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Calling Bette Gigliotti and Denise Walsh a dynamic duo is an understatement. In the two years since they joined forces as GigliottiWalsh Real Estate, their business has boomed. So much so that they recently ranked as the third top William Raveis team.
The pair had known each other for several years but didn't team up until they both joined William Raveis. We were always the first in the office and the last to leave, says Denise describing their work ethic. Recognizing that they could be a powerhouse together, Denise and Bette decided to invest in each other and draw up a business plan.
Being successful means leaving nothing to chance. So every house they represent goes through a pre-listing program. We hire professional stagers, professional photographers, professional appraisers and an inspector, Bette says. That way there are no surprises and anything that needs fixing gets repaired before the house is put up on the Multiple Listing Service. The appraisal is important, Denise says, because 75 percent of homeowners think their home is better than anyone elses. The appraisal provides an impartial view of the real value of a home based on comparisons with other homes that have sold. Some buyers stand in their own way, says Denise, explaining why overpriced homes are slow to sell.
GigliottiWalsh believes in giving back to the community too. You need to know about this, says Denise waving a flyer. Denise and Bettes team is the Connecticut Realtor affiliate of Home for Heroes, a national real estate savings program that helps doctors, nurses, teachers, firemen, policemen and the military buy a house.
Getting the GigliottiWalsh name out to buyers and sellers means using all possible means of advertising. "We're on all the websites," says Denise. "People in California and overseas find us." And Bette makes sure their name is visible locally, too. She drives around Fairfield in an eye-catching SmartCar with the GigliottiWalsh logo pasted onto the doors. I drive it on the Thruway, too, Bette says.
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