back to archive'Meet the Agent' - Adam Birch from Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty
This month for ‘Meet the Agent’ we interview Adam Birch, a sales and rentals agent from Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty. Adam has been in the business for over 13 years and discusses where he is seeing activity in the market currently, some top tips for buyers and sellers in the current market as well as why he enjoys working at Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty.
How long have you been in the business? I received my real estate license in November of 2005, I subsequently did a mentoring program teaming with our CEO, Brian Madeiros. We worked on specific projects which was the best foundation I could hope for in my understanding of the property market from pricing to marketing. I was able to learn market dynamics and all of the nuances; when you learn about your client's needs you can provide the right solution.
Why do you like working for Coldwell Banker and what's the favourite part of your job? We have a diverse team with a wealth of knowledge and an open door policy in our office. Daily challenges are always up for discussion in our solution oriented environment. Training is key and always ongoing in order to be the best real estate consultants on the island. We also have historical databases and a wealth of information at my fingertips to make informed decisions.
Where are you seeing activity in the market at the moment? Towards the end of 2018 there was movement in the $2M - $2.5M range and also around the $1M - $1.5M mark in the sales side. In the rental side, I am having good activity from properties in the $8,000 - $10,000 price range right now.
What is your favorite property on the market right now? I have a few and I might be biased! We recently aided the Bermuda National Trust in renting 'Devondale' which is a stunning older Bermuda home on 10 acres. The trust renovated this property a few years ago but kept its charm throughout, just an absolute pleasure to show.
What property on the market right now, in your opinion, do you think is really good value? 'Inchun' on Camden Road North. This property has it all: large acreage, a second apartment, there is a pool, you can walk into Hamilton. A quiet neighbourhood setting which is ideal for kids. It has been renovated throughout and is a pleasure to show.
https://www.propertyskipper.com/property/clba_8641_inchun
How do you see the Bermuda property market in 2019? There is definitely some positive interest in key areas of the market, so I think we should have some positive activity. January was the best month I have ever had in the rental department, we had a lot of new families and single professionals moving to the island which was refreshing. The positive activity is still going strong into March so hopefully it keeps up. As mentioned previously I have had great activity in the $2Million range on the sales side recently.
What are your top 3 tips for purchasers when looking for a potential new home? First and foremost get pre-approval so you know what your budget is. Second tip is sit down and really highlight what your absolute 'musts' are when looking for a property. Also be open to viewing some properties that aren't initially what you are looking for, houses in Bermuda can be so wildly different from each other in the same price range that you might be surprised with what you find.
Finally - do you have any good tips for sellers when preparing their home for sale? Listening to your realtor is paramount when it comes to pricing, far too often we give market advice but properties are listed for what someone 'needs' and not necessarily what the property is worth in the current market. You just don't want to run the risk of the property sitting on the market for too long.
To contact Adam you can call: +1 (441) 505-5157 or e-mail: abirch@brcl.bm
