Luxury Listing Specialist - Dominate High End Listings In Any Market

For the past 3 years, the Luxury Listing Specialist Podcast has given listeners access to top real estate professionals in the luxury space. From advice on how to enter the market to how to expand internationally, we’ve strived to be the go-to platform for expert information. We’ve seen a lot of changes in the market since we first launched. Have the best practices shared in our past 99 episodes stood the test of time?  In light of all the changes in our industry, what does the future of the luxury market look like, and how can we continue to serve it? In this 100th episode special, I’m looking back on some of the top information we’ve learned since launching in 2017.     The more knowledgeable you are, the more confident you become, and the easier it is to get out of your comfort zone. -Michael LaFido     Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode   High net worth clients have high expectations. Create experiences that make the transaction process memorable for all the right reasons.  We’r

I used to teach health and physical education when I was going through college, and that’s where I learned the ‘K.I.S.S.’ method—Keep It Simple, Stupid. When it comes to discerning why a home isn’t selling on the market, it really is important to keep the diagnosis simple. Today I’m sharing the three reasons why properties don’t sell, along with a brief brand update.

Professionals in every industry need to adapt to the new normal and real estate is no exception. To outlast COVID-19 and see great results for years to come, you have to start being more open-minded with the way you run our businesses. Embracing technology is no longer an opt-in; you have to take advantage of what’s on offer if you want to keep our clients interested in our services.  What core elements of the business have changed and what will stay the same?  In this episode, CEO of Engel & Völkers Americas, Anthony Hitt shares how to stay relevant in luxury real estate, regardless of the pandemic.   We need to be more than just agents, we want to take it to a higher level and be like an advisor to our clients. -Anthony Hitt   Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode Prioritize good branding The way you brand your teams is extremely important. Anything elementary will be passed over by discerning clients, so aim to build something sophisticated and timeless. Specialization is key Luxury c

When a buyer’s agent inquires or sets up a showing for your luxury listing, chances are they’re not an experienced luxury agent. Perhaps the particular buyer they are working with is their "trophy client.” As a marketing specialist, you want to make that agent feel good, and that their "experience" working with you or showing your luxury properties is different and better than the competition. Today, I’ll give you a quick but effective tip to improve the experience for both the buyer and their agent when they interact with you on one of your high-end or luxury listings.

Real estate has always been a relationship-based industry, so agents need to find ways to keep communicating with their spheres in the age of social distancing.  Is it even possible to build relationships with prospects and clients during social distancing? How can you build genuine bonds with people during this time? The world may have come to a standstill recently, but you’re lucky to live in an age where technology allows us to stay in touch virtually. On this episode that was recorded as part of my recently launched Luxury Lunch & Learn, Vice President of Luxury and Commercial at RE/MAX Holdings, Anne Miller shares how to survive and adapt to the new normal in the luxury real estate space.   As agents and entrepreneurs, your past clients have to hear from you now. Reach out to them. Don’t talk business, check in with them authentically and sincerely. -Michael LaFido   Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode   Adopt an abundance mindset Now more than ever before, it’s important for agents

Do you know who your intended buyer is for the home you represent? This is something you need to know if you want to market that home to a larger pool of buyers. Think of the buyer as your home’s “avatar”— it can take many forms, but you need to know who it is before the home goes live on the MLS if you want to sell it for top dollar. 

In the wake of COVID-19 and the economic shift, it’s important to take stock of your costs, but you also have to be sure you have effective software systems in place. Is it possible to keep costs low without compromising on the systems you use? Times of crisis are an extremely important time for business owners in any sector: where you choose to save money tells people about the character of your businesses. How can you minimize your costs without retrenching your staff? On this episode, CEO and Chairman at Inside Real Estate, Ned Stringham shares how Inside Real Estate and kvCORE are helping real estate teams cut costs during this difficult time.     During these trying times, it’s extremely important to time-block and prioritize your more serious leads. -Michael LaFido   Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode Now more than ever, it’s important to timeblock and prioritize more serious leads. Using a system like kvCORE allows you to do just that.  In times like these, when everyone is being mo

We believe the best way to show your credibility is to be the author of a book. Through our Luxury Rockstar Package, you’ll be featured on the cover of your very own book—a book you don’t even need to write! We’ve already written it, but we’d like to share it with you to help you stand out amongst the competition as a published author in real estate.

Any agent taking their first step into the luxury market should see their first listing as an opportunity & ‘trophy listing’. However, it can be an anxiety-inducing experience breaking into the market when you have no experience in the luxury homes or high-end markets. How can we land our first trophy listings and how can we be honest about your lack of experience in the market, without scaring potential clients away?  In the luxury market, it’s vital agents look the part and exude confidence, so to make a name for yourself in the space, you have to leverage whatever you can, and make sure you’re as knowledgeable as possible on every step of the transaction process. In this episode, you'll hear a coaching call with eXp Realtor Kirk Brown, an experienced real estate looking to enter the luxury market with a $1.9m upcoming listing appointment.     When you have an opportunity to market a trophy listing, you want to have all hands on deck to sell it and leverage that property to attract future opportu

Why should someone hire you versus the competition? If you’ve never asked yourself that question before, you need to start today, because the answer will lead you to today’s topic: developing a unique value proposition. A unique value proposition is a simple, concise statement that explains why someone should hire you instead of the competition.

Starting fresh in a new market can be a daunting experience for agents, and making a name for ourselves can be incredibly difficult when we don’t have a database. How can we establish ourselves as successful agents when we’re new to an area- and what can we do to win over the local luxury market? How can we compete alongside agents who have been serving the area for decades? On this episode, Realtor at Keller Williams Realty Palo Alto, Maria Afzal shares how to make a name for ourselves when we’re new to a market.    If you want to serve the local luxury market, you have to live, socialize and interact in the area. -Maria Afzal   Takeaways + Tactics  Whenever we’re new to an area, socializing with new people is important. However, if we want to establish ourselves as successful agents in the market, we have to make sure the people we spend most of our time with are also successful. To serve a luxury community, we have to be a part of it. To show our authenticity, it’s important we live alongside an

In this episode, we will talk about an amazing property that we are marketing right now at just under $3 million. It has some amazing features, such as an indoor saltwater pool, but we wanted to make these features pop on camera and video.

Hope everyone is staying healthy and positive with COVID-19. When our economy loosens up, there will be many high net worth buyers aiming to purchase more international properties. Agents should familiarize the complexities of international transactions. What concerns do high net worth sellers have when choosing agents? What are the benefits of buying properties in Mexico? Do we need to be fluent in Spanish to be successful in the Mexican market? What do we need to know about the transaction process in the country? On this episode, the past President of Keller Williams Luxury Division Mexico, Ramon Davila, shares how to build relationships with agents Internationally and how to invest in property in Mexico.   Low property taxes and the current state of the Peso offer great opportunities for US investors to buy property in Mexico. -Ramon Davila     Takeaways + Tactics  Let buyers know the benefits: properties in Mexico have around 14% value-add every year, and rented out properties see 5-6% return o

Do you know how to use the power of demonstration in real estate? The power of demonstration means showing people—not telling them—how you can sell their home faster and for more money than anyone else, and today I’ll share several ways you can leverage the power of demonstration. The first is through video books.

Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy with the Corona Virus. Real estate is an industry experiencing significant change, and one of those changes is cryptocurrency in transactions. How does it work and what is the underlying technology that makes it so favorable in business? How should real estate agents be approaching this technology? In this episode, Donald Hyun Kiolbassa, real estate and estate planning attorney with cryptocurrency expertise, shares what the rise of cryptocurrency means for our industry. Exercise an extremely heightened level of caution before proceeding a deal that involves blockchain. -Donald Hyun Kiolbassa     Takeaways + Tactics:  When government monetary regulations started popping up, this created an appetite to circumvent them and this created cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is the exchange, blockchain is the underlying tech that makes it hacker proof.  Change your Bitcoin into cash before an exchange. There aren’t enough safeguards and regulations for direct exchan

When it comes to marketing a client’s home, you need to figure out what to do in order to position their home more effectively to a larger pool of buyers. In this week’s post, I discuss the power of certain "before and after" marketing materials that will help you, as an agent, communicate to taste-specific clients about the importance of broadening their home’s appeal, therefore increasing the number of luxury listings in your portfolio. After all, a wider base of buyers could equal more money in your sellers’ pockets.

Video is a great communication tool, and we should be using it to our advantage. With the recent "Shelter In Place" orders in many states along with agents working with clients remotely during this Corona Virus outbreak, video communication is a great way to deliver your message. When should we send potential clients personalized video messages, and what should we include in them? How can video messages help us build stronger relationships with clients?     Create casual content. When you can get comfortable on camera and be yourself in a natural, unscripted way, it shows a level of confidence that is deeply attractive. -Ethan Beute   Takeaways + Tactics   By sending a video message a few days before meeting a potential client, we can pre-sell ourselves. Plus, since 90% of our competitors won’t do this, it’s a great way to differentiate ourselves.   Follow up after an appointment with a video message. This video should be used to address any questions our potential client may have had at the appoint

Today we’re going to talk about the importance of building your brand, both online and offline. Is your online brand consistent with your offline brand? If not, you’ll lose your competitive advantage over other Realtors.

The real estate industry is full of great agents, so we have to go the extra mile to distinguish ourselves. How can we protect ourselves from competitors attempting to discredit us- and why should we avoid belittling our competition? How can we show potential clients we’re the obvious choice? On this episode, owner of Waterfront Properties and Club Communities, Rob Thomson shares how we can differentiate ourselves from any competition.   Be careful not to compare yourself with other agents- it just sounds like you’re badmouthing the competition. -Rob Thomson   Takeaways + Tactics  It’s perfectly acceptable if we aren’t involved in the transaction process personally, but we have to tell our clients upfront. Don’t let competitors use this to discredit us.  Don’t belittle competitors. Instead of getting involved in what makes us ‘good’ or ‘bad’, we should be telling potential clients what makes us different.  Instead of telling clients what we offer, invite them to the office to see for themselves-

If you are a brokerage or team leader having a strong luxury division is crucial to attracting more high-end and luxury listings.  What do you need to create, grow, and maintain a strong luxury division? It takes much more than just a different 'for sale' sign or logo.