September 2022 East Coast

September 2022

Money-saving

moving tips

KATIE ROTHER also featured: BJ Ellender

The perks of mentoring

young professionals

Real estate designations —

What you need to know

contents

­ eatured­Agent­Magazine F Phone­888.437.5707 Fax­888.849.3663 contact@featuredagentmagazine.com www.featuredagentmagazine.com

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professionals 6

The perks of mentoring young professionals

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Warm up — Fall home staging tips

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5 Tricks to throwing a memorable networking event

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t featured cover agent

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Katie Rother

q featured agent

BJ Ellender

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buyers &sellers 4

Real estate designations — What you need to know

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Get your move on — Money-saving moving tips

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Real estate designations — What you need to know

The real estate industry is laden with opportunities for professionals within the field to continue their education for a lifetime. In fact, any agent identifying as a professional REALTOR,® has committed to abide by a very strict Code of Ethics, as mandated by the National Association of REALTORS.® In addition to adhering to these standards of professionalism, many real estate agents choose to earn additional certifications in specialized fields within real estate.

From a consumer’s standpoint, these extra-mile efforts signify a real estate professional’s dedication to education and a true desire to serve as an advocate for buyers and sellers. Here is a look at some of the many designations that real estate agents opt to earn through the 4

National Association of REALTORS,® and other real estate associations.

Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) When an agent has the initials ABR after their name, this indicates they have earned the Accredited Buyer’s Representative designation through the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council. Agents with the ABR designation have completed the requirements which focus on working directly with buyers through all stages of buying a home.

Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) — Real estate professionals who boast the initials CCIM after their name have earned this Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

Although agents are not required to earn any of these specific designations, when you find an agent who has multiple initials after their name, you can rely on the fact that the agent has invested his or her own money to continue their education and sharpen their skills, all in effort to best serve you as a consumer. designation after 200 hours of classroom and professional experiential requirements. The Certified Commercial Investment Member designation is earned through the CCIM Institute. REALTORS,® brokers, property managers, developers, asset managers, leasing professionals and others choose to earn this degree as the education and training involved yields realworld expertise in negotiation, along with financial, market and investment analysis.

the Military Relocation Professional certification aims to educate real estate professionals on the unique needs that current and former military service members may have, and how to best serve military clients.

Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) — Agents who have earned the CIPS designation through the National Association of REALTORS® successfully attended and completed five full-day courses which focus on vital and unique aspects of international real estate transactions.

Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) — The SRS designation is earned through the Real Estate Business Institute, and is considered a premier credential for listing and selling agents. Requirements to earn this designation include specific educational and practical experiences. Achieving the Seller Representative Specialist designation denotes that agents have dedicated themselves to elevating professional standards, and demonstrate that they maintain the knowledge and skills vital to professionally, and ethically represent home sellers.

e-Pro — The e-Pro designation is earned through the National Association of REALTORS.® This program focuses on sophisticated technology and digital initiatives, and how to apply tech to real estate, as a means of better serving clients’ needs.

Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource (SFR) These initials indicate that a real estate professional has successfully completed a program designed to work with distressed sellers, in conjunction with finance tax and legal professionals to help them through a short sale. Agents who have earned this are also seasoned in negotiating with lenders, and protecting buyers.

Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) — The CRS designation is the highest credential a residential sales agent, manager, or broker can earn, and is offered through the Council of Residential Specialists. Out of more than 1 million REALTORS,® less than 3% have earned the designation of Certified Residential Specialist.

Agents who earn this designation, complete nearly twice as many transactions annually, compared to other agents.

Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI) — Offered through the National Association of REALTORS,® agents who have earned the GRI designation have gone through additional education and training in legal and regulatory issues, along with an emphasis on technology, sales processes, and professional standards.

Military Relocation Professional (MRP) Presented by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council, Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) — The fastest growing market in real estate continues to be clients over the age of 50. The SRES Designation program is an educational program which teaches real estate professionals how to ethically serve this specific market. The SRES designation is available

It’s worth noting that individual state real estate associations often offer additional designations, which REALTORS® may also opt to earn. Although agents are not required to earn any of these specific designations, when you find an agent who has multiple initials after their name, you can rely on the fact that the agent has invested his or her own money to continue their education and sharpen their skills, all in effort to best serve you as a consumer.

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The perks of

mentoring young professionals

In the world of real estate, most lessons are learned in a hands-on capacity, and practices and techniques are often developed over years of trial and error. When budding agents kick off their careers, they’re far less equipped to handle the inevitable challenges of the business. That’s one reason why mentorship is an essential institution. But, did you ever consider that mentors have just as much to gain from taking new talent under their wing?

Oftentimes mentorship is viewed as a one-way street solely benefitting the mentee, but keep in mind a few advantageous reasons below, how mentoring young professionals can reenergize your routines and perspective, while ultimately making you better at your job.

Mentoring young professionals broadens your perspective — After years in the business,

it’s not uncommon for veteran agents to slow down or burn out. However, time spent mentoring rising agents can help you reconnect with your professional roots.

You’ll remember the exhilaration, the hurdles, and impactful lessons learned along the way. Mentoring the newest generation of agents, while retreading the basics from the perspective of a beginner, will reinvigorate your approach to routines long set in stone.

Teaching newcomers can help fortify your processes — By explaining to young agents how

to execute each step of an established process, you’ll be forced to consider the efficiency and productivity of these processes. Perhaps you’ve overlooked key ways to streamline systems, but verbalizing the rationale behind your routine helps you identify areas for improvement. Mentorship can also help you reassess and polish your broader working philosophies, or inspire you to try something new.

lessons you’ll want to impart. All these tasks are par for the course when it comes to leadership. Likewise, inhabiting a leadership role refines your ability to communicate clearly, empathize, teach, and give constructive feedback. Sharpen those desirable skills and you’ll enhance your practice, as well as your long-term professional prospects.

Working alongside young professionals can modernize your approach — Another

added benefit of mentoring young agents? This new crop of professionals is in touch with the needs of their generation — a large pool of clientele increasingly in need of homeownership assistance.

Budding professionals have an alternate set of skills and insights, and veteran pros can glean value from their fresh eyes. For instance, if your social media repertoire could use an update, or you’d like to contemporize your services in some way, mentoring a developing agent can serve as a perfect two-way street.

If you’re still unsure whether it’s worth your time to take on a mentee or two, think about it this way: the benefits of mentorship are akin to taking a continuing education course, or investing in your professional development. It’s hard to argue that these endeavors are without merit. In the same vein, mentorship has plenty of perks, from injecting new life into your practice to strengthening your professional offerings. All the while, you’ll be lending a hand to a colleague who is a beginner eager to learn — just like you once were.

Mentorship hones leadership ability —

Mentoring up-and-comers puts you in the driver’s seat. It will be your responsibility to lead the way as the senior agent — determining which topics to address, curating an agenda, and crystallizing the 6

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KATIE ROTHER

KATIE ROTHER

After 12 years of helping enrich the lives of children and families as a special education teacher, Katie Rother stumbled upon a new passion — renovating homes. You could say that she was built for it. Growing up, her family always purchased homes that needed rehabilitation. This allowed them to be creative in taking a house and making it into their dream home without the price tag of new.

In 2015, Katie and her husband began looking for their first home together. He wanted new construction, she wanted a fixer-upper. With some convincing from Katie that they could make their vision come to life, the couple settled on a beautiful 1986 Cape Cod-style home.

A spacious backyard and a strong foundation were all the promises this property had to offer. So they went to

work removing walls, renovating bathrooms, painting, laying new floors — you name it, they did it, and Katie felt right at home. “I kind of fell in love with doing renovations,” she recalls. She has a gift for visualizing a home’s potential, noticing a standout feature, and building a theme around it to make it truly special.

Two years later, while renovating a quaint beach house on Oak Island, North Carolina, Katie made a life-changing decision. This is the house that really sparked Katie’s passion for real estate. “You know when you walk into a house and envision all the cool things you can do to make the space your own?” She knew then that she wanted to help others bring their own visions to life.

Katie earned her real estate license in 2017. Since then, her career has progressed at a rapid rate. After spending two years with Keller Williams, Katie was ready for a change. In December 2020, she reached out to a fellow REALTOR,® Jessica Wainwright, Owner of Live Love Brunswick, who encouraged her to start her firm. Partnered with Jessica, Katie brought Live Love The Triangle to Raleigh, North Carolina. It was never Katie’s intention to run her own firm, as she explains, “I just wanted to replace my teacher salary, hang out with my dogs, be happy, and help people, and it turned into this amazing dream that I never thought was possible.”

Live Love The Triangle has flourished in the short time since it began, and Katie already has six agents working alongside her. “While Live Love The Triangle is made up of individual agents, it truly runs like a team. We work together, support each other, and help each other succeed.”

From first-time home buyers to seasoned investors, Katie and her team want to show folks in The Triangle how they can invest their money for the long term.

Though she is no longer in the classroom, Katie still utilizes her teaching skills in real estate. Those she works with admire her patience and enthusiasm, and that keeps clients coming back. She strongly focuses on client needs, comfort levels, and goals, and it shows.

An impressive 88% of Katie’s business comes from agent referrals and repeat clients.

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IT WAS NEVER KATIE’S INTENTION TO RUN HER OWN FIRM, AS SHE EXPLAINS, “I JUST WANTED TO REPLACE MY TEACHER SALARY, HANG OUT WITH MY DOGS, BE HAPPY, AND HELP PEOPLE, AND IT TURNED INTO THIS AMAZING DREAM THAT I NEVER THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE.”

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dogs. They spend time visiting schools, nursing homes, universities, and other spaces around the community. This was a major factor in Katie wanting to change careers, as she wanted to share her dogs Sunny and Apollo with the world. Her dogs help reduce anxiety in those they visit, and they particularly love being read to by local students who are working on building literacy skills. “It’s a pretty cool thing to take the dogs inside the school and watch the kids light up. Reading is such a hard thing for many kids, but reading to a dog? That is something they will never forget.”

You’ll see that passion and enthusiasm from the first time you meet her. She says, “I’ve made such amazing friends over the last four years, my job is basically to go out to lunch, go get coffee, show people houses, and make friends. I don’t think it could get better than that.”

Katie truly treats her clients as friends — she has even been included in a client’s proposal! Katie, who has always had a knack for matchmaking and has introduced several couples who eventually married, sees real estate as another way to work her matchmaking magic. She loves getting to know her clients so she can understand what properties they’ll fall in love with. It’s so hard in a market where people are having to settle, she explains, “I don’t want anyone to settle for something they don’t absolutely love.”

Katie can always be counted on to show up on time to appointments, answer calls, and to be responsive. She takes pride in being hands-on and thorough, making sure that her clients always come first. In the current market, buyers often have to put down large amounts of non-refundable money very quickly, so looking for potential issues on-site before making an offer is extremely important. “You can potentially have a really cute house that someone renovated, but maybe it doesn’t have the best foundation.” Katie certainly knows all about starting with a good foundation.

When not focusing on work, Katie loves walking the trails on her property with her dogs, taking weekend trips to the North Carolina beaches or the mountains, and enjoying all of the incredible food Raleigh has to offer. With her adventurous and Just as she supports and encourages her clients, Katie is always giving giving spirit, Katie is the kind of agent to others at home as well. Both Katie’s Labradors are registered therapy anyone would be lucky to work with!

KATIE ROTHER LIVE LOVE THE TRIANGLE | RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 919.624.8476 | KATIE@LOVETRIANGLEHOMES.COM 10

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Get your move on — Money-saving moving tips As exciting as it is to move into a new home, the process of moving out of the old one can be costly and time-consuming. And waiting until the last minute and being unprepared will only make things worse. With the right planning and preparation, you can take some of the stress out of moving and put that energy toward being excited about your new home. Here are several ways you can save your sanity — and even some money — when moving:

Plan a schedule — Moving is a huge job! But just like anything else, if you break it down into small, manageable steps, it becomes much easier. Plan a schedule beginning at least four weeks out from your moving date to ensure you leave yourself plenty of time to get everything down and account for any unexpected occurrences. Be sure to factor in time for sorting, packing, holding a yard sale, cleaning and making any necessary home repairs. Set daily goals and allow yourself rewards when you meet them, such as taking a break to have a glass of wine or stream an episode of your favorite show.

Sort and sell — Moving is probably the only time to really take stock of everything you have and decide whether or not it’s still something you need or want. Go through every room in your home — including the attic, basement and garage — and take an inventory of what you find, then determine if each item is something you still need, use or love. If it doesn’t fall into any of those categories, it’s time to let it go. Sell items that are in good condition by listing them on EBay, Craig’s List, or Let Go, or simply have a blowout moving sale to get rid of everything at once. For anything that doesn’t sell, call a local nonprofit and schedule a time for them to come and pick it up.

Hoard boxes — There’s no need to waste money buying brand-new moving boxes. As soon as you know you’re moving, be on the lookout for boxes you can use. Whether it’s at your office, the grocery store, or your weekly Target run, pick up as many clean, sturdy boxes as you can. Ask family and friends to save any good boxes they run across, too.

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Learn to love labels — It’s easy to toss everything into boxes, seal them up, and deal with it later. But doing so will cost you time and money once you reach your new home. You will end up spending hours looking for things or just giving up and buying new versions because you can’t find what you need. By taking time on the front end to carefully pack and label boxes systematically, room-by-room, you’ll be able to quickly unpack, find everything you need, and focus on turning your new house into a home.

Use what you have — Clear out your refrigerator, freezer and pantry by making meals out of the food you have. Try to get through as much as you can and if you have any non-perishable items left by moving day, donate them to a local food pantry. You don’t want to spend precious time loading up boxes with canned food or have them take up valuable space on the moving truck.

Move mid-week — Sure, moving on the weekend is easier, and you don’t have to take any time off from work to do it. But, it’s also more expensive. Because everyone else wants to move on the weekend, too, you will be paying the highest rates. Moving mid-week can save you money, and give you a head start on getting settled. You might even be unpacked and settled by the time the weekend rolls around.

Take a break from shopping — The last thing you need to do when you’re in the process of packing to move is bring in more things you have to pack. Take a break from shopping to focus on going through what you already have. Even after you move, hold off before shopping for new furniture and household items until you’ve lived in the space for a while. You’ll probably be surprised by how your current furniture and décor looks completely different in its new surroundings.

Planning for your move and taking the time to carefully pack and label your items will help moving day go smoothly and reduce your stress level so you can focus on the fun and enjoy setting up your new home.

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Warm up— Fall home staging tips As the days get shorter, the air gets cooler, and the leaves start crunching underfoot, there’s no mistaking it — fall has arrived! That means it’s time to get back to creating cozy, inviting spaces when staging your listings — so put away the nautical accents and sunbleached colors and break out the decorative pumpkins and spicy scented candles. Here are several ways you can stage a home for fall.

Start Outside — Creating a fall feeling begins before you even open the front door. Place a pumpkin on the porch, create a grouping of potted fall flowers such as mums, coneflowers and asters, and hang a beautiful fall wreath on the door to establish an autumn mood from the very start. Add a new welcome mat 12

to catch moisture and mud and keep the yard looking neat and tidy by making sure leaves are raked and gutters are clear.

Shift the Color Palette — This fall’s color trends are a comforting mix of earth and sky. Worldwide color authority Pantone points to medium blues, mid-tone golds, and rustic reds, grounded by deep grays and warm taupe, as the colors of the season. Incorporate these hues into accent pieces, wall art, throw rugs, bed linens and towels to create an on-trend look.

Add Touchable Textures — While summer is all about keeping cool, fall is time to get cozy. Bring out the throw blankets and add extra decorative pillows Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

Quick Fall Staging Tips • Incorporate on-trend colors including medium blue, gold, deep gray & taupe • Bring back cozy textures like corduroy, tweed & faux fur • Showcase arrangements of autumn leaves, fruits & vegetables • Add a special touch with fall home fragrance • Don’t overdo Halloween or Thanksgiving decorations

pears, gourds or ornamental pumpkins are an easy, inexpensive way to add a fall feeling to any room.

Soaking pumpkins and gourds in a mix of warm water and dish soap for 10 minutes, then letting them dry thoroughly in a warm, sunny window before putting them on display will help them last longer.

in rich fabrics like corduroy, brocade, faux fur, and microfiber suede. Just like we layer clothing this time of year, layering textiles creates a feeling of stylish warmth.

Incorporate Seasonal Scents — Pumpkin spice, warm vanilla, energizing cinnamon, juicy pomegranate — fall is filled with delicious scents that create a warm and welcoming feeling. Place candles or reed diffusers in strategic places throughout the home to subtly scent the air with these evocative aromas.

For an extra luxurious touch, add similarly scented hand soaps to each bathroom.

Embrace the Harvest — Decorative ceramic, wooden, or enameled metal bowls filled with apples,

Remember, fall isn’t just a season, it’s a state of mind.

Now you’re ready to stage a home for fall, even if you live a climate that still feels more like summer.

Rearrange the Room — Shift the focus from the outside and bring it back into the heart of the home.

Arrange clustered groupings of furniture to create areas that are conducive to conservation. If the room has a fireplace, make that the focal point by directing seating toward it and enhancing the mantle with a garland of fall foliage.

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Light it Up — Fall’s shorter days and softer light means you’ll want to make sure the home’s interior is well-lit for showings in the afternoon and evening.

Make sure to turn on lights in every room and have warm light visible in the front windows to create an inviting glow.

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5 Tricks to throwing a

memorable networking event

While networking connects you with fellow entrepreneurs and business owners, hosting a networking event can position you as a professional leader in your area. Of course, making your event memorable requires planning and execution, and if you haven’t tried to organize an event like this before, the prospect may seem overwhelming. With that in mind, consider these techniques as you curate a networking event that’s sure to impress.

Minimize Hurdles — For your networking event to memorable, it must be well-attended. Accordingly, consider fine-tuning details that make it simpler for invitees to say yes and show up. For instance, e-invites with an easy-to-follow link for event registration make signing up simple for guests, while also making it easy for you to count heads. Likewise, pick a well-known, centrally located venue with ample parking. Consider incorporating an automated e-mail reminder close to your event date, that way guests are virtually ushered through the front door.

Incorporate Local or Holidays Events — One way to attract area professionals to your networking event is to create a natural tie-in with an already occurring holiday or occasion. For instance, a viewing party for a major sporting event, a Labor Day barbecue, or a Christmas-themed meet and greet are chances to capitalize on already spirited occasions. This will add a natural ambiance of comradery and celebration between attendees, giving a sense of theme and direction to your event.

Connect Others — To ensure that your networking event delivers its aim — bringing people together from across the business community — it is your job to play host among your guests. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible and once you find commonality between different guests or groups, play matchmaker and provide an introduction. Connecting others will build energy in your event, and you’ll reap the rewards as host.

Anchor Your Attendees — Though you can’t be

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everywhere at once, you can enlist a few close colleagues to help you meet and greet your guests. At a networking event, the last thing you want is stale conversation and attendees who refuse to mingle. That’s why anchoring your guest list with a few friends who have outgoing social skills is a surefire way to keep energy high.

Jumpstart your event by planting a few people who can keep conversation flowing and make introductions between guests.

Creating a hub where professionals can network with others in and outside of their field is an excellent way to grow your business, brand, and position.

Keep in Touch — The whole point of a networking event is to connect like-minded professionals. In the world of real estate, knowing the agents, brokers, and lenders around town can go a long way in streamlining a transaction. Of course, to capitalize on these connections, you’ll need to find ways to stay in touch long after the event is over. Follow up the week after your event to thank guests for their attendance and offer to connect them with other attendees they might have hit it off with.

You may consider touching base again a few months later in preparation for your next event, or choose a few new faces and invite them to meet up for coffee or lunch to keep the conversation going.

Creating a hub where professionals can network with others in and outside of their field is an excellent way to grow your business, brand, and position. Keep these tips in mind as you put together a memorable networking event in the future. If all goes well, you’ll have made new contacts, broadened your horizons, and created a welcome opportunity for others to do the same.

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BJ Ellender has always been motivated by her desire to help others.

She spent 40 years of her life working as a nurse, and found having a positive impact on her community very rewarding. During that time she always had it in the back of her mind that real estate might be something she would like to pursue in the future.

Recognizing her potential, her husband Jack Royal, a REALTOR,® urged her to join him in his line of work. BJ earned her license in 2006, and she and Jack now work as partners and co-broker all transactions. They work with buyers and sellers of residential properties throughout the coastal area of North Carolina, specifically New Hanover and Brunswick counties, including the three South Brunswick islands.

BJ and Jack work with Margaret Rudd and Associates, Inc., and the firm has departments for both sales and rentals, which makes the office a great option for those looking for primary and secondary homes, as well as for investors.

In her healthcare career, BJ developed strong communication skills, and learned how to thrive as part of a team working toward a common goal. She is a strong believer in honesty and trust, and prioritizes clear communication with her clients. She keeps all parties well-informed throughout every step of the transaction, and always does right by her clients. “I give the same care to my customers that I would give to my patients,” she says.

During BJ’s second year at Margaret Rudd and Associates, Inc., she received the “Rising Star” award, which is

BJ Ellender awarded to outstanding REALTORS® who have been with the firm for less than three years and have had the greatest percentage of increase in volume from one year to the next. With 40% of new clients stemming from referrals, BJ’s business is growing rapidly. Her love of people and her passion for the real estate industry continue to push her forward. She says, “There is nothing more rewarding than entering a property with my clients and hearing them say ‘This is it. This is home.’”

BJ is an active member of her community, and enjoys being involved in the Brunswick County Association of REALTORS,® where she participates in food drives, beach clean-ups, and donates supplies to local schools.

She also teaches Sunday school at her church, and volunteered as a reading tutor at the local library. BJ says, “My passion for working with others and my desire to be involved in my community has always had an influence on both my hobbies and my career.”

She loves her community, and spends her free time walking and sunning on the beach. She also enjoys dancing, and she and her husband are frequent patrons at the local shag dance club. When she isn’t closing deals or dancing with her husband, BJ enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

In past years, BJ has set a personal goal to grow in sales volume by $1 million every year and has succeeded in exceeding that goal each year. She is also working to continue marketing to her sphere of influence and continue expanding her client base. “I love that I am able to work with my husband, and that I can continue meeting new people in this line of work. I’m hoping that as my business continues to grow, so will my impact on my community.”

BJ Ellender Margaret Rudd and Associates, Inc. | Oak Island, North Carolina 910.477.3250 | bjellender@rudd.com Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

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