Expert Advice
By Elizabeth Hoppe
By Elizabeth Hoppe
If you’re looking for a real estate broker who makes herself available when you need her, puts your interests first, and knows the high-end North Shore market better than most, you need to talk to Susie Banas. Her level of commitment to clients is unmatched. She is a 24/7 broker who answers emails within minutes and answers her phone while on vacation.
“It’s as dedicated as doctor’s hours,” she says.
And in real estate, you need to provide that kind of service if you expect to continue to grow your business. Banas, who helps homeowners buy and sell on the North Shore as a broker for
@properties, has learned that valuable lesson in her 18 years in the industry.
“You must be available. You need to know your product. You have to be that good at your job to be competitive, valued, respected, and have repeat business,” she says.
For Banas, multitasking comes naturally. She’s a working mother of four, which means days are never devoid of activities, demands, or commitments. And if it’s not her kids she’s looking out for, it’s her clients.
“It’s hard to be a critic when you walk in to meet a client who wants to sell their house,” she says.
But honesty is important. It’s imperative to let homeowners know what they need to do if they really want to sell, especially in the current market.
“We are flooded with inventory. You have to be priced right. If a property is priced well, it will get sold. But there’s no tolerance for any negative wear and tear on any properties. They have to be spic and span and show their best,” Banas explains. “I think buyers want to see everything that’s out there. They’re being cautious and taking their time.”
The hottest properties on the market today are clean, neat, open, bright, and spacious. “If there’s a new construction home the North Shore, it’s going to sell,” she adds.
Another trend is that buyers are much less interested in doing the work themselves than they used to be. “People want organization and efficiency,” Banas says. “They want what we have with our iPhones. There’s an immediacy to what we want now, and that holds true for real estate. Buyers want to know what they’re getting right then and there.”
Her expertise is working almost exclusively in the high-end real estate market, and she also specializes in equestrian real estate, where the average sale starts around $3 million. An equestrian facility always has a number of mandates, including the commercial aspect as well as operations.
“It’s not just selling one piece of real estate,” she says.
Equestrian properties make up a small but significant portion of her business, and her experience dealing with those transactions has improved her negotiating skills and taught her what she needs to bring to the table to help close a deal.
Buying a home is a big investment, and things don’t always go right. Deals don’t work out. Inspections go wrong. And when that happens, Banas feels the disappointment right along with her clients.
“I take everything to heart,” she says. “I try so hard to get people everything they want.”
But on the flip side, when things work out, she celebrates right along with you—and she won’t give up until the champagne cork pops.
Susie Banas of @properties can be reached at 847-707-9755 or at [email protected].
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