Q&A: MARCO STILLI

FROM REAL ESTATE TO DESIGN

Why did you decide to follow a career in real estate? What do you love most about being a realtor?

When I came to DC 19 years ago, I wanted to start looking for a property to buy because I did not want to rent. I was having bad luck with the realtors I was working with, so I decided to do it myself. I went to real estate classes and found that I loved learning about real estate. I got my license and bought 2 condos in DC, one as an investment and the other for me to live in. After that, I started getting referrals from friends and I was able to grow my network.

I think by far my favorite part about being a realtor is the contact with people and the relationships I build with my clients. I like to solve problems and I find helping others solve a problem, especially one as important as finding their dream home, is very rewarding. I love meeting people from all over the world and enjoy working with clients that are new to the DC area. When it comes to giving my clients advice and assistance, I try to provide a 360 view since real estate is so intricately connected to other decisions: so whether it be helping to find a school for their children, or to buy the right car for DC, to buy furnisher, to find a family doctor or a dentist or to remodel/upgrade their new dream home – I am there for them!

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in the industry? How did you overcome those challenges?

Well, real estate can be very challenging! The real estate market changes so quickly, and there are so many factors that can go up and down very quickly, like inventory, currency exchange rates, modifications on the tax code and mortgage rates. You need to be able to adapt to these changes quickly and that can be challenging. There are also many different sides to real estate and agents need to be able to wear many different hats. Dealing with various challenges over the years has made me quite resilient. I am profoundly convinced that knowledge, understanding client needs and hard work is the perfect formula to overcome the never-ending challenges in real estate.

What does your experience in your real estate career bring to your remodel/design business? How does that benefit your clients?

I think my real estate and design business go hand in hand. Buying and selling real estate for my clients helps me get to know their needs and to stay abreast of new trends in the market. Once my clients and I select a home that works for them, I like to help them transform it into their dream home. I am pretty good at seeing a property and visualizing what it has the potential to become. In theory, any home can be transformed into anything – but this is where it is important to know the budget we are working with and to gauge whether this is consistent with the cost of transforming a particular home. I try to bring all of this information together and walk my clients stepby-step through the process. Sometimes all it takes is a remodeled kitchen or new paint, but sometimes it takes a more comprehensive overhaul: whatever the case, I try to be a onestop-shop for my clients, putting them in touch with the right contractors to bring our vision to life. Years ago, I was a pilot, and something that stayed with me from that part of my past is an appreciation for technology. I like to ensure that all homes I work with are up-to-date with the best technology. I also believe it is importance to building equity in each property in order to enhance the investment aspect. After all, the purchase of a property is most likely the biggest investment for the majority of all of us.

How would you describe your real estate and design business? Do you have a specific style?

I would say my style is a mix of old and new, mixed with classic and modern. I like to give new life to old homes, with a splash of modern finishes. I am a big believer in new technologies and feel that all homes should make the most of these in order to increase efficiency, security and comfort living. I want every home I work on to have a warm and livable feeling. But I also want the style of the home to last so that if my client wants to resell it, the new buyer can see themselves in it as well. It is smart to keep neutral finishes while adding small personal touches that could be easily changed.

Tell me more about what you have done to your home...

I bought my home in 2016. It was a great 1940’s home that needed updating: a perfect model for a makeover. My first step, as always, was to visualize what I wanted for the finished product. I needed more space so I started by building an addition to add square footage to the dining and kitchen areas. Next, I transformed the garage into a bedroom, and completely redid the basement, adding a gym room, full bathroom, and cheerful lounge and family area. I replaced all the systems and windows in the house, added spray foam for better insulation, and paid particular attention to eliminate any possibility of water infiltration in the basement. Finally, the pièce de résistance: I raised the roof and expanded the attic to build the primary bedroom suite and balcony. To increase efficiency and security, I installed a backup generator and obtained a lead-free certificate. Since I am Italian, I wanted to make sure the kitchen and all the furniture were imported from Italy. I really enjoyed making this home the perfect home for myself and my fiancé. It is a joy every time we walk in.

What do you enjoy most about real estate and design?

I love to find homes with “potential”. A home I can remodel and transform into a dream home for my clients. Implicit in the remodeling is also the increase in value of the property that it represents. Not only is it rewarding to see my clients enjoy the finished product, but also reaping the benefit of the higher resale value!

Tell us about your first design project/real estate project.

My first design project was in 2013. My client was not happy with his contractor so he asked me to step in and manage the job. He trusted me to deliver the finished product. It was something very new to me, and I loved it! I was able to help with purchasing, designing, and remodeling, and then reselling the home. My client was very happy, especially as we found a buyer even before the property was completed! The whole experience made me excited to work on future projects.

What are some of your hobbies outside of the office?

I love to travel and explore the outdoors. In recent years, I have been on a mission to visit as many US National Parks as I can – my goal is to eventually visit all of them! I also love to play golf and tennis. But one of my favorite things to do is cook and entertain for all my friends. It is so nice to get back to socializing with friends, and I created my kitchen to be a great place for everyone to gather.

Do you have any news or announcements to make for DHM?

Currently, I am working with a few investors on new design projects in DC. One project that I am really excited about is a house that needs a lot of work. We plan to create something new and very “different” from the usual: a home that is warm and inviting while being very modern in design. More to come on this project, it will be on the market as soon as it is ready unless I decide to move in myself!!