With thermometers rising and local swimming pools filled to the brim, last winter’s snowfalls seem like a distant memory. But for George and Peggy White, the vision remains fresh, because that record snow almost stood in the way of their long anticipated move to Greenspring. Had it not been for Erickson Realty & Moving Services, they may have been sweating out the summer in their four-bedroom house rather than relaxing in their maintenance-free Greenspring apartment home.

No more yard work

Living less than 15 minutes away from Greenspring in Springfield, Va., the Whites were tired of all the work that came with maintaining their four-bedroom house.

“We had a huge yard,” says Mrs. White. “And we knew we wouldn’t always want to spend our time keeping up with it. So, in 2001 we joined the Greenspring priority list (to save our spot in line for an apartment home). We knew we wanted to make the move; it was just a matter of when.”

The pre-Christmas snowfall in 2009 helped the couple make up their mind.

“The snow seemed to follow us,” says Mrs. White. “In fact, it was snowing when we first met with Greenspring’s Personal Moving Consultant Anna Greves. And then when we put the house on the market, the huge February blizzard hit.”

Proving its stalwartness, Erickson Realty & Moving Services was able to help the Whites sell their home despite the unforeseen forces of Mother Nature.

“Once we decided to move, Anna came to our house and told us what she thought we needed to do before we put the house on the market,” says Mrs. White. “We let her choose a real estate agent for us, and she picked a great one—she was nice, cheerful, and made us feel very comfortable with the whole process. We really needed that because in the weeks following the storm, very few people came to see our house. The few that did brave the weather couldn’t see our large yard because it was covered in snow.”

Good things come to those who wait

Both Greves and the real estate agent continued to assure the Whites that their home would sell and were diligent in keeping all online information up-to-date with helpful pre-snowfall photos. The efforts paid off. Less than a month later, the couple had a contract in hand.

“We sold the home to a couple who are in active duty with the Army,” says Mrs. White. “They are helicopter pilots who just returned from Afghanistan. Since George is retired Air Force, that was very nice for us.”

With the sale of their house successfully behind them, the Whites moved in to their new Greenspring apartment home on April 8, 2010.

“We have a lot to thank Anna for,” says Mrs. White. “She gave us confidence when we didn’t always have it. And now we are really enjoying getting to know our new neighbors and taking advantage of all that Greenspring offers.”