We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marcy Kaplan and Lori Brandt Gimme Shelter Miami. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marcy Kaplan and Lori Brandt below.
Alright, Marcy Kaplan and Lori Brandt thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share a customer success story with us?
One of our favorite stories was when the owner of a local publication referred us to a family moving back to Miami after decades away. Here is the story in the buyer’s words… “Lori and Marcy were a dream team to work with. We are SO HAPPY that a good friend recommended them to us! Marcy found our house in Belle Meade literally minutes after it went on the market and the two of them helped us move forward very quickly and get it into contract in just one day. And it’s not just any house- it was the very same one my husband and I bought as first time buyers over 20 years ago!! We had purchased it from the first owner in its original condition. As a young couple we labored for months updating this diamond in the rough. Wall to wall carpeting covered the sparking terrazzo floors, and what is now light and bright open spaces was once blocked by dividing walls. Who would think we’d return to a fully grown jacaranda tree which we planted as a tiny seedling? When we found ourselves needing to move back to Miami for work, we never imagined we’d be coming home to live in a house we once loved and started our family in. It’s even more amazing we could pull this off in this crazy competitive real estate market we’re in right now.”
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
We are sisters born and raised in NY. Lori has a Masters degree from NYU and worked for over 20 years in psychiatric nursing. Marcy attended CUNY Lehman College and SUNY Purchase earning an MFA. Never one to be tied to a 9-to-5, Marcy worked as a makeup artist, interior design stylist, and fitness trainer. Done with harsh NY winters and high stress, we decided to move to South Beach in 1994. We had each dabbled in real estate investments in NY. Imagine purchasing a ground floor loft space with a garden in SoHo for $24K?! New to Miami we enjoyed exploring the different neighborhoods. We were both drawn to the charming but still sketchy neighborhoods bordering Biscayne Boulevard. Hidden behind the gritty urban MIMO motels, we were enchanted by the charming historic gems nestled under tropical tree canopies and cooled by bay breezes. We both found homes in the not yet gentrified Morningside and later the Bayside and Belle Meade area. We opened one of the areas first boutique stores “CRYBABY” and found so many homes for our shoppers we made the switch to real estate. We became known for having a “great eye” and our business began to grow rapidly.
We are fortunate to share similar values so we are always on the same page. We are fully committed to practicing our spiritual principles in our work. Real estate is a business that can vigorously test one’s moral compass. We are committed to doing the right thing and always put the good of our clients ahead of our own financial gain. We continue to specialize in the neighborhoods along the Biscayne Corridor from Edgewater through North Miami. By focusing locally we know the flavor of each neighborhood and frequently know of and sell properties before they go on the market. We have a keen eye for good bones, great design, a knack for matchmaking people with the right homes, and an instinct for predicting up and coming neighborhoods. Over 20 years experience through the market’s ups and downs we have developed an expertise in pricing analysis ensuring good value for our buyers and top dollar for our sellers. We also have an expertise in creative staging, unique styling, and cutting edge marketing.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
We have been fortunate that most of our business is repeat business and word-of-mouth recommendations. We have been long time residents of the area and have kept a local focus for over 20 years. We have become the go-to people for finding unique properties in a sea of generic vanilla box flips and renovations. While our straight forward approach may not be for everyone, we pride ourselves on telling you the truth and keeping it real. We never exaggerate a price estimate to gain a listing or sell someone a property that they may later regret. We value our client satisfaction and our reputation far above financial success.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
We are lucky to have opposite skill sets- right and left brains. Lori is thorough and tenacious about every last detail ensuring a smooth and successful transaction. She is also compassionate and patient with the emotional rollercoaster that can be triggered when buying or selling a home. Marcy is creative with an extensive background in art and design. She is an intuitive and visionary, seeing the potential in a space and in a neighborhood. This seamless blending of talents sets us apart from others. We have a passion for both charming historic homes as well as tasteful new architecture. With Marcy’s eye and Lori’s business sensibility, we are often tasked with preparing homes to look their best when they hit the market. It’s amazing what can be done on a miniscule budget. We’ve been able to accomplish the same or better results as pricey generic staging at a fraction of the cost.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gimmesheltermiami.com
- Instagram: @gimmesheltermiami
- Facebook: Gimme Shelter Miami
Image Credits
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