Jeff Duneske

LEADING WITH PURPOSE

By Jane K. Asher, Ph.D.

Photos by Stylish Detroit

With over 20 years of real estate experience, a career volume over $250 million, $30+ million in sales in 2019 and a team that ranks #26 in closed volume in Realcomp MLS, Jeff Duneske, broker/ owner of Duneske Real Estate Advisors at Keller Williams Advantage, has a lot to be proud of. However, his greatest source of pride is his honor: Jeff has built his business — and thrived in the industry — by instilling his clients’ trust.

“I have always said that we meet our clients at the crossroads of life and change — that we can make a difference, earn their trust and help our clients during this change,” Jeff said. “Knowing that I have earned the trust of over 1,000 clients and the privilege of guiding them through one of life’s largest financial transactions to achieve the American Dream is by far the greatest reward of my business.”

Jeff was born and raised in Novi and earned the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout when he was 15 years old. In 1996, Jeff graduated from Novi High School as well as from The Oakland Fire Academy and was intent on becoming a full-time firefighter. After serving as an auxiliary firefighter and EMT in Novi and Walled Lake for several years and not landing a full-time position on the force, Jeff decided to shift gears and find another professional path where he could help people. “Real estate appealed to me because I liked the idea that every day was new and different,” he said. “I wanted to be my own boss in an industry where the sky was the limit and where I could be as successful and as committed as I wanted to be.”

Having been the #1 agent or team at various brokerages for the past 15 years, as well as the #1 team at Keller Williams Advantage and the #4 team in the Michigan-Ohio region of Keller Williams International in 2019, Jeff has certainly demonstrated his drive to reach for the sky and his commitment to his clients.

Jeff and his full-time team members — Client Care Specialist and Transaction Coordinator Vicki Prieskorn and Real Estate Associate Caroline Watts — work smarter, not harder. “We never rest on our laurels, and we’re always improving our current systems — and implementing new systems — to boost efficiency and assure stellar service,” Jeff said.

Jeff, who has served on GMAR’s Professional Standards Committee for the past nine years, embraces a strong mindset to persistently achieve his goals without compromising his morals, standards or ethics for anyone or any transaction. “You must uphold your standards because if you don’t uphold them, you have no standards at all,” Jeff said. “I run my life and my business by The Golden Rule: Treat others the way you would like to be treated, and that means doing the right thing even if no one is looking.”

By applying these maxims to his business, Jeff demonstrates his care and concern for his clients and builds their trust and respect simply by listening to them. “I always remind myself that people don’t care how much I know until they know how much I care about them and their goals,” he said. “To be the most interesting person in the world, you need to be the most interested — ask more questions, talk less and listen more.”

Jeff defines success as a matter of “living your life by design, not by default” but also believes that success is achieved by way of reciprocation. “If I help enough people get what they want in life, then I will be able to do what I want to do, when I want and with whom I want,” he said.

One of the things that Jeff “wants to do” in the future is to attain his Florida real estate license and expand his team there. His long-term goal is to create more work-life balance by building a team that his associates can manage and operate when he needs to step out for family and personal time.

One of the most important things for Jeff is supporting and spending quality time with Joy, his wife of 15 years, and their three daughters: Kayla, 15, Khloe, 11, and Kaitlyn, 9. Jeff enjoys pool time and traveling with his family — Disney World is a family favorite; they’ve been there over a dozen times. Jeff and Joy’s daughters play volleyball, swimming, basketball, tennis and golf. All of these activities keep the Duneskes pretty busy.

“To be the most interesting person in the world, you need to be the most interested — ask more questions, talk less and listen more.”

In his free time, Jeff loves to ski, golf, read — some of his favorite books include “The Secret,” “The Pumpkin Plan” and “The New Gold Standard” — dine out, and entertain friends and family. Jeff, who believes in “leading with contribution” and giving back to his community, also supports over 24 local charities, schools and youth sports teams.

Jeff encourages up-and-coming agents to grow their networks by joining various organizations, clubs and sports teams. “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know,” he said. “Stay in contact with your sphere — lead with a purpose, and the profit will follow.”

Jeff’s noble purpose — conducting his business with the highest morals, ethics and standards — has led him to a profitable career in real estate. More importantly, his ethical and moral standards have enriched his life and the lives of others in immeasurable ways … and because Jeff does not waver, he will continue to lead with purpose, honor and great promise.

Top Producer: Jeff Duneske