Luxury isn’t how much something costs; it’s how it makes you feel.
Seasoned luxury brokers gravitate toward brands that help them give their clients unique experiences and access. By combining partnership with a legendary auction house and a global network of independently owned real estate firms, Christie’s International Real Estate Group is able to attract the top talent from around the tristate area. The Real Deal asked four Christie’s brokers why they chose to work for the celebrated brokerage.
What do you get for the client who has everything?
Christie’s International Real Estate broker Gina Sabio knows the value of exclusive access.
One of Sabio’s long-time clients, an Australian collector who was on the hunt for the sprawling New York property of his dreams, expressed interest in a pair of chairs that were coming up for auction at Christie’s. These were no ordinary seats: once owned by Elton John, these one-of-a-kind chairs were upholstered in Versace chinoiserie cotton velvet.
Leveraging the Christie’s connection, Sabio arranged a private showing at a warehouse in Red Hook, where the chairs were being stored, to examine them on the client’s behalf.
“They had the chairs laid out for me,” says Sabio, who has been with Christie’s International Real Estate Group since 2023. “I sat on them and took some pictures. He really appreciated behind-the-scenes access, because those chairs were art for him. He ended up buying them when they came up for auction.”
That kind of access to the Christie’s auction house, where brokers know about sales first and can bring buyers to exclusive previews, helps strengthen relationships, says Christopher Stokes Moseley, who joined the group three years ago.
“It helps bridge the gap between just getting to know a client and then suddenly experiencing their lifestyle,” says Moseley, who will often turn a client visit to the Rockefeller Plaza auction house location into a wine-and-dine day out in the city.
The auction house is also a great place for Christie’s agents to make connections. Calvin Xu says he ends up meeting many of his buyers at Christie’s annual Asian Art Week, which this year sold more than $60 million in works.
A brand known around the world
“You don’t know where your business can come from, internationally,” says Sean Sutherland, who joined Christie’s almost two years ago. “The international presence was really one of the biggest deciding factors for me to come to Christie’s, because not only is there robust business coming through the door, but auction house referrals come through from all parts of the world.”
Since coming to Christie’s in 2024, Xu says global clients now account for about 90% of his business. He draws customers from China and Hong Kong, as well as Chinese-speaking populations in other parts of Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom, South America, Australia and New Zealand.
“Everybody knows Christie’s,” Xu says. “Every high net worth individual knows the brand. There is a trust already.”
Being associated with a known brand not only saves time, but gives clients a comfort level that can’t be purchased.
“At the end of the day, I think no other real estate firm can really compare to Christie’s,” says Moseley. “Certainly a lot of firms do luxury, but Christie’s does luxury at the apex, at the top of the pyramid, and no other firm can pretend they’re the same.”
With the real estate firm’s reach into more than 50 countries, brokers can also arrange to have 30- to 45-second clips of high-end listings previewed on big screens at Christie’s auction houses in Dubai, Hong Kong, Paris and other powerhouse locations around the world, making sellers feel that their listing is special while providing a major marketing boost.
Big name, tightknit firm
Christie’s International Real Estate Group combines global reach with warmth, attention and facetime with coworkers and leadership.
Xu says he has been given opportunities for the first time since joining Christie’s, particularly in handling new development deals. He lauds the marketing department for producing bespoke print and digital assets that align with his sales vision.
“The smaller size is better for me,” he says.
Since joining the brokerage, Moseley has been able to network with a broader audience than ever before. The combination of the tightknit Christie’s International Real Estate team and the broad network of brokerages around the world gives brokers the best of both worlds.
“It’s not a giant company, and I really like that,” says Sabio, one of 10,000 agents in the Christie’s network. “There’s this feeling of unity, family. Everybody’s very helpful to each other, and everybody wants to see each other do well. And you can feel it. You’re happy to come in. I love coming into the office, and I think that also reflects on the environment, and then it travels on into the work. The environment just allows you to grow.”
Sutherland credits the leadership, particularly from president and CEO Ilija Pavlovic and his executive team, for making themselves available and being hands-on.
“They’re just very, very personable,” says Sutherland. “They have put together a big business culture that’s different from what I’ve seen in this industry.”
For Moseley, all these benefits are expressed with the Christie’s name.
“If I would tell someone I was with a particular company, they would just sort of glaze over and I would lose their attention,” he says. “Suddenly, when I’m at, say, the lunch counter at Bergdorf Goodman and I’m talking about what I do, and I say I work at Christie’s, the moment is brightened instantly. I get to benefit from that over and over. In the past, I would offer my card. At Christie’s, people ask for my card. It makes a huge difference in starting relationships. Brand recognition is important.”
To learn more about Christie’s International Real Estate Group, visit the website.