Executive Times | June 2019

Executive Times June 2019

Let’s C e l e b r a t e Anniversaries Nicole Johnson Eve Bilden Kristi Worth Teri Hayes Joanne Hangartner Teri Chatham Hunter Bouverette Chasity Yokers Nicole Lasocki BJ Heiden Ruth Ehrgott KC Liebert Kevin Zokan Joyce Bergelin Arlene Nesta John Friedrichs

1 Year 1 Year 2 Years 2 Years 2 Years 2 Years 2 Years 3 Years 3 Years 3 Years 3 Years 6 Years 7 Years 7 Years 12 Years 14 Years

June Holidays •

Flag Day | June 14

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Father’s Day| June 16

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Summer Solstice | June 21

Birthdays Chuck Kinzel Kristi Worth Angela Riemer Joanne Hangartner Lothair Lambrecht Nick Wachal Terra Radtke Zlatko Vujnovic Michael Elrod Kent Breitenfeldt Leann Gronowski John Friendrichs Terry McCreary Brenda Samuel Maggie Willms Kevin Zokan Brandon Villars Sarah Alexander Alexis Ruzell Abbie Myers BJ Heiden Bob Arnold Dave Rosenlund Stephanie Sosa Mindy Wittig Tina Ferlindes

June 1 June 1 June 3 June 7 June 9 June 9 June 10 June 13 June 14 June 15 June 16 June 18 June 18 June 19 June 20 June 20 June 21 June 22 June 22 June 23 June 23 June 26 June 27 June 27 June 27 June 30

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It’s Conference Time Each year as the leaves begin to change in September we gather as Realty Executives Wisconsin for our annual Regional Conference. This event is one of our favorites as we get to spend time connecting with all of you while learning incredible business building principles; not to mention partaking in some delicious food! We are eagerly anticipating this year’s conference and believe that it will be the biggest one yet – so save your seats today.

Providing valuable opportunities for training and business building for our Sales Executives is something that we strive for at Realty Executives. With that in mind, we are thrilled to announce our 2019 Realty Executives Wisconsin Regional Conference keynote speaker will be Jared James – an entrepreneur, business builder and one of the most influential people in the real estate industry today. Jared has years of experience in real estate sales, several other business ventures and is truly a family man at heart. Full of passion, drive and energy - you are sure to laugh, learn and leave this conference motivated!

If you have not yet RSVP’d, head on over to the website below to save your seat today. This conference is FREE Wednesday, September 18th to you and we encourage you to bring along a friend in 10:00am – 2:00pm the industry! (You can register your guests via the website at any time) We are in an industry that is constantly evolving Peck Welcome Center at the Milwaukee County Zoo Lunch will be served | Enjoy the Zoo for the afternoon and learning how to stay at the forefront of these changes while serving our clients with excellence is what sets us apart as professionals and Sales Executives. Inviting your colleagues is simple and fun: Mark Your Calendars

“We are having our annual Regional Conference and I would like to invite you as my guest! Jared James will be there as our keynote speaker and you can join me for FREE!” Our Regional Conference is packed with networking, learning, connecting with industry vendors, great food and opportunities to give back. This year we are gathering from 10:00am – 2:00pm so that you have the ability to honor your business and family priorities before and after the event. Lunch will be served during the event AND you have the opportunity to enjoy the afternoon at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Win, Win! This is an event that you are not going to want to miss. Mark your calendars now and plan to join us for the 2019 Realty Executives Regional Conference.

We look forward to seeing you there, Your Leadership Team

S a v e Y o u r S e a t T O D AY ! w w w. R E W i s c o n s i n R e g i o n . c o m

Share th is incred busines ible s buildin and brin g opportunity gaf in the in riend dustry!

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June Happenings Events to Enjoy

Office Gatherings

Jazz in the Park June 6 - 27 | 5:00pm Cathedral Square Park – Milwaukee

Food Truck Friday June 14 | 11:00am Waukesha County Airport– Waukesha

Strawberry Festival 2019 June 22 | 10:00am – 6:00pm June 23 | 10:00am – 5:00pm Cedarburg

6th Annual Milwaukee Taco Fest June 22 | 12:00pm Henry W. Maier Festival Park – Milwaukee

Summerfest June 26 – July 7 | 12:00pm Henry W. Maier Festival Park – Milwaukee

Lake Country Mastermind June 12 | 9:30-11:00am Milwaukee Street Traders - Delafield

Brookfield and Franklin Mastermind June 19 | 9:30-11:00am Brookfield Office Lower Level

North Shore Mastermind June 26 | 9:30-11:00am Fiddleheads Coffee in Mequon

How To Utilize Small Spaces In Your Home

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In the wake of changing mindsets over large homes and the shift to sustainable living, un-used space has become a “no no� in the home design industry. These changes emanate from low-impact living and the need to have a cheaper living space that still meets an individual’s needs. Small space living has been the best option for many cities and even suburban dwellers. For this reason, there have been many emerging interior design tricks developed to get the most out of your common spaces. All these tricks come in handy whether an individual aims at increasing the functionality of the room or is looking at living on a smaller scale.

Reducing Clutter and Adopting Storage Solutions The first step to maximizing space in a small house is the most important; reducing clutter and organizing all items in the space.

Clutter refers to unnecessary things, as well as items that are wrongly placed in the house. Reducing clutter is important as it enables a user to have extra space for different purposes. Unfolded clothes, folders and books, shoes, electronics and even utensils should be placed in their designated places in order to reduce clutter and increase space in the house. Additionally, adopting storage solutions that maximize the space left is essential. An example of storage solutions includes utilizing spaces under or behind the bed. These solutions help increase the available space and improve the organization of the house.

Bedroom Space The most essential space in the house is the bedroom. The bed is obviously a necessity which takes up a large space. There are a variety of methods in which the bedroom can be designed to maximize the footprint available. An interior design trick to achieve this is a platform idea that hides the bed, enabling the user to reclaim all the space. This is possible through the use of retractable beds like a slide-out type. In European countries like Italy, there has been the adoption of space-saving pieces of furniture like fold-down beds and side-tables that have helped cram furniture into a tiny space. Corners in the bedrooms are wasted spaces. Adopting the high-rise box idea creates a place where items like trophies can be displayed, books can be stored and sound systems can be mounted. As stated earlier, the space under the bed can also be used to store more items that are not currently in use.

Living Room Space In making the most out of small spaces, the living room is a must. First, it is important to find an innovative way to stash items in the living room, like under a bench that still acts as a seat. You can also find a unit that acts as a seat as well as a book storage location. Moreover, the couch can serve double duty; using couches that have hidden compartments under them serves the same purposes and enhances a lot of living room space. Alternatively, you can use a wicker trunk in the living room by using as a coffee table while at the same time it could hold your sports equipment, travel items or guest bedding. Mounting the flat screen television on the wall also removes the need for an extra piece of furniture like a television stand in the house.

Kitchen Space

To maximize kitchen space, it is important to first adopt shelving to ensure that items are easily accessible and safe since the kitchen area is very sensitive. Shelving that goes right up to the ceiling is ideal. All kitchen storage places should be utilized. Also, adopting a good kitchen lighting system greatly helps in making the kitchen look and feel bigger. You can also adopt fold-able kitchen tops and retractable furniture to reduce the number of items in the kitchen. In cases where the kitchen is too small, you can reduce clutter in the kitchen by creating alternative kitchen storage in a nearby room.

Augmenting Bathroom Space It is important to configure the space to allow enough room for minimal bathroom ware, enough shower space, as well as storage for toiletries and detergents. You should set up a corner sink as it eases movement within the room and is more accessible than just using a sink across the bathroom. Secondly, it is imperative to adopt the use of shower curtains as opposed to glass doors if you are having a hard time moving around the space while having the doors open. Mounting some shelves on one side to store detergents and a towel holder also helps utilize a small space. Using vital spaces can facilitate the storage of bathroom ware in an accessible way. The tips mentioned above are just some way you can rearrange a small space in your home. Adopting these simple techniques can greatly provide more room for better and more comfortable living, even in the smallest spaces.

Article Courtesy of: Realty Executive International Blog

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The Four Pillars of Realty Executives International Article Courtesy of: Realty Executive International Blog

At Realty Executives, we dedicate ourselves to the four pillars of our value proposition: Brand, Technology, Concierge and Training. Each one of these pillars plays an integral role in every Enhancement we make for our network, with the ultimate goal of a successful future for all. Our network is made up of innovators and entrepreneurs, which is why for over 50 years Realty Executives has been the trusted real estate expert by the most productive, efficient and successful professionals. The four pillars of our value proposition are a true representation of why our network continues to choose Realty Executives as the place to call home.

Brand: Our brand is our people. We are the only real estate company named for our greatest asset – you. For over 50 years, Realty Executives has become one of the largest and most established real estate franchise systems in the world being the first 100 percent commission-based real estate company. The ongoing strive to provide top-of-the-line technology, tools and customer service to our network is what makes us a game-changer in the real estate community, charting a course for the next 50 years.

Technology: We are the first real estate franchisor to develop a technology platform that was created for our people, by our people. We own the technology assets, giving you the comfort of knowing we have no dependencies on third-party providers. Our platform’s functionality gives you the ability to perform at the highest level. Our top of the line technology includes on-demand mobile marketing, personalized web services and free custom listing and video automation, which gives you the ability to perform at the highest level while saving you time and money.

Concierge: Our white glove concierge team brings unparalleled support to our network and we are continuously improving our offering. Supporting our network is a top priority at all times and we have the numbers to prove it. The Realty Executives customer service team is 2.7x faster than the industry average according to Zendesk and is relentless to find the right solutions quickly and efficiently.

Training: Our team provides ongoing training opportunities and unique training programs to propel our real estate professionals to the next level. Available through the new EXECÂŽ University, our exclusive, free and focused training programs provide an on-demand library including webinars, conference opportunities and more. Each program and/or resource is crafted to help our Executives reach their greatest success.

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D o n ’ t M i s s Yo u r J u n e M a s t e r m i n d Gathering Every month we gather together as Sales Executives at multiple office locations, in a Mastermind format, to share best practices that lead to proven results. The conversational approach of our Masterminds encourages healthy dialogue and allows you to walk away with great new ideas you can implement into your business; that’s a promise! Coffee and treats are provided thanks to our friends at Knight Barry Title and A+ Mortgage. FREE advice that generates additional income for you, plus free coffee and breakfast treats all while enjoying a relaxing time with your peers; it would be ridiculous to miss!

In June, there’s even more reason to attend! I’ll be sharing two key secrets that made me a listing guru, with an unmatched capture ratio in the history of Realty Executives Integrity.

What two secrets?

1. How to secure the listing every time.

2. How to get the highest price while earning more commission dollars.

During our meetings I’ll be sharing: FIVE KEY AGREEMENTS you need to secure every listing - and The 7% SOLUTION you need to avoid discounting your value Here are the dates and times for you to attend: June 12th Lake Country Mastermind 9:30 – 11:00am at Milwaukee Street Traders – Delafield June 19th Brookfield and Franklin Mastermind 9:30 – 11:00am at The Brookfield Office June 26th North Shore Mastermind 9:30 – 11:00am at Fiddleheads in Mequon See you there,

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FREE Training You’re NOT Going to Want to Miss!

During our May Mastermind series on ‘Marketing & Social Media’ we had incredible nuggets of wisdom shared between fellow Sales Executives! Here are just a few for those of you that missed it: •

• •

• • • •

Plan out & SCHEDULE posts on a business Facebook page to maintain consistency and develop brand presence Share content already created for you from our Realty Executives Integrity Facebook page (@REIntegrity) Use the “Repost” app to share content from our Instagram account (realty_executives_integrity) to your own feed Create several marketing touches for one event to maintain top of mind status with your people and keep everyone engaged Monthly printed Homeowner Update from The Personal Marketing Company (www.TPMCO.com) VIDEOS! Videos on social media and your website increase engagement with your followers Get yourself a logo & a hashtag to brand yourself as a market expert!

This and SO MUCH MORE was discussed at our gatherings during the month of May.

New Class Begins September 26th Email Claire Zastrow for details & registration link ClaireZastrow@RealtyExecutives.com Fully reimbursed by RE-Wisconsin upon completion of training!

#WeMoveWI You’re not going to want to miss June’s Mastermind series; mark your calendar now!

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How to Convert 100 Percent of Your Leads Article Courtesy of: RISMedia

Do you know the exact number of leads you need to generate to find one prospect who actually closes on a home? I think you should. This conversion ratio is rarely known by most agents, but it’s the key to creating a predictable flow of closings—and income.

If you knew that you had to generate 100 leads from a particular source in order to close a sale, you’d be able to outline the costs involved, the timeframe and the profit that would result. You’d also be able to predict what would happen with 200, 300, 1,000 leads, etc.

We aim to convert 14 percent of total leads to faceto-face meetings with new buyer and seller prospects, and we shoot to keep 90 percent of these appointments. We then expect to close 30 percent of the new prospects we meet with face-to-face. So, if we generate 100 leads, we should schedule face-to-face meetings with 14, meet with 12.6 and close 3.78. In reality, our numbers are a bit lower, but these are the benchmarks we aim for.

Something really exciting happens when you create conversion rate benchmarks and then measure yourself—and your team members—against those benchmarks on a weekly basis: conversion rates start to increase. You may be thinking that I’m smoking something, but it’s true. I believe the reason conversion rates are so low in the industry is because most of us determine a prospect’s level of interest in buying or selling a home based on one brief interaction, or lack thereof. In order to keep everyone on our team from prejudging prospects, we use what’s written on Scroll VI in Og Mandino’s fable about Hafid, a poor camel boy who achieves a life of abundance, in “The Greatest Salesman in the World.”

Below are my favorite words on the scroll: “No longer will I judge a man [or woman] on one meeting; no longer will I fail to call again tomorrow on he who meets me with hate today. This day he will not buy gold chariots for a penny, yet tomorrow he would exchange his home for a tree. My knowledge of this secret will be my key to great wealth. Today I will be the master of my emotions. Henceforth I will recognize and identify the mystery of moods in all mankind, and in me. From this moment, I am prepared to control whatever personality awakes in me each day. I will master my moods through positive action, and when I master my moods, I will control my destiny.”

When you boil it all down, it’s not really a matter of whether or not a new lead (prospect) will buy, sell or lease a home…it’s a matter of when. Sometimes, when we call a prospect back or communicate via text or email, we walk away with an understanding that they aren’t a good prospect, but it could be that it’s just not the right time for them to move forward with us.

If we worked on mastering our emotions and understood that the way someone responds to us today has nothing to do with how they might respond to us tomorrow, or next month or next year, then we might just continue to see future possibilities in all prospects. By creating follow-up systems that cause us to continue to try to connect with prospects at the right frequency and for the appropriate length of time, there’s a chance we might be in the right place at the right time.

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Welcome to Our New

EXECUTIVES Monty Stallings Hartland Office 414.216.3399 MontyStallings@ RealtyExecutives.com

Matt Barber Northshore Office M2M Group 414.507.1089 MattBarber@ RealtyExecutives.com Heidi Thom Cedarburg Office 262.825.2599 HeidiThom@ RealtyExecutives.com

●

Do you know ●

someone who would make a great Executive?

Let our Professional Development Team know!

Email: MakeYourMove@RealtyExecutives.com

Dionne Barnes Northshore Office 414.467.8003 DionneBarnes@ RealtyExecutives.com

Lorie Werthmeier Northshore Office 414.617.0151 LorieWerthmeier@ RealtyExecutives.com

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Tip of the Month C u s t o m i z e YO U R We b s i t e Reach out to your CME today to schedule a personalized training on how YOU can create custom webpages so that your website becomes a resource hub for your clients!

Lake Country Angela Riemer Angela@WIRealtyExec.com

Brookfield Claire Zastrow Claire@WIRealtyExec.com

Franklin Tiffany Decker Tiffany@WIRealtyExec.com

North Shore Emily Shaw EmilyShaw@WIRealtyExec.com

Cedarburg Erica Petri Erica@WIRealtyExec.com

East Troy Angela Riemer Angela@WIRealtyExec.com

Late! o o T t o It ’s N Register TODAY to attend the 2019 Realty Executives International Annual Conference.

This event will be packed with powerful content, networking opportunities and face-to-face time with the team at International.

Email Claire Zastrow for more details and to secure your spot: ClaireZastrow@RealtyExecutives.com.

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 homes for families • JR’s Pups-N-Stuff began with one in need of goal in mind: to save animals from sustainable life-threatening situations. housing.

• It was built by a network of foster • Mission: Bringing parents in the Milwaukee area. people together in • It is “a little rescue with a big heart.” homes, Learn more at www.JRPupsNStuff.org communities, and home.

• “We envision a world where • SALS offers freedom with accountability for everyone has a men and women who are serious about their decent place to sobriety. live.”

• They provide non-institutional sober living Learn more at with a unique balance of independence and www.Habitat.org structure.

• 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

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5 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers Article By: Carolyn Sun - Entrepreneur

The average age for first-time home buyers in the U.S. is around 33, a relatively young age for such a big life choice. That said, buying your first home at any age can be a stressful and timeconsuming experience. Luckily, there are a few crucial pointers that will help make the journey to homeownership a less bumpy ride. Here are five tips to get you on your way.

1. Draw up a hard budget and stick to it.

Let’s say you're interested in a home, but you’re not sure it’s in your price range. That’s a problem.

Before you start browsing, it’s crucial that you iron out important questions such as, what is the most you can afford? What is your ideal price range? To help you get started, use an online mortgage calculator to determine the maximum monthly payment you can afford based on the price of the home after you put down a down payment and over a 30-year-mortgage. “Make sure your monthly budget considers the total mortgage and maintenance costs of a property,” says Maria-Stella Fountoulakis, a realtor at Halstead Property. If you fall in love with a house but the monthly payment is more than you can afford, when including all your other fixed expenses, it’s time to move on. You can also enlist the help of your bank’s loan officer to help you arrive at a figure. He or she will be able to tell you how much the bank will lend you and at what interest rate. While this figure doesn’t necessarily equal what you can afford to pay for a home, it will give you an idea of the most you are able to pay.

2. Make a short list of your non-negotiables.

Before you start seriously shopping, consider your lifestyle and values. What features would enhance your well-being? And what would make you miserable? From there, make a list of non-negotiables, says real estate company Remax -- from location, to square footage, to amenities -- that you must have in your future home. This will also help guide your realtor.

"There is nothing better than knowing exactly what you want, but it's hard to find everything in one property,” Fountoulakis says. “The best way to gauge your options is to visit open houses in the area and get acquainted with the local market. Visit apartments that are both above and below your budget to see how values differ with features and location.” And reevaluate your list as you gain a better sense of what's out there and what you want.

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5 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers, con’t

3. Use an experienced Realtor who knows the area and the market.

Your Realtor can make or break your home buying experience. If you know where you want to live, try and get a Realtor referral. Fifty four percent of buyers found their agent from a personal referral or had used an agent they’d worked with before, according to 2014 figures from the National Association of Realtors. So start by asking friends, family or friends of friends who live in your area of interest for recommendations. If that fails, real estate websites Streeteasy, Trulia and Zillow all have ratings on local realtors. “A good Realtor has knowledge of the area -- a great time saver -- and more important is his or her ability to listen and execute what you are looking for,” Fountoulakis says. “A good Realtor will be in your corner until the closing -- and, in some cases, beyond. “An experienced Realtor will also have contacts for loan officers and real-estate attorneys -- and can offer tips going in, such as having a copy of a mortgage pre-approval letter on hand from the loaning bank, to show sellers you’re a serious buyer.

4. Check out comparable apartments and houses in the area to get an idea of pricing.

First time home buyers should look at comparable homes in the area they want to live, according to Bankrate. Thanks to real estate sites such as Streeteasy, Trulia and Zillow, there’s no excuse not to research what homes in the area you’re looking at have sold for recently. If you’re looking in a particular apartment building, get a sense of what other properties in the building have sold for or are being sold for. This will give you an idea for what your starting offer should be when you’re ready to bid on your future home. "Inform yourself and keep in touch with your realtor with any changes in your search,” Fountoulakis says .

5. Ask the Realtor about expected closing costs.

Closing costs, which don’t include your personal packing and moving costs, can vary widely.

Typically, they include the cost of hiring a real-estate attorney to look over your buyer-seller agreement and a home appraiser to evaluate the home before the sale, which is typically paid by the buyer. As for the Realtor’s commission, that’s paid by the seller, not the buyer. (Whew.)

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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

Becky Wilde | Professional Development (262) 369.8915 | BeckyWilde@RealtyExecutives.com Joanette Sum | Professional Development (262) 719.6442 | JoanetteSum@RealtyExecutives.com Morgan Sampson| Executive Mentoring (920) 728.3160 | MorganSampson@RealtyExecutives.com

Business Planning

Dale Schaechterle Dale@RealtyExecutives.com

Accounting

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

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

Nicki Wendt | Brookfield (262) 783.7080 | Nicole@wirealtyexec.com Tiffany Decker | Brookfield (262) 783.7080 | Tiffany@wirealtyexec.com Erica Petri | Cedarburg (262) 377.6099 | Erica@wirealtyexec.com Angela Riemer| East Troy (262) 642.3363 | Angela@wirealtyexec.com Tiffany Decker | Franklin (414) 235.5777 | Tiffany@wirealtyexec.com Angela Riemer | Hartland (262) 369.8900 | Angela@wirealtyexec.com Emily Shaw | North Shore (414) 906.4500 | Emily@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„¢