6 minute read
SOAR Expert Contributor SPOTLIGHT - Carrie Zeier
How long have you been in real estate? I began in Real Estate in 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia with Keller Williams Realty and was fortunate enough to win the Rookie of the Year Award.
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So what did you do to expand from year 1 into year 2 that made the difference in your business? I remember vividly when I had just received my Georgia Real Estate license, I received a phone call from a neighbor, and while I was sharing my excitement with him over receiving my real estate license…He said “I have been trying to sell my house for 2 years. I want YOU to sell it. Can you meet me tomorrow afternoon for a listing appointment?” So I spent the greater part of the day and evening preparing a business plan on how I would market and sell his home. Turned out he loved my plan and I got my first listing. I sold his house within 30 days for $3,500,000.00, which launched me into the luxury market of Real Estate.
Fast Forward to Nashville, Tennessee in 2007, I joined Brentwood Keller Williams Realty as their Team Leader. Through my successes in the Real Estate Industry, I had the opportunity in 2011 to purchase RE/MAX Elite, a residential real estate company. Although I had many successes, I certainly had my share of challenges. I look at it as I “Failed Forward”. My first 3 years as the Owner/CEO of RE/MAX Elite in Brentwood, Tennessee were definitely challenging. It was tough to break into the Nashville Real Estate Market as an unknown entity. However, I slowly overcame challenges with recruiting, stereotypes, and overall business challenges.
How did you become successful at recruiting? As Brian Buffini illustrates in his book, The Emigrant Edge, I learned to think like an immigrant. Well in on sense...I was! In 2011, I set up a system to meet 3 people a day at my favorite coffee spot, where I began to connect with locals in all areas pertaining to Real Estate. This was not just about recruiting, but learning from others in the Real Estate Business. One example is a long time friend and Business Alliance came from these meetings and we have been working together for the last 10 years. I have countless other stories of people that have been instrumental in my life and career through my “coffee shop” meetings.
What brought you to Nashville? Mainly my children's schooling. I had never intended to stay in Nashville longer than 2 years. My plan was to move back to Atlanta, Georgia. My how things change…13 years later, I cannot imagine living anywhere else. Nashville is HOME!
What would you say is the timeframe in which an agent goes from working solo to needing an assistant? I believe this varies from agent to agent, depending on the volume and the size of the team. As a newer agent, an assistant may not be needed as they can delegate much of their business to a contract to close assistant, and capitalize on technology that helps streamline their business. Other agents may benefit from a buyers agent instead of an assistant. It really comes down to each individual agent or team leader and how their business is structured. I have many different teams at RE/MAX Elite, and each team is structured differently.
What would you consider some of your greatest accomplishments? I believe my greatest accomplishment has been the growth of RE/MAX Elite over the past 10 years. Hopefully, the success of RE/MAX Elite has overflowed to the lives of the agents, business alliances and clients that I have been fortunate to work with. Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of the Brokers and Realtors at RE/MAX Elite and all those that believed in me.
I know Remax Ellite has continued to win several awards. What award has meant the most to you? I am the most proud of RE/MAX Elite being the #1 RE/MAX Brokerage in Tennessee for going on 10 years in Agent Count, Volume, and Transactions.
• Always keep climbing and pushing forward • Never worry about the competition • Always be aware of what your obstacles are • Stay laser focused on the task in front of you • When you “fall down”, get up as quickly as possible • Always keep climbing and pushing forward • Never worry about the competition • Always be aware of what your obstacles are • Stay laser focused on the task in front of you • When you “fall down”, get up as quickly as possible.
What do you find the most JOY in? My greatest joy at RE/MAX Elite is seeing an Agent prosper and grow their business exponentially. RE/MAX Elite has many success stories centered around agents joining the company at a production level of $3-5 million and within 1-2 years implementing systems that catapult them to the next level of $15-$100 Million in Volume. What do you find the most JOY in? My greatest joy at RE/MAX Elite is seeing an Agent prosper and grow their business exponentially. RE/MAX Elite has many success stories centered around agents joining the company at a production level of $3-5 million and within 1-2 years implementing systems that catapult them to the next level of $15-$100 Million in Volume.
The joy in this is when one agent or team can achieve this type of growth, and in turn, this can better take care of their families financially and give them a vehicle to give back to the community. . The joy in this is when one agent or team can achieve this type of growth, and in turn, this can better take care of their families financially and give them a vehicle to give back to the community. .
Of the agent count, how many are you coaching? I have an open door policy. At any given time, any agent can meet with me one on one. We have many opportunities to network and grow our businesses through monthly Kickoff Meetings in each office, Mastermind Meetings, and Coffee with Carrie, which is a small mastermind group. Of the agent count, how many are you coaching? I have an open door policy. At any given time, any agent can meet with me one on one. We have many opportunities to network and grow our businesses through monthly Kickoff Meetings in each office, Mastermind Meetings, and Coffee with Carrie, which is a small mastermind group.
What is your secret weapon? There is no Secret Weapon. There is only hard work. There are numerous tools and technologies that are constantly evolving, but there is no silver bullet. While the tools have changed, the fundamentals of business are always there. Each Agent and Team Leader is the CEO of his or her business. The mindset of any Real Estate Agent should be to run your business like a business. The typical RE/MAX Elite agent does 18 to 22 transactions a year. What is your secret weapon? There is no Secret Weapon. There is only hard work. There are numerous tools and technologies that are constantly evolving, but there is no silver bullet. While the tools have changed, the fundamentals of business are always there. Each Agent and Team Leader is the CEO of his or her business. The mindset of any Real Estate Agent should be to run your business like a business. The typical RE/MAX Elite agent does 18 to 22 transactions a year.
would they contact? Contact me directly at 615.232.4300. I would love to share how we can help you take your business to the next level. I look forward to setting more “coffee shop” meetings. If anyone is interested in becoming a part of the team at RE/MAX ELITE, who would they contact? Contact me directly at 615.232.4300. I would love to share how we can help you take your business to the next level. I look forward to setting more “coffee shop” meetings.
