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Executive Agents of the Month
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Written by Shannon Hartsoe - Ian Wiant Photographer
hen Dina Williams and Dede Engelbrecht joined forces at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, (formerly Prudential California Realty) in 2008, it must have seemed like folly to others. The most recent market crash was in full swing, and even single agents were having a difficult time obtaining business.
By switching their focus to helping sellers through the difficult process of short sales with compassion and knowledge – and finding the perfect buyers for the distressed properties – the partnership not only worked, it thrived.
But, as time would tell, the women knew exactly what they were doing. Because both had successfully negotiated during down markets in their solo careers, they were skilled at anticipating changes and assisting their clients through tough situations, combining a professional approach with a genuine concern for the well-being of others. “When we decided to form a team it was a challenging time in real estate,” says Dede. “Lots of people, including REALTORS®, were losing their homes. But through hard work Dina and I managed to have great success. It turned out to be one of the best decisions ever.”
Dina’s father was a REALTOR® who ran a successful brokerage in her native Huntington Beach. For years he encouraged her to get her real estate license, knowing that her outgoing, inquisitive nature would be perfect in the real estate business. “I had been around real estate my whole life,” she says. “So I definitely knew what it took to be a success. When I finally did get my license while I was in college, I did so because I thought it would be a nice little career to fall back on after college. It turned out to be a wonderful career.”
They’d Been Here Before
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Dina started in new home sales, using the communications and marketing education she received from California State University at Fullerton to help market and sell for a local homebuilder. In her first five years selling new homes, Dina sold more than 350 homes in both Laguna Niguel and Rancho Santa Margarita, mostly to first-time homebuyers. By putting into practice the sales skills she had honed while working retail in college, Dina found that she truly enjoyed helping people find just the right home. “Communication is a two-way street,” she says. “It’s not just talking, it’s listening. Listening to a client’s
wants and needs – and then doing your best to find it for them. There’s no greater feeling than helping someone buy their first home or helping them find their dream home.” Dina transitioned to resale in 2000 while raising her four children and opening her own real estate company with her husband. “I met Dede 14 years ago while our youngest children were babies. We were already good friends when we decided to team up in 2008 when we made the move to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices,” says Dina. Dede’s father was also a REALTOR®, who along with his wife owned a CENTURY 21 office near Long Beach. It was here, at CENTURY 21 Coastline, that Dede obtained her early real estate training.
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Experience and Professionalism With a Client-Centered Business Model “The economy was challenging when I got my license in 1983,” says Dede. “As a young agent just starting out, I had to work very hard to break into the business and earn a living.” But all of her door knocking, cold calling, open houses and marketing paid off. By using systems and processes she learned from her father and from trainers such as Mike Ferry, Dede began to find success. By the time she was 24, Dede had purchased her first home – a duplex in Long Beach. She worked for several brokerages as she and her husband moved to South Orange County where she raised her three children. By the time she arrived at BHHS around the same time Dina did, she was a successful agent in her own right. Perfection Nearly as soon as they met, the women realized they shared the same dedication to customer service and a pas-
sion for helping others. Today, the women are consistently ranked among the top producing agents of Orange County for both transactions and production and have received the Gold Chairman’s Circle award for the past several years. The vast majority of their business comes through referrals, either from past clients, friends or family or as repeat business in the Ladera Ranch Community they serve. Because they handle each transaction as if it were their own, many of the clients they’ve served are now their friends. “We treat each client, whether it’s an entry-level condo or a multi-million dollar luxury home, with the same level of customer service and professionalism,” says Dina. Their marketing tools include high-quality brochures, a comprehensive pricing analysis, a strong online presence and targeted social media campaigns.
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From staging to pricing, Dina and Dede are dedicated to doing the job right. “Our philosophy is complete and total customer care,” says Dede. “We believe in consistent, quality communication with our clients, advising them on current real estate market conditions and letting them know we truly care. It’s all about going above and beyond what our clients might expect with a typical REALTOR®.” Having worked through several different types of markets, Dina and Dede are uniquely qualified to help their buyers and sellers through any scenario. With a positive “can-do” attitude, the women have rarely seen a challenge that can’t be overcome. By working together, their clients receive comprehensive customer care and are never left to wonder what’s happening with their transaction. “One of us is always available,” says Dede. “The bottom line is we know what it takes to successfully buy or sell a home. We never give up and we rarely have an escrow fail.” “We’re more concerned about the client getting the home they want or selling their home for the price they want, than about our own timelines and profit,” adds Dina.
“We focus on the clients’ needs rather than our own.” Because both women live in South Orange County in the Ladera Ranch Community, the vibrant community has become a specialty market of sorts, but they’re equally comfortable in any Orange County neighborhood. They’re also committed to supporting their friends and neighbors through their donations to local organizations such as Chaparral Elementary School, Ladera Ranch Middle School, Tesoro High School, San Juan Hills High School, Ladera Ranch Little League, Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Tinkerbell Guild. Both women are thankful for careers that have allowed them to be dedicated mothers and dedicated professionals, as well as for a partnership that has propelled them to heights they never imagined. “Dede is an amazing partner,” says Dina. “I would not want to be in this business without her.” “We’re successful because we each have more than 25 years of real estate experience,” says Dede. “Our teamwork has created the best possible situation for our clients.”
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Dina Williams & Dede Engelbrecht Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 25652 Crown Valley Pkwy., Ste. F1 Ladera Ranch, CA 92694 Tel: 949-433-2332 DinaWilliams6@gmail.com www.LiveInLaderaRanch.com CalBRE # 01018982 - 00843276
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