Top agent Michael Smith has made a name for himself in the Metro Atlanta real estate market by offering successful and innovative real estate solutions for his clients. Smith began his real estate career as an investor and home flipper, and transitioned to his current role as a REALTOR in 2003, after becoming dissatisfied with the buying and selling options he had and realizing he could offer better solutions.
Smith’s unique strategies, which include low-commission full-service listings and a homebuyer cash rebate program, have distinguished him as the No. 1 Chapman Hall, REALTORS agent statewide for the past five years. In 2017, he was recognized as the # 3 agent in Metro Atlanta by the Atlanta REALTORS Association for the most homes sold by an individual agent in 2016. In 2016, the Atlanta REALTORS Association recognized him for being in the Top 10 of all individual agents in Metro Atlanta for number of homes sold in 2015. He was recognized by Atlanta Agent Magazine in 2016 and 2015 as a Top Agent. He was also in the top 20 of all individual agents in Metro Atlanta based on sales volume for 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014. In addition, he has earned lifetime membership in the Atlanta REALTORS Association’s Multi-Million Dollar Sales Club and garnered the organization’s prestigious Phoenix Award for placing in that club for more than 10 years.
Smith uses technology and innovative marketing to ensure that his sellers sell in the fastest amount of time for the highest sales price, and that his buyers find and get the best deal for the home of their dreams. “I offer my clients tremendous savings through my 1 percent commission listings and buyer rebate program,” he explains. “After all’s said and done and we’ve closed the sale of their home, people often tell me that they originally thought what I offered was too good to be true!”
Smith has built his successful real estate business on a stream of steady referrals from satisfied clients over the years. Sellers particularly appreciate Smith’s firsthand knowledge of repairing and staging homes to successfully market them, while buyers rely on his ability to identify key structural challenges that could make a house a potential money pit. His personal experiences as both a buyer and seller allow him to help his clients see a transaction from all sides and appropriately set and manage expectations.
Smith’s prior experience working in the technology sector for a Fortune 50 company has made him approach real estate as a consumer-focused business, and not something that is shrouded in mystery with outdated practices. Smith prides himself on being upfront about contracts, fees and performance expectations. “I’m one of the rare agents who actually send a listing agreement to a potential seller to review before we even meet.”
Smith’s vast knowledge of the city and its suburbs is a result of years spent studying the market from an investor’s perspective. While roughly 70 percent of his clients are sellers and 30 percent are buyers, his primary focus for any client is helping them achieve their goals and treating them with respect and flexibility. “I am often told by clients that they are thankful that I have been able to take what can be a very stressful and nerve-wracking process and make it easy and manageable.”
A Winthrop University business administration graduate, Smith actively participates with the Georgia and National Associations of Realtors and is a 2012 graduate of the Atlanta REALTORS Association Leadership Development Program. “I love helping buyers and sellers achieve their goals,” he says, “and if I can simplify the process for doing so, then I know I’ve done my best.”