Succeeding in an industry saturated with competition means you must constantly strive to stand out. Read on as Doug Dorsey, broker/owner of Engel & Völkers Richmond in Richmond, Va., offers insight on excelling and standing out on an even higher level.
Region served: Richmond and Central Virginia
Years in real estate: Since 1982
Favorite part of your job: Finding ways to improve our company for the benefit of our agents and customers, whether it be through technology, branding, or offering quality service. We’re committed to differentiating ourselves from the competition, and our recent affiliation with Engel & Völkers will allow us to differentiate ourselves on an even higher level.
Who has most influenced your success? My parents, who were always there to support me. While I didn’t grow up in a real estate family, I enjoyed being able to work closely with my father when he got into the business after retiring.
Please describe some of the current conditions in your market.
We’ve had a very strong year as we continue to rebuild from the downturn. While prices aren’t back to where they were before 2008, they’re rising steadily. We’ve also seen a good pick-up in activity, which is keeping inventory low. And last but not least, people are still taking advantage of the historically low interest rates.
How did you create buzz within your local market before Engel & Völkers Richmond opened its doors on September 30?
Engel & Völkers is completely different than any other firm in our area, so we spent the month of September doing some teaser ads, getting the shop ready for changes that had to be implemented and educating our agents about the new tools and systems they’d have access to. When September 30 rolled around, we were all ready to march forward.
In terms of timing, why was it so important to join Engel & Völkers now?
The market has changed so much that in order for an independent firm like ours to remain relevant, we had to be able to provide both our agents and clients more services. Trying to reinvent the wheel on our own would not only have been cost prohibitive, it wouldn’t have been possible to achieve in a timely manner. Therefore, when we were able to see what the team at Engel & Völkers had laid out, the success they’ve seen and how they operate, it was a no-brainer to jump on board.
As we head toward the future, what are you most looking forward to when it comes to being part of the Engel & Völkers brand?
I’m looking forward to watching the brand grow as it continues to expand into North America. I’m grateful that we were able to jump on board early on in the process, as I have no doubt that the brand will provide a truly dynamic presence in every market they enter.
For more information, visit www.evusa.com
