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  • Melissa_Savenko

  • Melissa Loughridge Savenko| 374
  • 4.8
     (8 reviews)
    Local knowledge: 4.9
    Process expertise: 4.9
    Responsiveness: 4.4
    Negotiation skills: 4.9
  • Views: 2765
Real Estate Professional
Real Estate Agent (7 years experience)
  • Contributions:374
  • Screen name:Melissa_Savenko
  • Member since:05/23/2007
  • License #:
    Ratings & Reviews
     - Highly likely to recommend
    12/16/2012 - user502890
    Sold a Single Family home in 2012 for approximately $125K in Mechanicsville, VA.
    Melissa did a fabulous job assisting me through my first home-buying and selling experience. She made the experience as painless as possible and really helped to put me at ease.
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    Response from Melissa

     

     - Highly likely to recommend
    09/19/2012 - user9321993
    Bought a Single Family home in 2012 for approximately $200K in The Fan, Richmond, VA.
    Melissa is a top-notch real estate agent. Given that this was my first home search, I was naturally a little uneasy about finding a real estate agent online. After reading several reviews, I thought that Melissa seemed like a good fit. Little did I know, she would actually be a perfect fit.

    Melissa is extremely knowledgeable, highly professional and most importantly, she truly cares about her clients. She tells it like it is and I increasingly developed trust in her knowledge of the local real estate market. While I would trust Melissa’s expertise in any commercial or residential search, she seems to shine when it comes to historic properties. Not only does she understand the nuances of historic homes, she has worked with many suitable, affordable contractors. Melissa’s legal background rounds out her very desirable and unique skill-set.

    Although my inspection process seemed to go on forever, Melissa remained confident and worked tirelessly to negotiate terms and conditions with the seller’s agent. In the end, Melissa found me a home that was within my budget and located in my ideal neighborhood. I recommend Melissa Zavenko without hesitation.
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    Response from Melissa

     

     - Highly likely to recommend
    09/10/2012 - user2409724
    Sold a home in 2012.
    She was a friend before I hired her as a realtor. She exceeded my expectations in her attentiveness, negotiating abilities and timeliness.
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    Response from Melissa

     

    About Melissa Loughridge Savenko

    Add personality to your profile! Tell the community about yourself, your home, and your profession.

    I'm a Richmond native, and grew up in Bellevue (until 9), then Ashland (until 15), then Ginter Park (15 - 21). I headed up the road to Charlottesville in September 1987 to attend The University of Virginia, where I majored in Foreign Affairs. I graduated from UVA with my B.A.in May 1991, and after waiting tables for a summer to save some money, moved down to New Orleans, Louisiana in September 1991. There I went to work for a large New Orleans-based law firm as a paralegal. The job was wonderful, I got to travel to London on business, and I really loved the Big Easy. But by 1994 I was ready to head back east, so I returned to Richmond, Virginia.



    Back in Richmond, I went to work for a Richmond-based law firm (see a pattern here?), also as a paralegal. I started law school at the University of Richmond's T.C. Williams School of Law in August 1995. During law school I got married and had a baby, graduated May 1998, then took the bar, happily passed the first time, and went to work for same large Richmond-based law firm in September 1998. After six years as a Big Firm Corporate and Administrative Healthcare associate, I moved to Medium Sized Firm, doing the same type of legal work. But law was stifling and working for the "man" had lost its luster.



    I fell into real estate by accident, when my father decided he might like to buy some investment property. With family members with backgrounds in construction, real estate finance, historic preservation and law, we had all the elements EXCEPT a real estate license, which we thought would save us the commission. So, I looked up the licensure classes, found out how little was required to become a licensed agent, and jumped right in. After getting my license in October 2005, I continued to practice law, while initially trying to do real estate part-time, until my broker told me I needed to choose whether I wanted to be fish or fowl. In March 2006 I gave up the security blanket of a steady salary and started selling real estate full time. I'll tell you, there are times when it's D*MN scary, especially as a single mom with a child, a house, a hyper dog and a neurotic cat. But I love it. I'm an independent business woman and the master of my own universe. Pretty cool stuff.



    As far as my real estate expertise: I focus on City of Richmond and close-in Henrico neighborhoods, especially historic areas. Because of my corporate legal background, I work with a number of real estate investors and developers, especially in the Fan, Downtown, and the Museum District and other old portions of the City. I have developed expertise in historic tax credits, adaptive reuse, the City of Richmond tax abatement program and other incentive programs, and multifamily condominium conversions. I love seeing old City neighborhoodsbeing brought back to life. How cool is that? For more about me, check out my blog at www.melissasavenko.typepad.com.
    Specialties & Service Areas

    Specialties:

    Buyer's Agent, Listing Agent, Consulting, Real Estate Investing

    Contributions
    ContributionsCount
    Total Contributions3741
    Photos: 3590
    Advice-Q&A: 141
    Advice-Discussions: 10
    Reviews Written: 00
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    Zillow All-Star Badge History
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    • June 2012 to January 2013

    • December 2010 to March 2011

    • April 2009 to August 2009

    Zillow Local Expert Badge History
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    What is a Zillow Local Expert?
    The Local Expert badge is awarded to those who have made valuable contributions in a specific city or neighborhood on Zillow. Local Experts are active Zillow users who share their real estate knowledge and help others by contributing high-quality content at a local level. The more and better the contributions a user makes that relate to that city or neighborhood, the more likely an award will be granted. Users' contributions can be seen in their profiles. Learn more
    • 23220: March 2012 to June 2012

    • 23220: September 2011 to February 2012

    • The Fan: July 2011 to November 2011

    • 23220: June 2011 to September 2011

    • 23220: March 2011 to June 2011

    • The Fan: February 2011 to May 2011

    • 23220: September 2010 to March 2011

    • The Fan: August 2009 to February 2010

    • The Fan: April 2009 to July 2009