchase!!” Read More ▾
James Strum
“We highly recommend James Strum to anyone looking for a home in the Richmond area. He went above and beyond other real estate agents. He was incredibly patient with us as we looked in many areas, never pressuring us to bid. He was very responsive to calls, even at night and on weekends. He has a keen eye for identifying issues with homes and ensur … ed that we bid appropriately. Overall, James helped us to find the right house for us at the right price. Fantastic job, James & co.” Read More ▾
James Strum
“We recently moved to Richmond from out of town and did not know anyone or the area at all. We knew what type of home we were looking for and our price range but were clueless about where to buy, the school systems, value of the homes over the past 5 years and even what the possible future value of our newly purchased home would be? In reality th … ese were just a few of the many things on our mind with our purchase as you can imagine. I have to be honest and say James was fantastic. He was knowledgeable in everything I listed above as well as every other aspect of our purchase. He was on point when I tried to contact him not letting even 30 minutes go by before he got back with me--that to me was very important! In negotiation...he was the perfect middle man. We got the deal we were looking for and then some. I don't plan on moving from our new home for a while but if and when I do there is absolutely no-one else I would let handle my transaction. I own a successful local business here in Richmond and send referrals to James as often as I can because I know they will be taken care. Usually I dont write reviews on anything but in this instance I had to make an exception.. Your experience as our was with James will be as it should be......Perfect” Read More ▾
James Strum
“From the first time I met James he displayed nothing but professionalism. James really takes the time to listen to what you want in a home and delivers just that. I can admit that I was a bit of a handful but he definitely kept me on track. I respected his honest feedback and how he made me feel as if he was just MY agent. There is no doubt that I … would recommend him to others as well as call on him again if I needed to.” Read More ▾
James Strum
“Drew is an amazing realtor professional. He delivered beyond our wildest imagination. He was very thorough, friendly, kind and responsive. I will certainly recommend him to all my friends for his exceptional services. My wife and appreciate Drew as a friend and resource person in the community. Thanks again Drew for being so unique.”
Drew Setzer
“James was very knowledgeable and helpful to me in buying my condo. He understood what I was looking for, showed me interesting alternatives, and in the end helped me make the offer that was ultimately accepted. James even brought in a contractor to help give me an idea of what renovations would cost. He gave me excellent service throughout the … process and I would recommend him wholeheartedly.” Read More ▾
James Strum
“We were extremely pleased with our experience with the Strum Group. Our realtor, Drew Setzer, went above and beyond the call of duty. He led us through every step of the way in the process of buying our home. He was truly interested in finding us a home that met our wishes and in our budget. He was a real advocate throughout the negotiation pr … ocess. He responded quickly to our questions and concerns. We would recommend him highly to anyone in need of a realtor” Read More ▾
Drew Setzer
“James was an amazing realtor! He was super helpful every step of the way during our home-buying process! We used all of the inspectors that he recommended and were very pleased with them as well. We would highly recommend James to any of our friends or family! We didn't feel like we had to do very much because he did it all! He exceeded our e … xpectations! Thanks, James” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James was great to deal with. He helped in sorting through the area and being honest when going to look at houses. He is an excellent realtor and looks to help you find what you are truly looking for!”
James Strum
“My husband and I used James to purchase and sell our old home. The new home we purchased was for $425k and the home we sold was $205k. He was was always contacting us with updates and feedback and made us comfortable through both the buying and selling process. He not only became our life long agent, but we now look at him as a friend. Thank y … ou James for you knowledge, your understanding, and your responsiveness” Read More ▾
James Strum
“After interviewing several agents, we chose James without reservation. His responsiveness and professionalism surpassed his peers. During our first meeting, James' knowledge of the area and overall world of real estate was immediately apparent. He provided practical, yet honest feedback about the process, our home, and the market conditions. James … never pressured us and always explained each option in full detail. James worked with us to develop a step by step plan that would meet our timeline while still keeping our monetary goals at the forefront. James has a welcoming demeanor that put our children at ease. Our toddler even asked for Mr. James to come back to see her. However, James is easily able to transition from an agreeable disposition to a businessman who will represent your interests to the fullest extent. He negotiated a top price for our home when compared to market conditions. He was also able to keep the requests from the other side extremely reasonable/necessary. James kept us informed of feedback from showings immediately and advised us on any appropriate changes. He was reachable by various means and responded immediately. James made our first selling experience worry free and successful. We recommend James Strum without reservation” Read More ▾
James Strum
“My wife and I were very happy with the level of service we received from Sean. He was quick to communicate with us, always patient with us, and we always felt like he was on our side. He made sure that we got the house we wanted and was a fierce negotiator on our behalf. I highly recommend him for first-time homebuyers or for newcomers to Richmond … . His professionalism, honesty, and desire to serve are unmatched! Plus, he's a super nice guy and easy to talk to. Looking for a Realtor in Richmond? This is your guy!” Read More ▾
Sean Carlton
“Drew was an absolute pleasure to work with! He was very detailed and precise with his information in which was required for a smooth transaction on the sale of my first home. Drew made me feel like I was his top priority and that gave me a sense of comfort with every decision made. He is also not afraid to roll up his sleeves, get a little swea … ty and do what it takes to get the job done! This quality client care can be hard to find but Drew’s integrity carries in everything he does. Drew will not disappoint you!” Read More ▾
Drew Setzer
“The Strum Group of Long and Foster did an excellent job for us. I highly recommend them. Jamie Richardson did an amazing job finding us the perfect new home. We will be using their services to upgrade and sell our old home once our move is completed. I highly recommend both James and Jamie.”
James Strum
“Sean is a seasoned professional. He experience and diligence are what you need if you are looking for a home. Despite the competitive market Sean found us a home and negotiated a reasonable price. And as an added bonus Sean is a really nice guy.”
Sean Carlton
“As a first time home buyer I felt in over my head. James came in, made it much easier to find what I was looking for and what I could afford. He made a difficult process easy and much less stressful than it could have been. He was very professional and prompt in responding to my calls and messages. I would recommend him to anyone.”
James Strum
“He is a great and experienced realtor that will listen to your needs. It was apparent from the beginning that he is extremely trustworthy and ethical. His goal is to get you into the home YOU want. You are going to feel comfortable with him and you will not be disappointed. Thanks to James Strum I was able to find the home I wanted. The steps bet … ween finding the home and moving into the home were so easy because of James' help! I recommend him to everyone! If you want a great experience with a realtor, then you should definitely consider James Strum” Read More ▾
James Strum
“I reviewed James back in 2016 when he was with another agency (I actually joined Yelp just to write that review); it is worth repeating the review now that James has started his own company. Here is what we said: James Strum found our dream home. We contacted James after several months of researching the Richmond market online and presented … him with an impossible, multi-page list of requirements. When he told us at our first meeting that he had found our dream home, we looked at one another dubiously - but he was right! Furthermore, while the house was out of our price range, new to the market, and experiencing a great deal of interest, he was somehow able to negotiate our dream price as well. The house is still our dream home nearly two years later, and we remain grateful to James. We also appreciated the knowledge James was able to impart along the way. For example, he pointed out the "pros and cons" of various features in every home - knowledge that extended beyond that of a layperson. Finally, he was always available and went "above and beyond" in countless ways. We recommend James highly to anyone” Read More ▾
James Strum
“James was always ready and available anytime I had questions or concerns. He was always looking out for my best interest. In the end I got a great house and I am very pleased with his service and support. James is also periodically checking in to make sure everything is going well.”
James Strum
