Founded in 1926, The Keyes Company has grown to have more than 3,000 associates, 50 offices, and in the last year reached $6 billion in sales. Lucy Edwards sits down with their CEO and President, Mike Pappas to learn more about the Keyes brand, how they utilize referrals in a tight inventory market, and what they are doing to adapt to new technology.
Does a realtor make a difference in maximizing the value of a home?
There is no question that based on the quality of the agent and if they position a property properly that they can dramatically make a difference in its value.
By using the right marketing tools like professional photography and video, decluttering, pre-staging, etc. the agent will not only make an impact but also build demand and enhance their professionalism to get more business in the future.
How is The Keyes Company and its associates adapting to new technology?
Since the technological requirement of agents continues to increase, The Keyes Company makes a dedicated effort to provide technology training and support for their associates. They do so by hosting a weekly tech training webinar, making sure they have tech trainers in all their offices for new associates, and fully educating their management team so they can assist when needed with certain tools and resources.
What’s the value of referrals?
It’s incumbent to be deliberate in your approach to your contacts, especially in a tight inventory market.
A good example of this is from a couple at The Keyes Company which closed $58 million in about 122 deals last year. What made them so successful? Open houses. They went door-to-door and invited everyone from the neighborhood, which then multiplied allowing them to make more connections. By meeting and engaging with people and being the epitome of professionalism, they were able to take their approach to the next level which only breeds more business.
View Lucy and Mike’s Full Interview Here.
Meet Mike Pappas
Michael I. Pappas is the President of The Keyes Company/Illustrated Properties, a Miami-based real estate company with 50 branches, 3300 associates and affiliates that include Capital Partners Mortgage, Home Partners Title, Keyes Insurance, and Keyes Property Management. The Keyes Company, with sales and services in excess of $6.2 billion annually, is one of the largest independent brokerage firms in the United States.
Mr. Pappas graduated Cum Laude from Wake Forest University, where he majored in Business and Spanish. He joined Keyes as a Sales Associate in 1980 and held a variety of positions, including General Sales Manager, until taking over as President in 1992.
Mr. Pappas has been the recipient of numerous awards and designations, including the YPO Legacy Award and “Real Estate Up and Comer of the Year” by Price Waterhouse and “Best Real Estate Deal of the Year” by South Florida Magazine. The past three years, he was named in the National Top 200 Most Powerful People in Real Estate by Swanepoel Power 200.
