BRITISH COLUMBIA 2-7-22

BRITISH COLUMBIA EDITION

6 HABITS OF HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE AGENTS FEATURED AGENTS

CHRISTINE ALBO CHRISTINA ERIKSEN JARED FRANCZAK MATT GIRODAY VANESSA MAC LUKE MORI CANDICE QUINNELL

Top Agent Tips and Questions for

CHOOSING YOUR LISTING AGENT

COVER STORY

REBECCA & REISHA HARPER

Uncommon Contact:

CONNECTING WITH CLIENTELE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com http://www.topagentmagazine.com

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Top Agent Magazine

BRITISH COLUMBIA EDITION

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REBECCA & REISHA VANESSA JARED FRANCZAK CHRISTINA ERIKSEN MAC MATT GIRODAY CANDICE QUINNELL CHRISTINE JARED HARPERALBO LUKE MORI FRANCZAK Vanessa ranked as a Top Realtor in past Vanessa Mac’s real estate journey began In the small town of Princeton, BC, we

even was introduced to REBECCA months and many dozens of viewings.

When raved, “Luke made buying ourweren’t first & Luke 30 Mori received his real estate 33 li- few years. She34had buyer 37 achievement while she was still living cence, in Europe. ry, she was hooked.

Christine wasknocked extremely flexible he hit the pavement and on each home a fun andsuch exciting process.

He was nearly everyone knows other.and And going to settle i REISHA HARPER as Performance “My union, whole life I was servingevery people and local credit forof know both viewings andOutstanding phonecer- Salesa great door in his community Nelson, BC listener toand our needs, helped us re-us as if w ifavailable they don’t everyone, they treated Sales Achievements Awards This year, with people,” Vanessa in and communicating asked if I conversations.

This was especially helpful to let the community know he was licensed fine our search and delivered great advice tainly know Candice Quinnell.

Aalso fourth ready to buy. she is ranked asand a Top Realtor by it came to and recalls. estate first ready to service that, I home strategy when executing would look after“My a spark in realand to usthem. as we“Prior were to first time buyers. generation Princeton resident, she’s information abou Medallion Club of Greater Vancouver of came from building homes.

I started had no connection the industry,” he says. a purchase. Luke was always responsive she explains. “So Wetofound her advice and guidance to be British Columbia.

Christina Eriksen has always been passio in Europe, and then when I moved to aluxury top niche, real estate we really His first home become was in the and alsoagent and helped ensure all parties involved (us, credit This quickly turned very valuable.

Christine made in theher Canada I began in commercial Luke tookreal a creative to marketing broker, lawyers) on track aboutmortgage real estate.

From awere young age,a she region and is entirely referral-based. with being large ng a property manofferapproach placing and closure paperwork proLooking toward the and future, Vanessa isin place.” estate. as cess athat it. It pace was something his smaller town had everything hich grew from I1kept to going at the same breeze.

Thank you Christine!”

“We have a population of about 3,000, close attention to the market,ended up picking studying to bec planning to begin putting together a my previous experience, and I learnedBC, had not seen before. “We of Nelson, the sameintime, she so word tends to spread fast here,” she home.

I highly rec a real continue estate up agent.

She was “I also building some ways to improve on it. utilized I felt I could professional photography, videin Nelson, Luke a is single active inmother a real estate license.

Christine maintains a strong team. presence in want toGrowing CHRISTINE ALBO explains.

VANESSA MAC LUKE MORI CANDICE QUINNELL Forsocial Candice, themywords are time business, expand myput footprint in sponsors succeedinto in real estate basedography, on my predrone her footage, and his community. and donates and her He plans on hold.

But her pas ly transitioned community by media donating $100 to the and my community, since I just moved to a all positive, as she continually puts her When vious experience and my background.” marketing,” Luke explains.

This built the foundation to local baseball teams and coaches soccer, as he spentCandice sellers, and she has Children’s Miracle Network after every for the business remained, and when Chris different area in Vancouver,” says.sports.

“I The restthe is history, and Vanessa hasn’thisclients’ upon which future business stand. much of his youth she playing “I also stays love supneeds first.

SheLuke her start active in th of it. Serving closing.

“I alsowould participate ingot thewas annual CONTENTS and her husband moved to the SunshineI have Coa love my brokerage, because it has a posilooked back since.

Since becoming recently named the Best Luxury Real Estate Broker in porting local restaurants and promoting local products college and working Christmas, n-to-Earth nature and white glove toy drive so while we can attending provide presents to children in need as British Columbia, beating out some top brokerstive, in bigandenvironment. contractors.”

During any their free time, he’s golfing, healthy The real estate in 2013, she has helped her cliBritish Realtor noted Christi allowedlicensed her to skyrocket. during the AND holidays.”

She is part assistant of the various events an administrative for Century 21.

“An Columbia, agent of the developers and contract 4) TOP AGENT TIPS 28) UNCOMMON CONTACT: ger real cities like goals.

Vancouver and Victoria.

“We’re complaying soccer, basketball, baseball or skiing. industry is huge, and to find a good environment like ents in Canada to achieve their estate keen interest and Rossland hosts, includingget themy Winter Carnival.

When license, and he offered to pay for it CLIENTELE whereskills. we willThe haveRealtor a nice big off din QUESTIONSing FOR CHOOSING CONNECTING WITH out on topsuggested with some IYOUR of thethat best marketing and in a brokerage big.” ping my clients, and making the she can find the time, Christine loves to travel,isrelax Christina a job at their development and enc if I built him a web page,” Candice says.

So she creI just want everyone to know h production from aof community I He hopesSOCIAL to create aMEDIA team in the next year or two, Vanessa the Greater Vancouver area British of 10,000 people, and LISTING AGENT THROUGH ossible for them,”serves Christine says. with family, or paint. can’t wait to see where it takes us.” implementing and expanding the systems he’s used Above Vanessa looks forward tothen, continuing aged Christina to earn her her license.

Nowshe Columbia, Canada. Close to 90% of her business comes ated the site, and theall,rest is history.

Since she to build them.”

During off hours, ve throughout the transaction, she toand become a“IOVERCOME successful agent.

“I want to help other 13) THINGS YOU CAN DO TO 31) TO YOUR trustwith and goodwill in herHOW community. wantto to continue from referral clients, an impressive feat that stands asin love has fallen this industry its ability with family. ctions with everyone she serves. With Withmuch her business growingconsisting to incredible heights over theagents excel and educate them on how they can reach of she his business of with international to lives. work people, help people, andFEARS expand my busia testament to the trust andYOUR confidence inspires.

ANTICIPATE CLIENT’S NEEDS WORKPLACE change people’s wn, it is so important to make sure clients, past few years, Christine wants to maintain herwhite momen-a larger audience. and repeat It’s clients.” been a great year, and I look forness it’s intoLuke’s even more areas so I can help more Vanessa explains. “I end up servingreferrals their friends, fam-clientele, and looked after in the right ways.” glove tum.service “But I that don’tkeeps wantpeople to expand too back. much,Every as I wantward to continuing on this In the coming years, she wan coming path.” ily, and neighbors.

“My goal in my business is to build a HABITS HIGHLY 35) EASY BLOG TOPICS FOR YOUR she often runs into18) past 6 clients in detail toOF keep providing the same great service.”

Recently “It’s aneeds.” beautiful to be with such a large balance while continuing to pr of thepeople’s transaction is handled thing with care, andinvolved Luke relationship which helps to understand PRODUCTIVE AGENTS asy to stay in their lives. “Even utilizes hiring an assistant, she is able takeclients on new clients REAL ESTATE BLOG state ofpurchase,” the art technology to to ensure leave she explains.

“Giving someone a home base, rior service. Wherever this path we all work together and respect theand remain hands-on with everyone she serves.

It’s the transaction happy.

“We offer a full, extensive marVanessa impresses by going above andhelping beyond and them gain a sense of security, it’s such an YOUR going to love every minute of it A clients STEP-BY-STEP TO 38) HOW TO MAKE ys. “Our clients can24) feel that and it people she GUIDE works with who keep her going. tours, “It warms which includes 3D Matterport for them. “I am always doingketing more package, than I promise,” she amazing feeling.”

Getting to know her clients on a perindustry to be a part of. It’s sup CONVERTING INTERNET LEADS ooth journey.” my heart to see my clients smiling. It videography really isCOMMUTE the best virtual plans, high end photography, PRODUCTIVE says. “If I help a client search for floor homes, I try to give sonaltours,” level, Candice develops a plan to achieve their want to be doing anything else.” feeling ever.” and YouTube video TO REAL LIFE SALES lots of information not just about the property itself butLuke explains. This helps ing a buyer or a seller, Christine them highlightgoals.

For best her features buyers,andthis includes determining their a property’s builds exthe community as well. I ask the sellers what they like m at every step, which helps them citement. “We must-haves also do a lot ofand social media marketing, setting down a budget. Then she starts about the neighborhood, and I pass that knowledge on ions possible. By preparing where we target specific buyers.” Luke frequently adPhone them 310-734-1440 |based Fax 310-734-1440 search, to my clients. Clients keep coming back the on theworking tirelessly until their ideal property , they never feel confused and can vertises his listings in BC Luxury Magazine, and has quality andmag@topagentmagazine.com the attitude I provide.” is found. Once it’s time tohim submit www.topagentmagazine.com connect with an offer, she negotient. This exceptional service holds joined several worldwide groups| that to countries. get them the best price and terms possible. This top-tier agents ates in other nsaction price, as Christine’s main Notoportion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent Giving back her community is important to Vanessa, same exceptional service is carried into her work with er clients happy. “When someone Magazine is by events Featurethrough Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published and she participates inpublished many local her This exceptional service carries into his work withthoroughly to spread h me, I just want to do the best Agent I sellers, advertises cannot beas heldCandice responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. brokerage.materials, She also Top listens buyers, to Magazine her clients and friends, with Luke taking the time to get to know word about their listings.

“I utilize Facebook and subscribe or change address,the send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com.

Published in theMac, U.S. and takes To part in events and organizations they care To find out more them. He discovers what they are looking for, and Forabout moreVanessa information about Luke Mori, Instagram,” she explains.

“Most homes generate mulabout. “I believe that if youworks are making money, espeplease call/ text 778-389-7661, diligently to find them their dream home. please call 250-551-4917 egion, Christine gets new business cially in the real estate industry, you should offers, we have Albo, a housing shortage.”orCandice Top Agent Magazine 3 all,contribute he makesas itChristine enjoyable and nego-vanessamacrealty@gmail.com, Forittiple more about email luke@lukemori.com email ns and testimonials from previous Throughout to your community,” Vanessa says.

“I encourage all tiates to get them the best price possible.

One recent helps her sellers sort through offers and choose the best please call 250-512-7653 or or visit www.vanessamacrealty.com ecently raved, “We worked with agents to do the same.” one. sold@christinealbo.ca Throughout it all, whether assisting a buyer or a email

MATT GIRODAY

Top Agent Tips and Questions for Choosing Your Listing Agent Now that you’ve decided to sell, it’s time to select the professional to help you market your property. Before meeting with agents, however, consider Top Agent Magazine’s tips for preparing yourself. Frist, ask yourself what kind of relationship you’d like to have with your listing agent. Are you seeking a casual, personable relationship and the latest marketing tools or are you interested in a more formal, traditional relationship and approach to marketing techniques? Next, populate your list of agents by attending open houses and asking for recommendations from recent buyers and sellers.

Finally, schedule your meetings at your home, where you’ll be able to gauge the chemistry between you and each agent.

During your meetings, expect any Top Agent to ask you several questions, but also consider discussing the following: 4

Top Agent Magazine

Will you please describe your sales experience and local network?

Ask your Top Agent to describe recent listings and sales of homes comparable to your own. Ask about the sellers’ priorities, the original list price, market time and number of offers. Top Agents will also describe how well they are connected with other REALTORS® in the region as well as their contacts with relocation companies, local corporations and chambers of commerce.

Be sure to ask about each agent’s knowledge of how your market has changed over time and what has influenced change.

You’ll learn a lot by listening to agents’ opinions.

How will you market the property? Each

Top Agent has a unique set of online or local marketing tools at his or her disposal. Some use lead-generation applications and nearly ever luxury agent take advantage of video. Even video marketing tools vary from agent-to-agent, however.

You’ll get to decide if you prefer an agent with higher-end video production and 3D Matterport tours or an agent with more intimate techniques featuring walk-and-talk style video tours.

What factors influence your list-price recommendation? Before an-

swering this question, most Top Agents will have several questions for you, including whether you’re more focused on a faster sale or a higher list price.

They’ll also educate you on how best to balance both market time and list price relative to sales histories your area.

Now that you’ve seen the home, what repairs or improvements do you recommend before listing? You’ll learn a lot by listening to agents’

opinions on your home’s sale potential with or without some improvements.

Most Top Agents will also recommend a full professional inspection prior to listing to avoid surprises during buyer inspection.

How will you help with staging? Some Top Agents will pay for part or

all of the staging costs. At a minimum, however, a Top Agent will have a staging professional or two in their partner network. While they’re at it, they may provide referrals for carpet cleaning, painting, gardening and other minor finishing touches.

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What attributes of the property will you want to highlight? Each Top

Agent will have a somewhat different answer to this question, but that’s a good thing! Even if you have your own ideas about your home’s greatest attributes, you’ll glean insight into the current market by considering different agents’ opinions. In learning their views, you may even change your mind about your home’s most marketable features!

What is your approach to Open Houses? How many agent-only Open

Houses will your Top Agent want to host? How many truly Open Houses?

Some Top Agents may even reveal a “swankier” approach to the Open House – such as an evening cocktail party or by-invitation “open” hours to which buyers visit along with the agent representing them.

Who will be our primary point(s) of contact from your office? This

important question will help you understand the scope of your agent’s practice. You’ll get to see if your agent runs a robust team with many hands on deck or if he or she works by close, one-on-one contact with each client.

Either approach is wonderful; you get to decide what suits you.

Now, let’s list!

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Top Agent Magazine

REBECCA & REISHA HARPER

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REBECCA & REISHA HARPER “We focus on building a strong rapport with people, providing high-quality customer service, and creating an absolutely exceptional experience for our clients.”

Identical twin sisters Rebecca and Reisha Harper began their real estate journey in September 2021, having wanted to take the leap since long before that. “Real estate has been an interest of ours for about 10 years,” 8

they say. “We’ve loved interior design since we were kids, and we’ve always wanted to do real estate together.” The pair jumped at the chance to embark on this venture together. “We’ve always been joined at the hip, and we’re Top Agent Magazine

used to working as a team. We build on each other’s strengths and complement each other’s weaknesses, so it’s a great match for the two of us to do this together.”

Rebecca and Reisha serve the beautiful Shuswap-Okanagan Valley, from Salmon Arm and surrounding area through to Kelowna. The Harper Top Agent Magazine

Twins point out that their area is a hugely popular destination for travelers, and is known as the wine country of British Columbia. “We’ve had the privilege of working with people all throughout the Valley,” they say.

“Everyone we’ve worked with so far have been great and have been very satisfied with our services. We focus on building a strong rapport with 9

people, providing high-quality customer service, and creating an absolutely exceptional experience for our clients. Our core values include integrity, honesty, dedication, and work ethic. We persevere, we don’t give up, and we’re very focused on attention to detail.”

The Harper Twins set themselves apart by putting others first. “Our main goal is helping others. We feel that integrity is a key factor in this

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business, and we take that very seriously.” This people-focused approach helps clients feel at ease, even in uncertain times. “We love the in-person part of real estate. We go out of our way to make sure our clients feel comfortable, that we listen closely to their wants and needs and serve them to the best of our ability. We provide top quality customer service whether that is meeting in-person, with safety measures in place for covid, or meeting virtually. We want to meet people

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Our core values include integrity, honesty, dedication, and work ethic. We persevere, we don’t give up, and we’re very focused on attention to detail.”

where they are and ensure that they know they’re going to be very well looked after.”

When it comes to marketing, Rebecca and Reisha pull out all the stops to ensure optimum exposure for their listings. They have a strong social media presence, both through their Instagram account and through their brokerage’s Facebook page, which draws about 30,000 people. The two have a strong following through social media and word of mouth, and they also invest in newspaper advertising to reach demographics who consume print media. They have a Top Agent Magazine

high traffic billboard, advertising to 10,000+ vehicles that pass by it daily.

The sisters give back to their community any way they can, whether through donating some of their proceeds to World Vision and Mercy Ships, or helping out women, moms and families in their community. Their brokerage, Canada Flex Realty Ltd., is also active with Habitat For Humanity.

Looking toward the future, the Harper Twins say, “We would love to continue helping as many people as we can!

We are also interested in helping our clients invest in real estate investment properties. We have a low vacancy rate here in the Shuswap-Okana11

gan Valley, and we want to work on helping people who have a potential to invest so they can find the ideal investment property and open it up so

people have great places to rent. It’s just one way that we’re thinking about how we can improve our community and help others.”

To find out more about Rebecca and Reisha Harper, you can call them at 250-808-2481, or email at HarperTwinsRealty@gmail.com.

You can find them online at HarperTwinsRealty.com www.

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Top Agent Magazine

Things You Can Do to Anticipate Your Cleint’s Needs First and foremost, the real estate industry is a customer service business. The key to any successful real estate business is one that can build a reputation by providing an unsurpassed level of care. That usually means a transaction that is seamless and stress-free as possible throughout the whole process. Your client’s experience is what keeps them not only coming back, but gets them to recommend you to their friend and family.

tise. By showing you can not only anticipate their needs, but have insight into any potential problems that might arise, they will have complete confidence in you. Achieving that level of trust is the key to a transaction that is as stress-free as possible.

The key to creating a great experience is anticipating your client’s needs. They are relying on your professionalism and exper-

From the moment, you meet a po-tential client, your goal should be to find out not only what they are looking for as far as their real estate

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GET TO KNOW YOUR CLIENTS ON A PERSONAL LEVEL

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goals, but who they are as a person. Listening and asking the right questions from the start is one of the most important aspects of the job.

You almost have to become an amateur psychologist, really honing in on the emotional reasons behind their real estate transaction.

Taking time upfront not only gives you valuable insight into your client, but it is the first impression your clients have that you truly care about them, and that this isn’t just another commission check for you. This goes miles in helping them feel comfortable enough to rely on your guidance.

Knowing who your client is on a deep level will help you navigate the transition ups and downs, allowing you to anticipate the best way to handle it.

SPOT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND PROVIDE SOLUTIONS Having insight into your client’s per-sonality type will come in handy when you anticipate an upcoming snag in the transaction. Most people find the process to be stressful even under the best of circumstances. One of the best rules of thumb is to always provide the solutions to anticipated problems when you present them to the client.

This should be the case even when the problem isn’t on you. Anything that can ruin a client’s overall experience can reflect poorly on you, whether you deserve it or not. This is a business philosophy called “zero risk”. You don’t want to take any chances with having an unsatisfied customer.

This is where your experience in the business pays off. You’ve probably seen most things and can easily anticipate problems that are 14

likely to delay the process. Remember you are in charge. You are the expert. And, remember, part of avoiding potential problems is making sure your client knows what to expect upfront, always communicate openly and honestly.

Telling people what they want to hear and knowing you can’t deliver it, is destined to fail, and will always reflect poorly on you.

FIND WAYS TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS Recognizing ways to exceed a cus-tomer’s needs is just as important as looking out for potential problems, when it comes to creating an exceptional experience. Have a vetted list of trusted service providers. Be hands on.

There are Realtors® who are out there helping clients pack, mowing lawns, and picking kids up from school. They are there for a client in ways that are unexpected. Having one thing taken off your plate during a stressful period in your life can feel like a lifesaver and is not soon forgotten. It is those “little” things that will turn a client into a lifelong advocate for your business.

TAKE IN FEEDBACK A good service provider is always trying to do better. Many Realtors® have clients fill out surveys after the transaction is over. This serves two purposes. It helps you become better at your job and it shows your clients that you care about them and their opinions. You can also use social media to get feedback via analytics and interactions. All of this information can then be used to create better customer experiences in the future. After all, this is a customer service industry. Treat it like one and you’re bound to succeed.

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JARED FRANCZAK Top Agent Magazine

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JARED FRANCZAK & ASSOCIATES

After 12 years of building houses in the Okanagan, Jared Franczak decided he was ready for a new challenge, one that would allow him to continue utilizing his knowledge as a carpenter while giving him more opportunity to work with his clients directly. His wife suggested real estate.

“I’d always had a passion for architecture and design, which is why I got into construction. But I also love being around people, helping them achieve their goals. So I became a licensed Real Estate Agent in 2013 and it’s been a great fit for me. My wife gets all the credit for recognizing it!”

Today, Jared is the owner/licensee of Jared Franczak & Associates with Royal LePage Kelowna, offering high quality service to clients in West Kelowna, as well as to the entire area between Peachland and Vernon. Together with his wife Allison, a Certified Interior Decorator who brings years of office management experience to her role as the Client Care Manager, they 16

are rapidly building a business that goes the extra mile for every client. With Allison handling the back-end of the business (i.e. marketing, website development, database management, listing promotions, and even staging) Jared is free to fully dedicate his attention to his relationships with buyers and sellers, and ensuring they get the maximum value on their investment. His clients really value his added knowledge of housing construction and the industry, giving them the extra confidence to make informed decisions— whether it be purchasing, or making improvements prior to selling. The couple closes around 40 transactions a year, with nearly three quarters of that business coming from either referrals or repeat clients. It’s their blue-collar, down-toearth approach that brings people back.

“It’s just that personal touch,” says Jared.

“When you get into a business to help people, they end up becoming friends. So we’re always looking out for their best interests. It’s Top Agent Magazine

not a transactional relationship. They can call me anytime, and no request is too big or too small for me to deal with.”

Jared and Allison leave no unopened doors when it comes to marketing. They begin with cost effective renovation recommendations, staging, professional photos, and 3D scans of their sellers’ homes, emphasizing the property’s most attractive features. They generate a buzz through their “coming-soon” marketing and reach out to the hundreds of Realtors® they’ve built relationships with over the years. The listing is then marketed on all of the available platforms, including social media, dedicated real estate websites, Craigslist, Kijiji, Castanet, and local classifieds. They also door knock in the listing neighborhoods and send out postcards featuring the property.

Their website—ForSaleKelowna.ca—draws tens of thousands of visitors per month. “We have almost every new development in the Kelowna area on our site,” Jared promises. “On Google, we have ranked above many major brokerages and teams in terms of queries about these developments, so it’s been very successful.”

When they aren’t working, Jared and Allison mainly love spending time as a family. Jared enjoys coaching his daughter’s soccer team and doesn’t miss a game for his boys. Snowboarding as a family in the winter months and boating in the summer keeps them quite active. They also look for ways to give back to their community, donating to drives like Kelowna’s “Fill the Van for Sally Ann,” or contributing to multiple charities throughout the year.

As for the future of his business, Jared plans to expand his team, bringing on two additional agents next year to help handle the leads generated from ForSaleKelowna.ca. His wife may also get her license soon, which will require the addition of a new administrator.

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Contact Jared at 250.300.8530 or email jared@forsalekelowna.ca.

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6 Habits of Highly Productive Agents In a business that can be constant chaos, you’re constantly on the go and dealing with things as they hit you. It can be difficult to take a second and regroup. But there is a better and smarter way to work. If you take the time to create some better habits, in the end, you may end up being more productive. If you want to make better use of your time, as well as have more focus, here’s some habits that you’re going to want to pick up - all common to top-producing agents.

1. Learn how to prioritize Although it might be your instinct to get some of the boring work out of the way first, things 18

that actually generate income (or are time-sensitive!) should be the first thing you focus on when you start your day.

Lists are your friend! Make a list of things you want to accomplish for the day, the week, and even the month. Always list them in the order of priority. If things get cut off when you run out of time at the end of the day, at least it’ll be the things that are not as important or time sensitive. As with anyone, your time is your most valuable commodity and should be used wisely. When you make your list, you can even schedule tasks as if they were a meeting, giving yourself a little time goal to beat, as Top Agent Magazine

well. Treat your time with the same respect you would a colleague’s or client’s and don’t ever waste it.

As with anyone, your time is your most valuable commodity and should be used wisely. When you make your list you can even schedule tasks as if they were a meeting, giving yourself a little time goal to beat, as well. Treat your time with the same respect you would a colleague’s or client’s, and don’t ever waste it.

to accomplish it? Write it out and then incorporate that into your prioritized ‘to do’ list.

You’ll be amazed at how driven you become to reach that goal when you actually write it out with clarity. And, the sense of accomplishment you get upon completing it will carry over to the next day. It’s important to remember to be specific. Once you get into the habit of meeting your goals, exceeding them won’t be far behind.

2. Remove distractions

when you need to focus This is especially hard when you’re a Realtor®. Most are constantly connected to their phones. But, unnecessary distractions can get you off schedule and make you lose your focus instantly. If you can, turn your phone off for the half hour it takes to do a task. Interruptions make everything take twice as long, especially when you take that text and then decide to check Facebook for a second.

We all do it!

Complete your task, then take ten minutes to respond to all texts and messages before you start up the next thing on your list. You can even schedule those ‘text backs’ into your schedule. A concentrated effort is always more effective than going back and forth between things.

3. Set daily goals This is so key. What do you want to accomplish for the day and what do you need to do Top Agent Magazine

4. Don’t make excuses There’s that old saying, “The buck stops here”. Well, take it to heart. This is your business and you are responsible for doing everything you can to make it successful.

Sure, there are reasons for why you didn’t get a listing or why your business is slow, but what are you doing to change things and make them better? Successful Realtors® work harder and come up with innova19

tive ways to stand out when times are tough. They don’t look for excuses, they look for solutions.

5. Be deliberate

about everything you do When you’re making your list, it helps to have a goal in mind for even the smallest task. If you’re calling past clients to touch base, have a specific reason why you’re calling. Are you letting them know some market news?

Thanking them for a referral? When you’re meeting a referral partner for lunch, have a goal in mind for what the outcome of that meeting will be as well. Yes it’s good to socialize and build relationships, but if you have a reason, make sure it isn’t put off until the final moments, when things are wrapping up. Always having a purpose in mind will also help you prioritize your list better.

6. Always look for ways to

get out of your comfort zone Yes, you are prioritizing what is most important or urgent to your business, but it’s also important to make an effort to break out 20

of your routine as much as you’re comfortable doing. Trying out new things or taking some time to learn about new and innovative real estate techniques and technology, can have an energizing effect on your business.

Not only might they lead to things that make you more productive, but it keeps you sharp and engaged. And, ultimately keeping yourself at the top of your game is what it’s all about.

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MATT GIRODAY Top Agent Magazine

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MATT GIRODAY

A long time investor, Matt Giroday felt drawn to the real estate world from a young age. “I’ve bought and sold multiple residential properties throughout my adult life, and I also own commercial property,” he says. “So I’ve always been involved in this industry in some way.” At the end of 2020, Matt decided to earn his real estate license, wanting to pursue something new. “It was exciting to me that this path could introduce me to lots of new people,” he explains.

“I’ve also lived in British Columbia for 40+ years, and I truly love this area.”

Serving the Cariboo Regional District, a growing portion of his business consists of repeats and referrals.

“I genuinely enjoy helping people,” he 22

explains. “I’ve developed great friendships with my clients.” Wanting what is best for his buyers and sellers, Matt goes above and beyond to meet their needs and exceed their expectations.

When working with buyers, he outlines a plan to get them into their dream home. Upon first meeting them, he gets to know them and what they are looking for, what their budget is, and proceeds to show them properties that check their boxes. Once the ideal one is found, he negotiates to get them the best price possible, while also ensuring they remain competitive. His approach is similar for his sellers, except he implements marketing strategies that spread the word far and wide about their listings. “I advertise on social Top Agent Magazine

media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, and I target specific areas so the people I am reaching are more likely to be interested buyers.” This approach has led to Matt closing over 100 transactions over the course of his first year in the business.

Community is a vital part of Matt’s life, so he always carves out time to stay involved. He’s part of a local hockey league where he serves as president, after playing the sport for much of his life. “I also sit on the board of directors for a mountain riding association, as we have a lot of winter activities in our area. We provide a riding area for snowmobilers.” Matt also stays active in his daughter’s school.

In the next year, Matt hopes to improve upon his already exceptional service. “I want to provide a more tailored experience to my clients, and establish a solid reputation.”

As time goes on, his passion for what he does grows, and he can’t picture himself in any other field. “I really love my brokerage, RE/MAX 100, we have a great bunch of people here and an amazing atmosphere. And seeing my clients happy, knowing that I did everything I could to facilitate their journey, that’s incredibly satisfying.”

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For more information about Matt Giroday, please call 250-395-0602 or email mattgiroday@remax100.ca

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A Step-by-Step Guide to

Converting Internet Leads to Real Life Sales In the era of apps, instantaneous social platforms, and text messaging, it’s little surprise that the modern homebuyer begins his or her search for real estate representation online.

Even if you’ve got a top-notch website or an influential social media presence, how do you connect with web surfers who have yet to commit to the services you offer? Take a look below to learn a few key techniques to bridge the gap between digital interest and real-world sales.

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RESPONSIVENESS IS KEY Like it or not, our digital culture relishes immediacy and instant gratification. With that in mind, be sure to stay on top of online interest forms, e-mails, or newsletter signups. Don’t let an online lead go to waste by taking too long to engage and follow-up.

Things move fast, and it’s easy for potential clientele to forget which websites they’ve visited. Even if your lead isn’t ready to commit then and there, you demonstrate your

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Mastering the fundamentals of digital communication is the first step to converting digital interest into concrete business. accessibility and attentiveness by following up swiftly—a characteristic anyone would seek in an agent or lender.

ENGAGE WITH OPEN-ENDED CONVERSATION When online back-and-forth goes stale, communication drops off quickly. If you’re following up via e-mail, social media, or text, be sure to keep topics focused squarely on the potential client. Ask open-ended questions to give your lead the opportunity to loosen up and engage on a personal level. There’s no better way to cement a digital lead than to take a pointed interest in the specifics of their situation. Doing so transforms the impersonal invisibility of the internet into a true connection.

GIVE ADDED VALUE Plenty of businesses send impersonal, automated messages in response to an online inquiry, but establishing a true connection may mean providing your lead with something of value. Perhaps you’re forwarding a property for sale that fits the interests of your lead, or a relevant article, or maybe you take the time to send a personal message—demonstrable value and a personal touch separate your follow-up response from spam. Other ideas to consider when Top Agent Magazine

adding value to your follow-up technique: incorporate area promotions and access to local events, make a date for coffee, or offer a brief consultation free of charge to make the first move.

DON’T STOP MAKING CONTACT If you don’t connect with your internet lead right off the bat—don’t be discouraged. It often takes multiple tries before a follow-up interaction sticks. Folks are busy and frequently flooded with e-mail blasts and junk mail. A lead may not engage without a little prodding that shows you’re committed to their business. Remember: it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.

Digital leads don’t have to be difficult to capture. The internet plays a powerful role in funneling modern clientele your way, but in order to take full advantage of the web’s reach, you’ll need to tailor your follow-up technique. Mastering the fundamentals of digital communication is the first step to converting digital interest into concrete business. Keep these tips top-of-mind as you build your online presence and mine the vast world wide web for an endless wealth of clientele. Earning a command of digital lead conversion is the surest way to bolster your business in the ever-evolving digital era.

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CHRISTINA ERIKSEN

Christina Eriksen has always been passionate about real estate. From a young age, she paid close attention to the market, studying to become a real estate agent. She was a single mother at the time and put her plans on hold. But her passion for the business remained, and when Christina and her husband moved to the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, their Realtor noted Christina’s keen interest and skills. The Realtor offered Christina a job at their development and encouraged Christina to earn her license. Now with

a year of experience under her belt, Christina has already built a thriving business and stellar reputation on the foundation of putting her clients first.

As an agent with RE/MAX City Realty, Christina runs and manages her own clientele while collaborating closely with her mentor, working as his Buyer’s Agent. Christina has cultivated a specialty with developers, bringing to bear her versatile skillset and fierce professional

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dedication. Already, Christina is earning repeat clients and referral business. “I’m very good at securing multiple offers using proven strategies,” Christina says. “I understand that the nature of real estate is often very emotional.”

Committed, driven, and highly personable, Christina knows how to build relationships with her clients. She keeps in touch through personal emails to update them on the market and check in on their lives. With her proven, thoughtful approach, Christina has quickly built a robust business; this past year, she completed just over fifteen million dollars in volume.

For Christina, it is not her impressive sales numbers that provide the most motivation, but rather her innate passion for real estate and serving others. “I’ve been obsessed with real estate my whole adult life,” Christina says. “I just love it. I love the process, I love meeting people, I love when I secure a great property for my buyers. There’s so much that people don’t realize about this industry, even if they’re seasoned buyers or sellers; it’s an emotional journey, and I love helping people through that.”

While Christina’s growing business keeps her busy, when she does find herself with free time, she loves to spend it with her family and friends, taking her large dogs across their land, and hiking and camping in beautiful British Columbia.

Christina’s trajectory is on the rise, and she has no plans to slow down. “I plan to double my volume this year,” she says. “The area is growing, with young people moving here because of the affordability. The demand for housing is incredible. There’s a lot of opportunity to help a lot of people find their way into homes, and I can’t wait.”

For more about Christina Eriksen, call 604-319-0624, visit coasthome.ca or email christina@coasthome.ca www.

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Uncommon Contact:

Connecting with Clientele Through Social Media Social media is one of the newest and most powerful tools in an agent or mortgage professional’s arsenal. With just a few keystrokes, you can stay top-of-mind with buyers, sellers, and borrowers near and far, past and present. The key is knowing how to use these mediums to your advantage, working smarter instead of harder to keep the thread of professional relationships intact. With that in mind, here are a few ways you can maximize the pull and power of social media by shifting just a few of your ideas and practices for the better.

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Not everything has to be about business.

While your relationship with a client or fellow vendor began over the course of business, your relationship going forward doesn’t have to be limited. One of the great things about social media is that’s it’s social. Not every comment, post, or communication has to revolve around your business, its metrics, or turning a sale. In fact, you should do your best to branch out and curate a brand and online identity that’s about who you are and

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the lifestyle you’re authentically interested in living. In that vein, consider interacting with clients in an organically-driven way, encouraging them during life’s milestones, reaching out with a local event, restaurant, or news item that’s relevant to their interests or neighborhood. The goal is to be a persistent presence in their lives without feeling like a talking head. Engage as you would like to be engaged with, as a human being with interests and needs and boundaries. Keep that personal thread in mind and your dynamic will shift from past business contact to present resource.

Expand your medium.

Many Realtors are comfortable on Facebook as an interactive meeting to connect with clients, but there are several other mediums where you can connect with clients both past and present, as well as future. Particularly when courting Millennial clientele, the fastest-growing segment of the buying market, a presence on Instagram and Snapchat are key to finding new faces, demonstrating hot properties, and creating an interactive brand as an agent. Not only does this help when you’re listing a property and seeking potential buyers, but it also serves as a perusable portfolio of your work and real estate prowess. You can also use these mediums to interact with clients on an outlet they might feel most comfortable in. Liking pictures, commenting, streaming Instagram Live home tours and Stories are all ways you can build engagement by simply spreading your social media presence around. Likewise, Top Agent Magazine

these photo and video driven mediums are popular for home design ideas, and before and after renovation pictures. When you expand from Facebook into these new platforms, you’ll already have plenty of visual content ready to be transferred and consumed by an expanded audience.

Don’t just react.

Create your own content.

It’s easy enough to post a link to a new listing, or retweet a helpful article on real estate news. Creating your own organic content is a different story, but worth its weight in gold when it comes to luring engagement, ranking higher in search fields, and overall crafting an interactive presence for yourself and your business online—which is where more than 90% of homebuyers and sellers begin their process. Creating your own content can seem risky, or else like no one is listening in a digital world already crowded with information. However, original content is sure to boost personal engagement with your social media pages, guaranteed.

Instead of recycling content, consider posting a video with a Q+A theme for first-time homebuyers, or perhaps posting a live tour of a new listing will perk up your clientele surfing at home.

No matter how you decide to expand your social media presence when it comes to interacting with clients, consistency is key.

Find the ways that work best for you and stick to them, and you’ll watch your audience and business grow in tandem.

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CHRISTINE ALBO Once Christine Albo was introduced to the real estate industry, she was hooked.

“I was working at a local credit union, and someone came in and asked if I knew anyone that would look after a property for them,” she explains. “So I offered to do it.” This quickly turned into Christine starting a property management company, which grew from 1 to 150+ properties. At the same time, she decided to earn her real estate license.

Her career organically transitioned into assisting buyers and sellers, and she has loved every minute of it. Serving the Kootenays, her down-to-Earth nature and white glove customer service has allowed her to skyrocket.

“My priority is helping my clients, and making the process as easy as possible for them,” Christine says.

Honest and supportive throughout the transaction, she forms lasting connections with everyone she serves.

“Being in a small town, it is so important to make sure people are cared for and looked after in the right ways.”

Based in Rossland, she often runs into past clients in town, and finds it easy to stay in their lives. “Even amongst us agents, we all work together and respect one another,” she says. “Our clients can feel that and it makes for a very smooth journey.”

Whether she’s assisting a buyer or a seller, Christine aims to educate them at every step, which helps them make the best decisions possible. By preparing them for what comes next, they never feel confused and can truly enjoy the moment. This exceptional service holds true no matter the transaction price, as Christine’s main focus is on making her clients happy. “When someone chooses to work with me, I just want to do the best I can for them.”

A top agent in her region, Christine gets new business from recommendations and testimonials from previous clients. One client recently raved, “We worked with Christine through a house hunt that spanned nearly 8 30

months and many dozens of viewings.

Christine was extremely flexible and available for both viewings and phone conversations. This was especially helpful to us as we were first time home buyers.

We found her advice and guidance to be very valuable. Christine also made the offer placing and closure paperwork process a breeze. Thank you Christine!”

Christine maintains a strong presence in her community by donating $100 to the Children’s Miracle Network after every closing. “I also participate in the annual toy drive so we can provide presents to children in need during the holidays.” She is part of the various events Rossland hosts, including the Winter Carnival. When she can find the time, Christine loves to travel, relax with family, or paint.

With her business growing to incredible heights over the past few years, Christine wants to maintain her momentum. “But I don’t want to expand too much, as I want to keep providing the same great service.” Recently hiring an assistant, she is able to take on new clients and remain hands-on with everyone she serves. It’s the people she works with who keep her going. “It warms my heart to see my clients smiling. It really is the best feeling ever.”

For more about Christine Albo, please call 250-512-7653 or email sold@christinealbo.ca Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine Copyright Top

How To Overcome Your Workplace Fears Fear is something that can help protect us from danger, but it is also something that can be a hindrance to us in our lives, especially when it keeps us from potentially thriving and growing as a person. This is especially true in the workplace. Here’ a look at some proven ways to overcome common workplace fears.

your head, what exactly you’re feeling and why, it can help deflate the fear. Think of it as releasing some of the fear into the ether.

Yes, you’ll still be nervous about your presentation, but a lot of what was holding you back is gone. You’ll feel lighter, and hopefully have just enough butterflies to make your soar.

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Really owning the emotions that are putting you in a place of fear, is the first step.

By just naming it and then talking it out in

Nothing can make you feel more isolated than going down the path of “This is something that only happens to me.” Trust me,

ASSESS THE FEELINGS BEHIND THE FEAR

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TALK ABOUT YOUR FEARS WITH A TRUSTED CO-WORKER

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it doesn’t, and you might be surprised to find out that some people have had it even worse. Talking to someone you trust and admire, hearing their own fear horror stories and how they overcame them, will help normalize what you’re feeling. Releasing yourself from the idea that it’s something about you, will be an enormous relief.

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THINK OF THE WORST CASE SCENARIO

Although it might seem counter-productive, truly assessing what the worse outcome of the situation you’re afraid of serves two purposes. It might lead you to realize the worst case scenario isn’t that bad after all.

Of course it could also lead you to a really uncomfortable thought, you could lose your job. As bad as that is, it also gives you an opportunity to start focusing on what really matters, and how you might grow from the experience and possibly end up better off.

Countless people in their dream jobs now, were once fired and thought it was the end of the world. Hopefully, that won’t happen to you, but learning to have confidence in your abilities to always find a way, will be a great tool in overcoming fears.

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COMPARTMENTALIZE

If you’re a super-organized type, you might try actually setting aside time in your day to focus on your fears. It might seem odd, but it will let you NOT focus on your fears during the other hours of your day. Think of it as a task, you aren’t just sitting there worrying, 32

Start thinking of fears as challenges.

As scary as it might seem to face them, for the most part they are things that can be fixed.

you’re taking in your fears and figuring out ways to overcome them.

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START THINKING OF YOUR FEARS AS OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH

Start thinking of fears as challenges. As scary as it might seem to face them, for the most part they are things that can be fixed.

A lot of fear is based on inexperience which leads to a lack of confidence. A common fear is workplace evaluations. Instead of looking at it as hearing everything that is wrong about you, think of it as an opportunity to see where you can improve. Going into it with a positive attitude rather than a defensive posture, will make the whole thing better for both parties.

Overcoming fears is oftentimes about a simple attitude adjustment. Like anything it takes practice, but the results of that practice will lead to a life that you’re able to thrive in both personally and professionally.

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VANESSA MAC Vanessa Mac’s real estate journey began while she was still living in Europe.

“My whole life I was serving people and communicating with people,” Vanessa recalls. “My spark in real estate first came from building homes. I started in Europe, and then when I moved to Canada I began in commercial real estate. I kept going at the same pace as in my previous experience, and I learned some ways to improve on it. I felt I could succeed in real estate based on my previous experience and my background.”

The rest is history, and Vanessa hasn’t looked back since. Since becoming licensed in 2013, she has helped her clients in Canada to achieve their real estate goals.

Vanessa serves the Greater Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada. Close to 90% of her business comes from referral clients, an impressive feat that stands as a testament to the trust and confidence she inspires.

Vanessa explains. “I end up serving their friends, family, and neighbors. “My goal in my business is to build a relationship which helps to understand people’s needs.”

Vanessa ranked as a Top Realtor in past few years. She had achievement such as Outstanding Sales Performance and Sales Achievements Awards This year, she is also ranked as a Top Realtor by Medallion Club of Greater Vancouver of British Columbia.

Looking toward the future, Vanessa is planning to begin putting together a team. “I also want to continue building my business, and expand my footprint in my community, since I just moved to a different area in Vancouver,” she says. “I love my brokerage, because it has a positive, healthy environment. The real estate industry is huge, and to find a good environment like that in a brokerage is big.”

Above all, Vanessa looks forward to continuing to build trust and goodwill in her community. “I want to continue to work with people, help people, and expand my business into even more areas so I can help more clients.”

Vanessa impresses clients by going above and beyond for them. “I am always doing more than I promise,” she says. “If I help a client search for homes, I try to give lots of information not just about the property itself but the community as well. I ask the sellers what they like about the neighborhood, and I pass that knowledge on to my clients. Clients keep coming back based on the quality and the attitude I provide.”

Giving back to her community is important to Vanessa, and she participates in many local events through her brokerage. She also listens to her clients and friends, and takes part in events and organizations they care about. “I believe that if you are making money, especially in the real estate industry, you should contribute to your community,” Vanessa says. “I encourage all agents to do the same.”

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To find out more about Vanessa Mac, please call/ text 778-389-7661, email vanessamacrealty@gmail.com, or visit www.vanessamacrealty.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 33

LUKE MORI When Luke Mori received his real estate licence, he hit the pavement and knocked on every door in his community of Nelson, BC to let the community know he was licensed and ready to service them. “Prior to that, I had no connection to the industry,” he says.

His first home was in the luxury niche, and Luke took a creative approach to marketing it. It was something that his smaller town of Nelson, BC, had not seen before. “We utilized professional photography, videography, drone footage, and social media marketing,” Luke explains. This built the foundation upon which his future business would stand. Luke was recently named the Best Luxury Real Estate Broker in British Columbia, beating out some top brokers in bigger cities like Vancouver and Victoria. “We’re coming out on top with some of the best marketing and production from a community of 10,000 people, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us.”

With much of his business consisting of international clients, referrals and repeat clientele, it’s Luke’s white glove service that keeps people coming back. Every detail of the transaction is handled with care, and Luke utilizes state of the art technology to ensure clients leave the transaction happy. “We offer a full, extensive marketing package, which includes 3D Matterport tours, virtual floor plans, high end photography, videography and YouTube video tours,” Luke explains. This helps them highlight a property’s best features and builds excitement. “We also do a lot of social media marketing, where we target specific buyers.” Luke frequently advertises his listings in BC Luxury Magazine, and has joined several worldwide groups that connect him with top-tier agents in other countries.

This exceptional service carries into his work with buyers, with Luke taking the time to get to know them. He discovers what they are looking for, and works diligently to find them their dream home.

Throughout it all, he makes it enjoyable and negotiates to get them the best price possible. One recent 34

buyer raved, “Luke made buying our first home a fun and exciting process. He was a great listener to our needs, helped us refine our search and delivered great advice and strategy when it came to executing a purchase. Luke was always responsive and helped ensure all parties involved (us, mortgage broker, lawyers) were on track and had everything in place.”

Growing up in Nelson, Luke is active in his community. He sponsors and donates to local baseball teams and coaches soccer, as he spent much of his youth playing sports. “I also love supporting local restaurants and promoting local products and contractors.” During any free time, he’s golfing, playing soccer, basketball, baseball or skiing.

He hopes to create a team in the next year or two, implementing and expanding the systems he’s used to become a successful agent. “I want to help other agents excel and educate them on how they can reach a larger audience. It’s been a great year, and I look forward to continuing on this path.”

For more information about Luke Mori, please call 250-551-4917 or email luke@lukemori.com Top Agent Magazine

Easy Blog Topics for Your Real Estate Blog Today, blogging looks a lot different than it did back in 2007, when the platform was just beginning to take off. Successful bloggers don’t choose blog topics on a whim. They think strategically and develop pillar content that their target audience will come back to again and again.

Real estate bloggers should be less concerned with whether the same post already exists (it does) Top Agent Magazine

than with how they can be more informative and helpful than their competition. Your personality is likely the thing that your clients connect with, and your blog is another place where you can let it shine.

Pillar content refers to those evergreen posts that never get old because they are always timely.

Think about those questions that you’ve had to

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answer a hundred, if not thousands of times— that’s your pillar content. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could direct your clients to a blog post or, better yet, they discovered the answer on your website rather than you having to constantly repeat yourself?

Or maybe you helped a client sell their house for much more than they were expecting by conducting a series of small and inexpensive renovations. Tell your readers how you did it.

Evergreen Content

Your clients are likely new to the area. Inform them about upcoming community events or mom-and-pop shops they may have never heard of. Are there hiking trails or parks nearby?

What’s the best place to grab a cup of coffee before work or a beer after? You can spotlight these places regularly as a monthly series.

This should really make up the bulk of your content. The possibilities are endless, and you could easily come up with an entire year’s worth of content with only a few hours of brainstorming.

Here are some examples: You could provide your readers with a list of questions they should ask when interviewing a realtor, the steps to becoming a real estate investor, real estate facts all first-time homeowners should know, steps new parents should take to prepare their home for a baby, recommended vendors for home maintenance, or common real estate terms defined.

You could explain to your readers what they need to know about home staging, which home renovations add the most value to their home, how to research schools or crime rates in specific neighborhoods, what a home association is, or how to start flipping houses and buying foreclosures.

Case Studies Sometimes realtors work with a client for years before they are ready to buy a home. Personal finance blogs are a thing for a reason. People want to see exactly how someone else achieved a shared goal. If you have a close relationship with a client who you helped become a homeowner, consider interviewing this client and writing up a case study that shows exactly how the two of you worked together to achieve this goal.

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Stay Local

There are plenty of real estate news outlets that will be posting about the state of the market—but they won’t be talking about your specific community, and that’s where your blog comes in.

Of course, if you only blog about community functions or properties on the market, then as soon as that event is over or that listing is sold, your content ceases being useful.

The best real estate blogs balance their content by posting a little about all the above. Maintaining a high-quality blog means your prospective clients don’t need to visit several websites to have their questions answered because you’ve done the work for them. It’s a tool that helps you make a great first impression.

If you still need help coming up with blog topics for your real estate blog, consider sending a survey out to your clients. You can send it via email and post it on social media. Ask your clients what real estate problems they need help solving and write your content with their responses in mind.

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CANDICE QUINNELL In the small town of Princeton, BC, nearly everyone knows each other. And if they don’t know everyone, they certainly know Candice Quinnell. A fourth generation Princeton resident, she’s become a top real estate agent in her region and is entirely referral-based.

“We have a population of about 3,000, so word tends to spread fast here,” she explains. For Candice, the words are all positive, as she continually puts her clients’ needs first. She got her start while attending college and working as an administrative assistant for Century 21. “An agent suggested I get my license, and he offered to pay for it if I built him a web page,” Candice says. So she created the site, and the rest is history. Since then, she has fallen in love with this industry and its ability to change people’s lives.

“It’s a beautiful thing to be involved with such a large purchase,” she explains. “Giving someone a home base, and helping them gain a sense of security, it’s such an amazing feeling.” Getting to know her clients on a personal level, Candice develops a plan to achieve their goals. For her buyers, this includes determining their must-haves and setting down a budget. Then she starts the search, working tirelessly until their ideal property is found. Once it’s time to submit an offer, she negotiates to get them the best price and terms possible. This same exceptional service is carried into her work with sellers, as Candice advertises thoroughly to spread the word about their listings. “I utilize Facebook and Instagram,” she explains. “Most homes generate multiple offers, as we have a housing shortage.” Candice helps her sellers sort through offers and choose the best one. Throughout it all, whether assisting a buyer or a seller, she guides them throughout the transaction and leaves no stone unturned.

Afterwards, clients leave glowing reviews about their time together. One recently said, “Despite the fact that Top Agent Magazine

we weren’t even sure yet if we were going to settle in Princeton, Candice treated us as if we were already there and ready to buy. She gave us such great information about all the properties and we really credit her amazing attitude with being a large part of the reason we ended up picking Princeton as our new home. I highly recommend her!”

When Candice has free time, she stays active in the community. “Every Christmas, I have a get together with all of the developers and contractors I’ve worked with, where we will have a nice big dinner and entertainment.

I just want everyone to know how much I appreciate them.” During her off hours, she enjoys spending time with family.

In the coming years, she wants to find a work/life balance while continuing to provide the same superior service. Wherever this path leads, she is no doubt going to love every minute of it. “It’s just such a great industry to be a part of. It’s super fun, and I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.”

For more about Candice Quinnell, please call 250-295-2017 or email candicequinnell@gmail.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 37

How to Make Your Commute Productive The highest caliber business owners and entrepreneurs utilize every minute of their day.

Though this may be a lofty goal, there are certainly ways to make our daily routines more efficient and productive. Consider the morning and evening commute—time blocks that are accounted for every day. For some of us, daily commutes may mean a lengthy drive through gridlock traffic, or perhaps just a quick fifteen-minute crosstown excursion. However short or long your commute may be, there are ways to maximize this component of your daily routine and reap the rewards.

With that in mind, take a look at some ideas below to inject some energy and productivity into your daily commute.

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Listen to the latest industry-centric podcasts or audiobooks Whether you drive, bike, walk, or take public transportation, a commute is the perfect time to tune into an industry-oriented podcast or audiobook as a way of building your skills or getting into the zone for the day. Instead of letting your commute time be passive, you can process insights from leading industry professionals, or develop your skillset on a topic you haven’t yet made time for. Perhaps you’d like to develop your social media presence, or maybe you’d like to tap into the millennial homebuyer market—whatever the case may be, there is audio material out there suited to your interests. What’s more, podcasts are free and easy to incorporate on your smartphone or

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tablet, and there are ample audiobook subscription services out there that make regular listenership cost effective.

Create a mental to-do list to get a head-start on your day, or to prepare for tomorrow Getting your thoughts in order with a straightforward to-do list can help you dive in once you make it to your desk, or serve as a conclusive mental routine to end your work day.

If you drive to and from work and don’t have your hands free, don’t fret. Speaking your to-do list aloud can help you detangle your thoughts and tasks by vocalizing them. You can also try breaking down your to-do list by verbalizing the day’s goals, the week’s goals, and the month’s goals as a way of structuring priorities. If your commute is hands-free, you can incorporate a variety of apps that serve as custom-made todo lists that’ll organizationally map your duties for the day. In either case, use your commute window to identify and name the tasks ahead of you, and you’ll be able to hit the ground running when the time comes to perform.

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Tend to your personal commitments and planning A productive commute can boost your professional performance, but it can also serve your personal growth and out-of-the-office responsibilities, as well. Perhaps you can think out and plan your meals for the week so that you don’t come home burnt out and with nothing in mind for dinner. Maybe you check in with a relative or partner and catch up for a spare twenty minutes.

Not only does this eliminate a few items off of your personal to-do list, it can actually give you a more focused mind at the office. If your personal life is in good order, you’ll be able to devote your full attention to work tasks.

As the old saying goes, there are only so many hours in a day. If you added up all the minutes spent commuting around town, how many hours would amount? Though the trek to and from the office is an engrained part of professional life, it doesn’t have to be a drag. Account for those spare commute windows in productive ways, and in only a month you’ll have devoted a significant portion of your time to bettering yourself as a person and a professional.

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mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

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