Testimonials
"
Dora was great to work with. She took the reins from the time we put in an offer and kept us on schedule with inspections, repairs and negotiating all the way to closing. She was knowledgeable in the market and knew what to offer to secure the property. We will use Dora as our local Realtor from now on. Thanks, Dora, for representing us so well, caring about our needs and helping us so well. We know she had other clients but she made us feel like we were the only one she was working with.
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- Mrs. Smith (Buyer - Lake Gaston)
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Esther was a joy to work with and very responsive. She was very knowledgeable, kind and helpful throughout the buying process. I'd highly recommend her and hope our paths will cross again in the future. Cheers!
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- Ben
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Dora was absolutely great in helping us purchase our home. She was always available and made the purchase go extremely smooth. Always willing to contact people or be wherever someone needed if we couldnt be. Can't recommend her enough!
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- Christina Barber
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Five Stars — Truly Exceptional
Dora was nothing short of incredible. From the very beginning, she was responsive, knowledgeable, calm under pressure, and deeply invested in making sure everything went smoothly. This was not a simple or stress-free transaction, yet she consistently showed up with clarity, professionalism, and reassurance exactly when it mattered most.
What truly sets Dora apart is that she doesn’t just “do her job” — she advocates. She anticipated issues before they arose, knew exactly who to call and when, and guided me through every step with confidence and care. There were multiple moments where her experience and connections made what felt impossible suddenly manageable. In one of the most significant and emotionally charged seasons of my life, she was steady, honest, and trustworthy. If you want a realtor who is competent, communicative, and truly on your side, Dora is the one.
I cannot recommend her highly enough.
"
- Jen Cannon
"
Dora did such a great job helping us sell our home! Her attention to detail and availability were the best. We highly recommend Dora and can’t say enough about her professionalism and kindness.
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- Karen Lyons
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Thank you Dora for assisting with selling the lot. She was quick responding. We are very happy to work with her. We are recommending Dora to anyone who needs to sell or buy.
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- Tin Nguyen
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Dora helped us find a house in 2015. We were so satisfied with that experience we asked her to list that same home to sell in 2025. Dora did an excellent job helping us to get our house ready to sell and advising us on the right price to list it at. We received multiple offers within two days. She also did a great job being a liaison between us and the buyers through the entire closing process. Doras knowledge and expertise was invaluable.We would highly recommend her to anyone buying or selling a house.
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- Wayne and Sarah Guynn
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Susan Bishop was extremely easy to work with and consistently kept me updated with the purchase process.
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- Jack Misnick
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Working with Dora Smith was an absolute pleasure! She listened to our goals and worked diligently to help us meet those goals. She kept us updated on her progress and shared her expertise to help us make an informed decision! We highly recommend her!!
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- Harriett Sue Guy (Client)
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We can’t thank our realtor, Marissa Smith, enough for everything she did to help us find our new home. Her expertise, patience, & dedication made the process not only smooth, but actually enjoyable. We always felt supported and confident every step of the way, thanks to her guidance. And if she didn’t know the answer to one of our many questions, she always found out the information and got back to us right away. We’re settling in and already making wonderful memories. #lakelifeinlittleton We honestly couldn’t be happier and we truly appreciate the outstanding job Marissa did to get us here.
-John & Becky Dell’Arciprete
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- Becky Dell'Arciprete
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Dora is excellent! She is very responsive, proactive and obviously experienced. She is friendly, accommodating and flexible. She took care of everything for us in a timely manner.
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- Steve Terry (Contract Service Manager)
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Dora was wonderful!! From the first that we spoke until the property was sold, always very professional. She kept in touch with us every step of the way. We will use Dora again!
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- Patrick and Christine Venable
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Dora was great, always responded quickly to any inquiries or questions. Everyone she brought into our purchase process was easy to work with, and did their jobs flawlessly. Getting things done at LKG can sometimes be a challenge, Dora make our experience smooth and pain free.
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- Ted Place (Transportation )
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Dora was very knowledgeable and helpful with the listing and sale of our Lake Gaston Property. Her efforts were greatly appreciated.
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- Mac McManus (Property Owner )
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Sandy knows the true definition of sales. "Helping people make a good decision for themselves". We were both rather successful insurance agents in Florida. We have owned over 25 homes, 10 together at one time until we retired. We worked with dozens of realtors, extremely experienced, not experienced. everywhere in between, you name it. Sandy has the most natural ability, caring, empathetic and relaxed personality I have ever seen in the business. After going through two personal injuries within a week of each other and helping us trudge through the woods, she never complained of her condition. She always went out of her way to help us, referred professionals diligently, made calls for us, drove all over to help us with our two varying 1031 Exchanges and deadline. She calmed us down after some blunders from the three title companies at closing. All were out of her control. She communicated beautifully with rapid answers, etc. What Sandy lacks in experience she far exceeds with compassion and being there to make the transaction go smoothly. She knows her limits, has an innate ability and gets answers accurately. it was very refreshing to have worked with her. I hope you do. Believe me, Sandy is deserving of your business, truly.
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- Anonymous (Investor)
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Dora was awesome! Easy to work with, responsive, and really seemed to know the area well. She set up at the inspections we needed and negotiated well on our behalf. Thanks Dora!
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- Ken Barber (Homeowner)
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Dora was a great help in the sale of my home in South Hill, VA. Very knowledgeable in handling all necessary requirements needed. She kept me currant on the progress of the sale thru emails and phone calls. I highly recommend Dora and her staff.
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- Gwen Van Goethem
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Dora was so nice to deal with and very knowledgeable about the lake. She handled all the scheduling of the inspections. She also stayed in touch with us during the whole process of buying the house.
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- Dennis Marshall
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Esther was awesome to work with! She took time to explain what to expect in the buying process, and when we decided on our home, she did what she could to make the process as smooth as possible. She is very knowledgeable in her job, and I highly recommend her to help others too!
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- Wendy Rigsbee (Home owner)
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Dora is awesome. She works hard to sell or buy. She is wonderful. We have used her two time and she is great. If you want to sell or buy call Dora.
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- Debra vairo (Sell and buy)
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We recently had the pleasure of working with Dora "the Lake Explorer" Smith as our realtor, and we can't recommend her highly enough! From our very first interaction, Dora's proactiveness was evident. She took the time to understand our needs and preferences, ensuring that every property she suggested was a perfect fit.Dora's responsiveness is truly impressive; she was always available to answer our questions and provided updates promptly, making the entire process feel seamless. Her communication skills are top-notch—she explained every step clearly, and we never felt left in the dark.What sets Dora apart is her extensive knowledge of the local real estate market. Her insights into the neighborhoods, property values, and future developments were invaluable for us in making informed decisions. It’s clear that she is passionate about her work, and her dedication to her clients shines through in everything she does.If you’re looking for a realtor who will go above and beyond, Dora "the Lake Explorer" Smith is the person to call! Thank you, Dora, for making our home-buying experience such a positive one!
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- Dan Grigg
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Dora not only was extremely helpful when I purchased property but when I decided to sell she stayed committed to helping with the sale even though people kept changing their minds. When the right person came along she helped to make the selling process seamless and I can't thank her enough for all her help. John Faison
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- John Faison (Client )
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Highly, recommend working with Sandy! We came from out of state, and she met us and spent an entire day with us! We were able to find what we were looking for, and she helped us through the entire process, fantastic transaction start to finish.
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- Andrea Pettie
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Dora was very helpful and knowledgeable through the whole process. I am very pleased we chose her to represent us in this transaction and look forward to dealing with her in the future for any other needs in the area.
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- Martin Ehman
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Marissa helped us find our dream home! As a first time home buyer, this whole process can be very daunting. Marissa made it so easy and enjoyable. She was always professional and very responsive. We cannot recommend her enough!
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- Hannah Johnson (Occupational Therapist)
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Sold our property on first day with multiple offers and it wasn't because of the property but more importantly her hard work to prepare a compelling listing, show it with enthusiasm to interested parties and eagerly following up with them. Great realtor who knows her trade and who is so hard working! Highly recommended for your real estate needs. She is awesome! Best there is!!
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- Phil M Lenfant
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Dora did an amazing job helping George and I buy our first house from recommending us a great Mortage lender to answering any questions we had. I recommend everyone to work with Dora as she will advocate for you til the very end.
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- Asia Tanner
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Esther was professional and helpful in our purchase of land on lake Gaston. She is low key but on top of what is needed to get the job done.
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- Debbie Hyde (Client)
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I highly recommend Marissa Smith for all your real estate needs. She has sold several properties for us and always exceeds our expectations. If you are buying or selling, I would reach out to Marissa first as she is knowledgeable of our Lake Gaston market area and property values and she is very compassionate in what she does. She follows up on calls or questions timely and manages the process so we don't have to worry about missing a deadline. Marissa is the Best agent in our area.
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- Mike Smith (Business Owner)
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I thoroughly enjoyed working with Dora. She was a valuable asset to have during the process of buying our home .she was very dependable when we had questions and concerns and quick with resolutions she showed great proficiency in her skills as a realtor and navigating us through the process
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- Kasandra Martin (RN)
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I was glad to have Dora as my agent. She stuck with me till I found what I wanted. I highly recommend her for anyone in the market to buy or sell real estate. Thanks Dora for all your help in my search.
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- Richard rhew
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Dora did a great job of guiding us through what turned out to be a difficult real estate transaction. She worked for us!
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- Greg Cooper
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Susan has helped us sell multiple properties. She always go above and beyond. She knows the local laws and can put in contact with local professionals for any needed work. I value her advice and knowledge. She is who I will go to for future selling or buying of property.
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- Will Valentine (Home ower)
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Dora spent multiple hours making visits, phone calls, And follow ups. She worked for several months getting my home marketable and ready to sell. Her expertise and recommendations became evident when the house was put on the market. The house sold and the finally negations were made easier having Dora working as my agent. I would strongly recommend Dora as a real estate agent.
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- David George Zumbach (Seller)
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A friend recommended that I look for a realtor from a list by Dave Ramsey that is verified by his real estate business . I did just that because I’ve always trusted Ramsey and his financial programs over the years.
I was immediately contacted by Dora Smith from Bracey, Va. I do not live in Virginia but in Atlanta, Ga. She introduced herself and told me a little about her business around the lakes and towns in the area. I had a very difficult property that I needed to sell and she never even hesitated in offering her advice and help from the very beginning to the end with the closing that took place within 5 months . There had been a death of a family member very suddenly a there had been no guidelines set up ahead of time as to how to be handled . Dora worked diligently from the beginning interviewing people that could empty out the house and so many other obstacles that came up along the way . I could never have done it without her professional help and integrity.
I feel like I got to know her even though long distance and felt I’d even made a friend along the way . She was just fantastic and I’ll always be grateful for all of her very hard work that she provided with a wonderful attitude the whole way through!!
Anyone would be very fortunate to make her acquaintance.
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- Stephanie powell
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Dora was always on time and very informative of the property we asked to see. She was patient and answered all our questions. Our family would recommend her if ever needed again. We never felt stressed..
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- sylvia marshall
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Dora was great to work with. She helped us through the process of selling our home and provided all the information needed to complete the process.
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- Christy Bolton
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In 6 years of searching Sandy is the only realtor that stayed with us through the process of choosing our retirement home. She’s exceptional , reliable ,friendly and patient .Should we have future real estate needs will be sure to contact Sandy.
Highly recommended!
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- Brad and Ginny Austin
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Give Dora your wish list and she will work hard to.find the perfect property for you. Call Dora if you're looking for your next dream home. If it's out there, she'll find it.
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- W.G. Martin (Director of Customer Relations)
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We really enjoyed having Sandy assist us in finding our home! She worked with our schedule and gathered a lot of information for us on multiple properties. She really stuck with us to get us into a home, and make the process as smooth as possible. Sandy is a realtor you want to have on your team!
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- Brooke Conner
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Dora was absolutely wonderful. She is so friendly and helpful with every aspect of the home buying experience. I really loved she asked a lot of questions on exactly what we wanted so that we didn't waste any time on houses that didn't check all the boxes. We ended up purchasing the second house we looked at and love it.
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- Lori Ehman
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Dora went above and beyond, for me, in selling my home. Her vast knowledge of Lake Gaston and surrounding areas was definitely evident. Any issue that came up, she was supportive of me, and worked tirelessly to make the sale of my home happen. I appreciate Dora’s work ethic, always keeping me informed, and her honesty.
If you are trying to sell your home or are interested in buying a new home, I highly recommend Dora Smith.
"
- Susan Greenway
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dora was great to work with. kept me informed and made buying the property non stressful
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- TROY ALAN SIRBAUGH (owner)
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Dora is the best realtor on the lake. Always answers her phone, goes above and beyond for the client. We purchased our home thru Dora and sold it thru her as well.
Very professional.
You will not be disappointed.
"
- Donna Kane
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Susan did a wonderful job! I wasn't in the area, and couldn't get down, so she had to do everything. She always kept me in the loop, sent pics, and all relevant info. She made sure we got the best possible price. She was very friendly, and professional. I highly recommend her.
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- Monica Henkel
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Susan Bishop did an excellent job meeting my real estate needs. Very professional and knowledgeable Very friendly. I heartily recommend her to satisfy your real estate needs.
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- Charles L Smith
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Had a great experience with Dora. She helped us check out Lake Gaston and viewed a number of different properties with different advantages. She worked with us on our timeline and ultimately helped us through the process of finding and buying a great lake house that met our needs.
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- Tim Mueller
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Dora is AMAZING. If it was not for her, my husband and I would not have gotten our dream home! She worked day and night to make sure our first ever home buying process was as smooth as possible! She is extremely personable, kind, easy to talk to, and cares deeply about her clients and their happiness! She is the BEST realtor/agent you could choose/be blessed to work with!:)
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- Samantha Arrington
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Sandy is focused on the job at hand. She has a great view of the market and understand what it can and will bring. She understands the sale aspect and the buying aspect of this real estate marker. Choose this lever handed individual to oversee your transactions.
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- REGINALD Edge
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Dora Smith was an absolute pleasure to work with! She listened to our goals and worked diligently to meet those goals. She kept us informed and shared her expertise and experience to help us make informed decisions! We highly recommend her!
"
- Harriett Sue Guy (Client)
About NextHome 1st Choice
NextHome 1st Choice brings a renewed appreciation to real estate: we are thankful for our customers and clients, office staff and agents, where we put You 1st Choice in Real Estate in Southside Virginia and North Carolina, serving 'Lake Country' - Lake Gaston, Kerr Lake / Buggs Island and Roanoke Rapids Lakes and surrounding areas. We have dedicated, knowledgeable and experienced professional agents with a personal approach to serving our buyers and sellers.Living at Lake Gaston in Southside Virginia for 25 years and working as both a local home builder and real estate agent and broker for most of that time, I have a vast knowledge of the area, personal experiences with local businesses, fond memories at local events and attractions, and friends everywhere! My favorite way of making new friends is through real estate transactions, where we stay in close communication and form a trusted relationship from the beginning! For a personal and professional consultation, contact our office.
Our goal is to exceed your expectations and simplify your real estate transaction experience, whether buying or selling, or both! Contact our office today, let us introduce you to Luke and demonstrate our experience of putting our clients 1st, the NextHome real estate method, up close and personal. Come see how we put You 1st Choice in real estate in Lake Country and surrounding areas!
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to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than NextHome 1st Choice may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. Copyright ©2026 All rights reserved. Roanoke Valley Lake Gaston Board of Realtors
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