Q & A with DCAR Realtor? of the Year, Suzanne Des Marais ...

Since it?s awards season in the movie world, my mailbox is filling up with screener copies of movies that haven?t even hit the theaters yet, a benefit of my status as a Producers Guild member. ?Awards season is not unique to Hollywood and I was thrilled when I heard that our very own Suzanne DesMarais won the prestigious Realtor? of the Year?award at this year?s National Association of Realtors??conference earlier this month. We sat down to chat about what the honor means. Here is our conversation.

Renee: Suzanne, congratulations on being honored?Realtor? of the Year for the District of Columbia. How did you receive this honor?

Suzanne: Thanks, Renee. ?I?ve been involved with my professional associations at the local, state, and national levels for several years. ?Realtor of the Year is an award presented by each state association at the national conference. ?Although it encompasses aspects of business such as professionalism, I think of it more as a service award. ?My work with the associations has ranged from chairing the Grievance Committee and Public Policy Committee, to ultimately serving as President of the state level association in 2011. ?In addition to representing the interests of DC Realtors at the national level, I really tried to engage Realtors? from all wards of the city to participate in the association.

Renee: What was going through your head?

Suzanne: Well, it?s a huge honor to be nominated. ?Part of the description of the award is the embodiment of the ?Realtor?Spirit?. ?I really like that concept, as most people (including real estate agents) don?t really think about the difference between what it means to just be licensed to sell real estate versus what it means to be an active member of the National Association of Realtors?. I?m proud to be part of an organization that upholds a strict code of ethics, and lobbies on behalf of home ownership, for such opportunities as affordable mortgage options, and for keeping the mortgage interest deduction.

Renee: This award?requires you be nominated by your peers, did any of them share with you what inspired them to nominate you?

Suzanne: I am fortunate to be affiliated with a brokerage company that values and encourages the volunteer work that I do with the associations. ?Actually, the incoming 2013 President of the DC Association of Realtors ?and several board members are also Keller Williams Capital Properties affiliates.

Renee: Did you do anything in particular during the year to position yourself to win the award?

Suzanne: Honestly, no. ?Nothing different than I do normally. ?I believe in giving back and taking an active role in my professional association. ?For years, I?ve spent several hours per month doing this.

Renee: By holding this prestigious title, what kinds of perks does this mean for your clients?

Suzanne: I?m not sure I would use the word ?perks?, but I can say that being involved directly in my professional associations means that I keep extremely current on issues that are or are likely to affect the real estate market. Because of my participation, I also have developed some great relationships with agents throughout the city.

Renee: Working with you, I?ve been impressed with your knowledge and expertise and how you share that to elevate the industry and add value to the community. What has changed for you between the time you first began working as a Realtor? and now?

Suzanne: I began working in real estate in 1999 on the appraisal side of the business, not as an appraiser but assisting one, and then became licensed to sell real estate in 2000. ?A little over a decade doesn?t seem like all that much time, but with so many changes in technology, in many ways, it?s a very different business. ?I think the primary difference is that whereas agents used to be necessary to help people identify properties for sale, buyers and sellers have a much more active role in the current process. ?I see my role now as contributing my experience, from marketing perspective and negotiation, to understanding evolving neighborhoods and how values are established.

Renee: How do you plan to build on this?success so that your clients can expect the highest level of service?

Suzanne: I?ve consciously narrowed the focus of my business plan to the District of Columbia because I feel passionate about the housing stock, the architecture, the neighborhoods, and the urban culture. ??In 2013, I will continue to develop my team of administrative and marketing professionals, as well as talented agents.

Ren?e is a native Washingtonian who has lived in many cities and returned to DC in 2007. She is an award-winning digital media strategist and producer whose background includes working on the production teams for many television series and motion pictures including The West Wing and Americas Most Wanted.

Source: http://10squareteam.com/blog/q-a-with-dcar-realtor-of-the-year-suzanne-des-marais/

barry sanders john scott jimmie johnson juan pablo montoya crash chardon high school shooting mark martin cleveland news