305.987.3680
tropicalmiamirealestate.com
koch.j@ewm.com
Total Years in the industry: 9
Current company: Jayson Koch Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty
Top reason to work with a Realtor:
Anyone can list their home for sale. However, Realtors offer a much wider network of both personal and professional contacts to promote a property. We have the expertise to negotiate the best offers for our buyers and sellers, and we use the latest marketing tools to target a home to the right buyer within the shortest period of time, which results in the seller capturing more money for their property.
What makes you excited to go to work?
My wife, Yvonne, and I have three awesome and energetic young boys (actually, two of them are young men), ages 15, 13 and 10! They all play the beautiful game of futbol, and they travel multiple weekends a month to tournaments around the United States. Family, school and playing soccer are what they love! It is an absolute joy to both guide and watch them grow and enjoy what they love, too! As a Realtor, I am just as excited as we engage with our customers by understanding where they are in their lives and to help them reach their next chapters and goals. Whether our customers are moving into the area to raise their kids in these amazing communities or to help them with a downsize because they are ready to relocate closer to their grandchildren, my partner, Lilia Rocio Piedrahita, and I are here for them all the way. We love what we do, and it shows!
What is South Florida’s best-kept secret?
I cannot say it is a best-kept secret, but Virginia Key is one of my family’s favorite outdoor places to explore and enjoy! It has one of the best networks of scenic mountain bike trails to ride — no mountains but nice technical trails for riders at all levels, all built by volunteers. The Virginia Key beaches are great for relaxing along the shores or to have a picnic under the Australian pines, but my kids love paddle boarding and kayaking around the key and always enjoy visiting with the manatees in the lagoon.
What are your market predictions for 2023?
For 2023, we are clearly experiencing price corrections at $2 million and above; but until inventory increases significantly, homes listed under $2 million will continue to stay in demand with minimal, if any, price reductions.
What market is still hot right now?
We focus our services in Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay, South Miami and Coral Gables, some of the most desirable communities to live in because of the many excellent private and public schools, lots of green space and overall, each offers a high quality of living for all to enjoy.
However, over the past few years, we have also been very busy in Hollywood Beach! It’s only a 45-minute drive to South Ocean Drive, up I-95 and off Hallendale Beach Boulevard. The beaches are wider and far less congested than Miami Beach. With limited supply for nice oceanfront condos under $1 million, our listings sell quickly not only to local Florida buyers but to those in the northeast and Canada who prefer warm weather during the winter months.
What should you do before you list your home?
Before you list your home, here are our top four steps:
- Get a pre-listing home inspection. A pre-listing home inspection will highlight items at your home that need to be repaired or replaced. It is a proactive step to make those repairs before listing your home so that when your home is under contract, few items, if any, will present themselves on the buyers’ home inspection report and offer you less surprises, too.
- Declutter. It’s any easy step. Make rooms feel open and airy, light and bright. Remove excess stuff and furniture. Give your rooms a fresh coat of paint. Your home’s exterior appearance is also very important. Trim the lawn, trees and hedges; pressure wash the house and paint it, if necessary, too.
- Stage it professionally. If you already moved and the house is empty, consider staging it with a fresh round of furniture, which will help buyers visualize furniture placement in each room. Staging helps buyers to make decisions faster, and sometimes, it also brings more money to sellers!
- Choose the Realtor that you connect with and who asks lots of questions, is resourceful, knows the market well and, in the end, will look out for your best interests through the entire experience.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Rocio and I are very grateful to all of our customers who have chosen us for their real estate services over the years! We are off to a great start in 2023 and look forward to making new connections, doing what we love! Cheers!