James Strum
President/Team LeaderA lifelong Richmond resident, James enjoys sharing his knowledge and love of the area with all of his clients. James comes from a real estate family background with his father a residential Realtor and his sister in investment real estate. Having been around the business most of his life, James possesses the necessary elements to bring happiness and satisfaction to his clients.
James is a graduate of James Madison University, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work. Through the tools and techniques learned there, James believes this adds to his success with client relationships.
In his leisure hours, James enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing sports, and beach vacations!
Got a question? I am available…
What My Clients Say
Moseley, VA
Buyer‟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 ▾
Missy R.
Buyer‟Jamie Strum, Cole Atkins and the entire Strum team are the best in the business. My husband and I met Cole when we found the home of our dreams in April of 2019 and the Strum Group helped us purchase this home in May. Not only did they know the area extremely well but they referred us to the best closing attorney, inspector and an entire team of we … ll qualified folks who helped us along the way. My husband and I had not bought a home for over 20 years so needless to say we had lots of questions throughout the process. Jaime and Cole were extremely patient, knowledgeable, accommodating, thorough and, in my opinion, they are the master negotiators! They made us feel like we were their only clients and that helps...especially when you haven't done this in 20 years! To this day, months later, we still keep in touch with Jaime and Cole and I know for a fact they would do anything for us (and we would do anything for them!). Simply put, the Strum Group is the best of the best” Read More ▾
Luke & Ashleigh
Seller‟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 ove rall 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 ▾
Ossama & Farah
Seller‟We couldn't be more pleased with the sale of our home on 2205 Oakhampton Ct. James strum is hands down the BEST Realtor in Richmond. James is extremely knowledgeable, professional, and dedicate d. He was there for us every step of the way and did everything in his power to make sure we were satisfied. i will recommend James to everyone I know that … is looking to buy or sell a home. Thank you James we appreciate everything you have done for us” Read More ▾
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 ▾
Tony C.
Seller‟Drew and his team did an outstanding job for us from start to finish. We interviewed a number of agents before we found Drew. He is an excellent listener and showed genuine interest in our historic home’s details and features. Rather than viewing our property as just another product to put on the market, he took the time to study the overall potent … ial and then put together a very creative marketing plan that attracted a huge amount of buyer; far beyond what we ever imagined. We were also very impressed with his professionalism, attention to detail and wonderfully calm demeanor while orchestrating the various elements as we prepared our home for market. He provided us with excellent stagers, painters, photographers and made suggestions that helped sell our home. With all of these aspects combined, in addition to negotiating hard on our behalf, Drew was able to get us 9 enthusiast offers. The end result was incredible, as we got $61,000 over asking!!! Not only did he work diligently throughout every step of the process, he made it a pleasant experience that we will always remember fondly. Selling a home can be a daunting challenge to undertake, but when you are working with a quality individual who employs an experienced team, the effort transforms from overwhelming into exciting. Drew and his team are not just outstanding, they are good people. We are so grateful we went with our instincts and selected him as our agent; the rest is history, in a wonderfully good way” Read More ▾
dherald28
Buyer‟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 ▾
Kayla H.
Buyer‟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 ▾
user0466996
Buyer‟The finest in Richmond, and dedicated to providing the highest standards in customer satisfaction. The Strum group helped save my family Fifty thousand dollars off asking price in a sellars market. The experience and professionalism of the team is above reproach. If you want it done call Strum”
jpatrickpittman
Buyer‟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 ▾
user2508305
Buyer‟James Strum found our dream home! After months of searching ourselves, we contacted James and gave him an impossible multi-page list of our new home’s requirements. The first day we came to Richmond, we looked at him dubiously when he told us that he had found our dream home – but he was right! Although the house was out of our price range – an … d first day on the market with a lot of interest – he was somehow able to negotiate our dream price as well. The house has proved to be perfect, and we are truly grateful to James. We also appreciated James’s “pointers” along the way…he explained many pros and cons of homes using knowledge far beyond that of a layperson. Being new to Richmond, we also appreciated the knowledge of the local area he was able to share. He is always available and went “above and beyond” in so many ways - we would highly recommend James to anyone” Read More ▾
user5033544
Buyer‟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 ▾
user9567010
Buyer‟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 ▾
user6870958
Buyer‟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 ▾
lpescara
Buyer‟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 ▾
user17142162
Buyer‟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 ▾
user13585423
Buyer‟James was an outstanding realtor. He made us feel like we were his only clients and was extremely quick in responding to any communication we had with him. As first time home buyers, James was patient and took the time to explain to us any procedural and clerical inquiries we had. He has a great eye for houses, and was quick to point out any flaws … homes we were looking at had. James is extremely honest, and he completely looks out for the best interests of his clients. Instead of pushing a subpar home to get a sale, James will point out deal breakers and try to find you the best home in your budget. James and his team also took care of a lot of the legwork that most others realtors will not once the home is under contract. He stays with you the whole way. His negotiation skills are excellent and he provided us the house at the exact price point we wanted. James Strum is an outstanding realtor and shows true concern and compassion for his clients. He is a refreshingly honest person who I would use again in a heartbeat. Highly recommended.” Read More ▾
vwade12
Buyer‟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 ▾
cherylbryant723
Buyer‟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 ▾
kasarda ross
Buyer‟I don't think we could be happier with our experiences with James. We immediately had a sense that he was an expert in real estate and the Richmond area. He kept us informed of everything going on with our search and our purchase once we found the right house. James and his staff were always available and really made us feel like we were his on … ly client. Our four year old son didn't mind looking at house as long as James was there! I have already recommended him to anyone who needs an agent that will work hard for you and get you a fantastic outcome. Super agent. 100% satisfaction in all phases of the process of finding our dream home. We will always use James for our real estate need” Read More ▾
user98717523
Buyer‟James and his group were awesome. We were moving to Richmond with no local knowledge at all, and James made the process as easy as it could have been. We gave him a list of our priorities, and he took that list and gave came up with a list of potential candidates. We did not find anything on the first weekend or even the second that was a homer … un (we saw 40 houses with him in 2 weekends but none were quite "it"), and James was not deterred or pushy at all and even had the idea to go back to his office quickly to adjust come criteria before we had to leave town. We ended up finding the house that we both knew immediately was "it" in that last group, and if it would not have been for James and his tenaciousness we would have never found it. James and his entire group also made the negotiation and subsequent post contract processes a breeze, and went out of his way to go to bat for us on several occasions. I have bought and sold several houses in my career, and I can say without a doubt that James and his group made the entire process as fun and painless as possible.” Read More ▾
russosf
Buyer‟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 ▾
merlione6
Buyer‟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 ▾
whalenjf1
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 looking 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 extens … ive 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 ▾
ani108_pe
Buyer‟James!!!!! You are AWESOME!, You are professional!, and Excelent person,, If you are looking for a REALTOR, James is the man,, he has the knowledge, he has excellent skill, is patient,, give you all the advices, and give you the tools you need to look for your home,, he open your page and update as your require and needs, He show the houses … you are interested ,, contact realtors, financing and the people you need for make easy this big journal. We have not enought word to THANKS your time James,, really has been a bless to meet you,,,and help us find the place we can call HOME, where you are always welcome!!!!” Read More ▾
eenie91
Buyer‟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 ▾
user45050901
Buyer‟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.”
daniel a olivos
Buyer‟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 ▾
Stephanie Rummel
Buyer‟If you are searching for the perfect realtor to help you find your new home, James Strum is the best match. We started working with James in 2/13 to find our first home. We found James to be responsive, professional, affable, and knowledgeable. James possesses the skills to make this whole process relatively painless. He was able to set us up … with a website immediately that allowed us to preview homes that were specific to our budget, location, and needs. We felt confident with his guidance and resources that we would find the right home. In a very limited market, we eventually found a home that exceeded our expectations and met our budget. James is an excellent negotiator and tenaciously fought in our best interest. I am not exaggerating when I say that James is available almost 24/7 by phone, text, and email. He even met us on Easter Sunday to put in a contract because he is that dedicated. Overall we are thrilled with the outcome and have been enjoying our new home. Thank you James for your hard work and paying us a housewarming visit! We would definitely work with James again in the future.” Read More ▾
anbarker14
Buyer‟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.”
user07091841
Buyer‟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 ▾
user2400752
Buyer‟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 ▾
Sarah Clark
Buyer‟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 ▾
user923053
Buyer‟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 ▾
user3470089
Buyer‟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.”
user78135
Buyer‟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 ▾
user1896081
Buyer‟Working with James was an absolute delight. As a first time homebuyer, I was an uninformed mess. Long story short, I found James and then James found me my dream home. James was incredibly well informed, patient, kind and trustworthy. Always just a phone call away, he spent hours answering questions and making sure I was comfortable, up to date a … nd happy. If you want an agent who is going to go above and beyond and work tirelessly to find you a perfect fit, James is your man” Read More ▾
user996182
Buyer‟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 ▾
clr0208
Buyer‟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 ▾
arsenal4rs
Buyer‟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 ▾
saritaellen
Buyer‟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 ▾
mcgoughp0870
Buyer‟My husband and I were first time homebuyers and when we were introduced to James, he made us feel extremely comfortable with the entire buying process. He set up a website designed especially for us with all the parameters we chose, not to mention it was done within 24 hours of first meeting him. He is highly intelligent in his field of work. H … e is dedicated and motivated first and foremost. He is very personable and reachable at any and all times. He worked for us, he did everything in his power to make this home buying as easy as possible for us. Everyone told us the loan process and closing process was a pure headache, it wasn't he helped us have all our ducks in a row prior to that. He and I are still friends today, he is one that I will always refer my friends and family to, and when I ever decide to buy again, no matter where he may be, I will be looking him up! Buying our first home was a very pleasurable experience and my husband and I can honestly say, James Strum made the experience what it was!” Read More ▾
23wack23
Buyer‟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 ▾
bwcarpenter1
Buyer‟James Strum and his team are truly professionals. My experience from the first phone call with James to discuss selling my house to working with Jamie Richardson on searching for my new house was truly an awesome experience. The entire Strum group was truly a pleasure to deal with and you can tell they all take pride in their jobs. Jamie Richards … on in particular did an awesome job helping us find our new home, Jamie worked tirelessly while helping us find our new home and went above and beyond are expectations. We are very thankful for Jamie’s work ethic and will gladly recommend Jamie to anyone that we know selling or buying. If I sell and buy again I will definitely contact Jamie Richardson and the Strum Group again. Thank you again Jamie!” Read More ▾
lwramsey6
Buyer‟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.”
lauries506
Buyer/Seller‟Stop right here, this is the best agent you will find! James Strum was incredibly insightful and intuitive about the market and was honest with me about what to do and what to expect. Everything he told me was right! He sold my home quickly in Glen Allen, and one of his agents, Jamie, helped me purchase a home in Short Pump, and she was awesome as … well. James also works with an incredible network of vendors, and I used his contacts to make some repairs before we put my house on the market” Read More ▾
me40me
Seller‟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 ▾
user98717523
Buyer/Seller‟We used James to buy our house when we moved to Richmond three years ago based on a reference from a friend, and recently chose to use his firm to sell our house when we moved from Richmond based on the original experience. I am a very analytic person, and was extremely impressed by the quality and depth of James research regarding the market for … our property. He even suggested we go above the price that I originally discussed with him, which shows he had our best interest in mind and was not just interested in making an easier sell. Thanks to James, we got several thousand dollars above the original asking price that I was envisioning. I would highly recommend James and his firm to anyone looking to buy or sell a house in Richmond, as his knowledge of the Richmond market, quantitative nature, and work ethic (the guy was sending me emails after I went to bed and before I got up) make him the ideal realtor” Read More ▾
zuser20170111202148278
Seller‟James and team had our house listed and sold within 48 hours (with multiple offers) in the middle of no where Goochland. We were beyond impressed with the effort and dedication James has in making sure we got what we were hoping for the list price. The selling experience was such a smooth transaction. Cannot recommend h … im enough” Read More ▾
darrenjdesoi
Seller‟What originally was a difficult situation to sell, James turned into a dream sell. He hooked me up with very inexpensive contractors to fix what we needed to and had the house on the market in 3 weeks. Because of his efforts we had 6 requests to see the house in the first 24 hours. Anything that came up during the sale, James was on it immediat … ely and communicating with me hourly. He took the stress out of everything! Turns out we had to cancel some because we had an offer above asking in 8 hours and closed the deal. I was out in 4 weeks and didn’t even have time to look for a new house, but I will go to him when I do. My only advice to those using James, have your next house targeted because your house is going to sell quick with him!” Read More ▾
user4082187
Seller‟James promised us a quick sale, and we got it! Some of it was our house, of course, but he negotiated us a great offer, after guiding us through the best repairs to make to get top dollar on the house. He helped find us good contractors to prepare the house, and was very available every step of the way. I was dreading the process, but it was ac … tually incredibly easy with James. He was recommended by a friend who had the same experience as us! Thanks, James!” Read More ▾
msluna1201
Buyer/Seller‟What a Team! I followed James specific yet simple instructions on staging my home, he put my house on the market and within hours, we had an offer well over asking price! Any obstacle that arose was swiftly handled by his arsenal of contractors, with James constantly assuring me “Don’t worry, I … got it covered!” He was even willing to get the neighbor’s grass cut so that it would not interfere with the sale of my house. You rock James! Linda Elmore was a gem to work with as a buyer’s agent. She really knows her stuff! Her alertness, research and quick follow up led me to the house of my dreams in a short period of time. Closing both homes on time during a holiday week was the cherry on top, thanks to the hard work of both agents. James and Linda responded quickly to all my questions and concerns and truly made me feel like they were on my side 200%. I highly recommend the Strum Group !!!” Read More ▾
shanna leake
Seller‟James and everyone at the Strum Group were excellent and very easy to work with. They were always available when we had questions. James communicated with us frequently through every step, and made the whole process go smoothly. Less than 2 months on the market, we had a full price offer, which after negotiations, turned into a sale OVER list pr … ice. I would highly recommend James and The Strum Group to all of my friends and family” Read More ▾
church13dc
Seller‟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 ▾
valerie cooke
Seller‟AMAZING! He got me a full price offer in 3 weeks. James helps you EVERY step of the way. He provides information on what you should do to your home to get the most money and has anazing connections to the right people to help you get it done at an affordable price. First day on the market I had 5 showings. James will definitely get traffic in the … door to get your home sold quickly and for top dollar! Thanks again Mr. Strum !!!” Read More ▾
zuser20160306164217896
Buyer/Seller‟We had two houses to sell and then needed to purchase one. He walked us through each step toward our journey. James exceeded our expectations in ALL areas! He was always quick to respond and knew just who to call for any repairs that needed to be made. His resources were excellent and very reasonable. We could not have maneuvered this journey … without him! He is a full-time professional who takes his job seriously! Actually, can't say enough good things about this realtor!!!!! :” Read More ▾
spartantribe114
Seller‟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 ▾
user2815293
Seller‟My husband and I interviewed a couple different realtors. We chose James for his confidence and knowledge of the market. He walked us through the process and was very responsive to questions. James worked hard to market our house, which was evident by the countless showings we had. At the end of the day we sold or house in a couple of months and g … ot our full asking price” Read More ▾
47kevin
Seller‟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 ▾
jhthomas1179
Buyer/Seller‟James Strum is a consummate professional and working with him to sell our house and buy a new one was a fantastic experience. He has an unbelievable knowledge of the market, he priced our home perfectly, gave us great staging advice, had a wonderful photographer take great photos to help market the home, and got the word out to realtors in the are … a. We had four showings within 24 hours of being on the market, and in less than 72 hours we had a full price offer. Throughout the entire process of selling our home James was available and happy to answer our questions and concerns. After selling our home, James helped us search for a new home, and even though he did an amazing job selling our old house, it was in this area that his skills, knowledge, work ethic, and dedication to his clients shone. He showed my wife and I houses whenever we saw something that interested us - he answered all of our questions, had a great eye for properties and a deep and thorough knowledge of the area. The thing that stood out about James service was that he did not push us towards a house that he didn't think was right for our needs. He quickly adapted to the wants and needs of our family and after a few showings was showing us only properties that had the features we wanted. My wife and I trusted his judgement implicitly and he showed great patience in helping us find our dream home. His knowledge of the area and the market meant he was also a great negotiator on our behalf, making sure we got the house we loved at the price we needed! We moved into our new home this past weekend and we couldn't be happier. Working with James made the stressful business of buying and selling a home a fun and exciting experience for my wife and I, and by the end of the process he felt like a member of the family!” Read More ▾
JebBrousseau
Buyer/Seller‟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 ▾
BerthaMontgomery
Seller‟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 ▾
user9770310
Seller‟I am going to keep this short and sweet. I echo the positive comments made by previous reviewers. James and his team were able to sell our home twice (first buyers loan fell through) in only 10 days for top dollar! Before choosing James and his team, we had an offer from another real estate company who estimated the sale price of our home for $20, … 000 less than what James was able to sell our home for. We had a fairly rough closing, but James went above and beyond to close on the home on time for us to be able to buy our new home. His sense of urgency as if it was his home and situation made us feel at ease during the entire process! We are more than pleased with the service James gave us before, during, and after the sale of our home. If you are looking to sell your home in the Richmond area, I would highly recommend contacting James and meeting him. Even if you have another agent and company in mind, it's worth 30 minutes of your time to talk and meet with him before you choose someone else. Random side note... We have two young kids, and he was great with them whenever we met. VERY personable, and was sensitive to their sleep schedules as far as lining up the viewings. Kid approved” Read More ▾
Happy homeowner123
Seller‟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 ▾
user6907831
Buyer/Seller‟James Strum is a consumate professional. James was able to assist us on selling as well as buying our new home in key ways that made our process as smooth as possible. James is able to think outside of the box and come up with creative ways to mitigate just about contingency. James has been in the business for quite awhile and has developed a netw … ork of skilled professionals to assist with any situation. We will use James Strum in the future” Read More ▾
user9929995
Buyer/Seller‟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 ▾
zuser20150321134227249
Seller‟James was awesome. We had been renting our house in Midlothian after relocating in 2012. We told James that we wanted to sell the house as quickly as possible. He listed the house at the end of April and we closed June 1 at our target price. He was responsive, available, and dependable. 1. He did a good job getting … us to list the house at the right price--and identifying where to cost-effectively invest in upgrades to sell quickly. 2. We had high-maintenance renters living in the house--James was excellent at managing them as we put the house on the market. 3. He did a great job staging the house and positioning it online. 4. The first (and only!) weekend he did an open house we had 20 visitors. We had two fair offers within four days of the open house. He represented us well during negotiations and we were very happy with the final price. We will recommend James to all of our friends and family buying and especially selling in Central VA” Read More ▾
DARREN EPPS
Seller‟James helped us find our first home -- driving to numerous homes on his own while we were at work -- so it was an easy decision to have him sell the same home. James worked the phones for us while he was out of the country on his honeymoon and faxed documents just before his wedding. He is incredible at his job and always available. We wish we cou … ld have brought him to Georgia with us” Read More ▾
windglider
Seller‟I would highly recommend James to anyone wishing to sell their home at the highest possible price and in the shortest length of time. He exhibited the utmost in professionalism and far exceeded my expectations. James is very knowledgeable of the real estate market and demonstrated this as he reviewed comps with me and patiently explained the hom … e selling process. James has a keen eye for what it takes to sell a home and a knack for home staging. The pictures that he took of my home were beautiful and really showcased the positive features that the home had to offer. When we discussed list price, I recall James saying, “If we price the home appropriately, it will sell quickly and at top dollar….trust me”. Well, James earned my trust many, many times over. He was able to sell my home in 3 days and at top dollar as he promised!! The purchase price was nearly spot-on with his recommended list price!!! James was always readily available to answer any questions that I had and did an outstanding job keeping me abreast of the process. From the beginning, I felt as if James had my best interest at heart and valued me as a client. He’s truly among the best of the best in real estate” Read More ▾
kateclatterbaugh
Seller‟James is extremely thorough, knowledgeable, and professional real estate agent. He has a vast knowledge of the Richmond market, negotiation, suggesting improvements, staging, etc. James kept in constant contact with us throughout the selling process and we never waited longer than an hour for a return call, day or night. By no fault of James, we w … ent through 3 purchase contracts before finally closing on our home. Through all of the challenges, James' enthusiasm to sell our home never faltered and his positive attitude kept us encouraged. We sold our home while we were out of town e and James' handled all of our repairs, maintenance and inspections. His professional contacts and willingness to handle the details was invaluable especially since we were 100’s of miles away. There wasn't a challenge we faced that James wasn't willing to tackle. By the end of our sale experience, we truly felt like we'd found a friend in James. I would recommend James to anyone looking for a first class realtor.” Read More ▾
kahuffer
Seller‟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 ▾
kennynshelley
Seller‟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!”
deh5t
Seller‟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 ▾
joneskatie
Seller‟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 ▾
user44890453
Seller‟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 ▾
Matt Mitchell
Seller‟James was excellent from start to finish. He was always very professional and really knows the market, as well as how to close. He was able to get a full price offer for me, which was above my initial expectations, in less than two weeks and get the deal closed quickly. He handled all of the details with very little headache for me. I will def … initely work exclusively with James in the future.” Read More ▾
zuser20140623100550317
Seller‟An amazing agent, and an amazing team! We have had a terrible past two years, and are having to short sell our house. Once I met with James, I felt better about the process. James told me what to expect, and that he would sell the house within the month. Within 6 weeks, our house was under contract in spite of major problems and issues includi … ng foundation problems and such. He has been very encouraging in a difficult situation, and continues to be pro-active and supportive as we move forward with the sale of our house. I have already recommended him to several friends, and greatly encourage others to use his agency” Read More ▾
walkerpg82
Seller‟James was great to work with in selling my home. I can't imagine anyone else getting the results I needed than James. He had a great knowledge of the market and worked hard to get our listing just right and at a great price. Our house went under contract in 11 days at full list price. I would highly recommend this realtor to anyone in the Richmond … area.” Read More ▾
sj995
Seller‟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 ▾
user1731186
Seller‟We couldn't be more pleased with the sale of our home on 2205 Oakhampton Ct. James strum is hands down the BEST Realtor in Richmond. James is extremely knowledgeable, professional, and dedicated. He was there for us every step of the way and did everything in his power to make sure we were satisfied. i will recommend James to everyone i know that … is looking to buy or sell a home. Thank you James we appreciate everything you have done for us. Ossama & Fara” Read More ▾
REN7
Seller‟James understands the Richmond market. He helped us sell our home for more than what other agents thought we could sell it for (in less than 2 weeks). On the flip side, he helped us negotiate the selling price down on the house we were purchasing more than what we thought we could do. We would use him again and have recommended him to others. Than … ks, James” Read More ▾
BrettPrillaman
Seller‟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 ▾
luke_n_ashleigh
Seller‟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 ▾
Michael Malone
Buyer/Seller‟We started using James while looking for potential rental properties. He was always up for looking at any property we wished to see. Over the course of six months, this idea fizzled out, however we did see an opportunity to sell our home and upgrade to a larger house in a better neighborhood. James was optimistic, yet honest about the market. He w … as able to set and market a price on our home that was on par with our expectations. When an offer came through, he was able to negotiate very well, and got us a great final offer on our house. When looking for the new home, he was great in offering advice on how he felt the place would pay off in the long run. We were able to find the home we wanted, and Jame's negotiation skills came into play again, and he got us a great deal on the home of our choice. His contacts (lender, closing agents) were a great asset, and were very competitive, and ended up getting my business” Read More ▾
digiovannim
Buyer/Seller‟James was awesome to work with. He helped us list and sell our house and find and close on the purchase of our new house. We were able to complete both transactions in just a few short months. James knows his stuff and will work hard for you!—if you listen to him, you will sell your house. He will tell you what needs to be updated and fixed … to make your home more attractive to potential buyers. He is a great negotiator on both sides of the deal. I would highly recommend him!” Read More ▾
user5473314
Seller‟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 ▾
user0456734
Seller‟We would recommend James to others selling homes in the area, he did an excellent job for us. James is very knowledgeable and realistic. His guidance on pricing was consistently on target and reflected the realities of our particular market. When pricing the house he did a thorough review of comparables which he shared with us in order to expla … in why we could not expect to get the price we originally wanted. He provided excellent guidance on staging the house for sale, and he took and effectively used photos that presented the house and its surroundings at their best. James actively marketed the house and kept us informed regarding such things as the number of viewings and the reactions of the prospective buyers. When a buyer was found James facilitated our required activities as sellers (e.g., obtaining well testing and termite inspection, etc.)” Read More ▾
user0466996
Buyer/Seller‟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 ▾
user1381154
Seller‟I was referred to James by a relocation company. I picked him out of 3 agents because I am very impressed by his openness, honest, passion about what he is doing, and excellent records. As a first-time seller, I was clueless and nervous, after meeting him the first time, I feel like my house will be in good hand. He gave me clear instructions on e … xactly what I need to do to prepare for the house ready for market. When the house is ready, he took pictures and put it on market the same day. There were a lot of showings,I believe he did a good job marketing the house on internet. We only had one open house, and got an offer 15 days after the house is on market. The offer was a little lower than we want. James help negotiation with the buyer and we finally got a deal that we are happy about” Read More ▾
StacyCobbs
Seller‟After struggling to find someone to help us short sale our condo, I found James Strum via Zillow. I sent him an email and he responded to me within twenty four hours. The day after that he called me and we started the selling process. I had never sold a house before, and to top it off was short selling after losing my job. James was incredibly … patient with all of my questions. I never felt rushed, and I always felt like James cared about teaching me as we went along. He was very clear on the paperwork I needed to gather and the communication I needed to submit to out bank. He explained how he wanted me to show the house, and helped me move furniture to make it look even nicer. He put our condo on the market while we were on vacation, and he got a contract within seventy two hours!!!! I was so excited I didn't even want to believe it at first. We had discussed that short sales were a long process, but getting a contract do quickly was a huge first step. Following the act of getting the contract, I did everything James told me as quickly and accurately as possible, as he was very knowledgeable on what we needed to do. As it turned out, our efforts payed off and the closing was moved up. All in all it took about forty five days to sell and close on our house. I could not be more impressed with how if all worked out and truly believe it was all because of James. He was AMAZING to work with. Confident, efficient, attentive, timely, responsible, dedicated, and personable. I can't wait until we are able to buy one day because he will be the person I trust to help me” Read More ▾
user3790908
Seller‟We were introduced to Mr. Strum by a relative who had glowing praises for his services in what was a very trying time for us. Facing the need to move my mother and close a house in a town we no longer live was a daunting task. James certainly know how to make a good impression, meeting us on what turned out to be our first trip to Richmond to st … art disassembling the home. James offered honest advice on how to prepare the home for sale. Frankly, I would have been pleased with this performance, but his responsiveness was only the beginning. James connected us with all the service providers we needed to interact to paint, clean up, fix a failing heat pump at the lowest cost and complete necessary electrical and plumbing issues to close the sale. All this and he also kept me in the loop 100% of the time by email, phone and text messages. If you need a realtor will support you in a sale or a purchase, I sincerely believe James Strum is the agent you want to work with” Read More ▾
user9103277
Seller‟I contacted several realtors at the end of 2012 and chose James due to his professionalism, courtesy and responsiveness. James immediately did his due diligence by conducting a thorough market analysis and developed an appropriate listing price that I agreed to. He listed the property and we received 2 competitive offers (thus allowing for full l … isting price) in 8 just days. This was a short sale transaction with numerous challenges, and he efficiently and effectively negotiated with the first and second lienholders and closed it in 83 days. James gets 6 stars on a 5 star rating scale! I would use his services again and I highly recommend him to others in need of these services” Read More ▾
user1716572
Seller‟I would strongly recommend James Strum to anyone looking to buy or sell a property. He is knowledgeable of the market, area, process, and is willing to do the homework necessary to ensure a perfect fit! I had the privilege of working with James on both sides of the table and was impressed with his ability to answer questions and provide honest … feedback about what was realistic and would be best for me. When looking to buy my new home, James was willing to screen my home searches to ensure I was looking at homes that would meet my needs and interests. His advice and feedback were helpful when I was unfamiliar with certain locations or homes. I always felt as though James was looking out for my best interest. James was willing to give me his professional opinion and the options that were available so I good make informed decisions for my family. Throughout the process he painted a clear picture of what to expect. The day I closed on both the house I sold and bought there were no surprises! I feel that James assisted me in making the best choice for my family both now and for the future. I am very please and feel confident in my home choice. This level of comfort and excitement can be attributed to our outstanding agent, James Strum” Read More ▾
user6743856
Seller‟James was AMAZING in helping us do a short sale on our house in Richmond, VA. When we were looking at realtors one of the big things we asked about was if they knew about short sales, James said he did, and wow did he. I don't know if any other realtor could have sold our house for us and even got our bank to write off the balance of our second … mortgage. He really fought with our bank to get everything to go through and got the buyers to pay more than they offered just to get our house. At this time in the real estate market we were really scared what was going to happen and then when we moved to Maine, I thought there was no way to pull it off. THANK YOU James” Read More ▾
user8914248
Seller‟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 ▾
user1365737
Seller‟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 ▾
Megan McAloon
Buyer/Seller‟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 ▾
pleadbet
Buyer/Seller‟We had a great experience with James as our agent. He gave us great tips on what needed to be done to sell our house while keeping the costs to a minimum. He was able to sell our house in a down market in less than a month for our full asking price. When it came to looking at houses James was hard working, very patient with us, was able to confo … rm his schedule to when we were available, and was very attentive to our needs. After a couple tours of houses, James knew exactly what we were looking for and eliminated any houses he knew we wouldn't like and was able to pick out the house we ended buying within 2 hours of it being listed. He handled negotiations like a champ and got us a great deal on our house. Overall we had a great experience with James and look forward to working with him again in the future” Read More ▾
user4895210
Seller‟James has been a pleasure to work with. James was our selling agent and he sold our house for us within 45 days, which is really good! He took time to create great views of each of our rooms that truly reflected the spaciousness of the house! The listings in various websites looked great and we got a lot of showings for the house. He was able to n … egotiate with our eventual buyers for a fair price! James is easy to work with and he is definitely a people person! He can sometimes come across as being a little tough but he has your best interest at heart and is willing to do what it takes! Thanks for everything James” Read More ▾
user6623729
Seller‟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 ▾
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