For many years, Liz envisioned the perfect real estate company….a brokerage where all the greatest agents want to work, and where the business is solidly and predictably built on word of mouth referrals from loyal past clients. In 2003, she decided to make that vision a reality. Realizing that it would be near impossible to totally transform her existing traditional real estate office into her ideal model, Liz set to work writing a business plan that started totally from scratch. She traveled extensively for several years, researching what were heralded as the best and the brightest brokerages across the country.
She was disappointed. She was disappointed that from the West Coast to the North East, most real estate companies looked alike. Wherever she went, she found business as usual…very little vision…hardly any passion for customer service or innovative ideas. Marketing was at best ho-hum…in fact, there was so little distinction between companies that one could easily erase one firm’s logo in an ad and substitute another and no one would notice.
Convinced that there was a better way to practice real estate, and that timing was right for an enlightened boutique brokerage, Liz enlisted the guidance of one of the nation’s leading business development consultants. Under her guidance, 10,000 local families were surveyed about their real estate experiences over the past five years. One message was loud and clear: too many families had one unfortunate experience in common…frustrating and costly last minute surprises and expenses which made the overall real estate experience highly stressful.
The mission became clear: to develop a real estate company that truly reinvented the process, empowering consumers and agents alike with up front information and more control. So, with the help of long time friend and colleague, local attorney Brian D. Lytle, Liz set to work to create a business plan for the perfect real estate company.
The firm would partner with several local appraisers to provide a full mortgage appraisal to sellers at time of listing, as well as independent home inspectors to conduct thorough property inspections before the home is put on the market. These services would be provided free to the consumer. With peace of mind for clients as the goal, these up front services would enable sellers to rest easy that once they negotiate price and terms with a potential buyer, they no longer need to fear the unknown: low appraisals, or costly unexpected repairs. Fewer surprises, less stress.
Next, it was time to build the internal strategy ~ to design the perfect brokerage from the inside out, setting in motion the systems and resources that would allow agents to deliver exceptional customer service. Liz hired an architect and interior designer who were charged with creating state of the art office environments that would “wow” customers and optimize efficiencies for agents.
Freed from the issues associated with transforming an existing brokerage, Liz was able to focus solely on designing the perfect real estate company. Onerous tasks such as direct mail and creation of marketing brochures would be taken over by the company, freeing up the agent’s time to focus on dealing directly with customers.
Finally, in December of 2003, it was time to execute. Liz began a series of interviews to select the inaugural sales and administrative team. Recognizing that change is difficult for even the most confident salespeople, Liz was uncompromising in her vision. Agents were selected based on their willingness to put self interests secondary to those of the consumer, to commit to lofty goals for learning and professional development, and to set new standards in the industry for professionalism and customer service.
By the end of their second full year, in one of the most competitive markets ever experienced on the Peninsula, Liz Moore & Associates was ranked as the #1 office in overall sold volume. They have maintained that market leader position on the Peninsula ever since.
In the Fall of 2005, the company opened its New Town location in Williamsburg. Two years later, a new 12,000 square foot building was completed to house the rapidly growing Williamsburg office. Today, in the summer of 2010, the Liz Moore & Associates’ Williamsburg office has doubled its market share over the past 12 months to take a seat among the top 3 brokerages in town.
Recognizing that clients were hungry for the Liz Moore commitment to client service in other real estate pursuits, Liz also launched Property Management and Commercial Services in 2005, and 2006 respectively. In 2006, Liz was recognized by the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce as Entrepreneur of the Year, and in 2009, she was recognized by Inside Business with a Women in Business Achievement award.
What does the future hold for the real estate industry? Who knows? One thing is clear, however; Liz Moore & Associates will be leading the market to the next level.
Comments