Real estate is a “people person” business. On a daily basis, brokers come in contact with buyers, sellers, other brokers, potential clients, and the list goes on. However, every interaction is different. Everyone’s agenda is different. Truly understanding what the person on the other end of a conversation wants and needs is what differentiates you from anyone else. As of 2015, it was recorded that there were 27,000 agents in New York City. That’s a lot of agents! At the end of last year, there were 12,598 contracts signed. That means that many agents did not close deals. Now, there can be several reasons as to why those numbers did not equate; however, one of the most important values a broker can bring to his/her clients is the ability to truly understand them. Who they are, where they come from, what they want, what they don’t want, what their personality is like and what makes them unique. These are all things to consider when dealing with clients. Their individuality is what separates each experience from the other.
Buyers, sellers and/or renters, I am talking to you! You need to be represented by a broker who knows you. Who knows what you are all about and who understands what you want in a home. The home is said to be one of the most sacred and emotional investments in a person’s life. I don’t know about you, but to me that is very important to consider when doing my job. When dealing with the transaction of your home, you need to make sure that you are in good hands. That you are being taken care of by a broker who has your best interests in mind. This is the service that I provide every day and I think it is the essential component to being in this business. In my opinion, there is no other way to go about it.
In the world of residential real estate, we tend to come in contact with people from all walks of life. I can assure you, it keeps the job interesting. We meet people from all over the world. From France, to China, to Morocco, to the United States, we see it all. We see very serious buyers and sellers, very relaxed personalities, very shy individuals and even those who keep us on our toes, but, as the broker, you need to embrace it. We are your representatives.
For me, I like sitting down with a buyer, seller or renter and learning a little about them. I like to discuss topics such as where they are from, what they do, the reason for their move and a little about their life as a whole. As this process unfolds you become closer to the clients you represent. For a buyer or seller, and even a renter, it is a very emotional experience to go through, and you need to make sure that your broker completely understands that. We are here to represent you, to guide you and to make sure your entire experience with us is a smooth one. Working hard and putting in time and energy is a rewarding experience for me when my clients are satisfied.
Now, there are many other components to the job. There are always timelines to be met. If your broker cannot meet that deadline, then his/her client could potentially be made homeless. If someone is looking for an apartment to rent, for example, rental terms most commonly start at the beginning of each month, and sometimes on the 15th of each month. That means that at least a month before then your broker needs to be working around the clock, trying to find options for her clients. And if you want to stay ahead of the game, I would say your broker should even start the search a month and a half before the client’s desired move-in date. Of course, each client has a list of requirements, but it is vital for a broker to be able to envision the whole picture from the beginning to the end of a transaction process.
Anyone who is looking to buy, sell or rent needs to be sure they are working with someone whom they can trust to get the job done and at the highest level possible. This is a work ethic that I believe in with every person I deal with. You, as the client, are about to embark on an emotional and very technical process, and you should be working with someone who will make it easy for you to go through. Someone who understands what you are going through and the feelings that you are feeling. Although the process can feel difficult sometimes, we are here to do the hand holding when you need it. I’ll do backflips if I need to. The process is fun and exciting too, as long as you are going through it in the correct way! What is important to me is that I understand what my clients need and to be efficient in helping them attain their goals.
By Noa Hubsher
Noa Hubsher is a licensed real estate salesperson at Douglas Elliman Real Estate in New York City.
