back to archiveNew Dynamic Duo at Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty
Press Release by Coldwell Banker Bermuda RealtyReal estate is a fascinating and intriguing business that attracts a great deal of interest from many people of various walks of life looking to become an agent. Much of this glamor and excitement is driven from the TV shows such as Love It or List It; House Hunters; Million Dollar Listings and Flip or Flop. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in 2020 5.64 million existing homes sold; there are over 3 million active real estate licensees and the median experience for all Realtors is 8 years. Conversely, in Bermuda, there are currently 48 real estate brokers and 209 agents licensed under the Real Estate Brokers’ Licensing Act 2017. There are roughly 28,192 dwellings in Bermuda, of those in the years 2016 – 2018 on average 290 properties sold island-wide and from 2019 to 2021, the average was 220. Looking at how small the island is and the large number of brokers and agents, one wonders how one can be successful in real estate and what it takes.
We look back at one of the most successful real estate agents on the island – Fiona Hatfield of Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty. Fiona’s career in real estate did not start as an agent, it was as an assistant which is nearly laughable to those that know her well. Secretarial skills are not her best asset. Fiona is a people person, she loves everyone, she talks to everyone and she loves to have fun and make people’s dreams come true.
Mrs. Hatfield started at Gauntlett and Jones in September 1986 which became Jones Waddington, by a sheer fluke she became an agent because someone called into the office wanting to purchase a piece of land. Fiona told him where it was, he went to see it and purchased it. She never showed the property. It was so easy that Fiona was bitten and decided that was the career path for her. Jones Waddington merged with Bermuda Realty Company Limited in 2000 and the company became Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty. Unfortunately, when looking back through the sales records, the company does not have sale data going back to 1986, but does have data going back to 1996. So, we can report that Fiona is the most successful agent with the company amassing 567 sold properties worth $424M since 1996. For those that are counting, that is on average 23 sold properties a year, year over year for 25 years! When you consider the median number of transaction sides in the US is 10, this is pretty amazing. During her soon to be 36 years as a top sales agent, Fiona has sold property from under $100,000 to $7M and everything in between. She always says that “there is a slipper to fit every Cinderella”.
In a Royal Gazette article in April 2021, Fiona stated “I am having too much fun to retire”. And she stands by that statement, but she has decided that it makes sense to perhaps slow down a bit. When we asked her what “slowing down” means to her, she said, “Rather than working 50+ hours a week, I think I would like to cut it down to 35 hours a week”, she laughs. She also wants to be able to continue her legacy, so she has been looking for a young agent to mentor and she has found the perfect one in Randy Elgersma.
Randy was born and raised in Southern Ontario and earned his degree from Brock University. While there he met his wife and upon visiting her home of Bermuda fell in love with the island. Together they are raising two daughters who are the joy of their lives.
Randy also works for the Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service since graduating the Recruit Course in 2015. Currently, he is stationed at the Airport Operations Division.
When not working, Mr. Elgersma loves to lobster dive and spearfish and also enjoys local art.
Agency Manager at Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty, Susan Thompson said, “Over my 25 years as a manager with the company, I have seen people of all ages and walks of lives come and go in this business. I have knack for knowing very quickly who is going to be a successful agent and who is not. Randy, is definitely going to do well as an agent! He is personable, intelligent, is not afraid of work, is easily reachable, is quick to respond and learns quick. Plus, he has some amazing support not only with Fiona, but our extensive team of 22 agents, myself and our CEO, Brian Madeiros who has been in the business 32 years.”
Fiona can be reached at fhatfield@brcl.bm or 534-9932 and Randy at relgersma@brcl.bm or 531-3912
