COLDWELL BANKER Spreading its Culture of Awesomeness in Orange and Beyond

WRITTEN BY: ALYSSA DAVANZO

Coldwell Banker, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage, connects buyers to the latest local listing information, comprehensive neighborhood data and to local market experts who understand what it takes to help buyers and sellers reach their real estate goals.

Aileen DeFeo is the Branch Vice President, Realtor and Brokerage Manager at the #1 Coldwell Banker unit office in Connecticut, located at 236 Boston Post Road in Orange. As a lifelong Orange resident, Aileen is passionate about living and working in her community.

“With having my Real Estate license and a successful career, I could’ve gone anywhere, but I chose Coldwell Banker Realty because I love the exposure of a national brand, the company and the communities we serve,” she said.

GROWING THE BUSINESS

Aileen managed one small office on Racebrook Road, added a Woodbridge Office and then two years ago moved her Racebrook Road office to a larger space on the Boston Post Road. She now has 160 agents that specialize in all of New Haven and Fairfield Counties. “We like to say that ‘We move America’ because truly we do,” Aileen said.

With diverse expertise in residential, commercial, rental and investment real estate, Aileen says that it is critical for her and her team to

Aileen DeFeo

continuously sharpen their skills in order to be trusted advisors to buyers, sellers, and the industries they touch. She takes intense pride in Coldwell Banker’s fresh and energizing corporate philosophy, calling it a ‘Culture of Awesomeness.’ “One of my favorite sayings is ‘Turn your advice into a habit.’ It really is what you have to do to grow a successful company,” Aileen said. “At the end of the day, we’re consultants – not just real estate agents. The reason someone is moving weighs

Photo: Courtesy of Coldwell Banker

Aileen and her husband Mark helping out at the Orange Fireman’s Carnival.

heavily on every decision that we help them make. If a client asks me how the market is, I’d better be prepared to answer that question honestly and with evidence to back it up.”

With all-time low interest rates giving buyers more buying power, the real estate market is hotter than ever during COVID-19, and Coldwell Banker agents have pivoted to meet the needs of clients without missing a beat.

GOING VIRTUAL

“During the spring market in March, people hesitated to put their homes on the market because of safety concerns and safety comes first,” said Aileen. “My team quickly adapted to the digital business landscape, and we now offer virtual appointments, open houses and meetings through Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Governor Lamont listed real estate transactions, residential leasing and renting as essential services, and once everyone realized that the process of listing and selling could be done safely, there was a rush of supply and demand.”

With people spending more time at home, Aileen has watched the need “Our residents want outdoor firepits, fresh coats of paint on the walls and more space for home offices,” Aileen said. “We’re a concierge service for our clients. Whether they need attorneys, home inspectors or construction contractors, we’re a one-stop shop for those resources.”

UTILIZING SOCIAL MEDIA

Over her 31 years in the industry, Aileen says that the keys to success are listening and staying ahead of technology.

“By far, the biggest growth has been our digital reach,” Aileen said. “With social media, we now can instantaneously touch people locally, nationally and internationally. Everyone can get information at the click of a button, but I still firmly believe that relationships are the most important part of a real estate transaction.”

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

The Coldwell Banker agents are known for their philanthropic efforts, from donating toys annually to the Yale Toy Closet and hosting drives for local food pantries to serving as a corporate sponsor for many community events such as the Amity school play. Recently, the agency announced a new partnership with St. Jude Children’s hospital.

“One of the things I’m really proud of is in 2018, the Orange Chamber of Commerce awarded us the ‘Business Of The Year Award,’ and I firmly “With the Coldwell Banker Cares program, agents give a portion of their commission back to different organizations in the communities we serve. We also support charities by being hands on, like holding AdoptA-Pet events, sponsoring events at the senior center and by being active members at our local Chambers. I work with the most generous group of people you could ever imagine.”

Aileen moved to Orange at 12 years old, and she spent every year at the end of the summer at the Orange Fireman’s Carnival and September weekends at the Orange County Fair. She even went to school with a boy who would one day become her husband. Aileen and Mark raised their three children in Orange and still reside there.

“When I think about what I love about Orange, it’s not just one thing – It’s everything,” Aileen said. “I love that if I’m walking around the track, I’m either going to run into someone I know or I’m going to meet someone new. This is a wonderful place to raise kids, and I feel truly blessed that every day I am happy to go to work. My heartbeat is in Orange, Connecticut and I don’t see that ever changing.”

Do you have a question about real estate? Even if you are not a buyer or seller and just have a question about the market, Aileen encourages you to call Coldwell Banker at 203-795-6000 and ask. 

Photo: Courtesy of Coldwell Banker

The Coldwell Banker team at the Orange Chamber of Commerce Awards Ceremony, which Coldwell received the 2018 Business of the Year Award.

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