This has been a good year for Rego Sotheby’s realtor Christina Georgopoulos.

Not only was she named her firm’s top real estate agent, she was also voted rental agent of the year by the Bermudian magazine, despite being in the business a short time.

“I have been very busy for the last 3½ years in sales and rentals, so it was really nice to win something,” she said.

While at Rego Sotheby’s, the market has remained stationary with low inventory in sales and rentals.

“There is a high demand for high-end rental,” she said. “In the range of $15,000 to $20,000 a month, I have a list of people looking. Some people are willing to take two bedrooms but most want at least three bedrooms.”

Ms Georgopoulos attributed this to people relocating to and within Bermuda.

Given the lack of inventory, managing client expectation is critical. People often give her a wish list.

“I tell them cross off three things from that list and that is probably the house you are going to get,” she said. “Often I can find them the perfect house, but it is not in the perfect location. Or, it might be more than they want to spend, or not as modern as they would like.”

Many people who relocate to Bermuda want to live on a beach, but the reality comes as a shock.

“Sometimes you get houses that are close to the water, but they are damp,” she said. “Or they might say look at the erosion on these fixtures. I have to say guys, you are living next to the water. These are the challenges you are going to have.”

Ms Georgopoulos is originally from Toronto, Canada. She came here eight years ago to marry a Bermudian.

“I graduated with a degree in mathematics,” she said. “I was a teacher for 15 years. Then I had three children in two years including twins.”

She did not want to go back to teaching when her sons were little, so she looked for a part-time job.

“I e-mailed all the brokers. [Rego Sotheby’s partner] Penny McIntyre was the only person who got back to me,” Ms Georgopoulos said. “She offered me an office job.”

Ms Georgopoulos worked in the office as an agency administrator for a year and a half.

“I did all the legal contracts for sales, and tracked sales,” she said.

When the Covid-19 pandemic began she became an agent.

“I teamed up with Ben Rego [agent manager],” she said. “We have a fantastic working relationship. We often work with clients together. I have also branched out and made my own client base.”

Doing that was not easy.

“Bermuda is a small community,” Ms Georgopoulos said. “A lot of people have a friend who is an agent. It can be hard to get yourself known, and to stand out. There are a lot of agents in Bermuda.”

It means being as responsive as possible.

“I really put people that I work with first,” she said. “I am available all the time, even with my three children.”

Even in the middle of the night, she finds herself awake for a glass of water, and responding to messages from clients in different parts of the world.

She believes it is important to be kind and positive in the industry, no matter the circumstances.