Boston Real Estate Firm Sees Upward Mobility

Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty is finding conventional successes in unconventional ways

BOSTON: Only a few weeks into the spring market, one Boston real estate firm is seeing tremendous success. Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty recorded 80 Under Agreements and over 100 sales transactions in January and February (source: MLS). The firm is ranked #5 in the state and has the #1 office in Boston’s Back Bay for 2010 sales-to-date. But their recent success is not just measured in sales figures. The firm has made some strategic moves over the last few years, making them the top-ranked Boston-based firm in the state. They expanded with office acquisitions in the Waterfront, Charlestown and Westwood areas. They also invested in the firm’s infrastructure, including additional marketing and relocation services for their clientele. “We saw the importance of offering the finest services to each client,” says Michael Hansen, President and Co-Owner. “We knew our clients would appreciate the special efforts we now provide.”

All the improvements have attracted highly successful sales associates. Once again, Gibson Sotheby’s recognized Beth Dickerson as their top agent in 2009, having sold the highest volume of sales. Dickerson’s average sale price was more than $3 million last year and she recorded the most expensive sale in Boston, a condominium on Beacon Street in the Back Bay that sold for $9.25 million. Co-Owner, Paul McGann, meets regularly with agents who are considering the firm. “Most often, agents who join us are already successful – but they are looking to go to the next level; to grow their business.” It is that growth potential that brought agents like Tammy DeWolfe to the company. After years in the business, she joined Gibson Sotheby’s Westwood office last month, citing the company’s support as a major motivating factor.

CEO and Co-Owner, Larry Rideout, continues to look for new ways to offer service to an expanding clientele. This month, the company launched a text-to-MLS service offered by Kwkly. This allows home buyers to text the address of any property for sale to get MLS information in seconds. They also have added an iPhone application and a GPS-based search function. “The percentage of Gen X and Gen Y home buyers is growing and they want immediate access to information,” says Rideout. “Our goal is to continue to find new ways to provide exceptional service.”