February 2019 | Executive Times

Executive Times February 2019

Let’s C e l e b r a t e Anniversaries Gene Anderson Mark Mundt Sarah Smart Brian Roslawski Patti Wysocki Jennifer Villarreal CoCo Boden Chris Kramer-Nesbitt Austin Cole Mary Edwards

22 Years 20 Years 18 Years 12 Years 9 Years 7 Years 4 Years 4 Years 3 Years 3 Years

Birthdays Sue Lucas Loye Blader Jesse Garcia Martha Luna Vadim Ruzell Chasity Yokers Tina Catalanotte Pat Wunderlich

February 1 February 9 February 10 February 12 February 20 February 24 February 27 February 27

Dates to Acknowledge February 2 February 3 February 14 February 17 February 18 February 23

Ground Hog Day Super Bowl LIII Valentine’s Day Random Act of Kindness Day President’s Day The 2019 Oscars (Academy Awards)

ET February | 2

WELCOME HOME! Written by Becky Wilde

“Welcome Home” - In Real Estate, we often use this phrase when we have found a client their next home. It brings a sense of accomplishment and honor for us and a beautiful display of excitement and anticipation for them. We send them a handwritten note or perhaps a bouquet of flowers with a card that says, “Welcome Home.”

So, what does it mean to actually be home? Recently, I found the following quote by Leo Christopher, and it really resonated in my heart.

“Home is where you leave everything you love and never question that it will be there when you return.”

So if that rings true…think of the power behind the meaning when someone says, “I feel like I am coming home,” or “I feel right at home.” Recently we held our Dinner of Honor where both those phrases were said by two new amazing people that recently joined our Professional Development Team: Joanette Sum and Stephan von Seydlitz.

The Dinner of Honor is a night out where we have the privilege of honoring our very own Sales Executives.

The evening is filled with GREAT food, AWESOME company, and BEAUTIFUL stories. It’s a time when the Sales Executives being honored get to invite a guest in the industry to join in on the fun, giving them an opportunity to experience REI. One of the most powerful things we can do is to surround ourselves with like-minded individuals that share in the same passions and integrity we carry. Our Dinner of Honor opens up this opportunity and we would love to invite each of you to attend! Ask yourself this…Who do I want to welcome home to REI? Keep reading to meet our newest members of our Professional Development Team, and let them know who YOU want to invite to our next Dinner of Honor on March 20th!

Celebrating & Honoring our Sales Executives at a recent Dinner of Honor Article con’t. on page 3

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WELCOME HOME, con’t.!

Meet Joanette Sum

Joanette Sum

262.719.6442 JoanetteSum@RealtyExecutives.com

Joanette was introduced to the Realty Executives Integrity family in 2001 and started her story at our front desk. Quickly realizing her passion extended beyond that position, Joanette moved into several different roles within the company, finally landing in the recruiting department. Being with Realty Executives Integrity for over eight years while learning from some of the best agents in the industry gave Joanette a beautiful understanding of what it means to not only be a great real estate agent, but to be an amazing Executive. After seeing what it takes to be a Real Estate Agent, Joanette knew she was equipped with a strong foundation to acquire her Real Estate License. While leaving Realty Executives Integrity was one of the hardest decisions she had to make, after meeting her husband Jack, their adventures together extended beyond Wisconsin and into Idaho. There, they they joined Joanette’s daughter Emily and her husband Ramzi, along with her mom. While being close to family and experiencing all of the extraordinary views Idaho offers was amazing, Wisconsin kept calling them home.

What brought Joanette back to Wisconsin and better yet back home to Realty Executives Integrity? When given the opportunity to re-join Realty Executives Integrity, why did Joanette say, “I feel like I am coming home?” Give her a call, and she would love to finish the story and tell you why over a cup of coffee!

Meet Stephan von Seydlitz Stephan joined Realty Executives Integrity in January of this year. Being licensed in 2018 and having a background in sales for over 17 years, it only made sense that he saw what Realty Executives Integrity was all about. As he experienced the culture, training, and support at REI, I heard him say, “I feel right at home.”

The combination of Stephan’s amazing sales experience, Real Estate knowledge, and desires to welcome people home has led him to not only become a Sales Executive with REI where he can welcome his clients home, but also to our Professional Development Team where he can welcome other agents home, too.

When you meet Stephan, you will see he has a genuine heart that cares deeply for anyone he meets. Stephan’s genuine heart extends beyond human beings; one of the first stories I heard about Stephan was about his love for animals. Not just your average dog, cat, or bird, though…think BIGGER, more exotic, and a little bit WILD! Just how exotic? Well, did I mention that Stephan is from Africa? Give him a call, he’ll explain how his adventures led him to Realty Executives Integrity, AND now that he’s here, just how at home he is feeling!

Stephan von Seydlitz

262-490-5137 StephanV@RealtyExecutives.com

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February Happenings Office Events Brookfield Cookie Bake Off February 13 | 11:30-1pm Brookfield Office Workroom [Enter in or judge the cookie competition]

Franklin Valentine’s Party February 14 | 11:30-1pm Franklin Office [Enjoy pizza and root beer floats]

Lake Country Valentine’s Celebration February 14 | 12-1pm Lake Country Office [Enjoy cake and ice cream]

North Shore Cookie Exchange February 14 | 11-1pm North Shore Office [Bring your favorite cookies to share]

Office Meetings Franklin Fridays February 1 | 9:30-11am Franklin Office Workroom

Lake Country Mastermind February 6 | 9:30-11am Milwaukee Street Traders - Delafield

Brookfield Mastermind February 13 | 9:30-11am Brookfield Office Lower Level

February Training Module Maximizing Your Business in 2019 Live Stream with Debbie De Grote February 20 | 9:30-11:30am Brookfield Office Training Center

North Shore Mastermind February 27 | 9:30-11am North Shore Office Conference Room

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Snowed In? Tips to Have Some Fun Indoors Article Courtesy of: Realty Executives International Blog

Snow days can be a relaxing escape from work or school… or they can cause you to feel trapped indoors for hours on end.

No matter your opinion on snow days, we can all agree that sometimes, spending an entire day (or multiple days) indoors can bring on a wave of boredom for your family.

But a snow day doesn’t have to be boring!

Here are our tips for how to have the best day ever when your family is snowed in.

Get cozy Feeling stuck inside all day can be cold and dreary, so if you know you’re snowed in this winter, start your day by getting cozy. Light some candles, put on your coziest sweatpants, and start a fire, if your home has a fireplace. Creating a cozy space will help you and your family feel happier. Winter can be the coziest time of year, after all.

Camp out in the living room Turn your living room into a campsite! Bring all of your warmest blankets and fluffiest pillows into the living room and create a comfy, cozy area to camp inside. You could even build a blanket fort with your kids. Once you’ve created your makeshift campsite, have a movie marathon or play some board games.

Cook some comfort food Is there any better meal than a hearty soup on a cold winter day? Break out your old slow cooker and cook up a hot meal that can feed your entire family (or yourself for multiple days!). Cook your favorite stew, soup, or roast, and embrace the delicious smell of home-cooked food as it fills your home. Bake until your heart’s content. Go on a baking spree and whip up some of your family’s timeless recipes. Bake some desserts for your neighbors, try your hand at a new recipe, or repurpose the fruit in your fridge and bake some banana bread or an apple pie. If you have kids, have them help you! You can bake cookies together and your kids can have fun decorating them.

Indoor snow painting A fun twist on a snow day activity is painting snow. But warning: this may get messy! Set up a painting station by covering your dining table in newspaper. Grab some shallow baking pans or casserole dishes and fill them with clean snow. Then, mix food coloring with water to create your paint, give your children paint brushes, and have at it!

Article continued on next page…

ET February | 6 Snowed In? Tips to Have Fun Indoors Continued…

Have an indoor scavenger hunt Unleash your inner child with an indoor scavenger hunt. Whether you set this up for your kids, your roommates, or your significant other, you’re sure to have a great time. Hide a treasure somewhere in your home and create clues for how to find it. You’ll have so much fun writing the clues, and your family will love participating!

Have fun outdoors If you can’t escape the snow, embrace it! Have fun playing outdoors in the winter wonderland.

Build a snowman, have a snowball fight, or even make a game out of shoveling the snow off your driveway and sidewalk. Embrace the winter weather and have fun with it. Not everyone gets to experience the magic of a snow day!

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Phone A Friend!

Phone a friend! –Most of us recognize this phrase as a commonly used lifeline for contestants on Who Wants to be a Millionaire. What can you do when you get stuck on a particular question and need help? Phone a friend to gain their input, and allow them to help you find the correct answer.

What does this concept have to do with your Real Estate career? EVERYTHING! A common trend for most Realtors® when they get “stuck” in their business is to move towards isolation. The common thought patterns seem to be, I need to make some changes, I need to figure this out on my own, I need to work harder, and too often it becomes I need to find a different career.

But know this: You cannot excel in our business without support!

At Realty Executives Integrity, we have an abundance of support. We are known for our tremendous spirit of generosity, cooperation, and community. One of the most beautiful aspects of our company is the way we all work together to support each other.

Here’s one of my favorite examples of our Sales Executives helping each other:

They call their group the “Game of Homes” and meet on a monthly basis.

Part of their friendship centers around learning from each other and includes their willingness to Phone a Friend when needed.

100% Yours,

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Welcome to our New Marie Gingher

Joanette Sum

North Shore Office | M2M Group 414.436.5439 Marie Gingher@RealtyExecutives.com

Professional Development Director and Sales Executive 262.719.6442 JoanetteSum@RealtyExecutives.com

JoAnn Otto

Stephan von Seydlitz

Cedarburg Office | WI-Realty Team 262.649.6727 JoAnnOtto@RealtyExecutives.com

Professional Development Director and Sales Executive 262-490-5137 StephanV@RealtyExecutives.com

Tonya Swenson

Maggie Willms

Cedarburg Office | WI-Realty Team 262.305.1683 TonyaSwenson@RealtyExecutives.com

North Shore Office 414.429.2816 MaggieWillms@RealtyExecutives.com

Do you know

someone who would make a great Executive??

Let our Professional Development Team know!

Email: MakeYourMove@RealtyExecutives.com

A Wise Investment For Realtors:

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R

D i d Yo u K n ow . . .

According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2017 Member Safety Survey, almost half of female REALTORS® (44 percent) and one in four male REALTORS® have experienced a situation in the past year that made them fear for their personal safety or safety of their personal information.

“No agent should feel unsafe when they are doing their job, but that’s the unfortunate reality of many agents in communities nationwide,” says Carl Carter Jr., a real estate agent and founder of the Beverly Carter Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving safety for all real estate professionals. “As an industry, we need to improve the tools and resources available to agents so they feel safe and protected.”

While it might not seem like a dangerous occupation, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows there were almost 100 fatalities of real estate professionals in 2016 alone. Predatory crimes against REALTORS® are a growing problem, with criminals often seeking out opportunities to isolate agents in a secluded location. This is made possible by the fact that many agents are scheduling almost half of their showings with people who have not been screened by another agent, according to data analytics from Gogint.

Courtesy of: RISMedia.com

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“

INTEGRITY

What have you found is the most effective way to maintain top-of-mind status with your sphere of influence and remind them that you are the best choice for buying and selling?

Steven Walsh Lake Country Office 262.352.8692 StevenWalsh@RealtyExecutives.com

“With my sphere of influence, I like to engage multiple times a week on Facebook. I'll post pictures, articles, etc. to keep my name top of mind.

What I've found to be very effective, though, is directly messaging people through Facebook Messenger.

I've been able to re-connect with people I haven't spoken with in years and ask them directly if they need my services.”

“My answer is: Keep in contact - notes, calls, and visits.

They most likely enjoyed you and became your friend throughout the process, so treat them as such.”

Miranda Zuege Brookfield Office 414.460.1496 MirandaZuege@RealtyExecutives.com

POWERED BY EXPERTS

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INSIGHTS “On a regular basis, emails are sent to my entire sphere. I also contact all of my active clients, buyers, and sellers at least once a week by means of either calling, texting, or emailing them. I put all of my past clients on a special Constant Contact Program, whereby they are sent items of value, throughout the year, for a period of 5 years.”

Neil Miyashita Lake Country Office 414.712.9229 Neil@DalesTeam.com

“It sounds redundant, but I simply keep in touch. Whether it’s email, text, a mailing or a phone call; .I always drop a line to check in and let them know I’m thinking about them & in turn hopefully I will stay on their minds when they or someone they know needs Real Estate help!”

Marietta Ticali Cedarburg Office 414.801.8028 MariettaTicali@RealtyExecutives.com

POWERED BY EXPERTS

Keeping Your Connection with Past Clients Article by: Agent Image Blog

It’s always a great idea to keep in touch with former clients – doing so opens up possibilities for repeat business and referrals. However, if you don’t do it right, they may only see you as that annoying person who keeps bugging them on their phone or email inbox. So how do you prevent that from happening?

Here are some of the ways you can keep in touch with former clients in a manner that’s professional, memorable, and not bothersome:

Send Them Gifts

Sending unusual gifts that could get them to smile or laugh is a great way of reminding them of you. Simple presents like house-shaped paper clips, a useful tool for the kitchen, Christmas tree decorations, or a refrigerator magnet with a list of pizza delivery hotlines are some of the presents you can give to former clients. Sending these out at least once every year is a great gesture that’ll remind them of you.

Offer Helpful Information

Keeping your clientele up-to-date on the local housing market such as the mortgage rates, foreclosure information, or their home’s current value is a great way of keeping in touch without being annoying. You can also send them home maintenance tips, remodeling ideas or any information they may find useful that relates to their community.

Add Them on Social Media

Adding clients on social media is a great way of staying in touch, and lets you get to know them on a more personal level. With social media, you can interact with them personally – send greetings on their birthdays, congratulate them on wedding anniversaries, and more. You can also use social media to post updates and reminders that clients may find entertaining or helpful.

Organize Events

Invite your clients to Halloween parties, outdoor barbeques, or movie nights. Organizing special events adds a personal touch, and sets you apart from others. It doesn’t have to be formal; you can simply just hang out with them, have a good time, and find out what’s new.

Maintaining Connections

When it comes to keeping in touch with clients, always remember to be consistent. Create a database of former clients, and keep a schedule of birthdays, holidays, and other special days that can serve as great opportunities to send them a token or a simple greeting.

By maintaining your connection to former clients, you’re paving the way for repeat business and more referrals.

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

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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

Accounting

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

Stephanie Sosa | Franklin (414) 235.5777

Jesse Garcia (262) 369.8986 jesse@wirealtyexec.com

John Behrens | Hartland (262) 391.8116

Certified Marketing Executives

Alexis Ruzell | North Shore (414) 477.8177

Career Development

Nicki Wendt | Brookfield (262) 783.7080 | Nicole@wirealtyexec.com

Tiffany Decker| Brookfield (262) 783.7080 | Tiffany@wirealtyexec.com

Becky Wilde | Professional Development (262) 369.8915 | BeckyWilde@RealtyExecutives.com

Erica Lemke | Cedarburg (262) 377.6099 | Erica@wirealtyexec.com

Joanette Sum | Professional Development (262) 719.6442 | JoanetteSum@RealtyExecutives.com

Angela Riemer| East Troy (262) 642.3363 | Angela@wirealtyexec.com

Stephan von Seydlitz | Professional Development (262) 490.5137 | StephanV@RealtyExecutives.com

Claire Zastrow | Franklin (262) 369.8959 | Claire@wirealtyexec.com

Adam Zastrow | Performance Coach (608) 498.0994 | AdamZastrow@RealtyExecutives.com

Angela Riemer | Hartland (262) 369.8900 | Angela@wirealtyexec.com

Business Planning

Nicki Wendt| North Shore (262) 377.6099 | Nicole@wirealtyexec.com

Dale Schaechterle Dale@RealtyExecutives.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„¢