Smart Car turning heads for downtown company

COURTESY PHOTO Smart Car by Mercedes. Engel & Völkers Fort Myers River District has added a new member to its team, a Smart Car by Mercedes. The Smart Car's aim is to drive recognition to the Engel & Voelkers brand and how different it is in comparison to other real estate companies.

A year and a half ago, Gregg Fous ordered a Smart Car for his Fort Myers River District office of Engel and Voelkers.

"It seemed like a wonderful idea at the time: a unique German car that would help us brand our international marketing exposure for Fort Myers real estate. I never dreamed that when the car finally arrived (it finally came in last month) everyone would be looking at ways to save on gas and downsize, not only their cars, but their homes," Mr. Fous said.

Mr. Fous runs Engel & Völkers Fort Myers River District and the high-end residential office is known for marketing local properties throughout its worldwide network of 370 offices in 21 counties.

"We list and sell smart properties, smartly priced, and while it is true that we concentrate on the high-end customer, sometimes these high-end customers are the ones buying their second or their third home — so the price ranges are all over the board," he said. "We bought The Smart Car for its promotional value and it certainly turns a lot of heads."

Mr. Fous makes the car available to his agents times when they are not touring customers (the car only seats two).

Vlatka Simic, one of Engel & Völkers' top producers, said she loves the car.

"I don't go anywhere without meeting new people," she said. "I joked with the Fort Myers police the other day when they were staring at the car parked in front of Starbucks. I shouted out from the convertible 'is is OK if I park here? Because if you are going to give me a ticket, please make it half a ticket since this is only half a car." The car is small enough that two can fit in a conventional parking slot.