By Ali Munday
Brass Realty of Ballston Spa recently celebrated
its one-year anniversary with a complete
renovation of the premises to accommodate its
growing success.
President-owner, and licensed real estate broker
Michael Velardi, operates the business at Bath
Road, with the assistance of real estate agent Chad
Dorrough.
Spa spot for its quiet location, the presence and
support of other small business in the area and its
potential for growth.
Velardi, a lifelong Capital Region resident, began his career as a mortgage broker 1997 and was promoted to a corporate trainer, traveling nationwide to assist fledgling mortgage brokers. Progressing from corporate trainer to mortgage broker office management, Velardi moved into mortgage banking with a national federally chartered lender.
With more than 17 years in the mortgage industry, most of which has been spent in providing financing to families buying their first home, or looking to move to their next, Velardi considered the transition into real estate a natural progression.
Utilizing his experience in lending, he skipped the usual path of first becoming an agent and working for a large brokerage. Instead, he qualified to become the operator of his own licensed real estate brokerage.
Velardi is also owner of online marketing company, imageMAXmedia, and a sign company, Juicy Signs. He also developed a 36-point tool called the Gorilla Marketing System, designed to maximize marketing leverage and address every aspect of the buying/selling process.
This marketing plan, Velardi said, is what differentiates Brass Realty from other real estate companies.
The plan’s checklist includes providing syndicated listings to nearly 60 home listing portals; taking quality photographs for use in brochures, online listings, and neighborhood mailings; professional signs; text message and smartphone marketing; and weekly update calls with clients. He said all of that helps homes to sell faster, and for the highest possible price.
“We see our brand growing exponentially over the next five years,” Velardi said. “Our plan is to open several offices throughout the Capital Region and to hire several more brokers and agents to assist in the growth expectations. Our Gorilla System offers training, digital tools, support, signage and seamless marketing that combines all of these tools into our unique, effective system.”
He said it is important to support his team members, colleagues and clients, “and to understand their strengths and weaknesses. We want success for everyone who encounters the Brass Realty brand and know that support is a key element in the culture that we want our business to be built on.”
“When looking at the market, we endeavor to see things from an elevated position, to achieve success from all angles,” Velardi. “We recently hired a helicopter to conduct video flyovers of our unique properties on Saratoga Lake and the Malta area. We wanted to show our clients the lengths we’ll go to, and the perspective we strive to offer, to them and the local real estate market as a whole.”
His predictions for the regional market in 2014 are upbeat. “The market is heating up, it was slow through January and February in the Northeast this year to the large amount of snowfall. We have seen interest in properties increasing, higher values and a shortage of inventory. A shortage in inventory leads to shorter marketing times and higher real estate prices being paid. All of these indicators are very positive if you’re selling your home. For the fence sitters who were hoping prices would drop lower, this is the right time to get into the market before things go up and become less affordable.”
“The market is improving and we are very excited for the future and what it holds for us,” he added.
More information on Brass Realty can be found online at www.brassrealty.com or www.facebook.com/brassrealty. The telephone number is 207-6052.