Today we’d like to introduce you to Eija Watson.
Eija, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My story is a very unusual one in that I was born in Finland and have lived in Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands before gaining my citizenship and making Houston home for me and my two sons. I originally started to refine my real estate skills with a larger brokerage company and after short period of time realized that if I started my own real estate brokerage company(Houston Luxury Properties) that I could do a better job of meeting my clients needs while at the same time providing them more financial alternatives to meet their needs.
As someone who has moved both internationally and domestically, I have a total appreciation of the needs of my clients who are either seeking a new home or relocating to the area. Having first-hand knowledge of being an expat has provided me even greater insight into the needs of my clients.
How I got to where I am today is that I appreciate that my industry is first a full-time job in which that you have to be available on a 24/7 basis. Customer service is paramount. I am blessed that I have a very understanding husband and my boys are fully grown. Secondly, I know that in most cases that a home and savings represent the vast majority of assets for clients and thus it is imperative to assure that I stay abreast of laws, regulations, financing alternatives and anything else that assures that my clients are not only utilizing their assets wisely but also making them a good investment as well. Finally, to get where I am today you have to understand that the real estate industry is constantly evolving and it is imperative that I keep abreast of these changes to be the most effective that I can be.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
To be successful, I believe that no road is totally smooth. I would say that my biggest struggle over the years is in some cases as I have brought in new agents to teach the skills of the field that I love is that they do not have the same level of commitment and dedication to the customer. I try to teach my new agents simple concepts like you need to answer the phone no matter where in the world you are. Secondly, you need to respond to clients questions concerns on their time, not yours. I would say that these have been some of my bigger challenges.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Houston Luxury Properties story. Tell us more about the business.
Houston’s Luxury Properties is proud to present to you our experience and unsurpassed knowledge of the Houston Real Estate market and unparalleled attention to detail with a high degree of integrity and warm personal regard for our client’s needs. Houston Luxury Properties differentiates itself from other real estate companies by having a personal interaction from the owner with a plan that is customized for each client. Larger companies boast of sales volume. Houston Luxury Properties prides itself on friends and clients for life. Twenty years of a proven track record speaks for itself. Ask any of our clients.
In fact, whether we are locating properties locally or internationally, we are never happier than when we have placed a satisfied customer in the home of their dreams. Owner/Agent, Eija Watson’s success is reflected in her passion and enthusiasm for her work; the fact that she is bi-lingual and has also worked as a Real Estate Professional in Europe sets her apart. As a realtor, Eija has access to the vast global marketplace and state-of-the-art marketing tools that enable her to provide her clients with the most innovative marketing exposure possible.
Finally, Eija knows what should be expected of a real estate agent as she has moved many times both internationally and within the US. Her standards are high and those are the expectations she places on herself, all of which will benefit you as her client. Premier Customer Service means that you have to be driven to offer the best services for your clients and have the resources to back it up. A good example was I received a call from a young couple very late one night. The wife was in tears, the lender that they had chosen had tuned them down based upon a lower credit score. BY 7:00 am the next morning I had my partner lender on the phone with them. He developed a plan to quickly clean up their credit record and was able to get them an interest rate that did not dramatically increase their monthly payment. Things like this can only be done with everyone on the team going the extra mile.
Simplifying the Process means taking all of the real estate and loan language and putting it to terms that each client can comprehend. Simplifying the process means walking each client through the process and being with them each step of the way to answer questions. It also means taking them aware of potential issues and having an action plan ready should they arise. Superior Market Insight means that after 20 years I am prepared to answer the in-depth questions regarding neighborhoods, schools communities and the services offered by each. It may sound easy but with Houston being a city of over 606 square miles with numerous other communities surrounding it requires constant reading to keep abreast of our all things clients need to know. As someone who has moved many times both overseas and with the US, this is what I expect of my realtor. Skilled negotiations can only take place with the following:
Good market research.
Understanding the both the needs and timelines of the seller and buyer.
Communicating and over communicating to client to assure that they know where they stand in every step of the process.
Communicating and over communicating with the realtor on the other side of the negotiating table to assure that there are never any surprises.
Finally, when all of these are applied my motto is “Let’s get this done” and we do in the vast majority of our sales.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I do believe in luck while at the same time I also believe that you create your own good luck. Good luck in my mind is attention to detail, continual follow up on behalf of the client with loan institutions, contractors, builders, etc. By staying on top of each clients case, I can assure myself that I have taken a lot luck out of the equation replacing it with facts and data.
I have a creed that I live by and I believe that it also applies to my customers. After you have applied all of your energy and resources to a sale and it falls through I can be quoted in saying it wasn’t meant to be. What happens in the vast majority of the time is another buyer or deal comes forth that was better than the last. Is it luck or destiny — only you can answer that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.houston-luxuryproperties.com
- Phone: 281-787-5134
- Email: houstonluxuryproperties@gmail.com
- Instagram: @houston_luxury_properties
- Facebook: Eija Watson – Houston Luxury Properties
Image Credit:
Visual Impact Marketing
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