NORTH DFW
I N F O R M I N G
A N D
I N S P I R I N G
R E A L
E S TAT E
A G E N T S
SEYCHELLE VAN POOLE Achieving the Highest Good
RISING STAR STEPHANIE FUNK HEAD TURNER THE BROWN HOME TEAM PARTNER SPOTLIGHT MAGNUM FLOORING
Photography by Scott Peek Photography
MARCH 2019
2 • March 2019
Aubrey • Celina • Flower Mound • Forney • Frisco • Little Elm / Oak Point • McKinney • Roanoke
From the mid $200 | PERRYHOMES.com
CARROLLTON • CELINA • FORT WORTH • FRISCO • PLANO • PROSPER
From the mid $400s | BrittonHomesTexas.com www.realproducersmag.com • 3
TA BLE OF
CONTENTS 06
09
Index Index of of Trusted Trusted Partners Partners
Publisher’s Meet The Team Note
Publisher’s Note
06 12
10 18
20
Index Headof Trusted Turner: The Partners Brown Home Team
Question Tips From of the theMonth Top
Partner Spotlight: Magnum Flooring
26
28
20 33
CCAR: In The Know
Rising Star: Stephanie Funk
Rising Events Star Calendar - Sakina Ismaelbay
36 16
24 38
44 24
National Sponsor Spotlight Article: Photography Financial By Fitness Spross
4 • March 2019
09 07
Cover FAQ About Story: Seychelle This Van Magazine Poole
FAQ About This Magazine
www.realproducersmag.com • 5
PREFERRED PARTNERS
This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted real estate affiliate. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring your magazine. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the REALTOR® community! ARTIST Hope Harrison Artist Hope Harrison (469) 394-8664
GARAGE DOORS Pro Lift Doors (469) 251-7027 proliftdoors.com/garland
BUILDER Perry Homes (972) 629-3900 perryhomes.com
HOME INSPECTION Elite Inspection Group (469) 818-5500 eigdallas.com
PulteGroup (972) 304-2842 pulte.com
Inspect360 (817) 754-0360 inspect360.com
BUSINESS / EXECUTIVE COACH Elevate U (214) 551-1940 elevateuinc.com
The Inspection House (512) 686-0097 theinspectionhouse.com
DEVELOPER Huffines Communites (972) 860-3133 huffinescommunities.com ENGRAVED CLOSING GIFTS VinoSay Engraving Ray Southwell (469) 396-6529 vinosay.com FINANCIAL PLANNER Lincoln Wealth Advisors (214) 220-8884 lincolnwealth.com FLOORING Magnum Flooring Doug Trumbull (972) 877-1839 magnumflooring.net FOUNDATION REPAIR Digg Foundation Repair Scott Winn (214) 307-4060 diggfoundationrepair.com
6 • March 2019
HOME RENOVATION Curbio (240) 406-4616 www.curbio.com INSURANCE DFW Insurance Services Adrienne Baker (972) 781-1115 insurewithdfw.com Rhyne Insurance Agency Kristian Rhyne (972) 400-1089 agents.farmers.com/krhyne MORTGAGE LENDER American Financial Network, Inc. Daniel Munoz (214) 473-5984 afncorp.com/danielmunoz Team Wally Home Loan (469) 277-1249 teamwallyhomeloan.com The Mortgage Nerd (972) 447-6373 YourMortgageNerd.com
The Tuttle Group Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (469) 319-0660 thetuttlegroup.com Wallick & Volk Bob Mortgage (214) 631-5626 bobmortgage.com MOVING SERVICES All My Sons Moving & Storage (561) 578-3800 allmysons.com Element Moving and Storage (972) 805-0988 elementmoving.com Firehouse Movers Inc (972) 412-6033 firehousemovers.com PHOTOGRAPHY Scott Peek Photography Scott Peek (469) 587-2300 scottpeekphotography.com REAL ESTATE VIRTUAL ASSISTANT Virtual Business Solutions Real Estate (469) 999-1559 vbsrealestate.com ROOFING & CONSTRUCTION High Performance Restoration Texas (214) 396-7772 hprtexas.com
Red Dirt Roofing & Construction (817) 454-0608 reddirtroofing.net ROOFING & ROOF WARRANTY Total Roof Protection (817) 210-6338 totalroofprotection.com ROOFING / STORM RESTORATION 100% Construction (469) 999-6091 100percentconstructiontx. com TITLE COMPANY Fair Texas Title (602) 421-6417 fairtexastitle.com Kensington Vanguard National Title of TX (214) 529-3840 kv-lonestar.com Lawyers Title (469) 247-8281 dfw.ltic.com UTILITY CONCIERGE Utility Concierge (800) 587-3160 utilityconcierge.com VIDEOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY Joseph Domingeaux Photo / Video Joseph Domingeaux (214) 901-0065 Petty Films Gary Petty (817) 271-1256 pettyfilms.com
MEET THE NORTH DFW REAL PRODUCERS TEAM
Jordan Espeseth
Shelby Notbohm
Tiffany Haynes
Zach Cohen
Dave Danielson
Publisher
Editor
Content Coordinator/ Assistant
Writer
Writer
Gary Petty
Joseph Dominguez
Scott Peek
Hope Harrison
Videographer/Writer
Videographer
Photographer
Photographer
If you are interested in contributing or nominating realtors for certain stories, please email us at northdfw@realproducersmag.com DISCLAIMER: Any articles included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of N2 Publishing but remain solely those of the author(s). The publication contains paid advertisements by local companies. These companies are not endorsed or specifically recommended by N2 Publishing or the publisher. Therefore, neither N2 Publishing nor the publisher may be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies. NOTE: When community events take place, photographers may be present to take photos for that event and they may be used in this publication.
PACKING, MOVING AND STORAGE
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Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation | NMLS# 2289
publisher’s note
YOU ARE ALL UNIQUE – JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!
are not so sure, I’d consider getting a coach to help you with this. I know having a coach has greatly helped me! Well, I’m going to get going. They are now blaring Pitbull. I apologize for this brain dump of a publisher’s note. If it is cool with you, I am going to blame the lack of structure and flow on the baby. I appreciate you all, and I continue to look forward to serving you and the industry as best as I possibly can.
I
’ve noticed that in these publishers’ notes I always love to either tell you where I am or when it is that I am writing them. Print magazines have a considerably long process from start to completion, so I am usually writing these 45 days before y’all receive them. In the spirit of keeping this theme going — it is early morning January 13, and I am in a Starbucks in Frisco. They, for some reason, have been blasting salsa music and a baby is crying behind me. This is the type of environment where I creatively thrive…not.
JORDAN ESPESETH Publisher of North DFW Real Producers
jordan.espeseth@real-producersmag. com
Joseph Domingeaux Video & Photography
If you eliminate the dull roar of the salsa music and the baby singing the song of her people, usually Sunday mornings at Starbucks are where I can focus and get a lot of work done. As I write this, it makes me curious as to what your creative space is. Where do you go to get in the zone and knock out your tasks for the day or week? Sounds like a good question of the month for our next issue! We are all so unique. As I began interviewing the top agents and businesses within our market, I thought that there would be so many similarities between the most successful individuals within our industry. I thought, they must all wake up early, be high Ds, have clear set goals, follow a strict schedule, and take A.D.D. medication. However, I found that is not the case. Aside from being workhorses, y’all are as different as Minnesota is to Texas. I find this incredibly refreshing! This means that there is an infinite amount of ways to become successful. As the saying goes, “There is more than one way to skin a cat.” We just need to discover who we are and how we best operate. Just because something works for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for you and vice versa. Self-awareness is so important. How self-aware are you? If you
214-901-0065
Capture a moment that's gone forever, impossible to reproduce.
domingeaux@gmail.com www.realproducersmag.com • 9
DIGG REPAIR FOUNDATION
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scott@diggfoundationrepair.com
Call for a FREE inspection for home owners and homes under contract: 214-307-4060
10 • March 2019
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YOUR PARTNER FOR GROWTH Is your Title Company just a vendor or are they a growth partner? KV National Title of TX has 2 locations in D/FW, our firm closes and insures real estate all across the metroplex, state and in all 50 states across the country. Commercial Office 5005 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy, Suite 200 Dallas, Texas 75244 Residential Office 7950 Legacy Dr. Suite 375 Plano, TX 75025
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RIDING THE MARKET WAVE
THE BROWN Since joining forces in 2010, Robin Brown and Susan Godfroid have built one of the top local real estate teams. The Brown Home Team, led by Robin Brown, has been named one of D Magazine’s Best Real Estate Agent Teams every year from 2013 to 2018. 12 • March 2019
Merry Mingle 2018
head turner Written by Zach Cohen Photography By Hope Harrison Artist
From the Corporate World to Real Estate Both Robin and Susan have backgrounds in the corporate world. After earning a degree in marketing, Robin went on the build a successful career in corporate sales in the telecom sector — first for AT&T and then for Sprint. “If you can make it in telecom, you can make it anywhere,” she quips. Robin’s husband’s (mother) was a broker in Virginia for over 30 years, so he grew up in the real estate business. As she was exposed to the world of real estate more, Robin realized that it would be a great fit — somewhere she could use her skills and make a difference in the lives of others. “What really drove me was helping people, making an impact that would truly help shape their lives,” Robin says. Susan has a background in engineering. Before moving to Texas, she worked for Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati as an IT manager. “I’m an oddball as far as landing where I did. When we moved to Texas nine years ago, I had the opportunity to make a career change.” When Susan bought her first house, she was in awe of the process and result. “I thought it was the coolest thing. I felt like I was playing house for a few weeks. I was always fascinated with homes along with the investment opportunity they provide.”
Amazingly, Robin launched her real estate career in 2009, right in the midst of one of the most challenging times in recent memory, and she was recognized as Rookie of the Year in 2010. Susan began in 2010, as the market was barely crawling up from the bottom. “Robin and I lived in the same neighborhood at the time,” Susan reflects. “I checked in with her, and she invited me to team up.” “I asked Susan if she would accept my rose,” Robin says with a big smile.
Susan knew she wanted her next career to focus on helping guide people with a very important personal and financial decision – selling and/or buying their home. “This was something I was passionate about. I figured if I could get through that down market, it would teach me well.” Built on Relationships “We bring the relationship piece. People need someone they can really trust. We leave no stone unturned to build this trust with www.realproducersmag.com • 13
our client’s, which is why the majority of our business is sourced from referrals from our clients,” Robin says. “When it comes to our business model, the focus is on quality over quantity. That, in turn, provides a level of success we are so grateful to have achieved.” Starting in a challenging market, Robin and Susan both learned this lesson quickly. “Coming in when the market was low, there’s a lot of satisfaction in being able to have the gumption to stick it through and have it turn into something great,” Robin adds. “It forced us to focus on the fundamentals.” As they found their footing in the business, Robin and Susan looked for creative ways to separate themselves from their peers. “When you get into real estate, there are so many things you can explore,” Robin explains. “I knew, looking back at what my core value and strengths were, relationship building [was important]. So we looked for a builder we could work with and build a relationship.” Robin and Susan formed an exclusive relationship with a local builder, Grenadier Homes, providing a considerable boost to the quality and consistency of their business. “We lived across the pond from them. They were building a townhome community near us, so that helped facilitate the start of the relationship,” Susan explains. The Work is Worth the Reward “I love it when my clients love the community. They get in that home and get involved. That is rewarding,” Susan explains. “For me, it’s the moments they create with their family and friends in their home. Knowing you really helped start a chapter for them that is going to bring so much happiness,” Robin adds. The Brown Home Team operates differently than other real estate teams. Rather than assigning specific roles to their team members, they each carry their own book of business but help out as needed. Their commitment is to supporting each other so they can best serve their clients. They encourage each other to take vacations and time off, with other
14 • March 2019
team members stepping in to manage the business in an extended absence. The team also takes an approach that provides “moving experiences” to their clients long after closing. With a commitment to gratitude and building their referral-based business model, they host a formal annual client appreciation party each year in December, the Merry Mingle. This has become a tradition their clients look forward to each year. In fact, many of their clients have, in turn, made friendships with other clients of the Brown Home Team. “It’s like build-
ing an extended family circle through gratitude and genuine relationships,” Robin explains. The Merry Mingle is similar to an annual family reunion and is hosted as a token of appreciation for those clients and friends who help them continue to achieve success. “Our commitment is to the experience,” Robin says. “Our tagline is ‘Our experience will move you.’ Everybody goes through challenging times in life. The team operates as a family, picking up the slack when others need a hand. When someone has to fall back and work on personal stuff, the other people step up.”
“And, we actually like each other,” Susan adds with a big laugh. Right now, Robin and Susan see the current shift in the market as their biggest challenge. And yet, it doesn’t scare them. After all, they’ve been through worse before. “There’s a new ‘new,’” Robin says. “There’s the same challenge as when we got into it. We rode it out then and will find ways to come together and ride it out now.”
With the experience of the market downturn of 2008 in hand, Robin, Susan, and their team are more than prepared for whatever 2019 brings.
Robin Brown, Jean Silvertooth, Susan Godfroid, Kristine Pharr
www.realproducersmag.com • 15
H O W D O Y O U S AY
“Thank You”?
VinoSay Engraving offers both wine and non-alcoholic engraved gifts, ranging from engraved golf ball cases to humidors! Sales@VinoSay.com 469-396-6529 www.VinoSay.com
Facebook.com/VinoSayEngraving
16 • March 2019
For upcoming events, and more information, check us out at:
www.masterminddfw.com
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND: Mastermind DFW is an exclusive event for the Top 1% of Producers in the DFW area. When you attend a Mastermind DFW event, you are in the company of a prestigious group of local, high-performing DFW real estate professionals. This is the place to cultivate your network with the most notable names in DFW real estate.
“Keeping a strong foundation while pivoting for the future is the chess game we play today. So, it’s rare to be in a room with great business owners with big vision and focus. An opportunity to share ideas and build long lasting relationships is a must in today’s fast moving world.” - Denton Aguam, Keller Williams “Todd and I love to be a part of the Mastermind DFW group. It is an honor to be in the presence of other top producing agents and to get great tips and tricks on how to leverage our business. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this exclusive group.” - Colleen Frost, Colleen Frost Realtors www.realproducersmag.com • 17
question of the month
What is your favorite book and why?
“I am a pretty avid reader...anything from business/self-help/spiritual/ fiction. The best book I have read would have to be Building Wealth One House at a Time. This book provided a road map for building wealth through the accumulation of rental properties. It is easy to read, easy to understand, and for the most part, easy to follow. This book is the reason we have the rental property portfolio that we currently have. So glad it was recommended to us early in our real estate careers by Jimmy McKissack. Thank you, Jimmy.
What on Earth am I here for? Everyone’s life is driven by something. It’s not about me—focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose. The purpose of your life is far greater than our own personal peace of mind or your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, and your ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this Earth you must begin with God in your life first. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose. I loved reading this book and you can too.”
Richest Man in Babylon is also a great book. As for fiction, I am a huge John Grisham fan—I have all of his books.”
-BELINDA DUFF, JP & ASSOCIATES
-ANDRE KOCHER, KELLER WILLIAMS
“I would say one of the best books I have ever read is The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. I love this book because it applies to everyone on Earth. We all have different languages that we respond to, and I find that so intriguing. It’s what makes each of us different and unique. I love to learn about people and what motivates them! What makes them feel special or loved? How people respond to everyday life and experiences. Learning what gives people energy makes the world go around after all.” -NANCY MESSIHA, ULTIMA REAL ESTATE 18 • March 2019
“The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.
“If I had to pick one business book, it is probably The One Thing. The One Thing is such a simple, easy read, but it REALLY hits home. I’m often needing the reminder. I pick it up whenever life and business start to get overwhelming and hectic (No, not EVERY week…lol). It reminds me to KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). A lot of times we start to get really involved with staging homes, taking on developers, working with nonprofits, doing more events, concentrating on social media, and email blasts. At the end of the day, the one thing I’m trying to do is build my real estate business which means listings and buyers to support and provide for my family.
I often need to remember to bring it back to the core and concentrate on that ‘ONE THING’ we are really good at and the reason people call us. Just like In-N-Out burger only has a burger on the menu, Lulu Lemon sells workout clothes, Starbucks sells coffee…you get the point.
“The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
I am starting to have a larger team, and I need to remember in my head, go to the listing appointments, call the showing agents myself for my clients, work on the negotiations to get the best deal done for my clients. Don’t get caught up handing everything off and getting into projects”, Stacey (Yes, I yell at myself a lot in my head…is that not normal?). The other stuff is all fluff. It’s great to do in small quantities but don’t get away from that ONE THING. If you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend it. By the end, I feel refreshed with a clear head and a complete layout of how I am going to get to that ‘One Thing.’”
I also like the bold move the main character made in this book of leaving a high paying job and just took a leap of faith. I did the same as well four years ago.”
The book taught me a few things and I use them in my day to day, like cultivating one’s mind, doing the things that you fear the most, and to never sacrifice happiness for achievements.
-MANI RAVEENDRAN, KELLER WILLIAMS
“I love to learn about people and what motivates them! What makes them feel special or loved? How people respond to everyday life and experiences. Learning what gives people energy makes the world go around after all.”
-STACEY LESLIE, EXP REALTY
“If you want to know why you were placed on this Earth you must begin with God in your life first. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose. I loved reading this book and you can too.”
LET US HELP YOU WITH YOUR NEXT LISTING • Over 15 years experience • Wholesale direct pricing • Helped countless realtors with new flooring to get their listings sold fast • Can offer no pay until closing • Recommended by many top producers
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partner spotlight Written by Zach Cohen Photography By Scott Peek
Magnum Flooring -
DOUG TRUMBULL Reputable, Honest, and Fair to All
20 • March 2019
“If your floors aren’t becoming to you, you ought to be coming to me.” –Doug Trumbull, Owner/President “Back in the 80s when I started this business, I decided to have a little fun with this. I had a mustache. People thought I looked like Tom Selleck,” Doug laughs. So that’s the origins of the name for Magnum Flooring – Doug’s doppelganger, Tom Selleck, the actor who played Thomas Magnum in the famous TV series Magnum, P.I.
“It has been a wonderful ride. I feel so blessed by God to be where I am in my life… When I look in the mirror every night, I want to be able to like what I see: reputable, honest, fair to all.”
Doug’s perfectly balanced blend of professionalism and humor have been a long-standing recipe for success. He’s a joy to work with and gets the job done right. “Life’s too short not to have fun. If you’re not having fun doing what you’re doing, you better change what you’re doing. We’re only on this Earth for a short time, so if you’re not having fun, then ‘Houston, we have a problem.’” The Birth of Magnum Doug founded Magnum Flooring as a second business 16 years ago, alongside Doug’s Mighty Clean, and it quickly grew to become a second full-time gig. “It was a natural fit to my carpet cleaning company. My very first carpet job was for a top producing Realtor who still uses me today. Up until this magazine, all of my business has come from word of mouth,” Doug reflects. In 2018, he sold Doug’s Mighty Clean to focus his efforts on the flooring business entirely. Doug uses a no-nonsense approach to provide the absolute best end result for his customers. There is no overhead for a showroom because there is no showroom, helping to keep pricing down. “I work directly with manufacturers to provide the best price I can for Realtors and their clients,” Doug says. “And I can offer no payment to close up to six months.” “I’m a longtime member of the Association of Realtors; I love working with Realtors. I still support TREPAC, and I am a past recipient of CCAR Affiliate of the year award.”
www.realproducersmag.com • 21
Defining Success As Doug reflects on the path life has taken him on, he has nothing but gratitude. It hasn’t always been roses or easy, but Doug knows he’s better for it all. “It has been a wonderful ride. I feel so blessed by God to be where I am in my life… When I look in the mirror every night, I want to be able to like what I see: reputable, honest, fair to all.” Doug has four grown children and five grandchildren; he’s been married to his wife, Barbara, for 20 years now. As he reflects on his past, Doug shows his thoughtful and wise side. “I’m most grateful for the fact that I have been in some dark places mentally in the past — but once I realized that I can’t control this and sent it off to God for help, those burdens were lifted off. I persevered and got through it. Life can be a bumpy road, but how you deal with it is extremely important to your success. Prior to founding Doug’s Mighty Clean and Magnum Flooring, Doug worked in sales in the food business for a consumer products company. That’s what brought him to Dallas in the first place. One day, he was given a new assignment which would transfer him to Arkansas. 22 • March 2019
“I chose not to move to Arkansas,” Doug reflects. “I prayed about it. God said, ‘Don’t move. I’ll take care of you.’ I knew I was in good hands.” Only a few months later, Doug founded his first business. “It was a tough decision in many ways, but it was an easy decision because my prayers were answered.” And now you know the rest of the story. “Trust in God. If you trust in God and don’t question God, He will provide for you in His time — not on our time, but in His time.” As Doug wakes up every day, it’s a joy to continue to do the work he loves. “I love what I do. I truly love going to work every day.” Joy — that’s Doug’s most certain measure of success. It’s with care and with a big smile that Doug finds his most authentic self. It’s his goal to share that vision with as many new partners and customers as he can. In true fashion, he can’t help but leave us with one more quickwitted remark. “If your floors aren’t becoming to you, you ought to be coming to me.”
www.realproducersmag.com • 23
24 • March 2019
With a combined 30+ years of lending experience in Dallas/Fort Worth, Daniel & Jacob have mastered the closing process. With an average closing time frame of 12 days, they have proven to be
“THE BEST OF THE BEST”! Contact the Plano Branch of American Financial Network, Inc. Daniel Muñoz Jacob Emmel and watch your business grow with the piece of mind that Branch Manager Branch Manager YOU WILL CLOSE ON TIME EVERY TIME! D: 469.952.4343 D: 817.680.7521 F: 866-531-0402 F: 866-991-5844 dmunoz@afncorp.com | NMLS 216101 jemmel@afncorp.com | NMLS 716383 CORP NMLS #237341 | Branch NMLS# 1470568 | 2400 Dallas Parkway, #200, Plano, TX 75093 American Financial Network, Inc. is licensed by the Texas - SML Mortgage Banker Branch Registration under Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS), unique identifier of 1470568. Florida Mortgage Lender Servicer Branch License (MLDB5623). Oklahoma Mortgage Lender Branch License (MLB11145). South Carolina- BFI Branch Mortgage Lender/Servicer (MLB—1470568). Refer to www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org and input NMLS #237341 to see where American Financial Network, Inc. is a licensed lender. In all states, the principal licensed office of American Financial Network, Inc. is 10 Pointe Drive, Suite 330, Brea, CA 92821; Phone: (714) 831-4000 (NMLS ID#237341). This information is intended to assist Real Estate Brokers, Agents, and other Industry Professionals, and is not an advertisement for consumer credit as defined in 12 CFR 1026.2(a)(2). This information is not intended for consumers and may not be duplicated or disseminated to the public.
www.realproducersmag.com • 25
ccar: in the know Written By Bri Westbury, Content Specialist
When a Client
Can’t Spring Clean: How to Know if you are
Dealing with a Hoarder Agents know to expect the unexpected when entering a home for a listing presentation. But what if every seat is taken by stacks of papers and rooms unable to be entered, blocked by the storage of beloved items? What if the home is located in a highly desirable area, an architectural gem, but reeking of animal urine?
26 • March 2019
This fictional client has checked the clinical markers for diagnosing a hoarder and, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), APA, it is more common than you might think. The APA reports up to six percent of the population struggles with hoarding, translating to as many as 408,000 people in the DFW area alone. The APA defines the condition as one in which the patient “excessively saves items that others may view as worthless. They have persistent difficulty getting rid of or parting with possessions, leading to clutter that disrupts their ability to use their living or work spaces.” Nathan Peterson of OCD and Anxiety Counseling in McKinney, Texas has worked as a licensed clinical social worker for five years and in the social work field for 11 years. He emphasizes that “A hoarder will exhibit anxiety or stress when asked to depart with items. Messy people can throw things away but lack motivation; hoarders can’t due to the emotional distress it causes them.” While reality TV has led to increased fascination with hoarding, it is important to view hoarding as the severe mental illness that it is. The condition is even traceable down familial lines, genetically passed down with other hoarders or sufferers of OCD in previous generations. So how likely is it that a hoarder will need to sell their home? Peterson acknowledges that it is unusual for a hoarder to allow outside individuals in, but he has had numerous patients discuss a desire to “move and start fresh” and a few have successfully done so. Other times, a hoarder is forced to sell due to an inability to pay for the home or repair the home before it is condemned by the city. This can be appealing for some agents, as the majority of hoarder’s homes have been inherited, and many are in desirable historic locations. Although the hoarder may desire or need to sell their home, there is still a question if the potential client is capable of selling their home. Peterson suggests that in order to evaluate a hoarder’s ca-
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pability to prepare their home for the market, “determine if they can keep a deadline, ask them to clean out a room by the time you come back next week and see if they can do it.” It is likely that although the client has good intentions or a looming financial reality that requires them to sell their home, they simply find it too difficult. When Peterson enters a hoarder’s home for a clinical session, he will spend three hours discussing why a pen, sitting next to a mountain of other pens, should be thrown away or kept. The task is tedious and lengthy, but the breakthrough that occurs when a decision is successfully made is the foundation for the journey ahead. That journey does not fit with the typical listing preparation timeline. An option for those who are unable to part with items themselves is to hire a de-junking company, but this must be done with care. The Health Department in Nantucket, Massachusetts rolled out a program that allowed social workers to require and supervise forced cleanouts. Neighboring homeowners were delighted; it meant less rodents, pests, and mildew for them. However, the Health Department quickly abandoned forced cleanouts when three consecutive hoarders died shortly after being returned to their cleaned-out homes. “Hoarders often have the same level of connection to items in their home as they do people or their family members,” Peterson explains, so to see their home stripped of their most prized possessions is truly devastating. This is why most homes owned by hoarders are not sold, or are sold as-is. If your client or loved one struggles with hoarding, help from a mental health professional is imperative. The process will be difficult, and will not fit the typical listing timeline, but at the end, there is freedom.
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rising star
28 • March 2019
STEPHANIE
FUNK The Business of Helping Others
Written By Dave Danielson | Photography By Scott Peek Photography
It was getting close to Thanksgiving, and Stephanie Funk sat at the restaurant table. She was a little distracted. While she enjoyed the company she was with, she couldn’t help it. Her mind kept going to Jennifer, a recently single mom who was struggling through a divorce.
Several improvements needed to be made to Jennifer’s house before it could sell. The problem was finding someone to do the work. With the holiday approaching, no one was available. Jennifer was two months behind on her house payment. Time was running out. The clock was ticking. As her thoughts raced for a solution, Stephanie had to step outside and get back on the phone. “I felt lost and couldn’t find anyone to help finish this house, and the last person Jennifer worked with had stolen her money,” Stephanie remembers. She sold her wedding ring to pay for the improvements and gave the cash to a flooring guy who never returned and left the floors tore up. She dialed her broker/business partner, Justin Phillips. Maybe he would have some ideas.
An Entrepreneur is Born Stephanie will be the first to tell you that she and her husband, Shane, are proud entrepreneurs. To say that Stephanie is a high-energy individual is putting it mildly. It started on Texas soccer fields as a little girl. Her passion for the sport continued through college at Dallas Baptist University, along with a love for golfing and running. She soon met her next opportunity. A recruiter encouraged her to become a police officer. She dove in, became a Garland police officer for six years. Her talent and knack for communication were apparent. Soon, she was the department’s public information officer and even hosted the TV program Crime Watch Live. In the meantime, Stephanie and Shane started an auto repair business. It was a success.
“As I talked with Justin, he just added his handyman to our phone call. And he just said to him, ‘Just go out there, do whatever Stephanie needs you to do — patching the walls, doing repairs, painting — and just bill me and we’ll figure out how to get it paid later.’”
“We were staffed perfectly, and Shane had everything running smoothly. I started getting a little bored, and I’m one of those who needs to be challenged,” she remembers.
As she held the phone and experienced that kindness and solution for someone who needed it so much, she understood her purpose.
Opportunity was next door. A neighbor owned a mortgage company and had issues with his title company.
“That was the moment when I knew I was in the right place with what I was doing,” she smiles.
“As he and I talked, I jokingly I said, ‘Well if I open up my own title company, can I have all your business?’ He said sure,” she says. “I had no idea what that entailed. So I read the manual covwww.realproducersmag.com • 29
er to cover and looked for underwriters so I could become a title agent,” Stephanie recalls. So in 2006, she finalized her business plan, opened the doors and grew Triad National Title into a successful enterprise. In the course of business, she and Shane met Justin Phillips — the same Justin Phillips who would later be on the other end of the phone to help Jennifer. It was 2016. “Justin is like a brother for Shane and me. He is a good, Godly man who has good ethics and took care of his clients. He even became a real estate agent of ours,” Stephanie says. “We became friends, and he told me I should go into real estate and thought I would do well.”
Tori Crochet, Amy McMinn, Stephanie Funk, Ande Spencer, Emily Parman, Dana Wyatt
She dove in, got her license and became an agent that same year — with Phillips Realty Group & Associates. A Fast Start The support and guidance from her mentor and business partner, Justin, has eased Stephanie’s transition. “My first transaction was a pretty big one — a large, 10-acre estate in Crossroads. It was on the market for two years,” she says. The sellers switched to list with Stephanie. “I took Justin with me to help me. He was instrumental in suggestions. We sold that house the first week for full price,” she says. “Had I not had him with me the first few transactions, it would have been more difficult. Regardless of my background, I didn’t have that knowledge necessary to really be successful until I followed the footsteps of a mentor like him.” Since those early days, Stephanie has continued to grow — with $6.4 million in 2018 volume and over $10 million in current listings. Along the way, she has developed a strong specialty with builders. She trademarked the phrase, “Love It or Build It,” and is the exclusive listing agent for a 21-plot development in Celina called Carter Landing.
30 • March 2019
Beyond Dollar Signs “My favorite part isn’t putting a sign in the yard for a milliondollar home,” she points out. “It’s helping that wife the husband abandoned—being able to put a sign in her yard, helping her sell it, and finding her a new place nearby so that the kids don’t have to switch schools—to help those who some wouldn’t help.” While she works 60+ hours a week, Stephanie has a passion for time with Shane and their two daughters — 14-year-old Trinity and 11-year-old Kaylee. Trinity helps her mom with volunteering activities with Hope’s Door and Prosper Ladies Association, and Kaylee is very busy pursuing her activities in gymnastics, modeling, and acting. As she looks to the future, Stephanie enjoys leading the office with Justin and supporting their 18 agents to grow and succeed. One quote fueling Stephanie’s success comes from Eleanor Roosevelt, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Stephanie states, “It has always stuck with me.” As Stephanie makes it her business to help others, she feels a sense of gratitude and knowing that things happen for a reason. As she says, “The timing has been right. I needed to have had this career and my past experience and for everything to have happened the way it did for me to be in a position to help.”
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www.realproducersmag.com • 31
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NORTH DFW REAL PRODUCERS
PARTNER EVENTS CALENDAR MARCH 2019
Event Name: Social Power Hour Host: Farmers Insurance – Kristian Rhyne Date: March 7, 2019 Time: 5-8 pm Location: NYLO Plano 8201 Preston Road, Plano Texas 75024 Details: This Happy Hour is a great way to network with other professionals who work/live around North Dallas.
Event Name: Avoiding Tax Mistakes Host: Inspect360 Date: March 7, 2019 Time: 9-11 am Location: 1802 Industrial Blvd., Colleyville, TX 76034 Details: Save money and taxes by becoming tax smart. Gain a better understanding of the NEW tax laws and how to best report your income or cost of doing business. You’ll learn: -The best way to report your income as a high producing agent. -How to take advantage of the new tax laws. -Efficient ways to track and maximize your mileage, business expenses and insurance benefits. TREC course: #NA Course Fee: $15 (payment is required prior to class participation)
Event Name: Valentines for Veterans Host: Elite Inspection Group Date: March 13, 2019 Time: 4-7 pm Location: Kelly’s at the Village Details: Collecting donations for the VA Hospital
Event Name: Annual Appreciation Host: Elite Inspection Group Date: March 21, 2019 Time: 6-10 pm Location: Sanctuary in McKinney Details: Party for agents. DJ included.
Event Name: Legal Update I & Legal Update II Host: Inspect360 Date: March 28, 2019 Time: 9 am-5 pm Location: TBD Details: Staying on top of the laws and regulations as they apply to real estate in Texas. You will learn about recent updates and changes to laws, regulations, legal definitions, ethics of practice and forms as they apply to real estate in Texas. TREC course: CE#33197 and CE#33198 CourseFee: $75 (payment is required prior to class participation) www.realproducersmag.com • 33
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Simple Ways To
Save Household
On Your
Expenses
financial fitness By N2 Staff Writer, Elizabeth McCabe
Looking to curb your monthly expenses? Become a penny pincher! Here are a few simple tips to save on your household expenses. Lay Off the Lattes
Are you a latte lover? If you can’t resist the drive-thru for your caffeine fix, invest in a Keurig instead. It simply makes sense. At an average of $4.45 for a specialty drink, a Keurig can make a specialty cup of coffee for $1.33 or less. Banish Boutique Gyms
One of the latest trends in fitness is going to boutique gyms for Pilates, yoga and barre. Individual classes can range anywhere from $12 to $40. Monthly memberships can set you back even more. To save money, consider a gym where classes are included in the
36 • March 2019
price. Or better yet, do your workouts at home or a local park.
Say goodbye in the process to telemarketers who often call landlines.
Brown Bag It
Cut the Cable
Are you used to eating out for lunch? Brown bag it instead! With an average meal costing at least $10, it can add up to a few hundred dollars each month. Adopt a healthier lifestyle and save money by packing your lunch. Reserve eating out for special occasions instead.
Is your cable bill costing you an arm and a leg? Cut it out. The options are endless for those looking for entertainment. With Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Sling TV and more, you could save on your entertainment cost.
Lose the Landline
Are you still paying for a landline? Save money by losing the landline and relying on your cell phone instead.
Life is too short to see your money go down the drain. With a few simple tweaks to your spending habits, you can save on your monthly expenses.
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cover story Written by Zach Cohen Photography by Scott Peek Photography
Seychelle
Van Poole Achieving the Highest Good 38 • March 2019
“I don’t know how you succeed in this business without a profound appreciation for people.” Talking with Seychelle Van Poole, her genuine appreciation for people is ever-apparent. Presence, patience, and ease settle over the conversation, and it’s clear that her intentions are far from self-serving. “I want to inspire somebody else to grow their business and better their life,” Seychelle explains.
In 2004, Seychelle decided to join the real estate business. She had been living and working in advertising in New York City, far from home. As her father’s struggle with Parkinson’s deepened, Seychelle knew it was time to return home to her family. “Being away I started to notice his symptoms more… I thought if something happens to my dad, who would help take care of him? Who would take care of my parents? That became the calling card — I need to make sure my family is taken care of.”
Returning Home Building Wealth On September 11, 2001, the same day the Twin Towers fell, Seychelle’s mother, Barabara, celebrated her own birthday and the beginnings of the Van Poole Properties Group. Barbara was a business owner, an entrepreneur, and deeply involved in the local school district. What she thought would be a smooth transition quickly turned upside down. Home-buyers and sellers became risk-averse; many people were hunkering down, scared of making significant life changes as uncertainty loomed. “She thought she was starting a relationship-based business, but it became necessary to cold call,” Seychelle reflects. “Having to flip everything on its head has been a theme. We’re not afraid to look at a tactic, and if it’s not working, let’s sit down, reanalyze this and change direction if we have to.”
“I thought I just wanted to be in the sales business…” Seychelle begins. “During my first six weeks in, I went to this happy hour. I was 22, but I think I looked 12. There was this guy who was 73, and he looked safe to talk to, if I’m being truly honest.” As it turned out, this gentleman owned a host of apartments, houses, and other rental properties. “Having been in New York, I thought that might be the most terrible job you could ever have,” Seychelle laughs. The man said he owned 100 properties, and they each netted a cash flow of $1,000 per month. Seychelle’s her ears perked up. “That’s how I learned about real estate investing… I have become really passionate about building
www.realproducersmag.com • 39
Nick, in 2006, they devised a clever plan to jumpstart their own wealth-building. Seychelle made sure that all of the wedding gifts she registered for were returnable for cash. After the wedding, Nick and Seychelle brought back everything they didn’t need, exchanging the gifts for enough cash to put a down payment on their first rental property. “We bought a home for $155,000 with 5% down. It’s worth $325,000, and we owe only $55,000 today,” Seychelle says. “Now that’s an awesome wedding gift.” “The moral is that you don’t have to have a lot to get a jump start in life. You can be really creative and savvy and find a way to make wealth happen. That’s been our mantra all along — how can we replicate this over and over?” The Life of Her Dreams Nick and Seychelle met at 16 years old, started dating in college, and have now been married for 13 years. They have a four-year-old daughter, Quinn. “This age is so magical and fun and insane,” Seychelle laughs. “For us, real estate has allowed us to build a schedule around being parents.”
“I don’t know how you succeed in this business without a profound appreciation for people.”
wealth — for us, team members and our clients. What are your life goals and how can we help you with that?”
40 • March 2019
Nick is a general contractor, and he remodels and flips homes. With the full freedom to build their own schedules, Seychelle and Nick are continually reminding themselves exactly why they do the work they do — to create the lives of their dreams. “Do you want to live to work or work to live?” Seychelle asks. She’s learned that if she doesn’t plan her own time, that someone else will make the plan for her. As a result, Seychelle is hyper-aware of how she spends and plans her family time, personal time, and vacations. In real estate, she aspires to help each team member achieve the same sense of balance.
The dream of building homeownership and wealth is a passion for Seychelle. She’s seen what it can bring to people’s lives — including her own.
“We look for people to grow careers with, not fill a hole. People who want to build wealth and have a high quality of life. And we look to build the whole person, not just with work,” Seychelle explains.
“Just because you don’t have a ton of money doesn’t mean you can’t build wealth through real estate,” Seychelle says. When she married her husband,
As with all things, Seychelle’s goal is always for the highest good — for herself, her family, her team members, and her clients alike.
www.realproducersmag.com • 41
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FAQ
ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE
Real Producers magazine started in Indianapolis in 2015 and is now in over 70 markets across the nation and spreading rapidly. North DFW Real Producers launched August 2018. Name a large city and we are there or will be soon! In every market, we take the Top 500 agents, based off of the MLS production, and we build an exclusive magazine around those agents. We share their stories, successes, market trends, upcoming events — really, anything that will connect, inform and inspire, we put in the monthly publication. We strive to inform and inspire the top producing real estate agents in the local market and connect them socially. The secondary focus is to provide an avenue for our affiliate partners to create relationships with these top performers on a level that they might not be able to achieve on their own.
44 • March 2019
Q: WHO RECEIVES NORTH DFW REAL PRODUCERS MAGAZINE?
A: The top 500 agents in North Dallas/Fort Worth. We pull the MLS numbers (by volume) from in the North DFW area: Collin County, Denton County and a few other locations in Dallas County that are North of I-635. Approximately 20,000 agents are licensed in this territory. We cut the list off at #500, and the distribution was born. The list will reset at the end of every year and will continue to update annually. Q: WHAT ABOUT THE DALLAS AND FORT WORTH TERRITORIES?
A: In 2019 Dallas Real Producers (Dallas County South of 635 — including Rockwall County) and Fort Worth Real Producers (Tarrant County) will launch. Yes, Real Producers will cover the entire Metroplex!
Q: WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR BEING FEATURED IN THIS MAGAZINE?
A: It’s really simple – every feature you see has first been nominated. You can nominate other realtors, affiliates, brokers, owners, or even yourself! Office leaders can also nominate realtors. We will consider anyone brought to our attention who is in the Top 500 because we don’t know everyone’s story, so we need your help to learn about them. A nomination currently looks like this: you email us at northdfw@realproducersmag.com with the subject line, “Nomination: (Name of Nominee).” Please explain why you are nominating them to be featured. It could be they have an amazing story that needs to be told – perhaps they overcame extreme obstacles, they are an exceptional leader, have the best customer service, or they give back to the community in a big way, etc. The next step is an interview with us to ensure it’s a good fit. If it all works out, then we put the wheels in motion for our writer to conduct an interview to write the article and for our photographers to schedule a photo shoot.
Q: WHAT DOES IT COST A REALTOR/TEAM TO BE FEATURED?
A: Zero, zilch, zippo, nada, nil. It costs nothing, my friends, so nominate away! We are not a pay-to-play model. We share real stories of real producers. Q: WHO ARE THE PREFERRED PARTNERS?
A: Anyone listed as a “preferred partner” in the front of the magazine is a part of this community. They will have an ad in every issue of the magazine, attend our quarterly events, and be a part of our online community. We don’t just find these businesses off the street, nor do we work with all businesses that approach us. One or many the top agents have recommended every single preferred partner you see in this publication. We won’t even meet with a business that has not been vetted by one of you and “stamped for approval,” in a sense. Our goal is to create a powerhouse network, not only for the best realtors in the area, but the best affiliates, as well, so we can grow stronger together. Q: HOW CAN I RECOMMEND A PREFERRED PARTNER?
A: If you know and want to recommend a local business that works with top realtors, please email us at to let us know at: northdfw@realproducersmag.com.
www.realproducersmag.com • 45
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