Member Spotlight: Chris Small, Small & Associates

Leverage

As a leading real estate professional since 1982, Chris has helped his clients buy and sell luxury homes in some of Richmond’s most prominent neighborhoods, including Monument Avenue, the Fan District, Windsor Farms and the Near West End. He also has extensive experience with investment properties, condominium conversions, renovations and custom construction. In the course of 40 years, he’s seen housing go through several high and low cycles, and he has the experience to help his clients navigate whatever the market throws at them. When not selling real estate, Chris is a champion of the Richmond area, having served on the Virginia Commonwealth University Foundation Board, the Advisory Board of the Richmond Ballet and various neighborhood and condominium boards, as well as the Architectural Review Board of the City of Richmond.

How did you get into real estate?

Real estate is my strong background. My dad owned a real estate company and as a kid I spent a great deal of time in his office. When i was in high school, i took all of the education classes to become a sales person and a broker and took the exam the summer after I graduated from HS. I came to Richmond to go to VCU (originally was supposed to be U of R but no freshman could have a car so i switched!) I activated my license that year and started working. When you are 18 you have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously so i credit that with honing my skills at an early age.

Tell us about one of your most interesting deals.

My favorite clients, in one year I sold one couple 5 different properties. They would find a house, buy it and then decide it would not work for one reason or another. We would sell and then go buy another sometimes totally different and it still would not work and then be off again to another house adventure. The hunt is not over yet and we are selling the 5th house and beginning to look for #6. At this point they are like family to me and my team.