By Donna Gray
When I was first introduced to Cayman Marshall at the Port Carling office last November and saw first-hand how the company handles its properties for sale, my first response was, “This is a very expensive way of doing business.”
But then I realized, isn’t that what I always wanted to sign up for? To deliver the best level of marketing and tools I can to my clients? First I discovered the unique way Cayman Marshall conducts its business. Then I saw the consistent level of results and the number of clients who were truly satisfied with their experience with the firm. After, I realized this was a realtor I would feel proud to work with.
“I realized this was a realtor I would feel proud to work with.”
How do we deliver value through real estate brokerage services?
Early in my career, I recognized it was important to deliver unprecedented value to my clients in order to succeed. This only happens if you invest a substantial amount of money into your marketing. Cayman has the perfect combination of cutting-edge technology and expert in-house services. They address everything from design and architecture to targeted and qualified media exposure. This enables the firm to offer a level of personal service that isn’t quite like anything I’ve seen before in this business.
Here’s how it works for most brokerages – a model that CM founder Todd Adair has called, quite rightly in my view, “broken.” For many years, the standard business model for many brokerages was to operate mainly as a central clearing house. Agents could sign new clients, promote properties for sale, share basic office real estate brokerage services, and handle the paperwork for completing transactions. Essentially, each agent worked independently.
Regular real estate brokerage services vs. Cayman Marshall
In return for the brokerage’s support, the agent got an established brand affiliation and often, a good location from which to attract clients. All the agent needed in order to do his or her job was a valid licence, a car, and a big fat MLS binder of properties. (Tough negotiating skills might be a useful additional asset.) Especially when it comes to marketing, clients were left to rely mainly on the skills, energy and resources of the individual agent. This could vary from excellent, caring and diligent to… well, you get the picture.
When I did my due diligence before joining the Cayman Marshall team, I discovered this company does things differently. CM has invested heavily to develop a systematic approach that actually allows to completely bypass the MLS service. (MLS has its benefits, but it also has some drawbacks, especially when you are dealing with the kind of luxury properties that I had been working in.) Cayman also employs an unmatched team of in-house specialists in a wide variety of fields. They are ready to service clients’ needs in preparing and showcasing their properties to the world.
The perfect combo of tech and customer-centered service
Over the years, Cayman’s mastery of technology and the real estate brokerage services it can offer has led to steady growth. This has continued even as its competitors have cut back, or started charging extra service fees. Simply put, Cayman Marshall agents have a range of resources at their fingertips that other brokerages don’t. And they can offer services – along with patient, personalized attention – that many “standard” brokerages can’t.
“Simply put, Cayman Marshall agents have a range of resources at their fingertips that other brokerages don’t.”
This is particularly true of Cayman’s renowned exclusive listing service. This allows the company to bring clients’ properties to the attention of selected, prequalified potential buyers before any CM agent makes an appointment to view a property with them. The exclusive listing service adds an extra layer of security and discretion. Clients get better-qualified buyers, and often a faster and smoother sale.
A robust lead-generation system
Other firms are offering exclusive listing services nowadays. So why is Cayman’s exclusive listing service so successful? Basically, we like to believe we’ve gone MLS one better. Cayman’s exclusive lead-generating system brings its properties to the attention of pre-qualified, pre-screened clients who have come to us through a variety of ways. We find it’s deeply appreciated by sellers who value their privacy. Or simply they don’t want to be part of the feeding frenzy that occurs when a highly desirable property goes on the market.
And these days, the service is even more valuable. CREA’s new rules prevent realtors from marketing exclusive listings publicly. In effect, they force them to use MLS if they wish to advertise a listing anywhere in the public media. Now it’s even more crucial to be associated with a brokerage like Cayman Marshall. Our private marketing expertise has been proven over and over again. It works so well, that several clients have returned to us to sell their subsequent properties using this service!
“It works so well, that several clients have returned to us to sell their subsequent properties using this service.”
Proudly, a part of the brokerage’s brave future
It’s just one of an entire suite of innovative services Cayman Marshall offers. This is followed by an extraordinary in-house team of talented architects, designers, stagers, contractors and even construction personnel. Cayman’s objective is to provide complete, turnkey services for both buyers and sellers. We envision this from the moment you sign with us to the day that the deal is successfully completed, and frequently even beyond that.
Cayman is not quite like any other real estate firm that I’ve worked with before. You could even call it a disruptor. But the results speak for themselves. It is harnessing technology and the resources of an expert team, rather than relying on the individual skills of any one agent. This is the secret sauce that makes this company different. And I’m truly excited to be a part of it.
