Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 13 INTERVIEWED BY EMILY FREEHLING "Relationships are the basis of everything we do," Taylor said. "It was hard to not be able to see people in person, so we quickly sought ways to adapt so that we could still provide that personalized ser- vice people have come to know us for." The team doubled down on time spent— virtually—with clients new and old. They put processes in place to create more touch points and check-ins to make sure they understood their buyers and sellers and could advocate for them. "We realize now more than ever that relationships matter the most. People want to trust who they are working with. They want to feel protected and know they have an advocate," Taylor said. Taylor said she worried when she saw people struggling during the shutdown with two opposing factors: a flood of information and opinion, and limited options to connect with trusted experts who could help them sort through the noise—especially as the area housing market heated up. Taylor wanted to help people make sense of the data, and not get wrapped up in different "expert" opinions. "We realized how important for it was for us to provide statistics, not just opinions, so that individual buyers and sellers could arm themselves with knowledge, and take some of the emo- tional stress out of it," Taylor said. She started publishing a weekly market report online at fredericksburgmarke- treport.com that provides clear and easy-to-read statistics on what has sold over the past month and throughout the year. "We want people to be able to do the analysis for themselves," Taylor said. "This has been very popular among our existing clients, but has also been helpful to people moving in from out of the area. It's helped build their comfort level in this important decision-making process." Because ultimately that decision affects the place that has now become more central to our lives than ever. And mak- ing the right decision makes it a plea- sure—not a burden—to stay home. To learn more, visit: amycherrytaylor.com Amy Cherry Taylor & Associates "The idea of 'home' has always been the core of our business," Amy Cherry Taylor said. "We don't see ourselves as selling 'houses' or facilitating 'transactions.' Our team is here to guide people through that process of finding the place where they feel at home." The COVID-19 pandemic was a milestone moment for many people, who used the pause in life as they knew it to take stock of how they could improve their lives with a change of address. Taylor and her team saw people make all kinds of adjustments to their lifestyles that translated to a new definition of home. Forgoing a daily commute to Washington, D.C., meant that some could move closer to the small-town pleasures of Fredericksburg. A calendar wiped clean of extraneous obligations allowed others to envision spending more time maintaining land, or a swimming pool. "We have had so many people move for so many different reasons," Taylor said. "There have been so many redefinitions of what home is and what home means to people." Helping people make solid decisions about one of the biggest investments most Americans make is more than just a sales job. The Amy Cherry Taylor team has always placed a strong focus on building relationships with their clients—more than 80% of whom are repeat business and personal referrals—and forging authentic connections. That became harder when the pandemic turned the face-to-face meeting into a high-risk activity. Stay home. That prescription for combatting the spread of COVID-19 turned homes into multi-purpose venues like never before. Almost overnight, Virginians were learning, working, exercising socializing and shopping without leaving the walls of their abodes. For Amy Cherry Taylor & Associates of Avery Hess Realtors based in Spotsylvania County, this unique moment in time shone a light on why they do what they do. Sponsored Material Stay-home Orders Emphasized the Importance of Choosing the Right Home

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