Tell me about Savitri! What a beautiful name.
Thank you, it’s of Hindu origin, from the Mahabharata. My father studied philosophy in college and after reading the tale of a princess named after the Sun deity, knew he had to give it to me. Essentially the beautiful and intelligent princess outsmarts death and saves her husband’s life. It’s a big name, and I believe I do it justice. I love having a unique name, it helps me stand out in a competitive field. I take inspiration from the story and apply it to my life and my real estate practice.
How does your mom tie into your getting into real estate?
My mother was a high-powered executive for Chase in the 70s and 80s, and her job involved assessing, analyzing and approving the funding of redevelopment sites all over Manhattan. She’s one of the reasons why Battery Park City through W 70th along the water has been redeveloped. As a child visiting her at work, I’d do my best to absorb what was happening, and regale her “big bosses” with my financial acumen. My mother’s sister is also an investor and developer – so between the financial aspect and acquisitions – I was born to practice real estate. My mother and I discuss some of her past deals and the insights from that level of the industry and how it impacts us all to this day. Imagine what NYC would look like if there were fewer residential developments along the Hudson!
Who are your team members?
As a full-service boutique brokerage, we have a full spectrum of professionals on hand. There are three sales and listing agents, including me, Jessica Deleon-Delfin and Anat Klein. We have an assistant, a graphic designer, an architect, a stager/decorator, a contractor, a photographer/videographer, and a copy editor to help us create the best marketing campaign for listings and assist buyers with a curative approach.
What makes you stand out from other realtors?
Our process is what makes the difference, we are client and community-focused. That means we actually listen to our clients' wants, needs, and goals. We utilize our wealth of first-hand knowledge (we are all either natives or long-term residents (20 + years) of NYC) and solve our clients’ problems because we have the skill set and expertise. Many salespeople are driven by doing deals, we are driven by providing service, loyalty and respect to our clients. We customize our marketing strategies for each property – there is no one-size-fits-all way to promote a listing, we also customize our buyers’ searches – we leverage technology but don’t rely on it. We have implemented a 90-day exclusive contract versus the industry's 180-day. This allows us to help our clients achieve their real estate goals quickly. We believe in full disclosure and educating our clients throughout the process. We have flexible options as well for their transaction needs. By keeping our clients at the center we never lose sight of their goals.
Any plans to expand in Europe?
Yes actually. We are in preliminary talks with a fellow boutique firm based in Tuscany/Umbria. We have listed properties outside of the US, in Central America, and feel that this partnership will help us provide even greater opportunities for our clients. The ability to be global in this industry is one of the best ways to ensure growth in the future. Our network is vast and we look forward to adding to our service area.
Can you share a story about a particularly memorable client experience that impacted your approach to real estate?
I have had so many amazing clients over the years, but my favorite hands down is the “arrangement” sale that I brokered five years ago. I was approached by a long-term resident of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. A woman who had lived in her home for over 50 years, she wanted to sell and essentially establish a version of a life estate so that she could maintain her life in the neighborhood but no longer be in charge of maintenance and upkeep. I also had some amazing clients whose home I sold and they were looking for the best neighborhood to raise their children in. Suffice it to say, we scheduled a showing and a meeting, and the “arrangement” was born. My 50-year resident sold her home at a discount to my buyers who then in turn renovated the home to create an apartment for the original owner, and a beautiful duplex for themselves. The purchase price savings paired with the amazing renovation resulted in a new “multi-generational” household, and an equity gain of over $1,000,000 since the sale was completed in 2019. A win-win-win for all parties involved.
What do you do outside of work? What inspires you?
Outside of work, I love to spend time with my twin sons – they are seniors in high school now so we are enjoying our last few months of full-time childhood. I’m a big traveler – I love to take long trips and obtain an intimate experience with the country and the culture. Stay in a local home, learn the language, eat the food, tour the country for at least four weeks at a time. I’m an avid reader – obviously industry news, but also non-fiction works regarding finances, history, arts, and culture. I was a philosophy major at the University of Virginia – so life a lifelong student of the world. I’m physically active – Pilates, weightlifting, ax throwing, golf to name a few activities. I love to watch live sports – and during basketball season you can find me at Barclay’s Center.
SLR REAL ESTATE
207 SAINT JAMES PL
SUITE 1L
BROOKLYN, NY 11238
c: 929.500.8480
o: 929.298.1983
savitri@slr-realestate.com
www.slr-realestate.com
"Many salespeople are driven by doing deals, we are driven by providing service, loyalty and respect to our clients. We customize our marketing strategies for each property – there is no one size fits all way to promote a listing..."
