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Damianos Sotheby's International Realty

THE BAHAMAS HAS ENTERED PHASE 3 OF RE-OPENING THE ECONOMY

 

Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Dr. Hubert Minnis, announced that effective, Tuesday, June 2, the country will move into Phase 3 in the reopening of the economy.

 

Phase 3 focuses on beginning the new normal with the introduction of non-essential storefront business operations and relaxed social restrictions. In addition to this, real estate firms and agents can operate from Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm.

As previously stated by the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, movement into other phases is contingent on the advice of health officials and the stabilization of COVID-19. For more information please visit opm.gov.bs/phased-re-opening-plan/.
May 28, 2020 by
Damianos Sotheby's International Realty

Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty Offices Throughout The Bahamas Re-Open Monday, May 25

Open for Business. Starting Monday, May 25, the Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty team will be working from their offices throughout The Bahamas from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

NASSAU, The Bahamas (May 25, 2020) — Today’s re-opening of the Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty offices marks ten weeks since offices were closed due to COVID-19 quarantine mandates. In this span of time, staff members and agents have utilized their downtime for professional development, team building and to sharpen sales and marketing strategies.

“Our entire team has been working remotely non-stop, and in many ways, has been busier than ever,” said George Damianos, Chief Executive Officer for Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty. “Once the government announced we were going into quarantine indefinitely, we immediately pivoted and began working from our home offices, turning our focus to virtual and digital strategies and beefing up our marketing.”

In the past two months, the company’s leadership team met daily via Microsoft Teams to assess every aspect of business from accounting and marketing to administrative and operations. This laser-like focus on team development and sharpening of organizational standards and protocol saw immediate results.

Since March, the company’s sales and administrative teams have gathered on weekly calls to sharpen their professional skills via the Ninja Selling course; and, attended bi-weekly Sotheby’s International Realty® training webinars.

“One of the most significant differentiators as a real estate brand is this incredible network of Sotheby’s International Realty®  agents and marketing experts that we tapped into to gain invaluable insight into the best way forward post-COVID, and how to navigate the downturn of  business caused by the pandemic,” Damianos said.

Damianos added that critical details from these calls were then incorporated into compelling marketing and sales strategies in the form of email marketing campaigns, corporate communications, and a ramped-up social media presence.

From a back-office perspective, administration staff supported agents from home as they responded to international inquiries, prepared listing agreements, built brochures, fielded offers, and closed sales. The accounting department also worked remotely paying client and company invoices.

“I am utterly impressed with how we’ve come together as a team in this time of crisis,” Damianos said. “This quarantine has offered us the remarkable opportunity to connect more frequently and deeply as a team to exchange ideas and best practices. We are proud of the way our team has stepped up to support and encourage each other and build upon their already-impressive talents and skillsets.”

 

About Sotheby’s International Realty

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has approximately 22,000 affiliated independent sales associates located in over 1,000 offices in 72 countries and territories worldwide.  Each office is independently owned and operated.


About Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty

 Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty has 10 offices located throughout the islands of the Bahamas, providing unsurpassed market knowledge of Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Exuma, Nassau, Paradise Island, Ocean Club Estates, Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay, Albany and Private Islands. Head office 75 Shirley Street, Nassau. For additional information, please contact 242-322-2305 or Info@SIRbahamas.com.

May 25, 2020 by
Damianos Sotheby's International Realty

Sandyport Residents Find Comfort in Their Community During Times of Social Distancing

Jacqueline Lightbourn, Estate Agent with Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty

When The Bahamas issued a mandatory shelter-in-place order in March, I anticipated that social distancing would make me feel isolated and lonely. However, living in Sandyport  I have found the opposite to be true. Instead of feeling cut off from my neighbors, the sense of community here has never been stronger. As I’ve ventured outdoors during allowable hours to grab some fresh air, sunshine and exercise, I have witnessed kindness, sharing, laughter, support and acts of charity all of which has made me grateful to be quarantined in this live-work-play community.

Sandyport’s open space, calm canals and two-mile paved loop offers a variety of options for exercising outdoors safely and within the boundaries of the community, from paddle boarding and biking to walking and running. Residents cross to the other side of the road when approaching a neighbor to maintain social distancing, but even from behind their masks, you can hear a faint “Good Morning” or “Hello” as you cross paths.  Tennis courts, swimming pools, children’s playgrounds, a batting cage and a basketball court are also available for use as a group for those who live in the same household.

Homemade signs of encouragement and thanks for healthcare workers adorn the windows of many homes in our neighbourhood, and on weekends it’s not uncommon to hear families whistling, clapping and banging pots in honour of the fearless heroes working on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight. On front porches you’ll find children’s toys and games available for exchange or purchase, and we had an animal-spotting scavenger hunt where residents placed stuffed animals around their properties for children to “discover.”  I have even purchased homemade honey from a neighbor for my morning tea, and a thyme tree from another for use in my lemon garlic chicken.

Our community WhatsApp group has never been more active. Through this chat, neighbours share yeast or sugar for baking treats, offer to pick up food for the elderly and homebound, track deliveries for each other, or simply post uplifting thoughts and messages.

By far, the best part is being a part of the generosity of this community. Every week two families collect newspapers for the Bahamas Humane Society and there is a resident who collected t-shirts and bedsheets and created masks for the healthcare workers. On a community level, enough money was raised in a single day to provide donations to Lend a Hand Bahamas for Bain and Grants town, as well as gifts for our security and staff as a token of thanks for keeping our neighbourhood safe during lockdown and curfew.

 I moved to Sandyport in 2002, and I have never been happier to have chosen this as my home. I am grateful to live in such a great community and to be surrounded by the kindness and support of the Sandyport residents.

Jacqueline Lightbourn joined Damianos Sotheby’s International Real Estate in 2019. Jacqueline’s strongest asset as an estate agent is her innate ability to genuinely connect with people from all walks of life on a variety of topics, including her deep love and knowledge of The Bahamas and its Family Islands.

About Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty

 Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty has 10 offices located throughout the islands of the Bahamas, providing unsurpassed market knowledge of Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Exuma, Nassau, Paradise Island, Ocean Club Estates, Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay, Albany and Private Islands. Head office 75 Shirley Street, Nassau. For additional information, please contact 242-322-2305 or Info@SIRbahamas.com.

May 13, 2020 by
Damianos Sotheby's International Realty

Virtual Vacation | 5 Incredible Places You Can Visit Virtually Right Now

Now that we’ve had a chance to visit museums and see a show or two, let’s take it one step further. Staying home doesn’t mean that you can’t still be well-traveled; from UNESCO World Heritage sites like Machu Picchu to world-class zoos and aquariums, here are five incredible places you can visit right now from the comfort of your own home.

Machu Picchu

The first stop on our virtual vacation is the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu in southern Peru. Built in the 15th century, you can tour the citadel ruins and restorations with guided audio to give you important details along the way.

The Georgia Aquarium

Did you know that some studies show that visiting an aquarium can relieve stress? Featured on Animal Planet’s hit show “The Aquarium,” bring the Georgia Aquarium into your living room with one of its many live tank cams and relax as you watch colorful fish, otters, reptiles, and more.

Arches National Park

The United States is home to many wondrous national parks – more than 400 in total. With the help of Google Earth, travel the deserts of Utah and see Arches National Park where you can virtually walk through some of the more than 2,000 sandstone arches that are the area’s namesake.

The San Diego Zoo

Looking for some one-on-one time with your favorite exotic animal? The San Diego Zoo in California has you covered. With 11 live camera feeds you can spend hours with pandas, tigers, giraffes, penguins and more.

The Great Pyramid and Great Sphinx of Giza

One is the only true remaining ancient wonder of the world and the other is an iconic ancient Egyptian structure. We, of course, are talking about the Great Pyramid and Great Sphinx of Giza. Through Google Earth’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites project, these are just two of the 30 significant places you can visit.

 

May 6, 2020 by
Damianos Sotheby's International Realty

Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty is Top-Tier Sponsor of Ride & Run for Hope for Seventh Straight Year

Riding for Hope. This year marks the seventh year that Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty has participated in Ride & Run for Hope, an annual fundraiser that benefits cancer research, education and prevention.

 

NASSAU, The Bahamas (March 9, 2020) — On Saturday, March 14, 2020, hundreds of cyclists will pedal their way around mainland Eleuthera as part of Ride &  Run for Hope, an annual fundraiser that benefits cancer research, education and prevention.

Since the inaugural race in 2006, 3,000 cyclists have participated and more than $3,000,000 has been raised through the generosity of individual and corporate sponsorships. This year marks the seventh consecutive year that Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty has been a sponsor of Ride & Run for Hope and the fourth year in a row that the company has contributed $10,000 as a Yellow Jersey Corporate Sponsor.

“Every year gets better and better with more participants and funds raised,” said Lana Rademaker, Chief Brokerage Officer for Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty. “And for our company, it presents an opportunity for us to get outside of the office with our families and participate as a team.”

Monies raised during Ride & Run for Hope support life-saving programs like The Family Islands Mammogram Screening Program (FIMS) which brings women to New Providence for a free mammogram screening, and the Treatment Assistance Fund which provides financial assistance to cancer patients. This year, Ride for Hope and its sister organization, Bahamas Hope Foundation, is also focused on raising additional funds that will be used to rebuild medical and wellness facilities in Abaco and Grand Bahama that sustained damage during Hurricane Dorian.

“The devastation of Hurricane Dorian is still very prevalent in certain parts of these Family Islands,” Rademaker said. “Rebuilding efforts are underway, but financial support for cancer screening and treatment facilities will need financial assistance for years to come until facilities are fully restored.”

Riding and running for the Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty ­­­team this year will be Rademaker, along with her two daughters, and Nassau estate agent Sarah Chemaly with her son and daughter.

 

About Sotheby’s International Realty

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has approximately 22,000 affiliated independent sales associates located in over 1,000 offices in 72 countries and territories worldwide.  Each office is independently owned and operated.

 About Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty

 Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty has 10 offices located throughout the islands of the Bahamas, providing unsurpassed market knowledge of Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Exuma, Nassau, Paradise Island, Ocean Club Estates, Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay, Albany and Private Islands. Head office 75 Shirley Street, Nassau. For additional information, please contact 242-322-2305 or Info@SIRbahamas.com.

March 9, 2020 by