Name: Lorraine Beato
Job Title: Realtor
Company: PalmerHouse Properties, Buckhead
What was your first job in the realty industry? I was an appraiser
Where did you grow up? New York
Growing up, what did you want to be? I wanted to work at the United Nations as an ambassador
What do you do to relax when you’re stressed? I will take a drive and turn on the radio or take a walk through an antique mall to distract my mind
If you could have lunch with a well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why? The Queen of England … she has seen so much throughout her lifetime and had an enormous amount of responsibility put on her shoulders at a young age. She has always shown great poise and composure and I feel she has done a great job adapting to all of the changes in society and her country. She is a daughter, a mother, a grandmother and great grandmother who clearly did the best she could to raise her family and rule a country.
Where is your favorite place to hang out? Our Lake Lanier cottage or Hilton Head whenever the opportunity arises.
What do you love most about the industry? Working with people and I have had a love of old homes since I was a child. Helping people find a place to call their own and start their families is very rewarding. Also the ability to help people build wealth through real estate investing.
How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd of agents? I have a comprehensive 20+ years of real estate experience that started when I worked on the mortgaged-backed securities trading floor on Wall Street. At the same time, I became an appraiser and did appraisals for several years on the weekends. My astute financial skills from those days along with building relationships gives me a diverse background and allows me to evaluate properties on a deeper level. I also renovated homes and can help clients see a diamond in the rough and help them estimate those costs to see if it’s a possible fit or not.
What is the most difficult aspect of your job? In the real estate world, you come across all sorts of people with different backgrounds, personalities and experiences. Getting to know my clients and what’s important to them and adapting how I present information sometimes is the most difficult. Not all people understand things the same way and sometimes when I work with international clients, I need to first understand their background and how they may be used to doing things and then prepare them and show them the process here.
Where do you go to network and meet new clients? I love attending networking events and have been invited to speak at several local and national events. I also connect with people via my social media and have built relationships that way as well as mainly referrals from past clients.
What has been your greatest accomplishment? Restoring my grandparents’ home in Portugal last year long distance. That and soon I will have my second college graduate!
What was the last good movie you saw or book you read? Hidden Figures
What is your favorite restaurant? It was Mambo Italiano but they closed recently!
Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Atlanta? The Swan House and the Flatiron Building which predates and is similar to the one in NY
What kind of car do you drive? Buick Rendezvou
Smartphone or paper? Both! If I write it down, I remember it better but I also always have my phone.
What is your favorite city after Atlanta? New York City – there’s nothing quite like the Big Apple.
In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry? Just be you and if you don’t know the answer, say so.
What’s your favorite real estate iPhone/Android app? Facetime on my iPhone because it allows me to virtually walk a client through a property real time.
Who are your favorite people to follow on Twitter? Ryan Serhant and Josh Flagg … other than that, I don’t really tweet.
Want to be featured in our Agent Snapshot? Click here and complete this survey. Agent Snapshots are published on our website and shared in our newsletter and social media feeds.