This week on my radio show, Rich and Steve are in the studio with Elizabeth Messier, Director of the Residential Properties Ltd. Corporate Services and Relocation Department. Moving can often be a daunting task, and the client services provided by our Relocation Team can help make your move much less stressful.

Our Relocation Professionals are licensed, non-selling real estate agents who assist individuals and corporations move to or from Rhode Island. Besides working with your company’s relocation package, the department can connect you to one of our preferred mortgage professionals, arrange a community tour, and inform you about our rentals and temporary housing options. This team knows more than just houses; they will assist you with every aspect of your move, from finding a new pediatrician to choosing the right home and neighborhood.

As a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, our relocation team has the connections to acquaint you with the top professionals anywhere in the world.  So, if you are leaving our state, let us coordinate the introduction to those agencies in the area to where you are moving, whether that is across the country, to a nearby state, or internationally.

We also highlighted a wonderful property listed by Bettina Monaco in West Warwick. Located in the desirable Greenbush area, this raised ranch is a must see. Located off a quiet, winding road this home has two full levels of living and provides easy access to local shopping and entertainment. The upstairs features a very open floor plan while the downstairs would make an exceptionable in-law sweet or home office. Those who love summer entertaining will make great use of the two spacious decks, which provide a haven on a warm summer evening.

If you would like more information on this property, the home will be open to the public on Sunday, May 1 from 2:00-3:30PM.

Today was Career Day at Residential Properties. We hosted two career-oriented high school students, Pamela Gonzalez and Paola Peña. Through the Volunteer in Providence Schools (VIPS) organization, the Classical High School students gave us the opportunity to show them what they could expect to do in the real estate industry. We spent the morning with them, and, hopefully, they departed with a well rounded perspective of what to anticipate working in real estate and relocation.

Personally, I look forward to this event every year, it’s a great opportunity to introduce students to our industry and provide them with first-hand knowledge of what they would expect by choosing a career in real estate. Liz Messier, Director of Relocation Services, joined me in guiding the students through a typical day in real estate. We were introduced to this program through the Rotary of Providence.

Liz was shadowed by Paola Peña, and immersed her in the Relocation Division of the company. Paola learned how Liz communicates and delivers our relocation services message to corporate relocation clients.

Pamela Gonzalez followed me for the morning. I showed her how we would present a few of the homes listed by Residential Properties and taught her how to handle showing a house to prospective buyers. We also went to the Cumberland Office to meet my sales team and see how a typical real estate office operates.

VIPS is an award winning non-profit educational organization dedicated to enabling our city’s public school students to succeed in school and build a good foundation for their future. We were fortunate to have been given this opportunity by VIPS to provide these exceptional students with knowledge of a career path our agents have chosen, allowing them to begin deciding what they want in a career.

For the past few months, I’ve been writing a column in the Business Section of the Jewish Voice & Herald entitled Real Estate Insight.  My most recent article was written after spending two days with a client relocating from outside the Ocean State.  Here’s what I took home from the experience after seeking advice from our Director of Relocation, Liz Messier:

“Understand what a relocated client means: It is a person or family who is moving from one place to another. In the case of the family, one of the family members is offered an exciting possibility and the trailing spouse must leave his or her job, friends and life as he or she knows it.

The children are worried about the new school and leaving their friends. So, unlike a local family that just has to deal with satisfying the house needs of the family, the relocated family has that and a slew of people following them saying: ‘Are you crazy, thinking about moving to Rhode Island?’”

Visit The Jewish Voice and Herald to read the full article.

As a company, Residential Properties is dedicated to providing insight and expertise in all aspects of real estate and relocation. As a relocation division, our goal is to provide one-stop shopping – offering a wide range and variety of relocation services to individuals, families and corporations in the local, national and international real estate markets. As partners with our trained relocation agents, we continually strive to be recognized as the premier relocation company in our state with a service goal of consistently meeting and exceeding the expectations of our customers. As director of relocation, my function is to serve as the point of contact and facilitator of services for our corporate clients and to oversee my team of relocation counselors and relocation agent specialists in the delivery of our services.

Corporations looking to attract and hire candidates and individuals moving to our state are better served by utilizing the services of a relocation department. We look at the whole picture, focusing on “lifestyle” first – finding the right community that delivers the experience the client is looking for and then helping them find just the right home. Our relocation counselors work together with the client to coordinate all aspects of their move, both at the departure and destination locations. No detail is too small – we are here to assist before, during and after the move. And best of all, when working with a Residential Properties relocation agent, the services of our relocation counselors are free.

Published: April 9, 2009 in Providence Business News