From the category archives:

Women-owned Business

Cell Phones and Real Estate

by Suzanne on February 27, 2009

My dedication to my clients and their properties is extensive, comprehensive and complete - because it has to be. The real estate market moves fast, and I move with it.

Recently, I received a call for a listing that required a nearly instant meeting and a next-day spot in the newspaper. Because of my dedication to keeping the client list of Suzanne Lanzone & Daughters intimate, I was able to meet the needs of this client.

Similarly, when a buyer requests a showing, I understand that they need instant gratification. In fact, they can’t wait - and their schedule receives my total attention.

I do remember real estate before there were cell phones. Things actually moved a bit slower, because if you were at one showing, you couldn’t receive a call about the next one. Clients had to wait until you returned to your office. I know - can you imagine!

Of course, the reality of today is that I have a cell phone, and while I could turn it off and create a defined window of availability - I choose not to. I choose to leave my phone on from 7:00 in the morning to 10:00 at night. I am always available and pride myself on this top-level of service, reliability and, yes, dedication.

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Now THAT’S giving: the story of ING Direct.

by Suzanne on January 19, 2009

This year for Christmas, 500 families got an amazing present - their January mortgage payment was taken care of, paid, virtually erased from their to-do list.

Instead of their usual holiday party extravaganza’s, ING Direct gave $861,513.25 (about $1,700 per household) to 500 families. I’m not sure which piece I’m more blown away by, that they did something so generous or that they usually spend almost $1 million on holiday parties.

But, it has me thinking…If every big company did this, what would happen?

Would the parties really be missed? And couldn’t they happen anyway with some fancy sheet cakes from the grocery store on a Friday afternoon in December.

Think about how this would help the people in our country that are suffering because of our economy?

If you own a big company…or work for one, think about making this happen in your community. What an example ING Direct has set. What a high, and halo-lit, bar to reach….

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Suzanne Lanzone…every five years

by Suzanne on September 3, 2008

I believe that when people match their interests and passions with their work, they are guaranteed to succeed - no, to thrive…explosively. As a matter of course, I run a self-prescribed work/life/happiness inventory on myself every five years. Do I like what I’m doing? Is my work fulfilling me? Is this the life I want to be living? The answers surface when I ask the real questions…and so far, every five years I’ve realized that it’s time to make a change, realign and restructure my path to move forward.

I’ve lived on Martha’s Vineyard for the last 17 years - raising my daughters and being part of a community where everyone participates and all voices are welcome. It is a special place. After working in sales for some time, I entered the housing market as a Sotheby’s real estate broker. I loved the work and enjoyed the rapid growth I experienced, but when 2003 rolled around, and I took my five year stock, it was clear that my work, and the life it created, had become too big. And, in that bigness, I watched personal relationships with my clients fade behind the busy-ness of the business.

My answer was too create Hob Knob Realty, a small, boutique brokerage firm located within the charming Hob Knob Inn in Edgartown. As prinicipal broker in charge of the firm, I focused on full, personalized service with every client. And, over the next five years Hob Know Realty grew increasingly more successful.

Fast forward to today. You can do the math - it’s 2008 and time to take stock once again. The last five years have been incredible, and I’m so proud of everything that Hob Knob has accomplished. But, there are just two little things that aren’t matching up.

The firm has gotten too big, carrying over 100 listings. My favorite part of real estate is the one on one relationships that develop between me and my clients and taking the time to connect them to the Vineyard community and landscape. Each of my clients deserves my undivided attention - something that I can manage with less than 25 (different #?) listings, but not with 100.
I want to focus on my homeowners, on my sellers. New real estate laws finally mandate that brokers represent only one side of the deal. My work relies on my complete cooperation with co-brokers on the Vineyard, and I’m proud that I have strong relationships with all of the other brokers on the island (over 60 offices at this point) as well as expertise as a buyer’s agent. Still, my heart leans towards Vineyard property owners. Real estate sales are personal, emotional, satisfying; I enliven the journey.

My answer? Follow my passion and instincts back to intimate real estate with my new luxury firm, Suzanne Lanzone & Daughters. Joined by my daughters, Aly and Rosey), our boutique brokerage firm will remain small, offering the highest level of personal service and comprehensive support to Vineyarders selling homes and land on our exquisite island. Suzanne Lanzone & Daughters…an inspired approach to living on Martha’s Vineyard.

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