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Local bespoke Realtors put the white-glove treatment on Northern Michigan homebuying.
A turnkey luxury home buying and selling experience involves a high level of service. It requires a reputable Realtor who specializes in luxury properties and prioritizes personalized care. Someone who will show up and fully stage your home, bring in fresh flowers, call their handyman cousin to fix that wobbly stair on the deck—all the little things that can increase the likelihood of a smooth and seamless sell.
These are the extras that Northern Michigan Realtor Jamie Gray considers par for the course. Born and raised in Benzie County on a fruit farm, Gray spent summers perched on the back of a cherry picker, clearing brush and building a resilient work ethic that remains unyieldingly intact today.
“Growing up on a farm, not being able to complain, adjusting with the seasons and being resilient—you never know how long a day is going to be—you’re solution driven and fast thinking on your feet,” she says. “It’s very similar to the real estate industry.”
After earning a master’s degree from Central Michigan University in business with a strategic management and marketing focus, Gray spent some time handling marketing for large companies in Chicago before returning to her hometown in 2010. The single mother bought 40 acres of land that butted up against her parent’s farmland and launched her real estate career in 2017.
Today, she owns The Jamie Gray Group, managing Benzie and Leelanau County properties with average selling prices landing between $800,000 and $2.2 million. Clients describe her style as both professional and family-like with above-and-beyond marketing tactics.
“My goal is to be the best I can be in this industry,” Gray says. “I truly care for people. It’s how I became so successful so fast.” That, and making sure that care is full-service: she coordinates full staging, cleaning and prep services. “I’ve been known to clean people’s houses that couldn’t do it themselves. Whatever is optimal for the property. It’s that hometown care that I give clients.”
For a luxury home seller in Northern Michigan seeking a more personal, white-glove approach, bespoke marketing and expert handling make the process smooth and even enjoyable.
Here are the five key elements to successful luxury home sales:
1. A Trusted Network
When you tap into a reputable luxury Realtor, you also gain an extensive network of affluent clients, investors and other agents specializing in luxury properties. These Realtors know the local township ordinances, the neighborhood and the potential buyers—connections and relationships that will generate more interest and offers for your property.
2. Something-Extra Marketing
Luxury properties are still hot, but not as hot as they used to be, Gray says. The trick is having a Realtor that knows the trends, knows the audience and has that extra marketing spend.
“Half the people looking don’t even know they’re looking for this type of home,” Gray says. “Finding the right advertising and marketing outlets to get in front of these people is crucial. My marketing spend is a lot larger than others’. I make sure the home gets in front of the people it needs to get in front of.”
Think tailored marketing approaches utilizing professional photography, video tours, virtual reality and targeted online advertising to reach potential buyers.
3. Time-Saving Know How
When there’s no time for hosting open houses with throngs of lookers, a locally known and trusted Realtor swoops in and coordinates all the layers.
“Right now, I’m working with a $2.2M property who wants to approve the media, the photography, everything,” Gray says. “I also have clients who live in a different country who just want to see the offers come across and nothing else.”
A specialized Realtor can represent your interests and negotiate on your behalf, ensuring you receive the best possible price and favorable terms. They have experience dealing with high-value transactions and can handle the intricacies of luxury real estate negotiations.
Contract preparation, coordinating with attorneys, inspectors, appraisers, closing paperwork — leave it to a luxury real estate pro.
4. Market Expertise
Working with an expert local bespoke real estate agent means you gain an in-depth understanding of current trends, pricing and buyer preferences. They’ll conduct a comparative market analysis (CMA) to evaluate similar properties and set a competitive and realistic price, maximizing your property’s value.
5. An All-Inclusive Experience
When sellers are super busy and they’re, say, selling their parent’s home, Gray’s team has been known to go in and clean, replace carpet, bubble-wrap knick-knacks and coordinate movers. Luxury properties need to be presented in the best possible light and staging and presentation is vital—down to sparkling appliances, tasteful artwork and spotless windows showcasing that million-dollar lakefront view.
Every home sale is important, but luxury properties come with higher levels of buyer expectation, so hiring a reputable local Realtor who specializes in luxury properties means loading your selling basket with local expertise and resources—and a more seamless experience all around.