According to real estate expert Batsheva Rivkin, living in Florida certainly has its benefits. “Life is happier here,” said the Brooklyn native, who wants to help others find their happy place as well. Rivkin is part of the talented team at Compass, a leading residential real estate firm that combines the industry’s top talent with top-of-the-line technology, making the search and sell experience fluid and successful.
Rivkin’s family moved to Florida when she was 18 and she decided to stay back to finish school. She began her career at her aunt’s brokerage firm in New York, where she honed her skills as a successful agent. “I see a benefit to having started my career in the New York market,” said Rivkin, who isn’t quite ready to give up her 718 cellphone number in exchange for the 305 version her competitors carry. She believes that coming from a competitive market like New York prepared her to excel in South Florida, perhaps more so than the local realtors.
Rivkin has always been passionate about real estate, especially in South Florida, where she says the environment is so beautiful, she never grows tired of showing properties. “It has always been a great place to live,” she said, “but now it’s really on the map.” Her primary territory, which includes Bal Harbor, Bay Harbor and Surfside, has grown exponentially in recent years, featuring a vibrant community shul, kosher restaurants and all of the amenities an Orthodox person needs.
As an agent, she infuses the values of hard work, integrity and outstanding customer service into everything she does. She’s a planner by nature who thinks about the details in every aspect of a transaction. Rivkin says her clients know that they can rely on her for big line items as well as the small print, and whether you’re a first-time home buyer or an out-of-towner, she is happy to hand hold whenever necessary. She also maintains a portfolio of vendors including attorneys, title companies, inspectors and designers who will help facilitate the process as seamlessly as possible.
Rivkin is not only adept in the real estate market, she also keenly understands the process of relocating a family. For many of her customers she is an invaluable resource for matters pertaining to everyday life. “I can advise on everything from school options and day care to hairdressers and housekeepers.” And her support doesn’t end with the closing. “My clients often become my friends,” a personal perk of the job, she added.
While Rivkin is humble about her work, she often succeeds where others do not, finding and selling properties that have been on the market for a while. Compass makes the process user friendly, she said, and with thousands of agents interconnected through a national database, she has access to listings other brokers cannot always obtain.
Working with out-of-town buyers presents certain challenges that Rivkin has proficiently mastered. “I am cognizant about my customers’ time,” she said, and if someone is coming down for a limited stay, she will make every effort to use that time in the most efficient way possible. She also does preview showings for clients who can’t necessarily get down to Florida at the right time.
She admits this is an unprecedented market in many ways, but stresses that that shouldn’t intimidate a home buyer who is set on purchasing. With her guidance and expertise she will guide you through the nuances of navigating this market and presenting offers that will ultimately put you ahead of the fierce competition. “My phone is an occupational hazard,” joked Rivkin, who said she is reachable day and night, except on Shabbat.
When she’s not busy selling Miami, Rivkin enjoys quality time with her husband and two young children.
To learn more about purchasing a home in Florida, please contact Batsheva Rivkin at 718-450-5720 or [email protected], or on Instagram @batsheva_sellingmiami.
By Andrea Nissel
