At
the helm of New England’s largest family owned real
estate company sits the charismatic and affable President
and CEO, Bill Raveis. Bill started the company in 1974 in
Fairfield, Connecticut when he was 27 years old in a one-room
office with a desk he bought for $50. Today, 32 years later,
he reigns over 51 offices and 2000 agents in Connecticut,
Massachusetts and Rhode Island. His open door policy and
encouraging, supportive attitude lead to a one-on-one conversation
covering many of the topics buyers and sellers want to know
about.
Q: What differentiates and sets apart William Ravies
Real Estate from the other real estate companies?
A.We’re a family business and we embody
family values. We appreciate the importance of buying and selling
a home in
an individual’s life and want that process to be smooth
and seamless. More importantly, we want every buying or selling
decision to be right for that individual so that when they
need to do it again down the road they will instantly and without
reservation think of
calling William Raveis Real Estate.
Q: What does William Raveis offer customers that you
are most proud of?
A. Although we are a family owned company, we are not a mom
and pop company. I am most proud that William Raveis Real Estate is a world-
class company.We
sustain all the infrastructure to facilitate buying and selling a home from top
quality agents to a mortgage company.
Our working systems, especially our website is world class and serves the needs
of people whether they are in New York or in London. It provides not only comprehensive
information about houses on the market with high quality photography and video
tours that are almost as good as walking through the property, but also unique
features like “Neighborhood Mapping”. This allows you to get intimate
with
the
happenings in the neighborhood such as what other houses are for sale
in
the vicinity, which houses have sold in the past year, where the schools are,
where
daycare centers are and much, much more. All this is shown graphically on a map
so that you can see where these places are relative to the house in question.
If you’re thinking of selling your home, you can request a 24 hour CMA
(Competitive Market Analysis) without leaving your home or even picking up the
phone. In 24 hours you will have a comprehensive analysis of your home’s
worth in today’s market.
Q. What makes
William Raveis Real Estate successful
in this highly competitive market?
A. At William Raveis we understand that we are only as good as the agents
working with us. They are our most powerful business partners and we are here
to help them become whatever they want to become. We sit with each agent and
map out how they will get to their goal. We show them the tools and ask them
to do the hard work of positioning themselves according to their own unique
strengths, offerings and goals. Our agents are not interchangeable with one
another. Each is unique with a personal business style. We honor and help that
style flourish. We are here to build entrepreneurs.
Q: What makes a great agent?
A. It’s a given that a great agent has to honest, have integrity
and be smart. That’s a start, but it’s not enough. Agents that
partner with us need to have great insights into people and have to like
to be with and to help people. We want them to have the ability to understand
their clients and to get them what they want. It’s the ability to get
their client to the place they want to be in that is most important in being
a great William Raveis agent.
Q. That sounds like you’re describing Doris. What would you
say about Doris’ traits as an agent?
A.Doris has all these traits and more.
Her enthusiasm is wonderful, she is always up, helpful and highly creative.
She is a superstar.
Q: What trends do you see in the real estate market in Connecticut
and Fairfield County specifically?
A. I see continued and steady appreciation in areas such as Fairfield County
where land is scarce. Being within commuting distance to New York City makes
this area a world class market. In comparison to other world class markets,
real estate values in this area, at approximately $600, a square foot are undervalued.
In today’s environment, sales may slow down, but values will continue
to rise.
Q: What are your goals for the company for the future?
A. Our goal is to be the first to give home buyers and sellers what they
want and they want “one-stop shopping” and “one price transactions”.
That means that you can purchase your home, insurance, closing, title and
mortgage for one total package price all from
>About Doris
|
