Easing the Stress of Real Estate

"Longtime Southwest residents and Realtors Eric and Sally Martell have seen this area experience many changes throughout the years. They have witnessed growth, community development, real estate booms and downturns in the economy. Through it all, the Martells have remained focused on their main objective — successfully guiding their clients through the challenges of purchasing or selling real estate with as little stress as possible.

In 1985, Eric and Sally relocated to Orlando from Colorado. Following a desire to enter the real estate profession, Sally obtained her license and jumped in with both feet.

“This is my profession, it is not a part-time job or hobby,” said Sally, who brought years of managerial and organizational experience from her previous career in Colorado.

After a short stint with a national chain, Sally believed she could better serve her clients by switching to a company that provided a higher level of organization and resources. She recognized that Colorado-based ReMax was quickly gaining momentum in the real estate realm and decided to become affiliated with this now internationally renowned company with Re/Max Properties S.W. Inc.

Eric, who holds a Ph.D. in psychology and boasts an impressive résumé in the corporate and educational world, obtained his Realtor’s license and soon joined Sally.

Together, they approach clients with an attitude of personalized care, giving specific attention to the nuances of each situation.

“For most people, buying or selling a house is probably one of the biggest transactions they will make,” Eric said. “By nature, it is a stressful situation. We want to alleviate as much of the stress as possible. That is why we continually obtain education and training on the many aspects of real estate transactions, such as negotiating, relocation, distressed properties and a lot more. We believe it is our job to protect our client’s equity, as well as make sure their dollars are maximized.”

“When we meet with a client, the first thing we do is clear our mind of all of the distractions of the day so we can be 100 percent focused and engaged with them,” Sally said.
“We take the time to learn about each individual and what they want to accomplish. From there we provide a number of choices or avenues to help them achieve their goal,” Eric added.

He relayed a comment a client made about Sally.

“Our client said that Sally negotiated so hard on her behalf, that it was like it was [Sally’s] own money.”

People generally progress through three stages of real estate transactions throughout the course of their lives: first home, larger home to accommodate a growing family, and empty nesters.

“We have seen a lot of people who say they want to downsize after their children have left, but what they really mean is they need to ‘right-size,’ ” Sally said. “And we can help them do that by analyzing their lifestyle and requirements.”

When someone has lived in a home for a while, it is easy to overlook matters that need attention, such as a fresh coat of paint, new carpeting or even an updated landscape design to make the outside appearance more appealing. Unfortunately, potential buyers will notice and factor those distractions into their decision to purchase the home.

“When you put your house on the market, it becomes a product,” Sally said. “I have walked through so many homes with potential buyers, I know what objections to anticipate. So before we even get to that point with sellers, I am able to assess the house, suggest changes and make it as marketable as possible.”

In addition, the Martells have personal experience in buying, renovating and selling their own homes over the years.

They know how to get the best return for improvements and happily pass that knowledge on to their clients.

On the other side of the table, the Martells help sellers see beyond perceived obstacles and help them envision the potential of a home.

“We don’t sell houses; we market them,” Eric said.

The Martells take advantage of cutting-edge technology to aid in marketing. In addition to several websites and a Facebook page, they have developed a YouTube channel that features listings. Eric maintains a daily blog that mixes his natural humor with pertinent real estate issues and insights.

Being a trained relocation specialist enables Sally to help clients navigate through the different clauses, conditions and requirements often found in corporate relocation agreements.

People from all over the world choose to live in Central Florida for a variety of reasons, including job transfers, quality of life concerns, vacation properties or the temperate year-round weather.

The Martells made an insightful decision to become certified International Real Estate Specialists; consequently, the Martells estimate that they have successfully helped both sellers and buyers from 32 different countries.

“Our objective is to expand the market for our clients,” Sally said.

To that end, they have partnered with more than 7,000 agents across the world to co-list properties.

“There is a tremendous amount of satisfaction in helping people during the process, especially those who are in difficult situations,” Eric said.

They also give back to the community by supporting charitable organizations, such as Children’s Miracle Network, House of Hope and Sentinels of Freedom.

“If someone asks us what our philosophy is in running our business, I would simply say, ‘It’s all about you.’ ”

Re/Max Properties S.W. Inc. is located at 6985 Wallace Road in Orlando. For more information, call Eric Martell at 407-947-3617 or Sally Martell at 407-947-3618, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit
www.orlando-properties.com on the Web.