Reflecting on a Year of Growth and Community Engagement: 2023 in Review

As we bid farewell to 2023 and welcome 2024 with open arms, we take pride in reflecting on the milestones and achievements of East + Ivy. This year has been a testament to our commitment to excellence, community engagement, and unwavering dedication to our clients. 

Exceptional Performance in Real Estate

2023 was a rollercoaster year with more significant fluctuation in rates and inventory than the last few years. Despite this fact, it was still a triumph for our team. We never wavered in our commitment to our clients and we helped 58 families buy and sell their homes. These sales are more than transactions, they represent our unwavering work ethic and signify our clients' trust and confidence in us. 

Additionally, we extended our services beyond traditional sales by assisting an additional 17 clients and new friends with leasing, offering our expertise and support to a broader spectrum of real estate needs. We've helped countless military families find their next home before, but this past spring, we had our first sole international closing, assisting dear friends to close on their first family home from Italy. Then, we assisted another moving military family in procuring the perfect rental all the way from Vicenza as well. 

We've helped first-time homeowners achieve their dreams, including our very own Jennifer Lynch, and others downsize as they move on to the next chapter in their lives or move closer to grandchildren. And our new agents celebrated their first sales as they began their new careers in real estate. So, while our numbers were not what we set out to achieve, our emotions were at an all-time high. 

Engaging with the Community 

At East + Ivy, our commitment to the community is ingrained in our values. This year, we organized two vibrant events that brought together neighbors, clients, and local businesses. The "Brick Oven and Brews" event in the spring was a celebration of community spirit, where laughter and conversations mingled with the aroma of freshly baked pizzas and the taste of some delicious, refreshing local brews. 

Later in the fall, we hosted the delightful "Pie Giveaway" event. Beyond the joy of sharing delicious pies with our clients, this event held a deeper purpose. We conducted a food drive alongside the pie giveaway, rallying the community to contribute generously. Thanks to the overwhelming support, we donated food to a local food pantry, ensuring that those in need in our community had access to essential resources.

Strengthening Community Ties

Our commitment to community engagement extended beyond events. This year, we proudly sponsored the "Friends of Courthouse" magazine, strengthening our ties with local initiatives and organizations. Our support for this publication is a testament to our belief in fostering vibrant local connections and promoting the stories and voices that make our community thrive. Because of our personal relationships and connections, we've been successful, and we continue to make enriching our relationships with others paramount. 

Expanding Horizons

While we ended the year closing East + Ivy Staging, a chapter closed to make more room for exciting new beginnings. Nicole Canole, CEO of East + Ivy and realtor, had a difficult decision to make at the end of 2023.

“Letting go of the staging company is a necessary evil, and I’m proud of Nicole for making that tough decision,” said Will Lawrence, realtor. “Nicole is a great leader, but the staging company was its own functioning business. We staged listings for others while also running a full-time real estate team and staging our own listings. Nicole has been doing it all.”

“East + Ivy will still stage for our own listings, and we still have a healthy, thriving real estate team. Instead of being able to stage 30 houses for others, we are consolidating and focusing on our own business and our clients,” Will explained. 

“This is good for everyone,” added Nicole. “It allows us to focus more time and energy to pour back into our people.”

The silver-lining to saying goodbye to our staging company was that we were able to donate a substantial amount of furniture and home goods to Stafford Emergency Relief through Volunteer Efforts (S.E.R.V.E.), a local outreach organization that has been fulfilling its name, serving Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline Counties, and the City of Fredericksburg. That organization will place our donations in some neighbors' homes that could use it. 

The team will also use our new satellite office in Stafford, strategically positioned to extend our company's reach further south towards Fredericksburg. This expansion represents our commitment to serving a broader community, offering our expertise and services to new areas while continuing to uphold the same excellence our clients expect. 

Looking Forward

As we look ahead to the new year, East + Ivy remains steadfast in our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and community engagement. Our success is a testament to the trust you, our clients, and the community have placed in us. We are immensely grateful for your ongoing support, which drives us to continually raise the bar in providing exceptional real estate services.

A Heartfelt Thank You

We extend our sincerest gratitude to our clients, partners, and the community for being an integral part of our journey. Your trust and support empower us to push boundaries and achieve greater heights in the world of real estate– and, more importantly, give back to the community in more profound ways.

As we embark on the new year, East + Ivy remains dedicated to serving you with unparalleled expertise, commitment, and a passion for community growth.

Here's to a year filled with new opportunities, prosperous partnerships, and continued success. We wish you all a joyous and fulfilling year ahead!