The Power of Two
By Jessica Graves
Location. Location. Location. But when you’re ready to buy or sell in this hectic real estate market, it’s also who you work with that matters. Just like any great relationship, searching for the right realtor can be like kissing frogs to find a prince. Sometimes, you find two.
“I like to say we’re the BOGO of realtors,” jokes Richard Schultz, one half of the Pride Power Group at Coldwell Banker Realty. Schultz and his husband of 39 years, Gary Keating, proudly provide buyers and sellers with their own brand of insight and experience long after the transactions are complete.
“When buyers move in, we say, ‘Now listen, the first thing you’re going to need to spend money on is the bones,’” says Keating. “We continue to help them even after we’ve sold the property.” Nodding in agreement, Schultz adds, “We check in with them. Everyone becomes a Facebook friend.”
Long-lasting relationships come easily to the duo who list integrity, diligence, and honesty as the secrets to their success, even if it means not making a sale. “We tell customers if we don’t think they should buy the property,” explains Schultz. “It’s our obligation.” Another commitment they take seriously is ensuring that they never pass the buck. “When we list a property, we show that property every time,” says Keating. “They hired us. How can we sell it if we’re not there?”
The pair’s advice to buyers might seem obvious but it’s often overlooked by other realtors. “The location is never going to change,” says Keating, “so visit the property multiple times during the day and you also want to see the house during the week, nights and weekends.” Providing an educated viewpoint on schools is another one of the former professor’s strengths. “After 30 years of teaching, I know most of the schools in Broward County,” he says. “I can help buyers understand ratings and reputation.”
Legally, realtors aren’t allowed to disclose certain demographic information but according to Schultz, finding out just how ‘gay’ a neighborhood is can be determined with a trip to the grocery store. “I can’t tell you, but Publix can,” he says. “Look at the size of their bakery, their grab and go section, and their wine selection. You can tell a lot about a neighborhood by its grocery stores.”
Born and raised in Miami Beach, Schultz possesses a native knowledge of South Florida that extends to the sort of minutia many realtors wouldn’t think of—like whether the positioning of a pool is suitable for a client’s needs. “For snowbirds who only visit in the wintertime, south, southeast, and southwest positioned pools provide a perfect temperature,” he explains. “Year-round residents want to enjoy a pool that doesn’t get direct sunlight in the summertime. Who’s going to think of that if they don’t know the area?”
Schultz is also well-versed in the Realtor Florida Bar contract, a skill he honed on the management side at Coldwell Bank answering questions from agents. “I got every question you can imagine,” he recalls. Learning and understanding the ins and outs of real estate has taught the duo valuable lessons which they share with their clients. “We tell customers to not only pre-qualify for a mortgage, but for insurance, too,” Schultz says. “Wind, fire and flood.” The latter of which he anticipates becoming mandatory in the near future due to rising sea levels.
While Schultz points out that, “paradise is pricey,” there’s still no shortage of new residents moving into South Florida or realtors to choose from. “The highest compliment we receive is a referral from a customer of ours,” says Keating. Agrees Schultz, “We’re very grateful for that.”
