Chris Blakeslee and Michael Crain are bringing their combination of real estate expertise to Sonoma. Effective March 15, Blakeslee & Crain Vineyard Advisors and Brokers moved into new headquarters at 550 Broadway.
Blakeslee & Crain Vineyard Advisors and Brokers is a four-year-old company formed to assist individuals and businesses to buy, sell, develop and value real estate and agricultural properties in California’s Wine Country. Chris Blakeslee and Michael Crain have more than 50 years of combined experience in real estate and agriculture. Both have certified real estate appraiser licenses, and both have an abiding interest and expertise in the intricacies of buying and selling vineyard properties.
“Buyers looking for vineyard properties to fulfill their romantic Wine Country dreams often have the money, but no agricultural background,” explained Crain. “They don’t know how agricultural, grazing, open space and water conservation issues can affect their plans, as well as the value and potential of a particular property. That’s where we come in.”
Blakeslee and Crain have the experience to identify appropriate areas and properties throughout Wine Country. They are licensed to determine market values and assess economic feasibility for specific properties. They assist with due-diligence items related to soils, water, slope analysis and climate, and they offer ongoing development consultation in the erosion-control-plan process through the land preparation and planting phases.
In effect, Blakeslee and Crain have developed a new concept of agricultural brokerage.
“It’s very involved, and the rules and regulations are constantly changing,” muses Chris Blakeslee. “We’re kind of turned on by the never-ending complexity of the job.”
Working on behalf of the seller, Blakeslee and Crain can help the seller understand what he or she owns and determine what restrictions may constrict the property’s value. Once the full value of the property is defined and validated, they can provide full marketing and sales .
Working on behalf of the buyer, Blakeslee and Crain can help identify and select suitable properties. They can advise on issues ranging from economic feasibility and market value to soil and water quality. They have the experience and expertise to help through the purchase and into the development phase of the property, if needed.
Blakeslee & Crain Vineyard Advisors have closed deals ranging from a small 2 acre sale to large, complex $150 million dollar deals.
Their client list reads like a who’s who of Wine Country notables including Fred Furth from Chalk Hill Winery, Bruce Cohn’s B.R. Cohn Winery, Joseph Phelps and his Stonebridge property and Reynaldo Robledo of Robledo Family Winery.
Blakeslee and Crain sponsor a series of seminars geared toward vineyard owners and industry experts.
Steve Herron, senior vice president of the Exchange Bank Commercial Banking Division spoke at the first seminar. “There’s nobody else out there providing this breadth and depth of information,” he said. “This information is invaluable.”
Blakeslee & Crain Vineyard Advisors and Brokers is located at 550 Broadway, Sonoma California. They can be reached by telephone at 707.938.9800 or fax at 707.938.9824. For more information about Michael Crain, Chris Blakeslee or the services provided by their company visit their Web site www.vineyardadvisors.com
