CALIFORNIA 4-3-23

CALIFORNIA EDITION

CONCIERGE CARE: Services that Lure Clients and Transform Your Reputation

5 TIPS TO GET NEW CLIENTS 3 EASY AT-HOME

FEATURED AGENTS

DIY PROJECTS

CHRISTENA O'SHEA EVA AGUAYO MARK MOSKOWITZ TARA KLEIN ZAK KUCZYNSKI & NICOLE RIVERA DE LIA

TO INCREASE PROPERTY VALUE

COVER STORY

ALEXANDER LEVY

COMPLETE RETROFITTING AND WATER CONSERVATION COMPLIANCE (PER SENATE BILL NO. 407)

LGS was founded in 1987 to assist Realtors in meeting mandatory requirements prior to the close of escrow. As the list of requirements grew, so did we! LGS has been committed to providing the professional service necessary to successfully meet our customer's needs. One hundred percent customer satisfaction is not only our goal, but it is our mantra.

Retrofitting Inspections and Noncompliant Plumbing Disclosures n Los Angeles DWP Certificate of Compliance n Seismic Earthquake Valves n Low Flush Toilets n Water Heater Straps n Smoke Detectors n Carbon Monoxide Detectors n Window Glazing n

License Number 900919

2

Call 1-800-771-5971 or visit us at www.lgscompliance.com email info@iusecompliance.com Top Agent Magazine

5 Tips to Get New Clients If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you’ve probably built up a healthy percentage of repeat and referral business.

Although it can be tempting to just maintain those relationships rather than generating new business, there’s something to be said for staying on top of 4

your game by never resting on your laurels. Actively pursuing new clients is not only a way to generate more business, but depending on how you do it, it could even lead to a profitable new niche. Here are just a few ways to build up your new client base.

Top Agent Magazine

1

Become a referral partner with industry peers

2

Cold Call Expired and FSBO Listings

Everyone from mortgage lenders, to financial planners, to insurance agents, can be potentially lucrative referral partners for a Realtor®. You may already have great relationships with some that just need to be more formalized. But, you don’t just want to partner with anyone, make sure these are people you also feel completely comfortable referring your clients to - people who share your values and work ethic.

Another avenue to consider is divorce attorneys – yes, you heard that correctly. Helping people go through this difficult period actually requires a very specific skill set.

You need to be able to handle the legal aspects, as well as the emotional ones. There are numerous training courses you can take if you decide to take this route, which could end up being a lucrative and much-needed specialty.

This is a route a lot of agents take when they are just starting out, that usually leads to great success. You probably haven’t cold called since you started out, and this is a great skill to build up again.

It will not only sharpen your sales skills, but could generate a lot more business.

People with For Sale By Owners (FSBOs) and expired listings, are usually very motivated to sell. This is a great chance for you to really hone in on why they need to hire you. Do you offer innovative marketing plans? Access to a large sphere of influence? Expired listing clients are looking for ways to sell a property that seems impossible to move. With FSBOs, you need to show them how you can get them more money in their pocket, even

Top Agent Magazine

with paying you a commission. Pursuing both will really engage your mind to think outside of the box, which will not only get you more business, but make you better at what you do.

5

3

Partner up with a Relocation Company

4

Become a Builder’s Realtor® of choice

This is another niche market that you can really capitalize on if you want to pursue a new specialty. But, it is a specialty, so getting educated on the process will help you generate the business you want. It’s a complicated area of real estate, you’ll often

times be helping to facilitate dual transactions, as you try and secure a property at the same time you are helping your relocation client sell their previous home. This specialty is becoming an in-demand skill in areas that have major corporate headquarters.

This can be a real score for any Realtor®.

The competition might be fierce to land a client like this, but there are numerous ways to make yourself stand out from the rest.

Gain certifications and become knowledgeable about the construction process. Be wellversed on what trendy materials, features, and finishes will add value to a property.

Get the builder on board with you by offering to take just a segment of the subdivision then wow them with your marketing skills.

Take on properties they haven’t been able to sell. You can even offer to throw an open

5

Create a Website that Offers Real Value to Potential Clients

Perhaps the most useful way of getting contact information for people looking to sell is by adding a home valuation feature to your website. When people are first considering selling their home, finding out how much

6

house for them. This is another way to show them the level of service they can expect from you. These clients might be harder to land, but the payoff will be enormous.

it is worth is one of the first questions they want answered. By becoming a resource to potential clients (and current clients!), you just might be the first person that comes to mind when they’re actually looking to sell.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

ALEXANDER LEVY

7

Top Agent Alexander Levy of Levy Real Estate Group, specializes in luxury properties and real estate consulting throughout the Central Valley.

Driven by a passion for helping people achieve their goals through real estate, Alexander was introduced to real estate at an early age. Alexander says “I remember going to work with my dad as a kid, who had his own real estate lending firm.

When I got to high school, that’s where I rolled up my sleeves, helped around the office and started to understand deal structure.” Alexander recalls.

“When I turned 18, I was finally able to work hands-on with local investors, matching them with specific properties they were looking to add to their portfolios and help them finance properties.”

8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Soon after graduating, Alexander left to Los Angeles to attend UCLA where he majored in Political Science/Economics and played football for the Bruins. Alexander spent time between Los Angeles and New York working in finance until he graduated UCLA and went into consulting at Deloitte. However, his passion was always in real estate. He moved back to the Central Valley and saw an opportunity to build upon all his experience by creating the Levy Real Estate Group, specializing in luxury properties and real estate consulting.

Top Agent Magazine

After living in Beverly Hills/NYC and seeing how real estate is done, Alexander’s mission was to bring that level of service to the Central Valley.

Alexander works with the support of a fantastic team of designers, architects, contractors and even has a lawyer on retainer. “Our goal is to be vertically integrated and to be a one-stop solution for all of our clients’ needs,” he explains. “Whether they need help assessing what to remodel to maximize

Top Agent Magazine

their return on investment (ROI) on the sale of their home, filing permits and zoning changes or simply finding a handyman who can fix their fence —whatever they need done, we’re the first call they make.”

California’s Central Valley is an exciting place to be working today, Alexander says. “We’re one of the fastest growing markets as people migrate

Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

Alexander covers the greater Sacramento region, down to the Merced-Fresno area. “A big draw is the affordability here, with a median home price significantly lower than in the Bay Area.” from the Bay Area. With remote work, we’ve seen the housing market take off here in the last few years.” Alexander covers the greater Sacramento region, down to the Merced-Fresno area. “A big draw is the affordability here, with a median home price significantly lower than in the Bay Area.”

Alexander says, “For example, by leaving your 1,200 sqft condo in the Bay Area, you can afford a luxury 4,000 sqft home with acreage here in the Central Valley.” He goes on to say, “A majority of our luxury client base includes local business leaders, portfolio investors and high-profile clients.”

The majority of Alexander’s business comes from referral clients, and it’s easy to see why. “That’s the core of our business,” he says. “We want to make sure our clients are taken care of, from the initial Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

phone call to long after the deal closes. That’s an approach that’s worked really well and has made us successful. Everyone has a dream and goal, we are here to help people achieve that, I think that resonates a lot with people.”

When it comes to marketing, Alexander’s approach is data-driven with measurable results. Long gone are the days of taking pictures with your phone, putting a sign in the yard and waiting for an offer to come in. “We created the “White-Glove” 5 Step Listing Certification that helps clients maximize their ROI on the sale of their home. We provide a detailed breakdown of their property, where we can refresh or remodel to help maximize their sale price. Everything from kitchen/bath remodel, landscaping, painting, you name it – we have done Top Agent Magazine

it” he says. “Once a property hits the market, we’re big on search engine marketing (SEM) and technology. We invest in online, targeted ads and analyze the click-through rates to ensure we are drawing eyes to the property,” Alexander says.

Top Agent Magazine

At the end of the day, Alexander says, “My favorite part of real estate is helping people. Everybody has a story with a unique goal, my mission is to help people achieve that and make a friend along the way.”

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

To find out more about Alexander Levy, please call 209-605-0405, email alex@levyrealestategroup.com or visit LevyRealEstateGroup.com www.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 12

Top Agent Magazine

3 Easy At-Home DIY Projects to Increase Property Value Most homeowners have a lengthy list of chores and bit projects they intend to accomplish around the house. Oftentimes, those to-do items are completed piecemeal over a long stretch of time, or else sometimes not at all. However, when it comes time to prepare a home for market, all those tasks begin to pile-up and overwhelm. The Top Agent Magazine

list of things to do before the photographer comes or the first open house is held might seem endless, but not if you tackle just a few things here and there as you go. These sorts of projects—easy, DIY, at-home tasks you can accomplish in a few hours or less, with tools you most likely have on hand— go a long way with marginal effort.

Top Agent Magazine ®

13

Complete a quick rehab of closets and storage areas Many agents advise clients to declutter and depersonalize their spaces ahead of professional photography and home showings. The idea is to provide prospective buyers with a neutral palette. Not only does this allow them to imagine their own lives unfolding within those four walls, but it also helps make a home’s square footage stand out. One way to add visual space to your home without calling in the contractor is to declutter common storage areas and closets. When buyers can get a complete look at a closet’s capacity, or a pantry’s depth, or the garage’s full functional potential, they get a better sense of a home’s potential and thus, its value.

In that vein, consider decluttering and cleaning your high-traffic storage spaces: the garage, pantries, closets, attics, and basements. Besides, organizing and discarding unwanted items help you prep for a move anyway, while giving potential buyers a peak at how spacious your home really is.

Add easy curb appeal with a bit of sweat equity Sure, curb appeal can arrive in the form of a new mailbox, pathway lighting, or updated house numbers, but it can also come cheaper than that. Curb extends to the upkeep of your lawn, landscaping, and home’s façade, and there are plenty of ways 14

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

you can give these zones a refresh without spending anything but time. Keeping your front and back yard green and uniform adds a lux layer to exterior square footage.

Likewise, polishing the outside of your windows, trimming hedges, and sweeping the walkway can make a tidy and wellcared for first impression. There are other measures you can take too. Planting wildflower seeds in empty beds, or collecting some landscaping rocks to frame mulched areas can add a bit of character to your residence. Repainting the front door, ensuring trees are trimmed, and keeping back patios Top Agent Magazine

neat and uncluttered also underscore a home at its finest, which is ripe for buyers to snatch up.

Transform tiled spaces into sparkling clean surfaces.

Bathrooms and kitchens are where sellers can stand to add plenty of value in the process of selling a home. While pricey renovations might be out of the question for some, there are still affordable and time-effective ways you can transform for these spaces for the better. Cleaning,

Top Agent Magazine ®

15

bleaching, or redoing your tile grout—in either kitchens, bathrooms, or other tiled spaces—can give these high-trafficked areas a new lease on life. Ensuring windows, mirrors, stainless steel appliances and backsplashes are streak-free and polished also demonstrate to buyers that your home is well-cared for and practically move-in ready. Sometimes, the devil is in the details. You might consider relining drawers, changing out knobs and fixtures,

16

or else decluttering cabinets and shelves for a fresher look.

No matter the challenges ahead as you prepare your home for sale, completing a few small tasks every weekend or so can put you miles ahead of the competition.

Without spending a dime, you can add serious value to your home’s bottom line, setting you up for success as you begin your own home-shopping adventure.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

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

Top Agent Magazine

17

MARK MOSKOWITZ

A longtime resident of the San Fernando Valley, Mark Moskowitz has always possessed an entrepreneurial spirit. He would first take an interest in real estate while pursuing a career as a CPA, when he accepted a position with Century 21 Westlake Village and helped drive the company towards becoming the #5 producing Century 21 office in the nation. Along the way, he was inspired to pursue his own license and set forth as a REALTOR®, later joining Keller Williams Realty in Westlake Village. Since then, he has gone on to author an accomplished, 30 year career as an agent, building a network of satisfied clients that spans the region.

When listing a property, Mark crafts an in-depth strategy to tell the unique story of a given home.

Starting out, he captures the distinct lifestyle of a given property via a suite of professional photography and virtual staging services. He then shares the listing to a highly targeted blend of digital and social media campaigns. But from the initial consultation to the final appraisal, he is there for his clients, ensuring a seamless transaction throughout.

Elsewhere, Mark is just as attentive when assisting his buyers, thoughtfully guiding them to the right

Today, Mark leads the The Mark Moskowitz Team, powered by Keller Williams World Class, where he assists clients throughout the San Fernando Valley and Conejo Valley. There, he has cultivated a boutique workflow to meet the needs of any buyer or seller, living up to his time-tested motto: “No excuses… Just results.”

18

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

investment for their best interests. More than anything, he loves welcoming newcomers to his Southern California community—from its affordable housing options to its family friendly neighborhoods and proximity to Downtown Los Angeles.

Now averaging close to $37 million in annual volume, Mark remains focused on the leading standards that set him apart. “Real estate is an incredible profession, but it’s not always easy,” he says. “As agents, we have to understand our community and our clients. Once you do that, though, you can better guide them to what they’re looking for. At the end of the day, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing that bigger picture and helping a client find their dream home.”

Outside of real estate, Mark enjoys volunteering at numerous Red Day and charity events, providing support services to children with special needs, foster care organizations, hospice care centers, and low-income housing communities.

When he’s not with clients or giving back, he can be found enjoying Sabbath dinner with his wife of 35 years and their three daughters or spending quality time with his grandchildren. For him, real estate is very much a family business, as he now works in collaboration with his daughter to identify new marketing solutions for clients.

As his volume maintains its steady growth, Mark intends on expanding his community engagement while hosting investment seminars for new homebuyers. In the meantime, he looks forward to all the new opportunities that await. “We’re here to help our clients create wealth through real estate,” he says. “People who own a home have 10 times the net worth at retirement than those who do not; and that metric doubles for owners of multiple properties. First and foremost, we want to educate our clients on how homeownership can truly make a difference in their lives.”

Top Agent Magazine

For more about Mark Moskowitz | DRE: 01128018, please call (818) 970-8773, email Markm4results@kw.com, or visit his website at markmoskowitzteam.com http://

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 19

Laughs!

20

Top Agent Magazine

CHRISTENA O'SHEA A dedicated public servant and longtime resident of Placer County, Christena O’Shea has always been passionate about helping others. After beginning her career in the United States Army, she would earn her law degree and set forth as a police officer in the Sacramento metropolitan area, where she cultivated the communication skills needed to excel as a REALTOR®. She would first take an interest in real estate upon accepting an administrative position with a local company specializing in off-market properties. Noting her penchant for the business, she was inspired to pursue her license and launch her career as an agent in 2020. The rest is history.

Today, Christena is a REALTOR® with Legacy Properties where she assists clients throughout Placer County and the surrounding areas of the Sacramento Valley.

Combining her outgoing personality with her deep roots in the region, she has cultivated a distinct process to meet the needs of any buyer or seller.

When listing a property, Christena equips her clients with a comprehensive strategy. After helping fully prepare their home for the market, she shares it not only to a highly targeted blend of digital and social media campaigns, but also to her extensive network of first responders in the area. Along the way, she is there for her sellers, ensuring a seamless transaction throughout.

Elsewhere, Christena is just as attentive when assisting her buyers, carefully guiding them to the right investment for their best interests. In fact, she prefers to keep in touch long after the deals are done through regular checkins; her popular newsletter and regional website, Placer

Is The Place; and even the occasional gift.

More than anything, though, she loves welcoming newcomers to Placer County, from its cozy bedroom communities to its rich history dating back to the gold rush.

Christena has earned a terrific reputation in the industry, with the vast majority of her volume coming from repeat clients and referrals. Having exceeded $7.5 million in volume in 2022 alone, she returns to the core values that set her apart. “I always ask my clients to describe their picture-perfect scenario,” she says. “From there, I infuse data analysis into the situation so we can better identify their needs within the reality of our market.”

On top of continuing to serve in law enforcement, Christena is also the founder of NorCal First Responder Financial Freedom, a network of first responders who gather to forge new connections while taking control of their financial future. When she’s not with clients or giving back, she can be found relaxing at her Airbnb property in Paso Robles, going for a hike in the foothills with her husband, or grabbing a cup of coffee at MoJoe’s Cafe in Roseville—enjoying all the dynamic culture the Sacramento Valley has to offer.

As her volume maintains its steady growth, Christena intends on scaling up her lasting standards while expanding her reach throughout the region. In the meantime, she looks forward to all the new opportunities that await. “Real estate is such a fantastic industry,” she says. “I would encourage anybody who loves working with people to try it out. After all, as long as you serve your clients with integrity, there’s no limit to where you can go.”

To learn more about Christena O’Shea email christena@equitylegacy.com, visit equitylegacy.com or call (916) 501-7087. Follow her on Instagram @Placer_Is_The_Place. www.

Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 21

EVA AGUAYO With an easygoing demeanor and a passionate dedication to helping her clients achieve their real estate goals, Eva Aguayo truly sets herself apart.

Coming from a background as a labor and delivery nurse, during the pandemic Eva decided she needed a change.

“At that same time, my husband and I bought a home, and a light bulb went off in my head,” Eva recalls. “My husband suggested I would make a good real estate agent, so I got into real estate and never looked back!” Eva brings a caring attitude to educating her clients every step of the way.

Eva serves all of San Francisco, with a focus on high-rise luxury condo buildings in the Embarcadero as well as the western part of the city, particularly Golden Gate Heights. “These highrise condos are beautiful, luxurious, and people love living there,” Eva says. “The Embarcadero is a safe, clean area of the city with lots to do. The western part of the city is also great due the proximity to Golden Gate Park and entertainment. There’s so much going on in the city, from Broadway shows to the Outside Lands festival in the fall and the iconic Bay to Breakers run.”

Eva also recommends going out to eat at one of the many great local spots such as Waterbar and Barcha.

Clients appreciate Eva’s low-pressure approach that puts them at ease. “When working with buyers, I don’t like to push the client to pay a higher price,” she says.

“I’m really all about what the buyer wants and what they’re comfortable with. That’s my #1 priority. My goal is to get the best deal possible for my clients with the best terms for their particular situation.”

Eva maintains connections and nurtures relationships with her clients by reaching out to them after the closing to see how they’re doing. She updates them with helpful information about taxes and whatever else may be relevant to them. When it comes to marketing her 22

listings, Eva uses a comprehensive approach to ensure exposure, ranging from promotion on social media platforms to email blasts and advertising in the neighborhood.

Eva loves to give back to her community. She volunteers with ANY (America Needs You), which helps first-generation college students transition into the workforce. When she’s not working or giving back, Eva enjoys staying active, and is currently training to race for a half marathon. Eva also loves getting out in the city, exploring new places, and traveling.

Looking toward the future, Eva says, “I want to grow the business and connect with more people. I’m focusing on social media, connecting with past clients, and having them refer me to others. I also want to get out more in my neighborhood itself, meet people, and show them that it’s a great time to buy or sell.”

Overall, Eva says, “I love working with people. It’s fun being that matchmaker who connects people with properties that suit them and that they can be happy in.”

Contact Eva Aguayo at 530.379.9000, email eva@cityrealestateSF.com or visit cityrealestatesf.com/agents/eva-aguayo and on Facebook at facebook.com/eva.aguayo or Instagram at instagram.com/evarealestatesf www.

www.

www.

Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

Concierge Care: Services that Lure Clients and Transform Your Reputation It’s a no-brainer: customer service is central to success in the real estate industry. While properties may be the product, this industry really revolves around people and the relationships you cultivate along the way. With that in mind, how would you describe the service you provide? If solid service is the baseline, then to set yourself apart you must deliver service that’s exceptional. But, how? Returning calls and displaying a friendly face won’t necessarily separate you from the pack. If you really want to take your customer service to the next level and build a reputation for white-glove, concierge-level courtesy, then keep a few of the following tips in mind as you create a professional style that’s completely bespoke.

Top Agent Magazine

Make your communications matter For many agents, communication during and after a transaction are perfunctory affairs, with one-sizefits-all newsletters or promotional postcards that feel mass-produced. To really grab the attention of your clientele, you’ll want to build a recognizable brand. To accomplish this, begin by adding value to your regular communications. Clients are likely to bypass your communications if they think your only intent is to sell them something. Focus instead on creating content that’s compelling and dishes out value to your clientele. Just like a favorite blog you revisit again and again for its quality content, con-

Top Agent Magazine ®

23

sider your communications as an extension of your brand and identity. A few popular ideas from which clients can derive value include: local restaurant guides, tax tips for homeowners, reports on home values and the marketplace, or highlighting home décor and landscaping trends. Make your communications readable and useful, and your clients past and present will think twice before skipping past your name.

Showcase the lifestyle Clients remember when you go the extra mile, and that additional effort distinguishes run-of-the-mill agents from high-powered professionals. Whether listing or buying, consider a property’s lifestyle.

First, think about a client’s everyday experience.

Where’s the best breakfast spot nearby? How’s access to public transportation or bike paths? Which outdoor recreational opportunities exist in the area?

Where might your client swing by for coffee?

Neighborhood guides that outline the livability of a home and its area not only boost value and highlight potential, but they also demonstrate your ability to think outside the box and connect on a personal level. After all, a home isn’t just a house; a home is all about the daily experience that unfolds within and beyond those four walls. With that in mind, do your homework and make yourself a local expert.

Your clients will feel they’re in good hands and will better envision their future unfolding, all thanks to your thorough legwork.

Customize your approach to clients As an agent, it’s only natural that you build your own daily routines and practices that keep your business running. While it’s necessary to create positive habitats that streamline your workflow, it’s also important to remain adaptable. For instance, Millennial clients may prefer to chat by text, instant 24

message, or email, whereas older clientele may prefer face-to-face time or connecting by phone call.

Adapting your communication style is as simple as a brief discussion: ask your client how they prefer to communicate and adapt accordingly. While it may seem like a small matter, it provides clients with a sense of comfort and control. Again, the key here is communication. Talk with your clients about their preferred methodology. Maybe they prefer a marathon house-hunting trek on a weekend day, or perhaps they rather sift through listings online before making in-person visits to a narrowed list. It’s okay to encourage clients or fill them in on industry norms, but it’s important to create an experience that’s tailored to their style and personality.

Authentically seek feedback While it may feel uncomfortable, asking for feedback during and at the end of a transaction can dramatically improve your working style and professional blind-spots. It can also help you adapt your working style to better suit your respective clients.

Of course, it’s important to be open-minded and to quash the need to be defensive. Not all feedback will be useful, but you can incorporate the parts that are. This not only grows your skillset, but it also demonstrates to clients that you are open to constructive criticism and sincerely prioritize a job well done over personal praise. As a bonus, positive feedback can be parlayed into client testimonials, which are incredibly useful tools to boost your business on the whole.

It’s no secret that real estate is a busy, self-determined business. While your client care may feel all accounted for, there is always room to grow. Professionals at the top of their field know this and never stop building out their repertoire. If you want to take your business to the next level and create an imprint that’s synonymous with concierge care, then keep these ideas in mind as you build your relationships and your brand.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

TARA KLEIN As a natural-born connector, it was only a matter of time before REALTOR® Tara Klein realized that real estate was where she was meant to be. Her first introduction to the industry was through her mother, who worked in residential real estate when Tara was in high school. While Tara’s career began in legal recruiting, she eventually decided to go into real estate and hasn’t looked back since. Today, she represents home buyers and sellers throughout the coastal Los Angeles area, sometimes working in partnership with her mother.

Local to Manhattan Beach, Tara is a big fan of the area’s work hard, play hard attitude. The property values in her area have skyrocketed in recent years due to the excellent school system and family-friendly amenities. As a result, Tara’s business continues to grow with 100% of her sales coming from repeat and referral clients. An avid supporter of local small businesses, she is a great resource for her clients when it comes to providing recommendations in town. “I love picking out gifts at Tabula Rasa Essentials and Gum Tree. If you’re in the mood for a steak, you have to try Slay Steak & Fish House, and if you’re wanting baked goods, Becker’s Bakery is the place to go,” she says. “This area is very charming and people drive here just to visit our shops and restaurants.”

From the beginning to the end of the real estate process, Tara offers a fully hands-on service. She’s there at inspections, organizes stagings and renovations, and shakes hands at the closing table. “I love being a part of everything,” she says. “I care about my clients’ success and they become friends.” To market her listings, she uses a combination of top-notch videos and photos to be posted on social media. As Tara is affiliated with Vista Sotheby’s International Realty, they also support her with marketing and network opportunities and provide referrals. “I often highlight the listings of other agents

Top Agent Magazine

in the Sotheby’s network on my social media channels and they do the same for me,” she says.

Community outreach is an important part of Tara’s life and she is a part of numerous organizations. She’s been the chairperson for Walk With Sally, a non-profit providing mentorship to children whose lives have been impacted by cancer. She’s also involved with a charity that supports developmentally challenged teens and young adults and helps them find work.

This spring, she’s planning on doing the Tour de Pier, which is a spin bike event that raises funds for pancreatic cancer research.

Over the last five years, Tara has sold over $75 million in properties. The next step in growing her business is promoting her transaction coordinator to a junior partner. No matter how many clients she works with, Tara will always provide the same high level of service across the board. “I provide a boutique experience with a lot of emotional support and attention to my clients’ needs,” she says. “Luxury is not a price point, it’s an experience.”

Contact Tara Klein at 626-862-5971, email Tara@TaraKleinRealEstate.com, or visit TaraKleinRealEstate.com www.

25 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

3 Mental Tricks That Will Take Your Business to the Next Level It’s no secret that running a successful business requires careful planning and a tireless work ethic.

Beyond those obvious ideals, it also takes the right mindset in order to capitalize on professional opportunity. In the world of real estate and mortgage lending, mental fortitude is a major component to reaching the next level and achieving longevity in a sector that requires so much self-discipline. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a few key mental tricks you can employ to reinvigorate your working philosophy. Incorporate these techniques into your daily mindfulness routine and your business will surely benefit.

1

Visualization helps you work efficiently and keep your cool.

This may sound like one of the oldest tricks in the book, but there’s a reason why Olympic athletes and those serving in first-responder positions use visualization as a time-honored mental technique.

Not only does visualizing your daily tasks help you organize your mind, but it amps up your ability to focus on what’s important. Visualization also helps reduce stress in the moment, since you’ve already created a mental expectation of the task ahead.

Whether you’re preparing for a negotiation or a pitch to new a client—visualization primes your brain and affords you an extra sense of control as you tackle your day.

2

Distill concepts into their simplest terms for ultimate understanding.

As an agent or loan officer, you’re likely juggling numerous clients and commitments on any given day. That’s why it helps to distill your responsibil26

ities in clear, definitive terms. Let’s say you have a meeting set with a client to outline a marketing approach for their property. You may understand the broad strokes, but beforehand, try verbalizing the exact takeaways you’d like to impart to your client. This may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to clarify your communication and ensure your complete understanding of a subject is to explain it aloud in its simplest terms. This crystallizes your main point and can come in handy if you drift off-topic or need to double-down on your message.

3

Accept that mistakes will be made.

While it’s natural to fear failure, sometimes the dread of making an error can overwhelm your ability to perform. As the saying goes: don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

If you accept in advance that set-backs will occur, challenges will come, and things won’t always go accordingly to plan—you’ll be less confounded when hurdles do arise. What matters is keeping an even keel as you sort through unexpected delays or mishaps. Accepting that mistakes will happen allows you to shift your focus towards a solution or contingency plan. In other words, don’t spend your energy trying to achieve perfection. Aim high and work hard, but be in touch with reality: upsets are bound to occur. Accept this and you’ll be ready when they do.

The path to lasting success is ongoing, and there are bound to be challenges along the way. It takes mental fortitude to make it to the top, so keep these tricks in mind as you continue to grow as a person and a professional. Seeing situations in a new light can make all the difference as you adapt, evolve, and take your business to the next level.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

Area Specialists ZAK KUCZYNSKI & NICOLE RIVERA DE LIA When searching for the right real estate group to help buy or sell a home, clients are often between a rock and a hard place: do they want an established, well-respected pillar of the community, or a newer brokerage with fresh insight, plans, and up-tothe-minute knowledge?

With The Rivera Group, clients don’t have to choose. Established in 1996, The Rivera Group has long been a fixture in the Long Beach real estate scene, a go-to brokerage for clients who want the best in the business working on their behalf. Under the new leadership of Nicole Rivera and Zak Kuczynski (who have a combined 33 years of experience in their own right), The Rivera Group is a boutique brokerage with an updated mission and propulsive energy.

In addition to Nicole and Zak, The Rivera Group team includes founder Eileen Rivera, as well as Grace Olson Bonilla, Francisco Garibay, and Sasha Kuczynski. In Nicole’s view, the team’s penchant for collectivism is a hallmark of their enterprise: “Our team is incomparable. We have a work family where we truly support each other, care for each other, cheer each other on; that team culture is super important for us. If you hire one of us, you get a tiny army standing behind you.”

It’s the right team in the right place. Though, as Zak says, “California is not exactly known for having cheap, low-cost housing,” Long Beach is a special place.

“Long Beach is one of the last bastions of affordability on the California coast. It’s also one of the most diverse.

We have true diversity of architecture, neighborhood personalities, price points, home sizes, and demographics,” he reports. And The Rivera Group looks like the community it serves. Composed of agents from diverse professional and personal backgrounds, The Rivera Group prides itself on its ability to represent anybody looking to buy or sell property in the greater Long Top Agent Magazine

Beach area. “We realized early on that our location is ideal. We’re between Orange County and LA County, working for a community we respect in a city we love and are proud to call home,” says Zak. With the addition of a newly hired social media coordinator, The Rivera Group is bolstering its digital presence, and they expect business to grow exponentially. But Nicole and Zak know that no matter how busy they get, they’ll remain dedicated to community support and outreach as well as to pursuing their own interests… and they encourage the rest of their team to do the same. “Both Zak and I believe in a healthy and robust life-work balance,” says Nicole.

“We’re building on well established, and in some cases automated systems for support and advertising so that our agents can concentrate on doing what they do best: selling real estate and supporting our clients.”

This formula for success and longevity has the team excited by the opportunities for steady and organic growth. Zak and Nicole agree: “It’s crucial that we bring on folks who are a good fit. Our plans for the future are simple: scale carefully and slowly, so that we can continue to grow. We want to serve the city we love for a long time.”

Contact The Rivera Group at 562-989-1997, visit riveragroup.realestate, email nicole@riveragroup.realestate or zak@riveragroup.realestate www.

27 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

28

Top Agent Magazine