Spotlight On: Suzan Kremer, from Selling Fabergé to Selling Fifth Ave

A former star of the fashion and marketing arms at Fabergé, Suzan Kremer has enjoyed enormous success as a real estate professional known for delivering specialized service to sellers, buyers and renters in her hometown of New York City.

Elliman Insider spoke with the Upper East Side resident to find out how she continues to adapt to an ever changing industry, and the chance encounter with a Douglas Elliman executive that got her into selling real estate in the first place.

As a pioneering Fabergé Executive, Suzan shares some ink with Elle Macpherson.

Elliman Insider: When did you know that real estate was your calling?

Suzan Kremer: Life has a funny way of putting people together. It was really a matter of timing.

Early in my professional career, I had a high-profile job as President in the fashion and cosmetic licensing industry at Faberge/Mcgregor Licensing Co. Every day was spent building the brands both domestically and internationally. I worked with a variety of people of all levels, and often engaged in intense negotiations. I enjoyed it all, including traveling and experiencing the gift of our world’s many cultures, but when my two daughters were about to go to college I felt it was time to move forward and choose a new vocation.

“I researched the real estate business, and the more I learned the more I was convinced that my skills would fit well.”

Suzan accepts the REBNY ‘Deal of the Year’

Then I met [Douglas Elliman CEO] Dottie Herman at a charity luncheon. Need I say more? Dottie is a great influencer. So, with much deliberation, I researched the real estate business, and the more I learned the more I was convinced that my skills would fit well. I enjoy people, interior design, travel, and challenges. Off to school I went and got my license!

EI: What has been your biggest challenge as an agent?

SK: The past year has had a dramatic impact on what was once a more predictable business. With the Covid-19 crises, and face to face meetings sidelined, it has been more important than ever to come up with new ways to stay in touch and top-of-mind. For me, communicating through social media has become more important than ever before.

EI: Do you live by a personal mantra or favorite saying?

SK: “Every day is a new opportunity to reinvent yourself.”

EI: Why did you choose Elliman?

SK: I chose Elliman because it’s the industry leader with the stature that enables me to attract new business and the resources to help me do an effective job for my clients. It has always been a well-recognized brand with a trusted reputation and now it is in all the major markets so the network is just incredible. They also have a wonderful marketing team that helps each agent develop their own business plan.

EI: You’re a Certified Negotiation Expert; what is the key to being a good negotiator?

SK: I think one of the most important factors in being a good negotiator is being a good listener. You have to understand what your people are truly saying to you.

“One of the most important factors in being a good negotiator is being a good listener.”

Staying focused at all times empowers you to be effective. And being armed with facts and figures is always a must.

EI: You’re also a designated Part 36 Court appointee. How does that help your clients?

SK: Being recognized by the courts as a Part 36 appointee is important when law firms need brokers for estates. Most brokers ignore this special category. An estate sale is not necessarily a quick or easy sale as one must have time and patience. I work with family members, guardians, banks, lawyers and the courts. It is a position of “trust” and, to me, this is a great honor.

EI: How has Elliman upped your real estate game?

SK: Elliman has positioned itself in the market as the real estate leader. Knowing that I have a company behind me 100% is crucial to deal making.

“Being able to reach out to seasoned executives for advice is a blessing in this industry.”

Being able to reach out to seasoned executives for advice is a blessing in this industry. That’s what makes an agent’s job easier and offers the keys to success.

In Dubai, with Elliman colleagues checking the international market.

EI: Any advice for new agents?

SK: Don’t be discouraged when you start out. There will be disappointments and roadblocks that you never anticipate but they are just potholes on the road to getting deals done. Do a lot of studying and following the market as it changes by the minute. Know what you are talking about and if you don’t understand something, JUST ASK.

EI: Where can we find you when you’re not working?

SK: Well, this past year has been a big challenge for us all. I found some new roles for myself other than agent, such as chef and laundress, but I have managed to take a few healthy walks too. Thanks to technology, I often visit my one-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter and my children safely through FaceTime, which is a blessing. Like most others, I can’t wait to get back to Soul Cycle classes, tennis, horseback riding and taking summer walks on the beach.

I love interior design and I am taking classes to provide guidance for my buyers and sellers to look at property in a different way and share with them opportunities for transforming and reimagining a space that fits their needs and expectations.