Michael LaFido is the founder and CEO of Luxury Listing Specialist Designation. He has over twenty years of experience in the real estate industry and specializes in luxury listings. His marketing has received top recognition and includes being the featured cover story in Crain’s Chicago Business and highlights in Forbes, Chicago Tribune, Mansion Global, and FOX New Chicago Business Hour. Michael is also the author of the Bestselling book, Luxury Listing Specialist Book: Dominate Luxury Listings in your Market.
In 2019 he was awarded the MVP (Most Valued Partner) by “Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate” (www.luxuryrealestate.com). His forthcoming book, ‘Secrets of Top Luxury Agents’ is a book anthology collection where the top Luxury real-estate agents in the world share their hidden techniques and strategies to help others succeed. ‘Secrets of Top Luxury Agents’ is a book that will help you put together a comprehensive plan from the best of the best agents in the world. It is a must read for all who are trying to make segways in selling the most expensive homes that are on the market today. We had an opportunity to catch up with Michael LaFido for an exclusive interview, this is what he shared up with us.
What inspired you to become a real estate agent, and how did you move into the luxury real estate segment?
What inspired me? I’ve always been an entrepreneur. I had a client in my deck cleaning business tell me I should be in real estate, and he thought I’d be good at it because I’m a people person. That’s what inspired me to get into real estate. Moving to luxury real estate, well if you’re going to sell a home you might as well sell a higher priced home. I saw that there was a void, a lot of dinosaurs, older agents inside the box selling real estate so I thought I could stand out and make an immediate impact.
In your bestselling book, Luxury Listing Specialist Book: Dominate Luxury Listings in your Market, you discuss how to amplify sales in the real estate industry. Why is this a key tool for every real estate agent?
I say all the time don’t think like a real estate agent, think like a marketer. Everybody knows a real estate agent so what can you do as an agent to stand out, to be memorable and bring more value to the marketplace so that when someone is thinking about buying or selling, you’re at least in the discussion.
You have a new book about to hit the shelves, Secrets of Top Luxury Agents. While writing this book, did you yourself learn any new secrets?
Absolutely! Success leaves clues. There is an old saying, “teachers learn best”. When I had my podcast, we just released our 234th podcast at this time. I am literally learning something from each of my podcasts. So, yes, I learned a lot and learned a lot putting this book together.
In your expert opinion, what are the top three things every homeowner should look for when purchasing a home?
“Location, location, location” is Number 1. You make money in real estate when you buy it right. Number 2 and Number 3 is “when making improvements, think about if you’re over improving a property or house for that particular neighborhood.” In other words, are you putting a huge addition on and it’s going to be impossible to sell because you’ve put way too much into the home.
In review, Number 1, “location, location, location” when buying a home. Number 2, you make money in real estate when you buy it right, and Number 3 is don’t over improve a property.
Fame or Fortune – if you had to pick one, which would it be any why?
I’d pick fortune, because there are a lot of famous TikTokers and YouTubers that are dead broke. If you have money, you can give back to causes and nonprofits and do a lot of different things. I’m a big believer in “money freedom equals time freedom equals relationship freedom equals location freedom.”
For more information on the collection visit: https://secretsoftopluxuryagents.webflow.io
For media and press inquiries with Michael LaFido contact Michael Beas at info@atlaselitepublishing.com
