Top Agent Magazine: Tony & Laurel DiMaggio
Although they both came to careers in real estate on different paths, Tony and Laurel DiMaggio are now one of the most successful teams in the business. In fact it’s the differences between the pair that has created their synergy.
Tony had spent most of his life in the real estate business and was a licensed California real estate broker before moving to Tamarindo, Costa Rica almost 17 years ago. Once he got settled, he picked up the career again and it quickly became his full time passion.
In 2003, Laurel joined Tony. Although her background had been in the dental field, as Tony points out, it actually served as a wonderful foundation for real estate. “She literally would hold people’s hands through stressful situations and real estate requires the same client care and patience. We complement each other with our varied skill sets and that makes our partnership.”
The way they work together has been especially advantageous in the challenging resort market in which they do business. As Tony points out, “We often work with visitors who have just a few days to see and understand our market, so you have to be on top of your game in order to be effective with that time constraint. On the flip-side, we work remotely with many of our clients and that can take months, sometimes longer, of emailing back and forth before their possible arrival. That’s where Laurel’s patience can be invaluable. By the time the client arrives she’s already established a strong relationship with them, more like a friendship!
We love showing properties together and have fun playing off of one another. Laurel’s focus is on the set up. My strength is on the addressing client’s questions, detailing the buying process in Costa Rica and when they find the right property, contract negotiations. When you work with us, you get two people working very hard for you, offering a full range of service.”
Laurel also credits their success with a commitment to high ethical standards. One of the things I admired right away with Tony was the way in which operated himself professionally. Clients sense that and I think that’s also why other agents like working with us. We’ve earned their trust which has great personal and business value in our lives and we don’t take that for granted.”
Tony and Laurel take a personal approach to sales. According to Tony “When we are thinking right, it’s about helping people. I don’t even like the term ‘sales’ because I don’t really think you sell real estate. You show it and the more you know your clients the easier it becomes to find the right properties and the rest takes care of itself, if you have the other complementary skills. Most of our business at this point is fortunately driven by client referrals. For that we are grateful, what we do is made much easier when our valued clients and friends pave the way.”
Tony and Laurel are actively involved in their community, supporting numerous charitable events, in particular ones that help out the local schools. Laurel is a member and Tony has served two terms as a board member of the Costa Rica Global Association of REALTORS (CRGAR), an organization that is dedicated to establishing ethical standards and educational training for real estate professionals in Costa Rica.
Tony and Laurel couldn’t be more thrilled with their business and look forward to helping many more people find not only their dream home, but discover the incredible lifestyle that Costa Rica offers. “For Tony and I there’s nothing better than actually feeling the joy of our clients when they realize they’ve achieved their dream. Seeing how you’ve impacted someone’s life in a positive way is what keeps us motivated.”
To learn more about Tony and Laurel Di Maggio call 011-506-8815-1200, email tony@cbtamarindo.com or visit www.Coldwellbankertamarindo.com