Jo-Ann Forster and Brian Forster Shapiro are the mother-son duo behind the Jo-Ann Forster Team of EWM Realty in Coral Gables

Every week, we ask a Miami real estate professional for their thoughts on the top three stories from the week before.

This week, we talked with Jo-Ann Forster and Brian Forster Shapiro, the mother-son duo behind the Jo-Ann Forster Team of EWM Realty in Coral Gables.  With 46 sales and a sales volume of more than $45 million in 2012, the Jo-Ann Forster Team is among the most successful in Miami-Dade, and Jo-Ann and Brian are equally impressive in their own right. Jo-Ann ranks among the top 10 agents in Miami-Dade, and is in the top 0.5 percent of Realtors nationwide, while Brian is a certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist with top-notch skills in technology and marketing.

Miami Agent (MA): Our story on appraisers generated quite a bit of interest among our readers; have you found difficulty with the appraisal process? And if so, how do you work with appraisers to make the process less troublesome?

 Jo-Ann/Brian: Most of our buyers pay cash, so contracts are written without financing and appraisal contingencies. When there is an appraisal contingency, all parties hold their breaths.

There is a scarcity of property on the market, and scarcity creates demand and steadily rising prices. There is still a lack of comparables, and appraisers come from all over, and in many cases, do not know the areas well enough to give proper values to locations and the details of each neighborhood.

To minimize those problems, we come prepared. We bring floor plans or previous measurements when available, list of features and special details, ages of equipment, comparables with photos and price per square foot, and info on HOA if applicable. If a waterfront property, we bring info on docks, access, bridges to bay and fees, where applicable.

We give them important information on the area and schools, which does affect value. We make sure not to list personal property on contract. We always give them quick access to us for questions, and ALWAYS return any appraiser’s calls that need info on any of our sales. We encourage other agents to promptly return their calls, as we need to help each other with good and honest information for them to use.

MA: Also, our feature piece on dealing with difficult agents received attention as well. Though we’d like to think that all agents are great, there are some bad apples out there, particularly those who do not return calls and are uncooperative when you do get them on the line. How do you deal with such agents?

Jo-Ann/Brian: There are difficult agents out there, and you cannot avoid them, especially in a market of low inventory. We are known for quick response to agent and customer calls, and do whatever we can to make the entire process pleasant.

If we come across a difficult agent, we kill them with kindness and don’t let their issues affect our goals and needs. If they are really difficult, we call their manager or company owner and ask them to please intercede. It is a win-win for all when a good cooperative attitude prevails.

MA: Finally, many readers checked out our story on the economic impact of a home sale; in what ways do you see the positive effects of housing, working in real estate like you do?

 Jo-Ann/Brian: When the real estate market is good, you see the economic impact when you walk out the door. The shopping centers are packed, the car dealers are busy, the restaurants are full and people are traveling again. The whole psychology of people change.  They feel prosperous again, or at least financially safer.

We are all breathing easier and loving life. Hopefully we have learned our lessons from the debacle we just left, and slow and balance will be our mantras.