Real estate teams have gotten much bigger over the years.
For some clients, that model works. But it is not how I want to run my business.
When someone hires me, I want them to actually work with me.
That means I am involved from the very beginning through closing, and usually well beyond. I do not just connect by phone, email or text. I show up in person whenever I can, and that matters to me.
I Do Not Hand Clients Off After the First Call
On larger teams, one person may generate the lead, another handle showings, someone else write the offer, and another team member manage the transaction.
That is not how I work.
I personally attend showings, review comparable sales, talk through pricing, write and negotiate offers, stay involved during inspection and appraisal, and help guide the transaction through closing.
For sellers, I am involved in pricing, preparation, marketing strategy, showings, feedback, negotiations and the decisions that come up once the home is under contract.
I never want my clients to feel like they are being passed from person to person. I do not like being handed off when I hire a professional for something important in my own life, and I do not want my clients to feel that way either.
When I cannot personally attend a showing, my husband, Sid, who is also a full-time agent, is able to step in. That gives my clients reliable coverage without changing the level of personal service or continuity they receive.
I Want to Know the Property, Not Just the Contract
Being present matters.
When I walk through a home with a buyer, I am paying attention to much more than the finishes. I look at the layout, condition, noise, odors, basement, exterior and anything else that may deserve a closer look.
When I am representing a seller, I want to understand the property well enough to know how to position it, what buyers may question and what makes it different from the competition.
On the sell side, we get one chance to get in front of the buyer, and that does not happen over the phone. Being there allows me to see their reaction to the home, hear their conversation with their agent and listen to their feedback.
On the buy side, if I do not already know the listing agent, meeting in person gives me an opportunity to build rapport before an offer is submitted. It also allows me to see the property firsthand and point out potential hurdles or defects before we get to the offer, acceptance and inspection.
That firsthand knowledge becomes especially important when it is time to negotiate.
I Stay Involved When the Deal Gets Complicated
The most important part of an agent’s job often happens after the contract is signed.
Inspections uncover issues. Appraisals come in. Attorneys raise questions. Lenders need documentation. Closing dates change.
This is often when the real work starts.
I stay involved in those conversations and work closely with the attorney, lender, inspector and other professionals so I understand what is happening and can help my clients make informed decisions.
My role is not simply to get a contract signed. It is to help manage everything that happens between that contract and the closing table.
The Relationship Does Not End at Closing
Many of my client relationships last for years.
I may help someone buy their first condo, sell it years later, move into a single-family home and eventually help with another move after that.
Clients call me long after closing with questions about contractors, neighborhoods, property values, schools or what they should do next.
I also make a point of staying connected through client events throughout the year. It gives me a chance to catch up, have fun together and maintain relationships that go well beyond one transaction.
Some of my clients first worked with me years ago and have now bought or sold multiple homes with me. Watching their needs change and being able to help through each stage is one of my favorite parts of the business.
Why This Matters to Me
I know the industry has changed, and larger teams can handle a very high volume of business.
That has never been my goal.
My goal is to know my clients, know their properties and stay personally involved in the decisions that matter.
Real estate is too important to feel like a handoff.
When you work with me, you work with me directly, with the added support of Sid when needed, from the first conversation through closing and long after the keys are handed over.
