After more than five years of running a successful residential real estate team based in St. Johns County, Kristin and Quinton Doakes – known as the Doakes Team – have launched their own independent brokerage, Driftwood Realty Group.
“The real estate industry has changed, and your traditional real estate agent is becoming less valuable to sellers and buyers,” said broker Kristin Doakes. “This is due to having multiple online resources at their fingertips. Our advisors guide buyers and sellers through the process, offering resources that extend far beyond the transaction.”
The internet has had a big impact on the real estate landscape. Buyers often go to Zillow of Realtor.com to learn about a property before inquiring about it. They can even see what the current owners paid for a house when they bought it.
“They come in with so much information, and we have to really bring market knowledge that only an agent could provide,” said Doakes.
That the brokerage calls its agents advisers is suggestive of a different approach, one that Doakes said has worked for the Doakes Team. These advisers go beyond writing up contracts and showing properties.
“We’re advising them through the entire real estate process,” said Doakes.
The brokerage works with title companies, lenders and others all the way through.
“We’ll be there at the inspection, pointing things out and making sure they see everything,” Doakes said.
The role of the advisers doesn’t end with the transaction.
“It’s a relationship,” Doakes said. “We’re always there.”
This means following up with customers on a regular basis.
As part of this approach to real estate in the 21st century, the brokerage makes use of the latest technology, combining automated systems, a fully developed marketing library and an in-house marketing team.
Driftwood Realty Group announced the new brokerage’s opening in January and the team has received a lot of positive feedback.
“The agents that we’ve spoken to are really excited about what we have to offer, because Quinton and I have built an excellent brand over the last six years in real estate,” Doakes said.
Further information is available at www.DriftwoodRealtyGroup.com.
