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Executive Times May 2019

Let’s C e l e b r a t e Birthdays Carolyn Stangl Artom Asriyans Eve Bilden Debbie Michelic Heidi Grebe Stephanie Mueller Emily Shaw Melinda Hughes Monica Duerwachter Arlene Nesta Charlie Smart Yvonne Caby Tony Greco Jay Doyle Erica Petri Sarah Smart Larry Giorgi Jen Gizelbach Julie Vicenzi

Anniversaries Andrea Kane Meghan Neville Francesca Orlando Ashley Toth Artom Asriyans Steve Brill Gerrit Gronowski Khushboo Wilkins Jennifer Yogurtian Frank Ferlindes Julie Vicenzi Sharon Doyle John Arneson

1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 3 Years 3 Years 3 Years 5 Years 6 Years 10 Years 14 Years

May 2 May 3 May 3 May 4 May 5 May 6 May 6 May 7 May 9 May 9 May 14 May 15 May 16 May 19 May 19 May 19 May 21 May 23 May 30

May Holidays • • •

National Day of Prayer | May 2 Cinco de Mayo | May 5 National Nurses Day | May 6

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Mother’s Day | May 12

National Armed Forces Day | May 18

Memorial Day | May 27

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Internationally Powered By Experts By Your Leadership Team

For many years Realty Executives International hosted an annual conference for Broker Owners in the land where it all began, beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona. In recent years, Realty Executives International realized they were missing the boat by hosting separate events for Broker Owners and Sales Executives. David Tedesco, Realty Executives International’s owner, said it best at the last year’s conference. “We are YOU and YOU are us.” With a shift in thinking, your support team at Realty Executives International created a new experience for each of YOU! This new format allows Broker Owners and Sales Executives from around the globe the chance to connect for a few days, share best practices, strategize growth plans, build your referral networks and offer solutions to everyday challenges. In 2018, we brought along several Executives to experience the conference and get to know the team at International; it was an AMAZING time. This year your Leadership Team is committed to packing the venue with our amazing RE-Integrity peeps! During this year’s awards breakfast we offered to help offest the expense for attending the conference to the first 25 people who committed to joining us in October. While we work in an industry where everything always goes according to plan (wink, wink)…we were completely BLOWN AWAY by the immediate interest. Over the next 3 days, responses poured in like offers on a new listing in Wauwatosa! We were humbled and to be fair, completely overwhelmed to have 40 Sales Executives make the commitment to attend! That’s right, 40 of YOU made the commitment to join us for this compelling conference hosted by Realty Executives International. Now facing ‘a challenge of the best kind’, what do you do? How do you tell the additional people who want to transform their business with this opportunity no? Well, like everything else in this industry, you get creative in finding a solution that allows those of you who responded to attend. And so we did and our goal will be exceeded…THANK YOU! With that said, it’s not too late to attend, even if you missed the deadline for the package that we are offering. You can still join us for this powerful time with fellow RE-Integrity peeps in beautiful Arizona at your own expense. We would love to have you there!

Please email Claire Zastrow for the details and registration information! ClaireZastrow@RealtyExecutives.com

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May Happenings Office Parties North Shore Cinco De Mayo Celebration Come share your favorite Mexican inspired dish! May 1 | 12:00-1:00pm Glendale Office

Brookfield Cinco De Mayo Celebration Bring your favorite topping & enjoy a taco bar! May 2 | 12:00-2:00pm Brookfield Office

Franklin Night Out May 2 | 5:00-7:00pm Point After Pub & Grille Franklin, WI

Cedarburg Cinco De Mayo Fiesta Bring your favorite Mexican dish to share and enjoy margarita mocktails! May 3 | 11:00am-1:00pm Cedarburg Office

Lake Country Cinco De Mayo Celebration Enjoy a Taco Bar, margarita mocktails and a photo booth! May 3 | 12:00-2:00pm Lake Country Office

Office Gatherings North Shore Mastermind May 1 | 9:30-11:00am Fiddleheads - Mequon Franklin Mastermind May 2 | 9:30-11:00am Franklin Office Workroom

Lake Country Mastermind May 8 | 9:30-11:00am Milwaukee Street Traders - Delafield Lunch & Learn with A+ Mortgage Services & Knight Barry Title All Things Title & Mortgage May 15 | 11:00am - 1:00pm Brookfield Office Lower Level Brookfield Mastermind May 22 | 9:30-11:00am Brookfield Office Lower Level North Shore Mastermind May 29 | 9:30-11:00am Fiddleheads - Mequon

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Welcoming Your Plants Back After A Long Winter If you’re a gardener, or at least want to be one, there’s no time as amazing as early spring. This is when your plants are starting to wake from their long winter’s sleep. The white snow and frost flowers are giving way to green grass and emerging vegetation that seems to multiply like magic day after day. Although a lot of people sit back and wait for their plants to do whatever it is that they do in early spring, others, like you, are eager to help them be all they can be this year. The Results of Minimum Plant Care Many homeowners just let their plants come and go as they please. Usually, they’ve inherited the vegetation from the former owner and have little interest in gardening. It’s ok, it’s not for everyone. But, due to this minimal care for the plants, many varieties will start to die off from neglect. A slow death is still a death. Obviously, you’re looking to do a bit more to help your plants get off to a good start. Because of this, your landscape will be healthier, live longer and produce more ornamental flowers than those of the neighbor who would have preferred a lot of grass and no plants to tend. First Thing’s First, Reduce Your Plant’s Risk of Early Season Fungus There are varieties of herbaceous perennials like bananas, cannas and elephant ear that can survive the winter in many climates if they’re tucked in under a layer of organic mulch that’s two to four inches deep. While mulch protects them from drying out or freezing to death when it’s cold, once these types of plants start to grow in the spring, that life-saving mulch can become a real enemy. It’s vital that you pull back the mulch from your plants every few days to check for green growth above ground. Once you see it, hollow a moat out between the plant and the mulch. Make sure no mulch is touching the new growth and that the moat you’ve scooped is about two inches wide to allow for further safe development. Several opportunistic fungi will take advantage of young, green growth that’s constantly touching something moist, like that mulch. There’s a fine line here, tread carefully. Soil Testing and Amendment If you have a garden plot and failed to fertilize it in the fall, now is the time to get to it. As soon as you can work the soil, take several samples and either use a home test kit to determine the condition of the soil or have them analyzed by your local university extension’s lab. The extension tests are generally around $10, but the cost varies by location. Continued on next page

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Welcoming Your Plants Back After A Long Winter Cont’d

Either way, you’ll have some kind of indication about the condition of your soil, as well as what you can do to fix any problems. For example, you may find that your soil is low in nitrogen, a vital nutrient for plants that grow a lot of leaves very quickly, like your lawn. In this case, you’ll follow the instructions for feeding the type of plant you intend to place in the tested area, using a precise amount of fertilizer, so as not to encourage long, spindly growth in those eager plants. The same applies to other types of fertilizer, including balanced fertilizers like 10-10-10 and 15-1515. Most established perennials are fine with fertilizer that’s mixed into the top two to five inches of soil, but always check before you get too wild with it. A few species may have unusual reactions, including but not limited to developing an overall burned or wilted look due to root destruction. Never apply more fertilizer than necessary due to the risk of runoff and pollution of waterways. Turn the Sprinklers On! Once the nighttime temperatures are consistently above freezing, you’re ready to turn the water back on. Your plants will appreciate the long, deep drink and you’ll be happy to not have to water each one by hand. Remember, when turning irrigation systems back on after being drained, do so slowly. Opening the valve too quickly can result in a high-pressure water surge that can rupture sprinkler heads or burst fittings. Be prepared to turn the system back off if a surprise freeze creeps on, but waiting as long as possible to get the irrigation started again is also a fairly safe bet. Check for Signs of Insect Infestation As your plants start to bud, you’ll be able to tell if they’ve developed any problems during the winter. Generally, these are caused by insect infestations, but in ornamental and fruit trees, a whole range of fungal invasion is also likely. Small holes in the trunks of trees and shrubs are likely caused by boring insects like clearwing moths, which spend most of their life cycles inside the plant. This makes them very hard to get rid of and often results in the hollowing of the interior of limbs and branches. Those hollow branches pose a major risk to anyone walking below, as they can reach a point where they are no longer structurally sound and suddenly break away from the tree.

Article Courtesy of: Saro Cutri from Homekeepr.com

Follow, Like & Share our online Marketing Campaign to build YOUR business! @REIntegrity @Realty_Executives_Integrity Realty Executives Integrity

Abbie Myers, Paress Huebner and Austin Cole at the 2019 Awards Breakfast

Tonya Thomsen, Miranda Zuege and Meghan Neville at the 2019 Realtor and Government Day

2017 & 2018 MARKET LEADER

Kim Schedler, Sue Heitz, Tina Catalanotte and Suzanne Heinrich at the 2019 Awards Breakfast

BROKERAGE OF THE MONTH APRIL 2017

2016 EXTRAORDINARY BROKERAGE

Buffini Peak Producers Graduating Class – April 2019

Class Launching September 17th Email Claire Zastrow for details ClaireZastrow@RealtyExecutives.com

In-House Certified Mentor to take your Business to the NEXT level!

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EXECUTIVE Happenings Designing Women for a Cause is a group of creative women celebrating their 25th year dedicating their energy, artistic talent and inspiration to give financial support to non-profit organizations within our community. Pat Wunderlich, an established Sales Executive with Realty Executives Integrity, has been involved with “Designing Women for a Cause” from the very beginning. Each year, these women curate amazingly detailed tables around a theme and invite guests to participate in various events over the course of two days. This year’s event supported The Adaptive Community Approach Program (ACAP) in Waukesha County and Pat predicted exceeding $50K in donations for this local charitable organization! ACAP has been serving adults with disabilities in Waukesha Country for over 37 years. The organization’s mission is to encourage adults with disabilities to achieve their highest potential and acquire life-long skills which will enable them to become contributing members within their communities. In addition to community service, members are active in visual arts, performing arts, and disability awareness and advocacy.

Pat and the other women spend 365 days preparing for this annual event; gathering items for their tables and putting every detail together to create an amazing experience for their guests. The theme of her table this year was “Jay Gatsby – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?”. Pat feels incredibly fortunate to be a part of this group that supports such a worthy cause. For details on next years event, reach out to Pat at: TheWunderTeamSellsHomes@yahoo.com

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Lunch & Learn M a y 1 5 th | B ro o k f i e l d O f f i c e 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

∙ Title & Mortgage Tips and Tricks ∙ Join our in-house title & mortgage affiliates for this lunch and learn on everything you’d need to know to serve your clients with expertise.

For the Third Year in a row, REALTY EXECUTIVES INTEGRITY has been awarded the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Top Workplace Award!

CONGRATULATIONS

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Welcome to Our New

EXECUTIVES Annie Domres Cedarburg Office 262.689.9074 AnnieDomres@ RealtyExecutives.com

Mike Yokers Lake Country Office 262.269.9932 MikeYokers@ RealtyExecutives.com

Denise McKenzie Brookfield Office 262.893.9811 DeniseMcKenzie@ RealtyExecutives.com

June Dann Brookfield Office 262.628.1903 JuneDunn@ RealtyExecutives.com

Amanda Rivera-Diaz Franklin Office 414.429.9249 AmandaRae@ RealtyExecutives.com

● Do you know ● someone who would make a great Executive?

Let our Professional Development Team know! Email: MakeYourMove@RealtyExecutives.com

Morgan Sampson Brookfield Office 920.728.3160 MorganSampson@ RealtyExecutives.com

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“

INTEGRITY

When a seller wants to update the outside of their property, what do you believe to be the most advantageous updates to make for curb appeal?

“

The curb appeal of your home truly is the first impression. It can make or break your home selling without buyers even stepping foot into your home. It's important to make sure your bushes and trees are trimmed, especially if they overhang or crowd a walkway. If it has been a while since landscaping has been addressed, it could be that your landscaping is overgrown. It may be advantageous to dig some plants/bushes up to make things look more neat and tidy. I would always suggest speaking with a landscaper before pulling things out or deciding what to replant in its place! The other outside item not to overlook is the siding. It may just need a power wash or maybe just the trim needs attention. In some cases you may need to repaint the entire home. That investment will last years and makes the home look fresh and new.

Tina Catalanotte YOUR Team Lake Country Office

In our 15-year-old home we repainted and changed the color last year and are re-doing the landscaping this year. I can't wait for the fresh, new look!

”

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INSIGHTS “My teammate Tina shared the bulk of our ideas, but one additional item I would add is that fresh mulch makes a big difference. Even adding a fresh layer of mulch over existing mulch adds to that clean, crisp look Tina described.

Kristi Artiles YOUR Team Lake Country Office

Also, don't forget the front door. Make sure it is clean with no peeling paint. A fresh coat of paint on the door always helps, and don't forget to check the sidelights!”

“

Clean crisp and fresh!!! The YOUR Team hit it on the head!

” Sue Heitz YOUR Team Lake Country Office

“All great points from the team! I have to second the mulch. I always notice when people do that and it looks like the home is well manicured when fresh mulch is down. Kim Schedler YOUR Team Lake Country Office

Maybe some annual flowers in a pot if the season is allowing it, as well!”

#WeMoveWI

Our Charitable Organizations

At Realty Executives Wisconsin Region, we believe community support and outreach is incredibly important. We actively support the following charitable organizations and each one is connected personally with a member of the Realty Executives Wisconsin Brand. We make it easy for our Executives to support these charities by allowing them to make donations directly from their closing checks. Outside of financial contributions, our leadership team and Executives also donate their time and energy to work events associated with these charities.

• Before 16 is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit foundation built to care for orphans. • They strive to get children hosted by a family who is either considering adoption or will advocate for adoption. • Their hope is that the hosting process can provide the avenue to find a loving family for each child. They are dedicated to rescuing as many orphans as possible before they turn 16 are out the system. Learn more at www.Before16.org • Habitat for Humanity builds and renovate • JR’s Pups-N-Stuff began with one homes for families goal in mind: to save animals from in need of life-threatening situations. sustainable • It was built by a network of foster housing. parents in the Milwaukee area. • Mission: Bringing • It is “a little rescue with a big heart.” people together in Learn more at www.JRPupsNStuff.org homes, communities, and home. • “We envision a • SALS offers freedom with accountability for world where men and women who are serious about their everyone has a sobriety. decent place to • They provide non-institutional sober living live.” with a unique balance of independence and Learn more at structure. www.Habitat.org • They are committed to providing safe, comfortable, and modern Recovery Houses for all. Learn more at www.SALShouses.org

• Lindsay’s Voice was created as a way to celebrate the life of Lindsay (Wenzel) Lopez, a 32 year old wife and mother, who lost her 14-month battle against Leukemia on 11/22/10. • Mission: Raising awareness for Leukemia, Lymphomas, and blood Cancers, along with raising funds to support patient services and ongoing local research. • “Until there’s a day that nobody has to hear the words, ‘it’s Cancer,’ we continue to fight.” Learn more at www.TreesOfHopeWI.org

This year’s Keynote Speaker - Top real estate coach Jared James!

BIG NEW S

Seats are LIMITED Reserve your spot today! Wednesday, September 18th 10:00am – 2:00pm Peck Welcome Center at the Milwaukee County Zoo

RSVP Today www.REWisconsinRegion.com

Bring a friend in the industry & See you there!

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Budgeting Tips For Millennials L o o k i n g To B u y a H o m e Article by: Realty Executives International

Buying your first home can feel like one of adulthood’s true markers and a dream come true. For today’s millennials, however, that dream may seem daunting, especially when they consider the other financial responsibilities that people their age commonly face. Student loans, credit card debt, and a higher cost of goods are all obstacles to becoming a homeowner today. But with planning and hard work, millennials can get on the path to buying a house of their own. Here are some expert tips for maximizing dollars and ensuring that homeownership is a reality for every generation. Set a budget – and use it. Budgets seem easy enough, right? Set reasonable spending and saving limits, then follow them monthly. So why don’t more people use them? A recent Gallup poll revealed that only 30 percent of consumers regularly plan using a budget. This simple tool doesn’t require an advanced degree or even paid software to implement. Set a goal for money coming in, track money going out, and shore up the difference to ensure you’re meeting your obligations and putting aside extra for that down payment. You can use a basic Excel sheet or download one of the many apps that make it easy to budget from your smartphone. Personalize your budget. Your budget should include categories for every area of spending, from food to transportation to entertainment. However, your life might not fit into the same boxes as someone else’s does. This is why it’s essential to personalize your budget for your specific expenses. If you have special interests, unique work expenditures, or purchases that aren’t quite category-friendly, go ahead and make your own budget categories. Tweak budget templates as you need to make them yours. Customize software and apps to work best for your situation. Be realistic. When you sit down to create your first budget, it’s tempting to set your goals first, then create an account of your spending that fits those goals. Unfortunately, a budget isn’t enough to change bad spending patterns and rewrite our lives to match our goals. We’re capable of change, but lasting change tends to be gradual. If you’re looking for places to trim your budget, look first to your “discretionary” spending. Expenses like entertainment, food, and travel are areas where we have the freedom to cut costs. Rent, utilities, and student loans are much harder to pare down, especially quickly. It can feel frustrating to only make small changes, but those changes will add up if you stick to your plan.

Check your credit.

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Your someday home may be a dream on the horizon for now, but it’s never too soon to make improvements on your credit. Once you finally have the cash for a down payment, you don’t want credit issues to keep you from buying a home. Many home shoppers start exploring the market and deciding how much house they want a year or more before they are ready to buy. There’s no better time to make sure your credit score and history aren’t hiding any unpleasant surprises. Run your free credit report from all three agencies every year and take advantage of any free credit score reports offered by credit card accounts. Use this information to get a handle on late payments, an unhealthy debt to available ratio, or other concerns on your profile. Reconsider interest. You probably already know how much you pay each month in credit card payments, student loans, or your car lease. Do you know how much of that amount goes to interest? If you don’t, start examining what you’re paying and look for ways to cut that number down. Paying off your balances as fast as possible is the best way to ditch interest quickly, but not everyone has the means to throw cash at the problem. Instead, explore whether consolidating debts into a personal loan can offer you a better interest rate while you pay down debt steadily. You may also want to inquire with your creditor about getting a few points knocked off your rate. It never hurts to ask. Maximize income. While much of our budgeting advice focuses on cutting costs, there’s another side to the financial coin that’s just as important. Boosting your budget by making more money is an effective way to make big progress on your financial goals and can also make you a more attractive customer for a mortgage company. Not everyone can take on an extra job, but picking up some overtime pay or asking for a raise can help you make progress quickly. For every dollar you cut from spending, see how you can pair that with a dollar in extra income. Make a mock “homebuyer” budget. As you move forward on your spending and saving goals, owning a home may feel closer and closer. If you have your down payment squared away and your credit is in good shape, chances are you’ll be house hunting soon. But before you start calling realtors, research what it costs to own a home in your area. After your budgeting adventures, you know that number will be much higher than your monthly mortgage payment. You’ll also be responsible for costs like: Utilities, Insurance, Property taxes, Repairs, and HOA fees. Research the average costs for these items in your area to figure out what kind of home you can afford to buy. Buying a home is a huge goal, but it’s one that’s within your reach with patience, perseverance, and a commitment to making your budget a proactive tool. Saving for goals happens best with a budget. Soon enough, that set of keys will be well within your grasp.

REALTY EXECUTIVES INTERNATIONAL

2018 AWARD RECEIPENTS

Pinnacle Award & Chairman Award The Jim Geracie Team

Double Diamond Award The House to Home Team The BAIR Group

The Tim Michelic Team Bruce’s Team

Diamond Award Your Team Dale’s Home Selling Team Sharon Doyle The Sue Patti Group The KT Team

Jodi Olson Thomsen Team Lucas Team Homes Mary Edwards

Team Perzacki theCOLLECTIVE Brian Roslawski

200% Club Lothair Lambrecht Alice Bush Dana Lazich The Liebert Team Erna Russert

Gina Dingman Pam Burki Alexis Realty Group Jennifer Bronk

100% Club The Steve Bergelin Team Julie Clarke The Ferlindes Team Kim Peterson Sosa & Associates Dave Rosenlund Marietta Ticali Peggy Wester The Welcome Home Team Austin Cole

Affiliate Award Jean Daul

Barb & Kent’s Home Selling Team MY Real Estate Team The Home Sweet Home Team Adam Poehlman The Wunder Team Homes Gene Anderson Jennifer Villarreal Sarah Alexander Elizabeth Bertrandt-Klug Karen Wenzel

Staff Achievement Award Angela Riemer

Neil Miyashita Bob Starchevich Teri Hayes DJ Campbell Mindy Wittig G3 Realtors Jason Patti Nicole Lasocki Paress Huebner

Legend Award Tonya Thomsen

Vadim Ruzell, Alexis Ruzell, Dale Schaechterle and Artom Asriyans

Erica Petri and Tiffany Decker

Karen Wenzel, Michael Fitzpatrick, Kalina Eichstaedt and Rachel Hinterberg

Lauri Gundrum, Paress Huebner, Judy Huebner and Abbie Myers

Barb Breitenfeldt and Jennifer Bronk

Dana Keegan and Debbie Michelic

International Awards

Dale Schaechterle and BJ Heiden

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Tip of the Month

Are you ready to generate new business and more referrals by earning your Digital Marketing Executive (DMX) certification? This training exclusively hosted by Realty Executives International equips you with the skills to master our proprietary suite of fully integrated, modern marketing tools. This 4 week live webinar based training allows you to better serve clients and equip yourself with business-boosting strategies. • • • • •

Maximizing your presence online Saving time with Listing Automation Boosting your search rankings Generate new leads and referrals Leveraging social media and more!

To register, ask your CME today or email Krista Jurczenia, Training & Product Specialist at Realty Executives International! KristaJurczenia@RealtyExecutives.com

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Looking for Help Accounting

Designated Realtors John Plavsic | Brookfield (262) 364.0555

Career Development

Business Planning

Dale Schaechterle Dale@RealtyExecutives.com

Dana Keegan (262) 618.2575 DanaKeegan@RealtyExecutives.com Arlene Nesta (262) 369.8985 arlene@wirealtyexec.com Jesse Garcia (262) 369.8986 jesse@wirealtyexec.com

Certified Marketing Executives Claire Zastrow | All Locations (262) 369.8959 | Claire@wirealtyexec.com

Locate Us Brookfield 13005 W. Bluemound Road Brookfield, WI 53005 P: (262) 783.7080

Franklin 9130 W. Loomis Road, Ste 1000 Franklin, WI 53132 P: (414) 235.5777

Cedarburg W61N306 Washington Avenue, Ste 203 Cedarburg, WI 53012 P: (262) 377.6099

Germantown N112W15568 Mequon Road Germantown, WI 53022 P: (262) 250.0995

East Troy 2887 Main Street East Troy, WI 53120 P: (262) 642.3363

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North Shore 4655 N. Port Washington Road, Ste 300 Glendale, WI 53212 P: (414) 906.4500

Where Home and Happy Meet â„¢