We’re proud of the team of agents we’ve assembled here at Nest Realty. We think they’re pretty awesome, and we think you will too. During our “Meet the Agent” series, we sit down with our agents to learn more about them, what makes them tick, and why they’re passionate about the real estate industry. In this installment, we chat with Scott Mueller, a Broker at 501 Nest Realty in Durham.
Nest Realty: Tell us a bit about yourself! Where are you from? What brought you to Durham?
Scott Mueller: Originally from New England and Cape Cod, I’ve slowly worked my way down the East Coast with stops in Boston, Hartford, New York, and Washington along the way. We chose to settle in the Triangle, where we found a perfect combination of friendly people, vibrant culture, beautiful surroundings, and spectacular weather.
NR: How did you get into real estate?
SM: I am a real estate geek at heart, having spent the past 25 years buying, renovating, managing, and selling dozens of properties for myself and others. After a successful run as a New York “Mad Man,” my family and I decided to move to Durham where I started and ran my own strategic marketing firm before deciding to finally pursue my passion for all things real estate.
NR: What was your previous career? How has that prepared you for real estate?
SM: As a marketing guy, I know first-hand that the way people buy and sell things—whether it’s toothpaste or Tudors—is ever-changing. My past experience has proven hugely valuable in helping my clients navigate the ins and outs of the real estate process and achieve the most positive outcome possible. I know how and when and why to use both traditional and emerging marketing tools. I pride myself on being the guy who can help identify and leverage what makes my client’s particular situation unique, and who can figure out how to best package our offering to stand out from the competition.
NR: What led you to Nest Realty, as opposed to another brokerage?
SM: I read an article where Jonathan Kauffmann said, “We see ourselves as a marketing agency that’s in the real estate business.” Obviously, that spoke directly to me and my background. The marketing tools that are available to me as a broker—and the support that the team provides all of us to successfully use them—is such a huge competitive advantage. Plus, the materials we produce strike that right balance of valuable, helpful content and beautiful, attractive design.
NR: What is your favorite part of being an agent?
SM: I am a “fixer upper” addict—I love the whole process of finding the potential in a property and helping clients see possibilities that aren’t always obvious. I live for that moment when eyes light up and folks get excited about what could be…
NR: Do you have a specific area of expertise to offer clients?
SM: As a former ad guy, I’ve always had to think about what makes my product unique and a better choice vs. the competition. I’ve also been trained to think about the ROI on any decision I might recommend. What’s the ultimate goal we are shooting for and how do we measure success? Marry that up with my passion for all things real estate and design, and I think my clients get a partner with a really strong right brain/left brain way of looking at the world.
NR: What makes you different from other agents? What sets you apart?
SM: I firmly believe that success comes from attention to detail and identifying opportunities that others may not see. I am excited to bring together my strong marketing background and my passion for homes and design to offer clients something unique in the marketplace.
NR: What are five adjectives that describe you?
SM: Creative, high-energy, curious, optimistic, and friendly.
NR: Who would be your dream client?
SM: My daughter and her husband—they are a newly married couple who absolutely embody the optimism and excitement of first-time buyers eager to explore both the short and longer-term opportunities that come with investing in real estate.
NR: If you had one piece of advice for a first-time home buyer, what would it be?
SM: Real estate is such an interesting combination of emotions and rationale. Particularly for first-time buyers, finding an agent who will listen to your wants and needs (and help you keep that balance as you look at options) is so valuable. That being said, I would also say don’t be afraid to get creative and look at different, potentially unexpected approaches to getting into the game.
NR: What is your favorite season in Durham?
SM: Fall—the weather is perfect, the skies are a deep shade of “Carolina Blue,” and tailgating and football are back!
Scott is a Broker with 501 Nest Realty. He loves applying his over two decades’ worth of marketing experience to the unique real estate market in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area. To learn more about Scott, visit his agent page.