Edward Sanford grew up a son of a surveyor father and a skydiver mother, where he was raised between North Georgia and Atlanta. A self described "local" to both markets he says, "I was blessed to have the best of both worlds being surrounded with the serenity of the mountains and the energy of the city." While both markets have changed since he was young, we haven't seen the end of growth. It's be
coming a primary city where business is thriving, and I often describe North Georgia as 'The Hamptons' to Atlanta's NYC." After studying at University of North Georgia, Edward was recruited by top luxury fashion companies in their training and development departments. He had a very successful tenure with luxury conglomerate, LVMH, consulting with top lines like Christian Dior and Celine. His time spent at Dior served as the beginning of the buildout of his diverse network as well as the catalyst to his expansion of skillsets into creative strategy and brand direction. These core elements translated seamlessly into his client-based strategic marketing approach in his modern-day real estate business. His core family values are a large part of his ethos and the way he works. That being said, he decided to make the move back from California to Georgia to be closer to his family. He assisted in building and designing "The Roof" in historic downtown Ellijay and quickly realized a passion for construction. Real Estate came to be a natural fit for this young professional. "I have always been in sales, and sales are about people. Most of the time people just want to be listened to without an agenda," he says. Edward's first listing was a commercial building in downtown Ellijay--bringing both seller and buyer--which is currently being restored to its former state. He has done land deals exceeding 500 acres, new construction custom build transactions commanding record breaking prices as the listing agent, and negotiated commercial leases. He adds, "Contrary to popular belief selling luxury real estate isn't as easy as putting up clinical pictures on the MLS. Buyers have gotten savvy with online platforms like Zillow, and they are more global now. We [listing agents] must now be story-tellers through emotive video and cast our nets wider. Listing agents must rise to a standard not seen before." Outside of work his hobbies include hunt seat equestrian, weight-lifting, fishing, food and wine, kayaking, promoting local businesses, and spending time with his family. His favorite charities include Save The Hemlocks, The High Museum of Art, and volunteering at local warming centers for the homeless.
