It’s time for the second installment of our new series of client interviews! As I travel to see clients, I’m interviewing select individuals I meet along the way and bring them back here for your enjoyment. My first interview subject was Dennis Remesch and next up is Robert White, Branch VP at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New Jersey. Robert is a successful real estate professional heavily involved in the Monmouth County Association of Realtors, serving currently as an Officer on the Board. He’s also a great guy and very gracious to take a little time to answer my questions. You’ll find more information about Robert here.
By the way, for being a sport and answering my questions, Robert got a fresh pound of kaffeeklatsch coffee shipped right to his door compliments of his friends at Solid Earth.
Image may be NSFW.
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1) What’s your opinion on the health of the market in Monmouth Ocean County? I believe the market is very strong along the coastline. We have seen an increase of properties listed and sold in the million plus market, luxury and/or second home markets. But keep in mind some of these homes have been available for some time and through price adjustments they have finally reached a point that a buyer was willing to make an offer that would be accepted. In the first-time home buyer market, again another strong area. If priced correctly, the property can be under contract in less than 30 to 45 days. We have seen pricing continue to drop across the board and in some areas that decrease has been as much as 40% to 50%. In the REO arena, sales have picked up, but the banks are still too slow to keep up with the demand and that always creates problems and or frustration for interested buyers, however they are willing to wait for a real deal.
2) What has been your strategy for staying ahead in a tough market? From an MLS membership viewpoint, we have utilized the talents of both outside entities as well as member talent to keep our membership abreast of the latest marketing trends and technology tools, focusing on today’s buyer, and how they shop for a home. We have also worked towards increasing our reach by putting together an offering of data share with the other ML’s along the shore, giving our membership a further reach. From a Broker’s perspective I have focused on the same elements for the agents within my office.
3) How has technology played a part in your approach to your business? It’s been a major part of the continued growth both in MLS membership as well as my own office. Agents today will not survive without technology. We need to help them understand and utilize to their fullest advantage. Those no longer in the business simply couldn’t understand how to make technology work for them.
4) Where do you see technology in real estate headed and what role does MLS technology – specifically – play? As fast as technology changes today, I believe it will always have a major role in the Real Estate market. It will continue to affect how Real Estate is bought and sold across the country. We meaning the MLS have to align ourselves with the best of the best, when it comes to providing technology information to our members. We need to make sure the partners we work with keep us in the forefront of the market by providing us with current information, while always having an eye on the future..
5) What technical investment, if any, do you plan to make to aid your business within the next year? I looking to my technology partners for that answer. Together I hope that we can make the best decision for our membership and keep us ahead of our competition.
6) If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would be cast to play you? LOL! Billy Bob Thornton, because people say I look like him and I have been mistaken for him at the Phoenician Hotel in Arizona.
