We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angela Lutzi Dellatore, M.S. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Angela, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a client that you appreciate them?

Having worked in real estate for 11 years, I deeply appreciate the significance of buying or selling a home. Each transaction feels personal, and to celebrate these client relationships, my husband and I host an annual customer appreciation party at our country club. This two-hour event features excellent food, drinks, and entertainment for every past client and valued vendor. Attendees consistently remark on how much they enjoy this gathering, returning year after year.

I believe that kindness attracts kindness in business, and our clients embody the same generous spirit we strive for. It’s truly a pleasure to bring such wonderful people together. Beyond the annual party, we also prepare thoughtful closing gifts, including items like Yetis and local restaurant gift cards, and we personalize these gifts whenever possible. Our greatest satisfaction comes from seeing our clients happy, regardless of the property’s price. Our priority is to ensure a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone we work with.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Eleven years ago, my husband and I discovered and fell in love with Bonita Springs, Southwest Florida, leading us to pursue our shared passion for real estate. We transitioned from part-time agents to full-time brokers and established our own company. Over the past eleven years, we’ve grown into a dedicated team of eight.

Living in Bonita Springs and assisting others with their real estate journeys has been most rewarding!. We love sharing the year-round fantastic weather, phenomenal food, and the coastal treasures we have found, with our beloved clients.

We’ve intentionally cultivated a unique, boutique real estate brand, choosing a personalized approach with a small, dedicated full-time team over the large, competitive environment of big box brokerages. This structure allows us to proactively address any challenges in the buying or selling process and prioritize exceptional customer service, selecting staff who share our core values.

With backgrounds as educators and counselors, my husband and I bring a caring and service-oriented ethos to our work. We understand that a home is a deeply personal transaction, requiring honesty, care, and compassion from the professionals involved.

What we love most about our boutique brokerage is how intimately familiar we become with our clientele, often forging deep friendships along the way!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Client referrals have consistently been our most effective source of new business. Our initial vision, conceived when we were part-time agents and written down, was to establish a small, boutique real estate company offering exceptional service in Bonita Springs, FL. This included owning a prominently signed building on a road west of Route 41, leading to the beach. By our sixth year, we had surpassed all these initial objectives, largely due to referrals. Inquiries from potential buyers and sellers almost invariably mention referrals from past clients or their acquaintances. Our annual client appreciation event, held at the start of our busy season, plays a crucial role in nurturing these relationships and ensuring we remain top-of-mind for realtor recommendations. Our core values – honesty, outstanding service, and trustworthiness – are central to our business and reflected in our logo. Our commitment to these principles is evident to our clients, who enthusiastically recommend us.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

It has been a fantastic journey! Lacking initial capital, we maintained full-time jobs – I worked as a psychotherapist with flexible hours, and my husband as a school guidance counselor. The flexible schedule allowed showing properties between therapy clients. As a newcomer to the real estate world, I balanced 15-20 patients during the work week, with approximately 20 weekly hours showing property to open house contacts we met on the weekends.

We hosted open houses for other agents, building a contact list. A monthly email newsletter on market trends helped maintain connections with potential clients. Profits from initial sales were reinvested in marketing, starting with a logo, then postcards, and later a real estate coach. Our profit allocation strategy was 40% savings, 35% tax savings, and 25% marketing.

After six months, my husband transitioned to full-time real estate. I reduced my therapy practice to ten weekly clients and exited it completely after four years. It has been a rewarding experience. We are very proud of all we have accomplished so far. We continue to grow our business and to serve our clients with the same enthusiasm as when we first began our journey!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://BonitaForSale.com
• Instagram: dellatore.company
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563067722216