Cooking up kitchen transformations

Patrick Bryan isn’t a chef, but he creates masterpieces in kitchens. For more than 40 years, Bryan has been transforming kitchens and interiors with cabinet building, refinishing, backsplash, countertops and tile.

“We can do anything to make an old kitchen new with building cabinets, fixtures, refinishing and updates,” said the owner of Patrick Bryan Kitchens. “We’re artisans and craftsmen with many years of experience.”

Bryan said with the current renovation trends, he is doing more fauxbrick and stone backsplashes, as well as lighter colors on cabinets to help create a more “open feeling.”

He has worked with clients in the Birmingham area Jewish community, and is a member of the Levite Jewish Community Center. His wife, Jonna, works at the Cohn Early Childhood Learning Center.

Bryan said they primarily focus on kitchens but can also do some other home renovation projects and deck work. They always offer free consultations.

“We say we’re not in the kitchen renovation business, we’re in the people business,” he said. “When we’re in someone’s home, we treat it like our own. They become like family.”

Farmer: While much has changed in real estate, some things remain the same

Remax Preferred Real Estate Agent and Mountain Brook native Donna Farmer has seen many changes in her 28 years in the industry. But what hasn’t changed is the satisfaction and emotional connection that come from finding the perfect home for a client.

“I love developing relationships with my clients — helping them to become familiar with and get involved in a community,” said Farmer, who has lived in Crestwood since 1997.

She helps her buyers understand fair market values and how to negotiate. Farmer can help guide them about inspection and getting pre-approved.

“I’ll work hard to make sure I find an ideal-fit property for them,” said Farmer. “I think really the buyers and the sellers want the same thing.”

She said she has seen much growth in Birmingham and “it’s a very desirable place to live. We’re starting to see some new homes in Crestwood and surrounding areas.”

Farmer is also an artist, animal lover and vegetarian. She fosters dogs and is an advocate for the Birmingham Boston Terriers rescue organization.

“Once we find someone a home, we can also help find them a pup to love… and some art for their new place,” she said.

Sikora’s experience, community connections help clients navigate market

Hadassah Birmingham vice president and avid tennis player Bridget Sikora’s community involvement, along with her 18 years of experience in real estate, have helped her serve her clients well in a challenging market.

“I’m really passionate about doing anything it takes to find my buyers their perfect home… and to help sellers get best offers,” said Sikora, a real estate agent with Ray and Poyner. “I’ve developed some great relationships with listing agents over the years and that has helped me to gain an edge for my buyers. Sometimes it’s the little details that can make the difference.”

She said with inventory low, especially in areas such as Mountain Brook, homes on the market usually get multiple offers if priced right.

“I’ve been able to get asking price or in some cases, above asking price for sellers,” said Sikora. “I recommend that if possible sellers start to prepare several months prior. I’m happy to give them advice on how to best stage the home and the things they can do (such as a pre-inspection) to position themselves to get the most value for their home.”

She said 93 percent of people start their search online. “We work with sellers to help them most effectively market their home and make a good first impression.”

Sikora recommends to her buyers get pre-approved and to understand market values before making an offer.

“I love working with all of my clients, but my favorites are first-time home buyers,” she said. “I’m with them every step of the way and they are so grateful. It’s a special feeling.”

Weiss makes warm connections for clients with LAH Sotheby’s

Hillary Weiss said the marriage of LAH and Sotheby’s has helped her offer clients an expanded network with some warm connections.

“It has really elevated our business to be a part of an international network of trustworthy agents,” said Weiss. “This helps us to make warm connections to benefit clients who are moving to Birmingham or who want to relocate anywhere across the world. It really opens up our reach.”

When asked about trends in Alabama real estate, Weiss said in the past few years she has observed that buyers are looking for pools, fireplaces and outdoor entertainment spaces.

“We’ve seen more colorful indoor décor and more home offices, studies and kids’ dens,” she said. Weiss said the second-home market is growing and she works with clients on the Gulf and across the state.

Focusing on tradition with new Fairmont Cedars Hendersonville project

By Lee J. Green

History and tradition are very important to third-generation Jewish developer Gregg Covin.

With that in mind and with a nod to the future, The Fairmont Heritage Place The Cedars was born on the site of the historic Cedars Inn in downtown Hendersonville, N.C.

“We are building 130 new-construction, Fairmont-branded residences surrounding the historic Cedars Inn, which is on the National Register of Historic Places,” said Covin. “This development will offer units with amazing views in the Blue Ridge Mountains and some modern amenities.”

The one, two, three-bedroom and penthouse condominiums are priced from $400,000 up to $3.8 million, with a first phase scheduled to be completed in 2024. Covin said the complex’s entrance is through the Cedars Inn. “We’ll have a resort pool deck (above), spa and fitness center, fine-dining restaurant, ballrooms and meeting spaces,” he said.

Covin is from Miami. His grandfather built his first building in Miami Beach on the GI Bill after returning from World War II.

Covin’s wife Shelley’s family, the Shipmans, have owned The Cedars and the surrounding three-and-a-half acres of land for four decades. The hotel is under the stewardship of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.

The Fairmont Heritage Place

The Cedars is one block from the shopping and entertainment district of Main Street in downtown Hendersonville. The development is just a few miles from Camp Judaea and Camp Blue Star.

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Inventory remains very low in what is still a buyer’s market. “It can get complicated and emotional. I let my clients know I’m there with them every step of the way. To me, they are like family,” she said.

For sellers, Weiss recommends working with their agent to properly stage their home and to price it competitively.

Weiss is on the Birmingham Jewish Federation finance committee and they are members at Temple Emanu-El. “We support the community and we’re proud to call Birmingham home,” she said. “It’s so gratifying to help people to find a home here and get involved.”

ARC Realty team blends real estate with philanthropy

The ARC Realty team of Ashley Lemley and Gina Musser always remains “pawsitive” about the real estate market, as well as their philanthropy efforts.

Known as “The Address Makeover Girls,” the two started a fundraiser called Fur the Love in February 2022. Through the annual event and regular painting parties, they have already raised $15,000 for Hand in Paw, an organization that provides animal-assisted therapy to those in need across the Birmingham area.

“Philanthropy is really important to us and we just believe so strongly in what Hand in Paw is doing,” said Lemley. They are already planning for the next Fur the Love on Feb 3, 2024. “This all came together from our love of pets, art and helping people.”

Lemley was a teacher in the Shelby County School System for many years and she loves to educate buyers and sellers to help them easily navigate the process.

“We help them every step of the way and to prepare them for a successful (sale or purchase),” she said. “When people work with us, they know they have a team to guide them.”

Lemley said it’s still a sellers’ market and inventory is low, but they are starting to see some new developments, especially in the Hoover area.

She advises buyers to make an offer “that is as clean as possible with very few contingencies.”

Lemley added that advanced technology, including a specialized AI tool ARC Realty employs, helps them to provide accurate neighborhood market value information to assist sellers on where to price their home.

“And we initially send out 75 ‘just-listed’ cards to addresses in the immediate area,” she said. “We pride ourselves on how we promote.”

Lemley added, “we love what we do and we want to make it a fun, easy process for our clients.”