Paul Armstrong

A BUSINESS BUILT ON GROWTH, SERVICE AND AUTHENTICITY

By Robbyn Moore

Photos by Tracie Seeley with Downriver Real Estate

Photography Photos taken at Toll Brothers — Hamlet Pointe in Canton

Since the age of 13, Paul Armstrong has understood the value of hard work. His first job was on a farm where he worked seasonally for four years. “Learning how to break the hard soil and remove weeds from crops for eight to 10 hours a day showed me that hard work is important in order for anything to grow,” he said. In his pursuit of happiness and self-growth, Paul revealed the best version of himself and discovered that he is happiest while helping others succeed.

After years as a bar manager and bartender, Paul understood the processes of running a restaurant and keeping people happy, and hoped to one day own his own bar and grill. It was around this time that he bought a house and became very interested in real estate. As a result, he acquired a real estate license and entered the industry in 2015 on a parttime basis. “I started out slowly, but quickly began to see opportunities for a better living situation,” Paul recalled. “Bartending only paid so much, and the hours were terrible. At least with real estate, I have the flexibility to work whichever 80 hours of the week I choose,” he said with a laugh.

Once he learned the fundamentals of the real estate business, Paul truly fell in love with the industry. “Being a real estate agent gives me the opportunity to help others in a meaningful way while providing individuals with the best service possible,” Paul explained. “I offer an unparalleled real estate experience to clients who choose me as their representative.”

In 2017, Paul launched a company along with another agent. He later sold his partnership interest to pursue his dream of being a single owner of his own company. At the end of 2019, he purchased a NextHome franchise and began doing business in February of 2020. As broker and owner of NextHome Evolution, Paul led his team in achieving nearly 90 transactions, which earned him the President’s Circle Award from NextHome. In 2021, the team has closed over $28 million. “I’m very proud of my team members for continually growing their business and improving their sales skills,” Paul said.

Paul has always been a team player and has been successful at surrounding himself with like-minded individuals. “The agents I bring on board have positive mindsets, collaborate well with others in a non-competitive way, support each other in their growth, and, most importantly, are good human beings,” he said. “Additionally, we trust each other with feedback and constructive criticism, and as a group, we are open-minded, especially when it comes to technology and industry advancements.” Moreover, Paul is a firm believer in holding people accountable for their work while also providing a fun work environment that supports training and acknowledgment for achievements.

With a focus placed on quality over quantity, Paul found it appropriate to keep his longterm agent count to 25. “Keeping my team to a smaller size allows for a more cohesive group that can work closely together,” he said. “My agents never have to wait an unfair amount of time to hear from me.”

Currently, Paul is most passionate about using a new customer-relationship management program that will further support his ambition in building his business. “I’m very excited to see positive results in lead generation that we haven’t seen with any other system,” he said.

Growing up in Belleville, Michigan, Paul was greatly influenced by his older brother, Eric, who took full guardianship of Paul after their mother died when Paul was 15 years old. “Eric has always been a hard worker. He was like a father to me, and I will always be grateful for the role he plays in my life,” Paul shared.

Paul was recently married to Rachel, who also works in the real estate industry. When they aren’t working, they enjoy traveling, camping, visiting the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, raising chickens and spending time with

Rachel’s two boys — Caleb, 3, and Cameron, 8. The young boys share in Paul’s love for anything with wheels and an engine, and they are thrilled to get grease on their hands and help Paul with his latest car projects.

When asked what advice he would give to real estate agents who may be considering becoming a broker, Paul suggested, “I recommend asking yourself these questions: Are you willing to sacrifice time to help others? Are you willing to share your successes and processes to give your agents an advantage over the competition? Are you willing to work countless hours to make sure your organization is successful and not just you?” He continued, “If you’re even slightly hesitant to say yes to any of those questions, just start a team. If you’re willing to put the people in your organization first, then you will do well.”

Although many brokers talk about numbers to their teams as a comparative measure from agent to agent or brokerage to brokerage, Paul said he is not a numbers fan. “In my opinion, being a top producer is great and all, but it means nothing if you’re not providing the best possible experience to your clients. If the focus is on pushing through transactions as quickly as possible just to get a paycheck, then there’s no connection and nothing special — you want to be memorable. I believe process expertise and personal care will yield you millions of dollars with time. To me, the priority is to be a good human and a solid resource to my sphere of influence.”

At the end of a workday, the most rewarding part of Paul’s business is having a happy team and satisfied clients. “It’s truly special when I hear the most authentic thank yous from my clients and agents when we succeed,” he said.

Paul Armstrong - Broker Spotlight