Not many industries evolve and change as quickly as real estate, so it’s important for a new agency to be tech-savvy and service-oriented as soon as it enters the market. Amanda Alejandro and her husband Jay Steinback, owners of The Realty Shop in Creve Coeur, say they are ramping up their 3-year-old company’s local presence through innovative processes and partnerships. According to Alejandro, the business is powered by professionals who understand the full meaning of client service, from robust digital technology and market research to the smallest personal touches.
The Realty Shop was founded on Alejandro’s 15 years of real estate experience, and the company now employs 35 active agents with more currently onboarding. “We hire people who really want a full-time career in real estate,” she says. “We’ve been known to bring in agents who are new to the business, and in their first year, they are joining the area’s top producers because of their commitment and our comprehensive staff support.”
Alejandro says the company is growing quickly because its business philosophy is truly full-service. “We pay attention to every aspect of a client relationship, from the way we answer the phone to how our agents interact with people,” she says. “We know how to counsel buyers and sellers to make an otherwise complex process go smoothly.”
There are some exciting developments on the company’s horizon, according to Alejandro. The Realty Shop is one of two brokerages in Missouri recently named exclusive partners with the real estate web portal Zillow. “We are true business partners with them, not just advertisers who pay a fee to have properties featured,” Alejandro says. “For clients, it means an extra measure of confidence, a unified service experience and the highest level of exposure possible. We are excited about this—it’s a big deal, and it fits in well with our processes, technology and way of doing business.”
Steinback says there also are plans to launch a title company and expand Realty Shop’s brokerage services beyond Missouri. In the meantime, the company is growing its other lines of business as well: a real estate photography and video division known as Realty Shots and a program called Realty Ready that buys ‘as is’ homes for cash.
Alejandro says the company’s turnkey business philosophy inspires confidence in clients. “Anyone can help you buy or sell a home,” she says. “Understanding the market that surrounds it is the key. Our professionals are full-time real estate experts, educated in the local sales environment and the wider business climate.” She adds that she is proud to mentor and inspire others in the field. “I enjoy being a successful example of female entrepreneurship,” she says. “I love showing people how women rise to the top.”
Steinback says Alejandro and her team do far more for clients than show homes and write contracts. “Amanda is one of the best salespeople I know, and she is the idea person behind every project we undertake,” he explains. “She understands process and flow, knows what people need and does an amazing job of maximizing the client experience from start to finish.
The Realty Shop is a full-service, Creve Coeur-based real estate brokerage that also provides photography, videography, virtual reality scanning and ‘as is’ home purchasing services. It is ranked by MARIS as the No. 5 agency in Missouri in terms of sales volume. Pictured on the cover: Co-owner Amanda Alejandro. For more information, call 314.310.4110 or visit realtyshopstl.com.
Cover design by Julie Streiler
Cover photo by Victoria Andrews
Pictured at top: Co-owner Amanda Alejandro
Photo: Victoria Andrews
