A letter from Joseph Gazzola

To Whom It May Concern,

It was at the end of my first meeting with Mike Lubin when I said that he made me feel comfortable and confident. After spending time discussing business, pleasure, and family, I realized what I needed most of all: a trusted partner. Mike acknowledged that and then said, “It’s all about relationships.”

Throughout the process of both selling my apartment and buying a new one, I often thought about the meaning of Mike’s words and how important they were.

In the beginning, the thought of selling my apartment was a bit difficult. It was where I had lived for thirteen years, and there was an emotional attachment. Mike understands this. He knows his clients’ homes need to be respected and admired in their unique ways. With his keen eye for architectural detail, design and beauty, Mike has the natural ability to cast distinct light on a space. And with that space, he sees a story that is both new and familiar. Mike inspired a fresh sense of pride in my home. I now wanted to share what he enabled me to see. I was ready to sell my apartment.

At first, I wasn’t sure how much individual time Mike could commit to selling my small apartment. I knew he had many high-end listings and a team to help expedite the frenzied process of selling NYC apartments. Yet, I was content just knowing that he would be overseeing everything. I soon learned that is not how Mike operates. He feels the need to be present through every step of the process. To him, being a broker is an opportunity to help people during a meaningful moment in their lives, not simply facilitate a transaction. The title “broker” is a misnomer for Mike. He is a supportive, honest, dependable, and loyal confidant.

After my apartment went quickly into contract, I needed Mike to assist me in finding a new one. He sent me listings, followed up with long discussions to refine his search, and ultimately found a beautiful home for me. It all happened very fast because Mike not only knew what I needed, he knew what I envisioned as a home.

It was actually what happened next that made me appreciate another side of Mike. It was when I experienced what I call the “domino effect” of real estate. To put it simply enough, one sale depended on another purchase, and so forth. At one point in the process, there were as many as twelve people involved—brokers, lawyers, buyers, and sellers. Mike proved to be a master facilitator.

In addition to maintaining fluid, effective communication with all parties, Mike took on the role of being a counselor to me. I was overwhelmed and, at times, despondent. He made sure to keep me motivated and positive. At times this was a difficult and delicate task. Yet, it was the bond he had formed with me over time that allowed him to speak freely with me, and help me maintain focus. Indeed, when it was all over, it ended up being one of the happier times in my life, and it was because of Mike Lubin.

Yes, it is all about relationships. Parting with my home, fretting about finding a new one, stressing over the legal and financial logistics, and coping with the madness—I needed Mike Lubin. Thinking back, I can’t imagine how the experience would’ve been for me any other way.

Sincerely,

Joseph Gazzola