Meet Lori Lopez | Real Estate Broker + Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lori Lopez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lori, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business began when I first entered the business in 2012. I noticed there was a very cookie cutter approach to how real estate agents handled their prospecting for their business and how they handled each transaction. It appeared to me that flexibility was almost frowned upon by many bigger brokerages I had worked with or interviewed for. It struck me as odd because in real estate, no transaction is the same, and you almost need to have flexibility in order to stand out. I noticed there was a strong focus on selling every single house in the neighborhood rather than offering exceptional service to the four or five houses you had the opportunity to sell. I also noticed there was zero emphasis on equipping real estate agents with market knowledge and data, which is essential to advising clients on what is, for most, the largest transaction of their lives. I came from a small family-owned investment firm prior to joining the real estate world, and it was here that I learned the importance of having a client-centric approach and offering concierge style services to the general public and their real estate needs. I wanted to open a brokerage where clients would feel they are the main focus, not just selling their home. They need to feel in control and confident of the decisions they were having to make with regards to their home sales and purchases and in order to do that, they needed information. They needed flexibility. They needed services tailored to them, not something that simply is “industry standard.” They need an agent who not only knows the real estate market, but also the economics behind what’s driving that market and has the ability to be flexible in how they service that client.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets The Home Boutique Realty apart is our love of relationships. We are so focused on establishing long-term relationships with our clients and it has really paid off. We don’t mass market and we work primarily by word of mouth and referrals. We truly value the clients as the people, families and friends that they are before anything else. We don’t look at them as numbers to add to our board of business, but as people rather who are looking for help and guidance. It’s the foundation of who we are. It definitely is not the easiest or most lucrative way to build a real estate business, but I do believe it’s the most successful way to build trust which is another core principle of The Home Boutique Realty. When you have trust as a foundation, everything else just falls into place. If you don’t trust who you are working with, you’re just setting yourself up for failure or some major roadblocks along the way. We put in the work to get to know our clients first and foremost, and when they’re ready to jump into the real estate market, we don’t even have to go looking for them. They immediately know who to trust and call us for our advice and guidance. It’s challenging because building relationships takes time. But I didn’t build this business to blow up overnight or to become the number 1 brokerage in Miami-Dade County. We don’t need the spotlight on us. We just need to know we are helping out those who need us in our communities. I would want everyone to know that first and foremost over anything. We value the people over the numbers and that’s what sets us apart.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We are so lucky to live in a city that offers so much for a variety of interests. We primarily work in the south dade areas which include Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay. There is so much to do that many don’t even know about. We have a weekly Farmers Market at Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest which I love to visit. We also have beautiful Deering Estate to hang out and have lunch at as well as Black Point Marina in Cutler Bay which offers a wonderful outdoor dining restaurant and a beautiful park & marina to enjoy. There is a lovely bike/walking path along Old Cutler Road that goes as far south as Blackpoint Marina all the way North to Coral Gables. I also love visiting all the Farms out in the Redlands and off of Krome such as The Berry Farm and Tinez Farms. Mattheson Hammock is also a lovely place to enjoy with a small beach area for families and the famous Red Fish Grill by Chef Adrianne which is not only yummy but has beautiful views on the water. At Mattheson Hammock, you can also rent kayaks and paddle boards, too. I’m a mother of 2 young girls and all of these are great family-friendly activities we love to enjoy.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Behind every successful woman is someone who motivated her, mentored her, and picked her up when she thought she couldn’t anymore and for me, there are several people who have done that. To begin, I started at a small family owned investment firm where I learned most of my client service skills. That firm is no longer around and neither is the woman who ran it, but I still would shout her out, Mrs. Dorothy C. Weaver. She really gave me the tools necessary to stand out in such a crowded industry as real estate. I also want to shout out my husband, who gave me the courage to go out on my own and start something new and different than what was already out there. John Lopez, who owns Stewards of Capital Bank really took over where Dorothy left off and taught me never to follow the crowd. Things don’t have to be cookie cutter, nor should they be. He always encourages me to think outside of the box and to think BIG, and to shy away from what everyone else is doing. I will always be grateful to him for that. And of course my team at The Home Boutique Realty. I work with such a strong, smart, capable, amazing group of women who always encourage me and lift me up when I feel like things aren’t going as planned. They truly encourage me to be the best leader possible for them and others.

Website: www.thehomeboutiquerealty.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/list_with_lorilopez/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-lopez-clhms-934aa910/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/listwithlorilopez/

Other: Lori Lopez (786) 368-1317 Lori@thbrealty.com

Image Credits
Michell Citrin Sasha de Almagro