Executive Times December 2018
Let’s C e l e b r a t e Anniversaries Carolyn Stangl Leann Gronowski Tina Reddick Mindy Wittig Dionne Barnes Susan Behrens Heather Henry August Herschede Heather Steiner Tonya Thomsen Angela Walters Steve Bergelin Doug Dann
1 Year 2 Years 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years 7 Years 7 Years 12 Years 12 Years 12 Years 12 Years 16 Years 20 Years
Birthdays Jodi Olson Sharon Kugi Kashyap Malkan Josh Prostek Dennis Alsteen Barb Boehler John Behrens August Herschede Doug Dann Jeanne Nemovitz Joan Schrank Neil Miyashita Randy Wollert Kristi Artiles Tiffany Decker DJ Campbell Steve Walsh Barb Pedersen
December 1 December 5 December 5 December 5 December 6 December 7 December 11 December 13 December 16 December 17 December 17 December 18 December 20 December 22 December 23 December 25 December 27 December 29
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OnDemand Mobile Sign Riders Our FREE Gift to YOU!
This December as you scour the stores in search of the perfect gifts for those you hold dear, your support team is doing the same. The definition of ‘gift’ is something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation. Our intention is to provide you a lasting gift, for the benefit of YOUR business at no cost. Nope, that’s not a typo...you read this correctly. We are providing a gift to you that will lead to increased income, seamless transactions, build brand awareness and generate leads to YOUR business. Realty Executives Integrity and our in-house Mortgage Lender, A+ Mortgage Services, are working together to provide each of our Sales Executives with OnDemand Mobile Sign Riders at NO COST! Not only is A+ Mortgage helping to provide another lead generation source for your business, they are able to pre-qualify buyers inquires that are captured on your listings. What an incredible service that will benefit your sellers and become a top lending experience for buyers.
- What does this mean for you and your sellers? Yo u h a v e h i g h q u a l i t y l e a d s o n t h e i r h o m e t h a t a r e p r e - q u a l i f i e d by a trusted lender on your team. The OnDemand Mobile Sign Riders drive business directly to you, by allowing consumers to text a request for more information on a property when driving around searching for their dream home. I have personally heard many stories in which our agents were able to double pop a listing simply because of using OnDemand Mobile Sign Riders. Not only will a trusted lender from A+ Mortgage reach out to the buyer, you will also receive a lead notification to follow up and set a private showing in real time. These sign riders are also a huge advantage in converting listing appointments with sellers. You as a Sales Executive have a system that allows buyers to easily connect with their home by sending a simple text. Prospective buyers’ information is captured in our system and buyers receive the property details right to their phones in real time allowing them to fall in love instantly! If you are already using the system, get ready for this upgrade and if you have yet to take advantage of this opportunity to grow your business; NOW is the time and we are anxious to help you get started. Let your office CME know how many OnDemand Mobile Sign Riders you would like (new OR replacement) and we will take care of the rest. It’s that simple. All the Best, RE-Integrity & A+ Mortgage Services Team
more information on page 7
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December Happenings Holidays
Office Events
Monday, December 24th Christmas Eve
Hartland Office Potluck Holiday Party Monday, December 10th | 12-2pm
Offices will be unstaffed
Tuesday, December 25th Christmas Day
Offices will be unstaffed Monday, December 31st New Years Eve
Regular office hours Tuesday, January 1st New Years Day
Offices will be unstaffed
Take photos in our photobooth & guess how many ornaments are on the tree for a prize! Brookfield Office Holiday Celebration Wednesday, December 12th | 12-2pm - Lunch provided by A+ Mortgage Services -
Wear your ugliest sweater & bring a white elephant gift to participate in the gift exchange! Cedarburg Office Holiday Potluck Thursday, December 13th | 12-2pm
Bring a dish to pass & join our ugly sweater contest! North Shore Office Cookie Exchange Friday, December 14th | 11-1pm
Bring and take some delicious cookies, and enjoy our hot chocolate bar! Santa’s Visit to RE-Integrity Saturday, December 15th | 10-3pm
Bring your loved ones, and reserve your photo time with Santa: 262.783.7080 Franklin Office Ugly Sweater & Cookie Exchange Wednesday, December 19th | 12-2pm
Wear your favorite ugly sweater and bring some cookies to share!
2017 & 2018 MARKET LEADER
BROKERAGE OF THE MONTH APRIL 2017
2016 EXTRAORDINARY BROKERAGE
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Top 10 Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays By Kara Wahlgren for hgtv.com It’s the time of year that calendars are packed with holiday parties, budgets are strained by giftgiving and the roads are covered in freshly fallen snow. Alas, 'tis not the season for real estate. But the good news is that the few brave house-hunters who do venture out are serious about buying a house and stylish trimmings will make them want to ring in the new year in your home. “Holidays can be personal on a lot of levels, but you want to make sure your decor is neutral,” advises Amy Powers, owner of Accent Home Staging & Interiors of Atlanta. “You want to romance your buyer, not invite them to your Christmas party.” Try these tips to get buyers in the right spirit: Clean and stage. “Before you decorate, your house needs to be staged,” Powers says. If your living room is already piled high with clutter and tchotchkes, your ceramic reindeer collection is only going to add to the sense of overcrowding. Create a cozy vibe. The less-is-more mantra of home staging may tempt you to forgo holiday cheer this year. But a few subtle touches like a bowl of pinecones, an evergreen wreath, or a pot of cider simmering on the stove can create a warm and festive feeling in your home. Complement your palette. Before you start untangling your tinsel, make sure your holiday collection matches your current decor. If your living room is painted a soothing ocean-blue hue, skip the clashing red garland and opt for white snowflakes or a silver glass-ball wreath. If you’ve got an earthy color scheme, accent with rich tones like cranberries, forest greens and gold. Accentuate the positive. Too many trimmings may distract buyers, but the right accessories can draw attention to your home’s best features. Dangle mistletoe in an arched doorway, or display your menorah on the ledge of a bay window; just don’t block a beautiful view with stick-on snowflake decals or clutter an elegant fireplace with personalized stockings. Go light on lights. Step away from the inflatable snowman, Clark Griswold. One man’s “merry” is another man’s “tacky,” so tone down any garish light displays while your home is on the market. (No, your neighbors didn’t pay us to say that.) Instead, use simple string lighting to play up your home’s architecture or draw attention to the gorgeous fir tree in your front yard. Be an equal-opportunity decorator. Leave the life-sized Nativity scene in storage this year, because overtly religious flourishes may be off-putting to some buyers. continued on pg. 6
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Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays, cont.
“You want to keep neutrality throughout, so you can attract any type of buyer,” Powers says. Not sure what qualifies? Powers adds, “No matter what your religion is, you’re not going to feel offended by a nutcracker.” Mind the tree. A tall Christmas tree can help you show off your two-story great room, but make sure the wide base won’t overwhelm the floor space. If your living area is on the small side, save space with a skinny tree. Swap the gaudy heirloom ornaments and trim your tree in a cohesive theme such as icicle lights and silver tinsel, for example, or blue and gold glass balls.
Clear the clutter. A few decorations can stir the holiday spirit, but don’t feel obliged to hang every last ornament. “A lot of people, when they decorate, tend to use all the extra space in their house,” Powers says. “You still want each space to look as spacious as possible.” Limit yourself to a few hints of holiday flair, but stash the rest in the basement for now. If you start to miss your Santa figurines, just remember that with a little luck, you’ll be celebrating next year’s holidays in a new home. And you can decorate that place any way you please. * * *
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H o n o r Yo u r P r i o r i t i e s ! This month is a very special time of celebration for all of us at Realty Executives Integrity. It is also the month when Realtors® are most likely to complain about business being “slow”. First, don’t ever use that four-letter word around me! The market always adjusts during seasons, so rather than fight it, enjoy it! Here are my top five suggestions for enjoying the month of December, and the extra time you may have to invest: 1. Visit an elderly person and take them a special Holiday gift - take a friend or your family with you. 2. Volunteer or donate to the Milwaukee Rescue Mission, and help care for homeless and less privileged neighbors in our community. 3. Read a good book! If you have not read The Compound Effect, let me know and I’ll purchase a copy for you. If you already finished that book, let me know - there are many other great options. 4. Spend a day planning your vision for 2019, include your business, personal, and charitable goals - and include your significant other in the process. Put your vision in writing, keep it with you daily, and be inspired as you watch your dreams become reality. If you need help, ask me! 5. Express your gratitude daily. I’m serious; try this! For the month of December, write one note of appreciation each day. For sure include family members, coworkers, and the clients you serve. But, also include others you otherwise may overlook. For example, the server at your favorite restaurant, a friend from church, a teacher, or the barista at your favorite coffee shop. Mainly, enjoy the Holiday Season, and use it as an opportunity to recharge and prepare for a very busy and successful 2019!
100% Yours,
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Welcome to our new EXECUTIVES
Mike Lessila | Lake Country Office 414-788-5711 MikeLessila@RealtyExecutives.com
Debbie Sievert | Franklin Office 414-491-2561 DebbieSievert@RealtyExecutives.com
Heidi Grebe | Brookfield Office 262-354-7200 Heidi@DoneDeal.com
Lisa Oertel | Brookfield Office 414-617-6798 Lisa@DoneDeal.com
. . .Do you know. . .
someone who would make a great Executive??
Let our Professional Development Team know! Email: MakeYourMove@RealtyExecutives.com
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Dinner of Honor By: Angelica Dudenhoefer
Our most recent Dinner of Honor was incredibly special. It was my first Dinner of Honor, and I must admit I found it to be emotionally uplifting. At this special event, we take the time to speak “palabras” to the Sales Executives that join us as our guests. In Spanish “palabras” translates to “words”. And in this case, they are words of honor for our guests. Each Sales Executive that attends gets honored with palabras by a member of our Leadership Team. Why? We not only care deeply about helping you build your business for years to come; we also love to watch our Executives change the world by being exceptional human beings outside of the closing tables. During this evening, we recognize the good things that you do both personally and professionally. Not only do we want to honor YOU, we want you to invite a guest along for the evening! This guest is someone you think would be a good fit for our company and the culture that has been created at Realty Executives Integrity. We have found that often times after participating in our Dinner of Honor and experiencing our culture; these individuals want to know more about what it means to be a Sales Executive! The culture, excellence, collaboration and entrepreneurial spirit that we have here at Realty Executives Integrity is so rare. Our mission is to help you create a fulfilling life through a meaningful career that you truly enjoy. Our goal is not to be the biggest company in our market place, but to be the best. Every single person under the Realty Executives Integrity umbrella matters. In every decision our Leadership Team makes, we put our Sales Executives first. If you would like to know more about being our guest at our next Dinner of Honor, please send me an email. And if you know anyone who could benefit from an environment like this please let me know. I’d love to help more agents experience the freedom and fulfillment I’ve been able to experience here.
Angelica Dudenhoefer
Director of Talent Acquisition and Marketing angelicad@realtyexecutives.com 262-364-0559
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“
INTEGRITY
What is the TOP piece of coaching or advice you have received in your career? ” "I don't know that I can pick out one piece of advice specifically, other than to never stop learning! I make sure to budget attendance at two training conferences each year that are all over the nation. I have met agents from across the country that have not only become friends, but mentors in the business. It’s important to not only know your local market, but to follow trends across the country because they will eventually ring true here. I love that I now have a network of agents I can call on for tips and ideas that set me apart from my competition and raise me to a new level of service for my clients."
Adam Poehlman Cedarburg Office 262.227.6888 APoehlman@RealtyExecutives.com
“The top advice I have received is to stay calm and level-headed when any challenge presents itself. Anxiety is contagious, and the last thing I want to do is add stress to my clients as they navigate this huge life event. Staying unruffled allows me to better communicate with my partners, (Real Estate agents and Title Company agents), and keeps me focused on finding solutions that will have minimal impact on all parties involved. It is very important to me that each and every client has a smooth and stress-free journey to the closing table. There is nothing better than having relaxed Susan Marie Wilcox and happy home-buyers smiling across the table from me!” A+ Mortgage Services, Inc. 608-295-7985 SusanMarie@TrustAPlus.com “Wow, I have been blessed to be poured into by so many wonderful people that it is really hard to choose one piece of advice that has shaped my career. However, after really giving it some thought I can say that my entire business has been built on the premise that I am serving people when I am working a transaction not brick and mortar. Because this is my belief I try to always be empathetic to all parties when a challenge arises and work towards a solution where all parties feel like they have won. I honestly believe that I still love real estate after 18 years Dionne Barnes is because I truly enjoy learning from each person that I serve.” Northshore Office 414-467-8003 DionneBarnes@RealtyExecutives.com
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INSIGHTS “Life is about relationships. The opportunity to cultivate a relationship is in every business deal, transaction, every closing (which is my area of expertise), and every person you meet in a checkout line. Authenticity and being a good listener is everything. This doesn’t come naturally at times—it’s intentional, and it’s a choice that I make in the first quiet of the morning before my feet hit the ground. Life is a beautiful gift! I do my best to live it and share it!” Angela Hall Knight Barry Title, Inc. 262-369-8926 AHall@KnightBarry.com
“The best piece of advice I have received came from my parents. ’Do
your best and give your absolute very best in everything you do, and never do a job halfway.’ The work ethic that they have, and that they
have instilled in me, is something that I carry with me always. No job is too big or too small, and each is important. Our real estate business is not for the faint of heart. Another piece of advice an agent gave me once was to ‘always remember that what you do and how you do it affects others. Your clients are first, and it is not about you! Treat them Tina Ferlindes all like family and treat your work as your craft.’ Keeping these lessons Lake Country Office in mind as I travel through my real estate adventures helps me stay YOUR FAMILY REALTOR FOR LIFE! focused, grounded, and mindful of the difference we can really make.” 414.881.8349 Tina@RealtyExecutives.com
“Education is crucial to your success. As the saying goes, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” Seek out new knowledge every day, all year long. Reach out to experts in the industry via classes, webinars, books, coaching, mentoring, or one-to-one meetings, earn your designations. Implement at least one new thing in your business every year. And always remember one of Tom Hopkin’s phrases you should say to yourself every morning… “I never take advice from anyone more messed up than I am!”
Tonya Thomsen Brookfield Office 262-424-138 TThomsen@RealtyExecutives.com
POWERED BY EXPERTS
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
• JR’s Pups-N-Stuff began with one goal in mind: to save animals from lifethreatening situations. • It was built by a network of foster parents in the Milwaukee area. • It is “a little rescue with a big heart.” Learn more at www.JRPupsNStuff.org
• SALS offers freedom with accountability for men and women who are serious about their sobriety. • They provide non-institutional sober living with a unique balance of independence and structure. • They are committed to providing safe, comfortable, and modern Recovery Houses for all. Learn more at www.SALShouses.org
• Habitat for Humanity builds and renovate homes for families in need of sustainable housing. • Mission: Bringing people together in homes, communities, and home. • “We envision a world where everyone has a decent place to live.” Learn more at www.Habitat.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
• Unite 4 Peyton was created to give hope to Spinal Muscular Atrophy [SMA] families. They want to help children and families maintain a quality of life, even with out a cure for now. • They strive to make a difference in the lives of those diagnosed with SMA. • SMA is a motor neuron disease where the motor neurons affect the voluntary muscles used for activities such as crawling, walking, head and neck control, and swallowing. It is a relatively common “rare” disorder—approximately 1 in 6000 babies born are affected, and about 1 in 40 people are genetic carriers. Learn more at www.Unite4Peyton.com
A word from your c o a c h ...
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Adam Zastrow | Performance Coach | Realty Executives - Integrity
I’d Rather Be Crazy Than Boring On Sunday nights, Claire and I regularly host about 30 people in our house for a shared meal—a weekly tradition in our family. There’s always an overwhelming amount of joy and familial affection in our home on these nights. On this most recent Sunday evening together, one of the kids, (a bright and passionate 9year-old girl), started dancing in our living room for no apparent reason, other than the fact that she LOVES to dance. Everyone else in the house was sitting down, enjoying good food and great conversation. No music was being played, except for the music inside this young girl’s own soul. The joy on her face was contagious, causing me to immediately want to join in the dance. While I’m not anywhere near as graceful as my young friend, we both began to jump and spin and twirl and laugh. Most of our other guests that night did NOT join us in this wild dance—except Claire; she jumped right in! Everyone else stayed in their chairs, gawking at us. Some were even laughing! I like to think that, deep down, they were just intimidated by our awesome moves. But, we didn’t stop dancing due to all the awkward looks, and we didn’t say anything to justify our dancing, either. Instead, we just let our crazy moves flow freely. You know what we decided in that moment? It’s okay if everyone thinks we’re a little crazy once in a while. I’d rather be crazy. I’d rather be crazy and vulnerable than be the kind of person that can’t dance when the situation calls for it. I’ve been that guy, and I don’t miss him. I’ve spent too much of my life waiting, playing it safe. I don’t want to be that guy anymore—that bored, timid guy. I’d rather be this guy. I’d rather dance with children in my living room for no apparent reason. I’d rather push forward and take chances. I’d rather swing for the fences. I’d rather give too much than too little. Too much joy, too much money, too much of my time, and sometimes…even too much dancing. I’ve spent most of my life trying to make sure that people didn’t think I was crazy. Recently, though, that has been changing. I’m now beginning think to myself, while dancing in my living room with some friends, who cares what other people think anyway? This next year, how can you swing for the fences? Is it in your goal setting, is it in having radical joy, is it in being incredibly generous with your time or money? Whatever it may be, may 2019 be your year to swing for the fences!
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Looking for Help Designated Realtors John Plavsic| Brookfield (262) 364.0555
Adam Poehlman| Cedarburg (262) 618.2565 Pam Burki | East Troy (262) 203.1812 Stephanie Sosa | Franklin (414) 235.5777 John Behrens | Hartland (262) 391.8116 Alexis Ruzell| North Shore (414) 477.8177
Career Development
Accounting
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 Tiffany Decker| Brookfield (262) 783.7080 | Tiffany@wirealtyexec.com Nicki Wendt| Brookfield (262) 783.7080 | Nicole@wirealtyexec.com
Becky Wilde | Recruiting (262) 369.8915 | BeckyWilde@RealtyExecutives.com
Erica Lemke | Cedarburg (262) 377.6099 | Erica@wirealtyexec.com
Angelica Dudenhoefer| Recruiting (262) 364.0559 | AngelicaD@RealtyExecutives.com
Joan Schrank | East Troy (262) 642.3363 | Joan@wirealtyexec.com
Adam Zastrow | Performance Coach (608) 498.0994 | AdamZastrow@RealtyExecutives.com
Claire Zastrow | Franklin (262) 369.8959 | Claire@wirealtyexec.com
Business Planning
Angela Riemer | Hartland (262) 369.8900 | Angela@wirealtyexec.com
Dale Schaechterle Dale@RealtyExecutives.com
Marie Gingher | North Shore (262) 377.6099 | Marie@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
Hartland 810 Cardinal Lane Hartland, WI 53029 P: (262) 369.8900
North Shore 4655 N. Port Washington Road, Ste 300 Glendale, WI 53212 P: (414) 906.4500
Where Home and Happy Meet â„¢