Strong Marketing in a Hot Market

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Strong Marketing in a Hot Market

Scott Dobrin

Broker/Owner

Exit Home Realty

Staten Island, New York

Real estate history: Licensed agent from 1992-97, a small individual broker 1998-2003, an associate broker with RE/MAX and owner/broker July, 2003 to the present

Career highlights: Dobrin was the No.1 RE/MAX agent in all five boroughs in New York City from 2000-2002. He was the No. 1 agent in Staten Island from 2000-2003 with more than 500 career closed transactions. Exit Home Realty opened July 9, 2003 and Dobrin had the No. 1 total active inventory in nine months.

Regions served: Staten Island, New York.

Current number of offices: One in Staten Island; considering opening an office in Brooklyn

Number of agents: Started with six agents, now has 81 agents and nine associate brokers who speak 12 different languages.

Goals: To have 250 agents in a 10,000-square-foot office at the present growth rate by spring of 2006.

Average listing price range: $375,000, ranging from $250,000 to $3,500,000. Staten Island has a population of more than 500,000 with about 1,800 active listings.

Why did you affiliate with Exit Home Realty? It was natural to join up with the fastest growing real estate franchise in the country over the last eight years. Also, they give their agents so much support.

How would you describe your market conditions? It has slowed a bit, but it’s still very, very hot. We’re still 10 to 20% ahead of the other boroughs except for Manhattan.

What is the biggest challenge you’re facing right now? The biggest challenge is getting a listing in front of the public. That is, not only the listing but also the full value of all our services. The other is incorporating all the latest technology for our brokers. The average age of most brokers is above that of those who are usually technologically proficient. So it’s a challenge for all of us.

How do you measure customer satisfaction? When I don’t hear people complaining I assume they’re happy. Actually, we’re beginning to send out questionnaires after we’ve completed transactions.

You do vehicle wraps. How does it work for you? It’s the best form of marketing I’ve ever done. My two vehicles have made me a celebrity in the area. They give me an identity and recognition. We have a Hummer and a moving truck and we lend out the truck to clients who need to move something or to churches and civic groups.

What else do you do to help your business grow? We advertise with center spreads and rear covers in the The Real Estate Book 12 times a year. We also advertise with a center spread in the Brooklyn Real Estate Book. All our signs have our agents’ pictures on them and all our listings have multiple pictures.