Barbara Reiter is a Realtor with Grand Floridian Estate Realty working in Miami.
Every week, we ask a Miami real estate professional for their thoughts on the top three stories from the week before. This week, we spoke with Barbara, a Realtor with Grand Floridian Estate Realty.
Miami Agent (MA): The luxury market in Miami is growing with new buyers coming in from all throughout the U.S., as well as from abroad. Building a business in the high-end market, while potentially lucrative, can be difficult for agents just starting out. What networking tips would you give to agents trying to build their luxury client base?
Barbara Reiter (BR): In today’s real estate market, any new agent getting into the luxury market needs to get to know every aspect of the business, including the product/inventory they intend to market (i.e. real estate properties).
This is a very complex question. Today, buyers and sellers are very savvy, and we as real estate advisors need to know every single property as well as its history and comparable to be able to help our customers make an educated decision.
Giving customers the best service from the beginning and throughout the process, and beyond, is critical in our business. By giving your customer that kind of exceptional service and keeping in constant communication, little by little, the agent will expand their network and start receiving referrals from each customer.
Today my customers are networking for me and my phone never stops ringing.
MA: There are consistently a large amount of cash buyers in the Miami real estate market, but recent data from Redfin suggests that number is beginning to dwindle. Have you noticed this trend, and if so, do you think it represents a return to a more stable local market?
BR: You are absolutely right, the real estate market became very aggressive in 2012, when all the developers started to build the projects that stopped after 2006.
There is nothing wrong with this trend. South Florida was, is and will always maintain a strong place for real estate.
I believe that the market is stable and is working well for all. Miami is the thermometer for what constitutes the USA and the world’s best real estate market.
MA: A recent article this week discusses the importance of safety, giving a few tips on how real estate agents can stay safe while selling a home, like always be cautious of unexpected visitors. What are some things, if anything, you do to ensure your own safety when selling a home?
BR: I have never had this situation present itself, but we need to be prepared for any situation that my come up.
When going out with buyers for the first time, you should make a copy of their ID and leave it in the office with a list of all the properties that you are showing them. Your cell phone should have a contact person programed into it to call in the event of an emergency. IT IS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.
Up to now I feel safe in Miami and South Florida… This place is my Paradise.