Every quarter we celebrate the realtors, developers, and flippers who are so often our home staging clients. They understand the value of home staging. In honor of Get to Know Your Customers Day (we prefer Get to Know Our Client Day), we asked Elyse Harney Morris of Elyse Harney Real Estate a few questions about how she got into real estate in the Northwestern Corner, the secret sauce of Elyse Harney Real Estate's success, and looking to the future of real estate in the Berkshires, Massachusetts, Northwestern Connecticut, and Dutchess County, New York. Read on!
What brought You to real estate & How many years?
My parents were the innkeepers of the White Hart [in Salisbury, Connecticut]. And so we grew up with a hospitality mindset. I went to Cornell School of Hotel Administration and went on to work at five star hotels in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and others. We eventually wanted to move back home where there are no natural disasters! We had to think about where we wanted to educate our kids.
Hospitality is an amazing learning ground for real estate. My mom, Elyse Harney, started Elyse Harney Real Estate at the age of 50 and wanted to keep it in the family. So we came into the business. I’m the lead broker. My husband Scott runs the business side, including marketing.
And now we’ve been doing this for 16 plus years! Elyse Harney Real Estate celebrated its 35th anniversary last year.
What’s your secret sauce for success?
Hospitality is a cornerstone. Our greatest strength is our talented agents who are creative ambassadors for our region. We have 34 agents in our Connecticut/Massachusetts/New York area. Many of them came to real estate through hospitality like I did.
You constantly have to build strong relationships. You also need to stay on top of the industry trends, including marketing trends. And pay attention to detail.
It’s interesting, prior to COVID, buyers often only wanted to look at a specific town, like Salisbury or Litchfield. Now people are more aware of the region: you don’t have to be in Connecticut, you can be in the Berkshires or Dutchess County, New York.
This Elyse Harney Real Estate listing in Alford, Massachusetts went under contract within one week. The home owners said, “Thank you for the beautiful way you staged our family home. You clearly had the magic touch! We are grateful…for your creativity and hard work.” See more testimonials. “After” photo by Sonja Zinke.
What do you find rewarding?
Accomplishing a goal! Seeing our home buyers flourish in their new communities. We love encouraging buyers to get involved with what they're interested in, maybe its history, so we guide them toward a town's historical society. I often bring clients to the Salisbury Ski Jump, even when it’s not winter. The following year we’ll see the kids there taking lessons or they’re attending the Jump. When people get involved with their communities, they’re more likely to love the area and encourage their family and friends to move here. And recommend us to their family and friends.
New Listing; New Staging
31 Robin Hill Road in Lakeville, Connecticut is a mid-century modern home renovated by EJ Home and listed with Elyse Harney Morris and Jusztina Paksai of Elyse Harney Real Estate. We staged this home for contemporary living. It was offered up to us beautifully empty and ready professional staging. We grounded the great room with a darker rug, sofa, cocktail table, and chair. And we allowed the furnishings and accessories in the rest of the home to emphasize light and bright. Photo by Sonja Zinke.
What are your challenges?
Staying ahead of this ever-changing market. Lack of inventory right now. Staying ahead of the competition. And evolving our practices to be 10 steps ahead. Home staging is part of this…
How did you find staged ryte?
Instagram! Dawn had transformed a farmhouse in Southfield, Massachusetts. I couldn’t believe how it was transformed—as you went from room to room you could see the lifestyle Dawn had created.
Staged Ryte has done a log home for us that’s on the market right now. It significantly increased the number of buyers who want to see the house.
Staged Ryte transformed this log home, staging every room. The living room—truly a great room— features large furniture, grounded by an area rug, that manages to make the space cozy…and spacious. Photo by Sonja Zinke.
I did research, saw Staged Ryte’s positive reviews, and their professional approach. Dawn’s eye for design and large inventory helps to put homes in their best light. We’ve closed on houses because of what she created. She knows her audience. It’s like smoke comes out of her ears when she’s assessing a house. She doesn’t settle on a design until it’s perfect. We work collaboratively together so we’re all part of the same team.
What about 2023?
Every year we have exceeded our goals—and we’ve set lofty goals for 2023! We’re excited to take on that challenge. We also want to strengthen our market share in Dutchess County and the Berkshires.
Staged right now, 36 Whitford Road in Sharon, Connecticut is a gorgeous estate. Staged Ryte staged the magnificent home as well as the guest house and pool house. Photo by Sonja Zinke.
One of my mother’s goals is to conserve more land and educate buyers and sellers about conservation. Harney & Sons, also a family company, donates to the 1% for the Planet fund. We have strong connections with the Columbia and Dutchess Land Conservancies. The Housatonic Valley Association and Scenic Hudson. That’s important to us.
What are you Personally looking forward to?
Looking for more work/life balance. Focusing on health, family and friends. More time out paddling, biking, hiking. We have a puppy, Cooper, a golden retriever. I look forward to seeing my newlywed daughter in Napa soon. Visit our son in Hawaii; he works for NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] as a marine biologist. A trip to France. Life is good.