Miami Living Magazine features the best Miami has to offer. Click on any magazine below and enjoy. You can download our free app on iTunes. Ideal for iPad and iPhone users.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/280
MIAMI LIVING 91 MIAMI LIVING 91 PROFILE Nancy Batchelor "Queen of Real Estate" Words by Irama Valdes Miami Children's Hospital dubbed her the "Queen of Hearts," but to Miami Living, she's the Queen of Real Estate. Nancy Batchelor, a full- time real estate agent presently employed by renowned Esslinger- Wooten-Maxwell, Inc., Realtors (EWM), has one thing on her mind: to make her clients happy. Nancy zealously represents both buyers and sellers in this competitive market and still finds time to participate in numerous charities and organizations, be a mother to three children, and compete in equestrian events in Palm Beach. Miami Living (ML): You began in the boat business. When did you make your transition to real estate? Nancy Batchelor (NB): I was actually an agent in Aspen, Colorado for three- and-a-half years until I moved to Miami in 1984 and founded Florida Yacht Charters and Sales. I also worked for EWM on a referral basis until I became a full-time broker about eight years ago. I got a bachelor's degree in journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but focused my studies around advertising and marketing, which I use today to help my clients sell their homes in areas like Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and many more. ML: Does advertising really play that big a role? NB: Absolutely. I try to only use professional photography for classy ads to really be responsive. I use professional photographs in print ads and direct mail. It's a mixture of marketing. With the internet and all out there, you have to be a facilitator. Even though email is great, you still have to pick up the phone and call people; most of my business is by referral. You want to make sure you're promoting your listing in the best light. ML: Why did you choose to go into the real estate business? NB: For one, it's not boring. It's a combination of things I love: the people, the marketing, and selling a product I like in a location that I love. My job is to make friends with my clients. And there's so much opportunity here in Miami with people on the side lines waiting to jump into the city. There's never been a better time for those people with some options to invest. There's a lot of excitement in Miami and super-good energy making it a really fun place to work. ML: What sets your services apart from other brokers? NB: I always ask myself: "How can I help make my client's transaction smoother?" I try to put myself in their shoes and really look after their investment by arranging to make sure the little extras are met. Just this weekend I got Art Basel tickets for a client, made restaurant reservations, and showed them around the city so they wouldn't get lost. Like that kind of concierge care. There are plenty of agents out there, but why should someone deal with you? There are a lot of things that make a town: the restaurants, the neighborhood and its safety, the schools, the shopping. You have to know the whole package and be prepared to inform the client so he or she can make the best decision for them and their family. ML: Do you have any tips for the eager seller? NB: Sellers have to get more realistic with the prices. The residence not only has to look great, but it has to be priced just right. People are smart; with the power of the Internet at their fingertips, buyers know what other houses sold for and they want to get a bargain. Since there is so much emotion tied in with owning a home, the seller needs to take themselves out of the equation. Pricing it right the first time is vital. For more information, visit www.nancybatchelor.com, or call her at (305) 903-2850. ML