Haute Residence continued its "Chat with Haute Residence Leaders" series with a conversation featuring Amy Land-de Wilde of Coldwell Banker’s Schmidt Family of Companies. Land-de Wilde is the exclusive agent representing the St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network.
Amy Land-de Wilde was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.
The topics included Land-de Wilde’s illustrious career from moving to the Caribbean after a year abroad, strides towards opening then selling her own successful brokerage, and her eventual ascendancy as a leading specialist in luxury real estate.
In 1986, Amy Land-de Wilde became a licensed broker on St. Croix after a year abroad falling in love with colorful Caribbean diving, beautiful topography, the welcoming people, and the island lifestyle. She opened her own brokerage in 2001, which she sold to the Schmidt Family of Companies, Coldwell Banker’s largest affiliate operation, and happily remains a broker there leading the top-producing team. Land-de Wilde has received Coldwell Banker’s top production awards annually since joining forces decades ago. With a track record of representing the most significant properties on St. Croix, she keeps current with industry innovations, marketing trends, and all facets of real estate. Her clients benefit from her excellent negotiating skills, knowledge, and deep connections to the resources that benefit new and experienced Islanders alike.
Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Land-de Wilde.
Seth Semilof: You moved to the island. You were at the radio station for about five years and then you said, “I either want to come into the financial industry or the real estate industry.” Tell us about that.
Amy Land-de Wilde: I had a lot of good experience managing a radio station and starting in radio sales. If practice for any kind of sales job, you are dealing with an evaporating commodity. You have to have excellent not only people skills, but you have to be organized and follow up to develop good work habits. I really do credit that beginning as one of the reasons I started in 1986.
SS: When you started, things were hot. How long were they hot for? How long did it take you to get your first deal?
ALW: My story is unusual in a way because of what was happening in our market at the time. I had my first deal within a month and my first year was good. People always tell you and it is true that you have to be able to have the cash to support yourself for that period of time. I started doing a newsletter in 1986, which I still do today, so that consistency did not take that long.
SS: You built an amazing company and worked very hard to open it in 2001. Tell us a little about the reasoning behind selling it and when you made that sale.
ALW: I started the company in 2001 and at the time, it was just Land-de Wilde realty. Although Coldwell Banker had been talking to our company, which I finally did go to that larger company in another couple of years, I stayed at that company until she closed it. That is what started my company. Coldwell Banker continued, I continued, and that was the best decision ever, so I am very happy about that. When I sold in 2018, there were about 35 people, which is not huge for a company in the States, but I was eager to do that.
SS: How is St. Croix right now with the real estate market?
ALW: Real estate, strangely, was one of the businesses allowed to open since we managed other people's properties here from afar. It was very strict, but people were allowed to come see us to our island. People wanted to get out of their home, so we really benefited from a lot of people who came to visit and loved it who would never have.
SS: What advice would you give to somebody watching us, even a person that is in the business for six years and not as successful or someone having some success but not at that level?
ALW: I would try to get brutal honesty from people they respect around them if they are not having the success that they feel they should be having. I would first definitely look within and say, “Am I doing my best? Am I spending the hours?” The flexibility does offer us benefits, but it is not 40 hours a week. Work-life balance is something that you need to create if you want to be successful in the confines of giving your all to your business.
For more information, please contact Amy Land-de Wilde at (340) 690-1213 or amydewilde@coldwellbankervi.com
To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit http://www.hauteresidence.com.
