Cheryll mckeon

EXECUTIVEAGENT MAGAZINE

Executive Agents of the Month

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By Julie Brown - Ian Wiant Photographer

heryll McKeon and Wally Malesh, a husband and wife team with Keller Williams Realty are Orange County real estate veterans with over 60 years of combined experience. Wally has spent most of his career on the training and management side and is very active in the legal and political arenas of the industry. Cheryll is a well respected agent who spent her entire career in the Orange County market. The two are powerful forces in real estate who have created a successful partnership, not only as agents, but with an experienced team of sales associates, Andy Snodgrass, Brandon Lawrence and Teffeni Brodie.

Their team specializes in solving complex real estate transactions and never shy away from a challenge. “There’s not a question we can’t answer,” shares Wally. “That doesn’t mean we know everything, but we will surely find out.”

Wally spent the first part of his career in corporate

America as a human resources executive for Fortune 500 companies. With a MBA from Pepperdine University, he also served as an Adjunct Professor for the school teaching entrepreneurial studies. While coaching his students how to be entrepreneurs, Wally was building his own successful real estate business on the side. “I got tired of traveling all of the time and being away from my family as a corporate executive,” says Wally. “I always had a lifelong desire to be in business for myself and real estate was the vehicle for it.” Although just working as an agent wasn’t enough for Wally. Within six months of his first real estate job, he bought the company and became an owner. He managed the business for several years before selling it and spent the next 25 years managing brokerage offices and training hundreds of agents. “It’s so rewarding to come across people I’ve trained that tell me I helped change their life,” shares Wally.

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Cheryll and Wally, with DJ Berg and Kara Karns from the Keller Williams Management Team

Cheryll studied psychology at UCLA, but quickly realized that she wanted a career that offered more flexibility and greater financial opportunities. At the age of 25, she decided to earn her real estate license and went to work in the industry.

She joined a company that offered a great training program and worked her way up the ranks to sales manager in only three years. As her career was taking off so was her family, so she took a long break from real estate to raise her two daughters. When her kids were teenagers, a friend recruited Cheryll back into real estate where she has been ever since.

Wally and Cheryll both have a passion for real estate.

The two met through the industry and sparked not only a business connection, but a personal relationship. Now as husband and wife, Wally returned to the sales side and the two began working at Keller Williams Realty together two years ago. “It was time for me to get back to the heart and soul of the business which is sales,” says Wally. “I really wanted to work with clients again on a personal basis.”

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Cheryll and Wally with Kara Karns, DJ Berg, Brandon Lawrence, Andy Snodgrass Their combined experience and extensive knowledge of the market have made them one of the top real estate teams in Orange County. What sets them apart from other agents is their ability to handle very complicated real estate transactions. “As a result of our experience and network of resources, we can deal with complex financial, legal and title issues,” explains Wally. He enjoys the challenge of problem solving and says that complex transactions make up about 25% of their business. “We’re able to resolve things that others couldn’t do or would take months to figure out. These are the types of complexities that if not solved can kill the deal. If we don’t know the answer we’ll pick up the phone and call people until we have an answer.”

Being able to solve complex transaction issues definitely came in handy during the recession according to the duo. The team’s business slowed down a bit, but being adaptable was a key to their success. “It wasn’t a question of if we would come out of this downturn, but when,” says Wally. “We had to adjust the way we ran our business and keep a positive mindset.” As a result of the downturn, real estate professionals have more challenging roles than

ever before. “To be a successful agent, you have to be smarter and have more depth of experience,” explains Wally. “Keeping up with the complexities of the legal requirements is a lot of work.” For Wally, expanding that knowledge base is what he enjoys most. He remains very active on several real estate boards and political action committees.

With 30% of their business generated from referrals, prospecting and client service are critical factors of their success. The duo takes a proactive approach and stay involved through 100% of a transaction according to Cheryll. “Traditionally agents match buyers and sellers and never talk to them again,” says Cheryll. “We market the old fashioned way by prospecting and getting out and talking to people.” Having trained hundreds of agents in his career, prospecting is the foundation for success and is a skill many agents shy away from. “Prospecting is a word many agents don’t like to hear,” shares Wally. “It used to be that you put people in your car and drove them around and that was enough. Now you have to get out there and knock on doors.”

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For the Love of Real Estate With inventory levels so low right now in California, prospecting is an instrumental part of any business growth plan according to Wally. “You can’t sit around and wait for things to happen,” says Wally. “If you want to live in a neighborhood, you have to knock on doors to find that seller.” Having a team of escrow, title and lending professionals on board also help the duo provide that extra level of service. “We work with top notch vendors and we’re all on the same page,” shares Cheryll. “That brings tremendous value to our clients.”

While the two enjoy working together and have skills that complement each other, they try not to take work home with them every night. They have four children and six grandchildren and enjoy spending time with family. “Any given Sunday our home is filled with family, good food and wine,” shares Cheryll. The pair also likes to travel to exotic places including Bali and have plans to visit Africa and cruise the eastern Mediterranean.

Wally and Cheryll doubled their business last year and hope to do the same this year by completing 80 transactions. Last

Cheryll, Nita Nolan and Wally year they completed 44 transactions and are on track to reach their goals in 2013. Being part of the Keller Williams system and with the coaching of Team Leader D J Berg and Operating Partner Kara Karns, they are assured of many years of continued growth and success.

“Real estate is a rewarding profession,” says Cheryll. “We love bringing service to our clients and seeing them accomplish their goals.” Hearing positive feedback from happy clients is what motivates the duo to keep pushing forward. “Owning a home is such a treasured thing and we’re able to help people accomplish that,” adds Wally.

“We help people realize their dreams whether it’s getting their first house or moving into a bigger and better home than they ever thought was possible.”

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M CKEON & ASSOCIATES

Cheryll McKeon & Wally Malesh Keller Williams Realty Tel: (949) 466-0917 cheryll@mckeonhomes.com www.mckeonhomes.com BRE # 00638304 BRE # 00907004

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