Brook Sparks

About

Throughout my years as a Property Manager & Sales Agent on the Outer Banks, the scope of service that I provide to my clients has changed and remains ever evolving. In large part, the majority of my clients are investors or multi homeowners living states away. When I first start working with a buyer, we "dig deep" to determine the real goals and expectations of owning a property on the Outer Banks. Is this purchase your family's dream home? Does it need to have a specific layout for your family's needs? Or is this purchase based completely on numbers & ROI (Return on investment)?
Is your primary goal to have the highest/best return regardless if the amenities and location differ from what you personally prefer? If ROI is the primary goal, I help buyers understand data, projections, the value of under performers and expenses that are all associated with owning rental property on our beaches. After we determine the goal, and sometimes it shifts during the process, I work hard to find homes that best fit my client's needs. Aside from sales & property management, I do an incredible amount of consulting work with existing property owners that have their homes listed with traditional property management firms. Often owners don't want to sell (yet) but simply want to increase revenue and realize their home's fullest potential in turn making their home more valuable. My consulting duties include rate management. I heavily evaluate/manipulate rates and help owners understand the process of setting and monitoring nightly/daily rates (based on yield management). I make simple and inexpensive upgrades to the property in order to set their home apart from the rest. The results of this service is seen in bookings in the off season when we historically see a lower demand and excess inventory. I help facilitate marketing changes on their current rental listings and make sure their properties are getting maximum exposure. I advise on ever changing marketing trends that should be being utilized. We work to get feedback from past guests and use that data to make necessary changes. I help hire and manage local vendors for small and large projects. Anyone that has hired vendors on the beach knows that is a challenge in itself. These in depth services go beyond the scope of service provided by a traditional sales/management firm but for an owner (new or long time) to maximize their return, all the bases have to be covered.
The best call I can receive is from a client telling me that they are seeing a high enough return on house #1, that they are ready for #2! I love when I can sell my clients property for more than what the market dictates because of simple changes that we made. Regardless if I am in "Sales mode" or "Property Management Mode," my goal remains the same. I want my client to make the most money (sometimes that is realizing higher rental income and sometimes it is selling their home for more than they expected) and provide a higher level of service than what they anticipated. Because of my background and local contacts, I remain involved in client's projects long after the transaction takes place. Though I love working with investment properties, helping families find forever homes is a top priority.