RISMEDIA, July 8, 2009-What does it take to elevate your career in a market like today’s? Is it recognizing the challenges and being intuitive enough to defeat them? Or is it brushing up on your technology skills to help streamline your business? For Top 5 Member Karen Stroub, it’s a combination of both. In this month’s Best Practices from Members of RISMedia’s Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, meet Stroub, and learn how she’s succeeding at growing her business in Westchester County, New York.
Karen Stroub
Legends Realty Group
Westchester County, New York
Years in real estate: 18
Average sales price in your market: $700,000
Average listing time: 5 or 6 months
How has the competitive landscape changed for securing listings?
I have evolved with the whole Internet boom. I use my BlackBerry all the time. The Internet is front and center so you have to be really tech-savvy-that’s the only way to be competitive today.
How do you differentiate yourself in listing presentations?
My experience sets me apart. I have been through downturns and good times and I know how to help people sell homes in good times and bad.
What are clients looking for most?
Buyers and sellers want someone who is working full time, not just someone who is doing it part time on weekends. Today, buyers want all of the information right at the start. Besides wanting a full-time professional, they want someone who knows how to negotiate-really negotiate. Of course, that skill only comes with time in the business and lots of experience.
How have Top 5 materials and membership helped you secure more listings?
I have sent out the What Every Home Seller Should Demand brochure and have gotten some good responses. This weekend, I am doing a public open house and will have this brochure on hand. I think it is very important to be in an elite category so that I am set apart from the part-time people. Top 5 does this for me.
What do you believe some of the greatest benefits of Top 5 will be?
I think being able to network and refer within Top 5 and to learn from other Top 5 professionals will be invaluable. I don’t think there’s one standard way of doing things, and I think Top 5 pros will give me new and creative ways to look at things.
