Cindy Shearin shares how she expertly captures and retains her valued clients’ trust through generations.
Through the pathway of real estate, Cindy Shearin, Founder of The Shearin Group in Manhattan Beach, California, has fashioned an amazing career. During her 30 years in the South Bay market, Shearin’s position as an acclaimed Realtor, Developer, and Interior Designer has been achieved through a combination of skill and sheer determination and steadfastness in how she does business. These qualities have found Cindy great success, respect, and an unmatched store of knowledge.
In an exclusive interview with Haute Residence, Shearin takes us inside the world of being a ‘generational realtor’ and how she develops trust and life-long relationships.
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Trust is key in growing your client base in real estate. How are some ways you have achieved this with your clients?
To achieve success in the real estate business you must always have your client’s best interest at heart. I will recommend that my clients walk away from a contract or negotiation that does not adequately serve his or her needs.
My reputation for putting my client first has earned me the moniker as the ‘generational realtor’; I have earned the trust of many men and women whom I have represented throughout their lives, from property to property, even into retirement. This natural process extends into my clients family members and close friends. I am the ‘family’ realtor to many of my clients. As a result, after three decades, my network is immense.
You are well known for masterfully selling many of your properties ‘off-market’. How did you achieve this gifted ability, and what are some reasons why clients want to sell off-market?
This really circles back to my previous answer about winning a client's trust. Building such a massive network of clients, and selling to multiple generations in individual families adds to my success in being able to buy and sell properties off-market for clients. On numerous occasions over the years, I have sold the same home or income property multiple times. I am so grateful that clients for decades have put their trust in me, which is always earned. I care about my clients and their well being is important to me.
Regarding the motivation for clients wanting to sell off-market, we have a lot of high-profile clients that simply don’t want droves of people walking through their homes on weekends during an Open House. They trust in my proven network and my diligence to work tirelessly to find them the right buyer without going to market.
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How are some ways you save your clients money?
My unique combination of skills provides numerous opportunities for me to save my clients money and also maximize their returns. I have four areas of expertise that I have developed through many years of experience and market study … Interior and Exterior Design, Real Estate Marketing, Ground-up Construction, and Real Estate Development and Financing. Each area has its own set of complexities that can be employed to maximize a client’s return, depending upon the unique characteristics of the situation.
One situation in which these skills can significantly affect cost is in preparing a home for sale. When I work with a new property/client, I practice a sort of ‘A to Z’ exercise where I assess and create a timeline of what is needed to come to market. My construction knowledge allows me to evaluate the cost versus return of any upgrades; my marketing background lets me assess the best marketing vehicles to employ, and my interior design knowledge assists me in effective staging decisions. Often, clients are advised to hire expensive staging companies to help prepare a home for market, but I can save my clients time and money by staging with the minimum amount of expenditure. We bring in some fresh new accessories/pieces and repurpose where needed to be most effective. Starting with eye-appealing existing home pieces and adding “the new” transforms a home from good to fabulous!
Much like the staging process, I have an eye for evaluating the pros and cons that are key when a client is buying a home. Helping a buyer visualize a home's potential comes very natural to me, where others can easily overlook relatively simple design solutions. I have subs and contractors that are available to assist with small to large rehabs that can help a client see the potential in a contemplated purchase.
I have also sold homes that are under construction and negotiated with the builders to agree to allow my clients to make the final selections. It’s a win-win for all; and with my expertise, I can assist both parties in the completion process.
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You are known as a South Bay real estate expert. How did you get this reputation?
Being a South Bay real estate expert is comprehensive. Living here, and practicing real estate for 30 years, I know the ins-and-outs of the South Bay. I raised my family in the South Bay and know the school system, youth organizations and opportunities, and sports platforms. I also appreciate the unique characteristics of each of the South Bay communities. In addition, I have spent years acquiring the micro-information about each individual neighborhood, from block to block. No algorithm could ever pick up this type of tangible and value-influencing knowledge.
The Shearin Group continues to be ranked in the Top 1% of Realtors in the nation, while I locally was ranked #2 in transactions for the past several years through the parent firm Strand Hill Christie’s International. Through Christie’s, our global reach is vast, with representation in 47 countries and across 1350 offices around the world.
My firm, The Shearin Group, not only has a powerful affiliate network, but also generates staggering numbers on social media. We are proud to be the exclusive South Bay real estate firm for mega social platforms Haute Residence, Haute Living, The Fourhundred, and Luxury Realtor. Through these affiliate platforms, we boost monthly viewership and exposure to upwards of Three Million Viewers/Subscribers, providing an outstanding reach on social media.
We design the most effective marketing programs for all the homes we represent, including, but not limited to, very effective marketing methods uniquely available to The Shearin Group. We are known for creating a big push in advertising via print and online in the appropriate platforms for the type of property we are marketing.
