It is hard to believe it, but it has been nearly 4 years since I first collaborated with Eileen Hsu on a condominium transaction in Manhattan. I had known Eileen from our shared online repartee, but it wasn't until I was contacted by a prospective short sale seller that we met in real life (IRL) in March, 2009. The meeting was memorable; I couldn't list and sell midtown condo anymore than I could play point guard for the Knicks, and I needed a strong Manhattan broker to refer to. We met in the lobby of the building, went over comparable sales, and chatted in the elevator. I would spearhead the meeting.
The prospective client was a typical New York type- asked tough questions, wanted proof of anything we said, and wouldn't just sign for anything without grilling us. At one tense point of the discussion, Eileen picked up a pen, took over, and handed the guy the listing contract to sign. He signed. She sold the unit in a month, and the short sale was approved a few months later. Eileen was the catalyst throughout the entire transaction for moving things forward as expediently as possible, pushing the attorney and client to do what needed to be done at all times. The deal closed successfully.
But that's not the end.
About 2 years later, I referred another short sale to Eileen, this one with an out of state owner and a combative, uncooperative tentant. The details beyond that are unimportant, except to say that she handled the considerable obstacles with aplomb and got that deal closed as well.
This past year, when one of my agents asked me how we could list his friend's apartment in Manhattan, I told him we would not. I then put him in touch with Eileen.
Closed. Fast, smooth, and efficient.
There are those that take charge with assertiveness. There are those that take charge with their tone of voice or by leverage. And then there are people like Eileen who take charge with competence and expertise. They don't need to raise their voice or push because they understand innately what needs to be done and how to go about doing it. That does not come by accident.
Eileen is an associate broker and Senior Vice President at Douglas Elliman, and she has hit a home run in all three opportunities she has had with me without one whiff. I doubt she'll ever fail, because her kind of ability and professionalism are the confluence of a great mind, hard work, and experience. She remains our go-to person for Manhattan referrals, and I have the utmost confidence that the next time we collaborate, as the first three times at bat, she'll hit a home run. In the shark tank that is Manhattan real estate, that is something else.
I am always happy to do business with Eileen and her team, and prouder still to call her a friend. We strongly endrose her for any real estate transaction in Manhattan. She's the goods.
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