Broker Spotlight: Robert Wetzel

Real estate has been a passion of Robert’s for most of his life. His family owned a local excavation company, which he joined after graduating from Cleveland State University with a BA in Business and a focus in Management and Labor Relations. He eventually took over the business and expanded its services to include land development, single family home building and eventually – residential real estate sales.

But as the business grew, so did Robert’s family. He had two young children and found himself wanting more flexibility with his time, and better control of his schedule. Robert decided to sell his business and jump fully into commercial real estate brokerage

“Commercial real estate has always been something I’ve wanted to get into, and I knew it was time for a change. I had the experience from my business and my neighbor happened to be the managing director of a local firm. The timing seemed perfect to make the jump.”

With a background as a land specialist who did site work for large industrial buildings, the transition into land and industrial commercial real estate sales was a no brainer. Robert spent the next few years building his book of business before deciding to join the team at Cushman & Wakefield | CRESCO in 2012.

“I had always known Cushman & Wakefield | CRESCO was a strong company, but I didn’t fully appreciate their uniqueness until I joined the team. The sharing, collaborating and the wealth of knowledge between the brokers and partners is extraordinary, and it blew me away at first. Everyone is willing to help each other, and from day 1 you are given all the tools you need to succeed. There’s a reason they are the number one brokerage in Northeast Ohio.”

Although industrial is one of Robert’s specialties at CRESCO, he notes that it can come with some unique challenges, especially in the Northeast Ohio market as the economy continues to grow. He attributes much of his success, and the success of other brokers, to the willingness to go above and beyond for the client.

“More often than not, it all comes down to relationships or your ability to find the hidden value. If I have a client who needs space, I can’t just scroll the listings or say there’s nothing available. You get on the phone, call everyone you know, and people you don’t know – you use every resource you have. You learn to make deals where there might not have ever been a deal.”

When Robert isn’t working, he spends as much time as possible outdoors and exploring downtown Cleveland. He recently moved to Sagamore Hills with his girlfriend, Katie, where they have prime access to the towpath and hiking trails. When they’re not mountain biking, swimming, golfing or trying new restaurants, Robert and Katie spend time with their 4 adult children. They make sure to get to the beach as much as possible, especially Folly Beach, in South Carolina where they go every summer.

We’re so happy to have Robert on our team! You can learn more about Robert or connect with him directly at [email protected].