George van der Ploeg

Prudential Douglas Elliman
Highlight: Numbers-focused, analytic agent who works well w/ investors and finance industry types

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Contact Information (646) 200-5827

Vital statistics

Concentration:
Representing Sellers 50%
Representing Buyers 50%

Geography:
Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Murray Hill/Kips Bay

Price range:
$3m to $10m, $10m plus

Lifetime deals: 250

Sales 2006: $50 million

Sales 2007: $55 million

Sales 2008: $45 million

Background

Education:
Princeton University, BA; New York University, MBA

Second languages: French

Professional memberships:
Real Estate Board of New York; Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate

Active Agent since: 1986

Designations: Senior Vice President

Awards

REBNY Deal of the Year

 

Prudential Legend Award

 

Prudential Chairman's Circle Award perennially

Specialties

Generalists »

For the past 22 years, I have approached my job, not just as a real estate broker, but as a real estate adviser. Before becoming a real estate broker, I worked in banking for 12 years. There, I developed a strong quantitative and analytical skill set which provides me with a different perspective than most real estate brokers. While I work throughout the city, most of my business is with homes over $2 million on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side of Manhattan. I have developed a reputation for guiding my clients through the real estate process and I have consistently been recognized as being in the top 1% of brokers in NYC.

Townhouses specialists »

There is no substitute for experience. Over the past 20 years, I have been helping clients buy, sell and rent townhouses in Manhattan’s best neighborhoods. This longevity enables me to provide a long-term perspective on value and my extensive relationships with owners enables me to arrange transactions for properties that are not even on the market. Townhouses offer great value and have many benefits including private outdoor space. In addition, I appreciate the aesthetic, architectural and historic qualities unique to townhouses

Investors »

Purchasing a home as an investment is very different than buying a personal home. At the end of the day, it's all about making the numbers work. Having graduated with a degree in Economics from Princeton, achieved an MBA from New York University and worked as a banker for 12 years at The Bank of New York, I approach the real estate business as that -- a business. I understand that investors are looking for value, and my quantitative and analytical skill set enables me to offer my clients accurate and informed real estate investment advice.

Ultra-luxury specialists »

Properties over $10 million make up a very small percentage of the NYC apartment market. Being an expert at this segment of the market is a matter of knowing the properties because often times, the perfect home for my client is not on the market. It is impossible to understand this segment of the market in one year; truly becoming an expert takes much longer. In the twenty years that I have been helping my clients purchase homes over $10 million, I have developed a long-term perspective on this segment of the market which enables me to act as a vital resource to my clients.

French »

For the past 22 years, I have approached my job, not just as a real estate broker, but as a real estate adviser. Before becoming a real estate broker, I worked in banking for 12 years. There, I developed a strong quantitative and analytical skill set which provides me with a different perspective than most real estate brokers. While I work throughout the city, most of my business is with homes over $2 million on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side of Manhattan. I have developed a reputation for guiding my clients through the real estate process and I have consistently been recognized as being in the top 1% of brokers in NYC.

Video profile

Agent's personal statement

Having graduated with a degree in Economics from Princeton, achieved an MBA from New York University and worked as a banker for 12 years at The Bank of New York, I bring a very different perspective to the real estate business than most brokers. Through the prism of my quantitative and analytical skill set, I consider buying and selling real estate in NYC as much a science as an art. That is why, for the past 23 years, I have approached my job, not only as a broker, but also as an adviser. This is an important distinction. A broker can help you complete a transaction; an adviser guides you through the entire process and helps position you to make the best possible decision. This approach enables me to go beyond what is expected in satisfying my clients' needs and objectives.

 

I pride myself in being honest with my clients -- even when I am telling them something that they may not want to hear. My clients are not well served if I am not providing them with an accurate, truthful analysis, much the same as a doctor, lawyer or accountant. However, before I even begin offering thoughtful insights, I focus on uncovering my clients' goals and needs. Sometimes the client's needs are simple; other times they are not. Yet, either way, I strive to find creative solutions for my clients because I truly love assisting them in finding the perfect home or structuring a complicated sale.

Recently sold

Address: Type: Bed: Sqft:
11 East 9th Street Townhouse - -
113 East 35th Street Townhouse - 4000
120 East 36th Street Co-op 1.0 730
121 East 36th Street Townhouse - 5180
129 East 64th Street Townhouse - 5500
131 West 71st Street Townhouse - 5700
132 East 35th Street Co-op 1.0 1000
14 West 121st Street Townhouse - 4200
180 East 64th Street Townhouse - 6100
19 West 12th Street Townhouse - 6824
207 West 78th Street - - -
209 East 62nd Street Townhouse - -
210 East 61st Street Townhouse - 4250
262 West 88th Street Townhouse - -
303 East 57th Street Co-op 3.0 1800
322 West 57th Street Condo 4.0 2800
325 East 53rd Street Townhouse - 9765
327 West 88th Street Townhouse - 6578
33 West 70th Street Townhouse - -
4-8 East 94th Street Townhouse - 24463
40 West 17th Street Co-op 3.0 2200
55 East 65th Street Co-op 2.0 875
56 Charles Street Townhouse - 3760
8-8 East 75th Street Townhouse - 13000
845 United Nations Plaza Condo - 580
870 United Nations Plaza Co-op 2.0 -
870 United Nations Plaza Co-op 3.0 -

Our summary of
George van der Ploeg

"George brings a serious, business-like approach to real estate. He's analytical and an expert at advising buyers and sellers on the financial aspects of a transaction. He's particularly adept in the townhouse market. George is an excellent choice for finance professionals who focus on the numbers. Most of his business is referral driven, meaning that he's trusted by former clients and other agents."

—TopAgentGuide™ editors

 

Verified reviews (7)

“George has my fullest, unreserved recommendation. He is a smooth, unflappable, and brilliant agent.”
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Josh P.

Posted October 5, 2009. Verified October 6, 2009.

My first purchase with George was a spectacular brownstone property in the Greenwich Village area. Throughout the transaction, George was informative, attentive, and professional. His wealth of experience permitted him to support his advice with both statistics and anecdotal evidence. When I decided to move to the Upper East Side, George helped me with both sides of the move. He was equally capable in the second transaction, and we're currently in the process of closing it. George has my fullest, unreserved recommendation. He is smooth, unflappable, and a brilliant agent.
“George never inflated any situation to create a false sense of optimism. He was honest with me throughout our dealings together, and I really appreciated that.”

Bruce S.

Posted October 21, 2009. Verified October 21, 2009.

George is highly professional. He's a great communicator, both with me and everyone involved in the deal, and he's completely honest. I don't want to imply that real estate agents aren't honest, but there's a tendency within sales to tell the client what they want to hear, and there's actually a market bias that makes this in the interest of sellers. George never played that game. He told me what he really believed, and what his experience has told him. I really appreciated that - there was never any inflated optimism that later became a let-down. I would absolutely recommend George to others. He's an extremely nice and cordial man, and I really appreciated his work.
“Found the right properties for my investment criteria.”

Anonymous

Posted August 7, 2009. Verified September 23, 2009.

My experience with George was great. My business partner and I were looking to invest in property in Midtown, and George listened to exactly what our needs were. He then researched a number of residences ahead of time so he didn’t waste our time looking at properties that did not match our criteria. We ended up purchasing a number of townhouses with George’s help. I have recommended George to others, and would gladly do so again. He’s very professional and truly takes into account his clients’ specific needs and desires in a property.
“George is a townhouse expert. His knowledge of these properties is unmatched in Manhattan.”

Sarah S.

Posted October 21, 2009. Verified November 11, 2009.

George is a townhouse expert - nobody knows more about townhouses in the city than he does. His knowledge of not only the property type, but also the details within each property he showed us, was outstanding. George researched each property quite thoroughly before showing it to us, as well George is also a very aggressive agent. If there's a property that his client is interested in, even if it's not listed yet, he will do everything within his power to get his client into that space. No challenge is too great for George, and he really out-shines his counterparts in the industry. I've already recommended George to friends and family. He's a great agent, is very smart, and has always been responsive when we've worked with him.
“George really knows the townhouse market. Financially sophisticated.”

Paul D.

Posted August 5, 2009. Verified November 9, 2011.

I’ve worked with George a number of occasions over the years. Most recently, he helped me upsize from my co-op penthouse to a townhouse. What I find impressive about George is that he’s very knowledgeable about the market, particularly the townhouse market. He’s also very financially sophisticated, which allowed him to analyze potential buyers and assist with the financial analysis involved in closing a transaction. His background as a banker really comes through, and that’s extremely helpful in a deal. Because I’ve worked with George both as a seller and buyer, I’ve been able to see his strengths in both respects. When he represented me as a seller, he was extremely adept at dealing with a whole array of potential purchasers. When I was on the buying side, I saw George’s capabilities in persuading sellers to accept my bid. I would absolutely recommend George to a friend or family member. He is a very capable broker and a pleasure to deal with, and I find that combination to be rare in real estate.
“George was knowledgeable, responsive, and market savvy.”

Haim D.

Posted November 11, 2009. Verified November 11, 2009.

Working with George was a great experience. When I relocated to Manhattan, he helped me to find a townhouse, and I found him to be very knowledgeable, responsive, and market savvy. I would definitely recommend him to others.
“Between his honesty and extensive knowledge, George is an absolute professional, and I couldn't be happier to have worked with him.”

Herb M.

Posted September 30, 2009. Verified September 30, 2009.

George is a man of character, and he has a keen understanding of the real estate market in New York. Between his honesty and extensive knowledge, he's an absolute professional, and I couldn't be happier to have worked with him. George helped my family sell our Upper East Side apartment, and we're currently working with him to close a purchase. He's completely committed to us as clients, and he's never pushed a deal too fast or tried to just make a quick buck. Instead, he's exposed his strategy to us, consulted with us, and allowed us to make decisions with him. He's been tremendously understanding of our needs. I would absolutely recommend George to my friends.