When Carmen Massoni first opened the doors to her new real estate company, Bahama Islands Realty in 2010, many of her contemporaries within the industry dismissed it as folly, as The Bahamas, in the wake of the global financial crisis, was seeing one of its worst real estate recessions ever. With over 500 licensed agents in the country, competing for increasingly scarce clients and listings, it seemed unlikely that a fledgling agency could survive.

However, Carmen Massoni and her team bucked all odds and four years into business have seen steady growth, expanding the agency from four agents to their current 16 full-time and three part-time and nation-wide broking, appraisal services and property management added.

Having managed company growth and garnered consistent profits through a depressed market, Ms. Massoni and her fire-hardened team are ready to make 2014 their best year ever as the real estate recession wanes.

An innovative approach to the industry combined with a return to old, time-tested service values is the secret to Ms. Massoni’s success. Her goal was to create a company culture that developed a more collaborative and service oriented work-place. “I approach the business in a different way, to benefit my agents and my clients,” says Ms. Massoni.

“I try to develop a positive and motivating competitive environment. At Bahama Islands Realty, we encourage each other to emphasize the needs of the clients, and work together to meet those needs. We are open to co-broking, which many agents resist, because in the end, the client’s investments, no matter the size, are the priority.”

However, creating a new company ethos requires a new strategy. Bahama Islands Realty goes against convention, offering higher commission splits, especially in the early stages of an agent’s career. Ms. Massoni asserts that rewarding agents well and early-on reduces barriers to co-broking, promotes agent cooperation and motivates junior agents to do better.

Promoting and training junior agents is another key component to Bahama Island Realty’s unique culture. Within their daily deals, Ms. Massoni and senior staff are very hands-on in checking in with junior agents and their clients and making themselves available for questions and advice.

“I want to pass my knowledge on to my juniors to create new agents that are fair, have integrity, and never forget that they work for the client. This is my legacy to them and to the industry.”

Recent addition to the team, Nikki Boeuf, says that this collaborative culture makes Bahama Islands Realty an ideal place to learn and work.

“It has been a wonderful experience,” said Ms. Boeuf, “I have had an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the industry with Carmen. Because this is such a dynamic growing agency, I don’t think I could have picked a better company to work with in the industry.”

If Ms. Massoni has it her way, she aims to make agents she has trained, like Ms. Boeuf, an official part of her legacy, with hopes to eventually help them set up shop in the future as independent franchises of her brand.

“Bahama Islands Realty promotes its agents, and its agents’ careers, not just the company,” added Ms. Massoni. “Usually, those who want to grow, who truly love the business, have an ultimate goal to branch off and become independent and we want to assist them in achieving this.

“It is my hope to train up my staff to a point that when they are ready, willing, and able, they can franchise the company and gain independence without reinventing the wheel.”

Comprehensive client service and attention to the detail to make buying and selling more comfortable for clients, is key. One such detail that helps facilitate a pleasant and easy experience from start to finish is the list of vetted and approved vendors such as plumbers, electricians, contractors, inspectors, and even banks and financing options.

“Our philosophy is that real estate is not just about selling, it is about making the client make the right decision for them. Helping them build and maintain a portfolio that will be profitable for them is ultimately profitable for us. At the heart of it we are more than agents we are advisors to our clients.”

Carmen Massoni, Founder of Bahama Islands Realty (far right) poses with a few of her up and coming agents at the agency’s innovative “Priceless Sunset” open house event.

Carmen Massoni, expert in Bahamian Real Estate and founder of Bahama Islands Realty