COLORADO 6-24-19

COLORADO EDITION

GOOGLE ADWORDS: How to Make Google Do the Work for You

COOPERATION, NOT COMPETITION,

The Daily Schedule of a

CREATES MUTUAL SUCCESS FOR AGENTS

SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE AGENT

FEATURED AGENTS

KRISTEN WHITE CHRIS GRUND MIKE HILLS COVER STORY

ANGELA FOX

COLORADO EDITION

KRISTEN WHITE 7

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Mike Hi

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Top Agent Chris Grund – Bro how mu Associate at LISTINGS.CO truly ch in Englewood, Colorado –i the bett consummate professional w his frie rentofout has more than a decade ex then hava rience working with buyers build hi sellers. With an emphasis ANGELA FOX KRISTEN WHITE CHRIS GRUND MIKE HILLS house, Mike knew he wantedserv to ju top-notch customer path. “I saw him do this while I w Chris has earned the sobriq Once I graduated, I thought, ‘if he “Your Realtor Concierge,” and takes great pride he in exp go so I bought my first house,” above and beyond his client’s expectations. recipi that house today, and The it has pro of a large and growing number of awards and high-pro CONTENTS investment. From then on, he b properties. others ask recognitions, he has built a stellarSoon, career on abegan foundat so he started coaching them. of honesty, integrity andSCHEDULE extensive industry knowledg 4) GOOGLE ADWORDS: 19) THE DAILY Kristen White – Broker/Owner of Front Range I would be in tears. I nee HOW TO MAKE GOOGLE OF A SUCCESSFUL IREAL could stillflourished help people, Realty in scenic Aurora, Colorado – has more Mike’s coaching and e ChrisESTATE – a proud Colorado native - began his journey DO THE WORK FOR YOU AGENT time career Atlas be Reala good Estate estate atwould than earned her Top Agent Status. With well over the world of real estate selling new construction a been actively workinghas, for the last then, Kristen indeed two decades of real estate experience under her graduating from Floridaconsists AtlanticofUniversity with a deg himself and four oth 13) COOPERATION, NOTis consistently 22) CREATIVE WAYS TO SAY of clients achieve their re belt, Kristen ranked among the in Urban Planning. “That was in 2007,” he recalls, teaching people how to grow wea topCREATES 100 Realtors in the Centennial State, selling love helping my clients,” COMPETITION, THANK YOU I was learning about finance and construction and rea sa to financial security through a wide swath stretches from Col- a big, emotional and fin MUTUAL SUCCESS FOR of territoryinthat Theyworst also locate deals forIttheir what was probably the market ever. wascll their side, and I love tr orado Springs north to Loveland, and closing AGENTS their economic properties. crisistobe being thrown into the manage fire.” The between 70 -90 transactions per year with a total they’re my only custome a layoff, and Chris decided to venture into the res volume of over $30 million. Enthusiastic, honest thea end, that they n “I teach class with could my team business. “I got my license, andfree within thirty days I Hour me (REIH) once a to a fault, and possessing a deep knowledge Investment of me makes so thankfu my first home under contract.”

Soon, his business began Colorado Springs, and Phoenix. her industry, Kristen’s reputation for providing Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 skyrocket, and it continues to do so to this day. After a s after who the class, weFron find opened excellent customer service to her many clients interested is Kristen, working for RE/MAX,ifChris found a comfortable ho mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com theycurrently buy it, we will also works withmana a tea truly warranted. at LISTINGS.COM, where he his own equa them.

Weoversees take completely No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher.

Top the Agentfear dedicated, high-producin Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published for them, so they’re notwhom confused talented and dedicated roster of agents, all of sh materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held has responsible for opinionsdegree expressedin or Biology facts supplied byher its authors. client-first business Kristen, who a Bachelor’s next,” Mike explains.

“We areetho a oe his customer-first, give-it-all-you’ve-got business To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. husband lends all a much-w and Gerontology, as well as an Executive MBA, buyers.”

Mike serves types of Published in the U.S. began her journey in the world of real estate old in alike, the-scenes with vital wants them to supp think Nearly 25% of Chris’ business isbut based in the commun 20-year timeframe.

It’s a long-te 1995. “I was working in a hospital,” she recalls, almost the entirety of Kri he calls home, Sterling can Ranch, that will ultimately“It’s con create long term-income.

Top Agent Magazine “but I found that I would get too emotionally upon repeat and referre of 12,000 “smart homes,” each of which equipp build wealth, even if theyisdon’t ha attached, and when someone would pass away the most accurate measur with residential internet speeds of 1 Gigabyte which

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

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Google AdWords:

How To Make Google Do the Work for You There is no denying that the internet is the first place a buyer begins looking for a new home in this digital age. Knowing how to put the powerful tools available on the internet to work for you can give you a decided advantage when it comes to attracting prospective buyers to your listings, as well as you as an agent. Google is easily one of the major superpowers of the internet, and they have one of the most powerful advertising tools available. Knowing how to utilize Google AdWords in the correct manner can make your internet advertising immensely powerful and possibly your best way to reach prospective buyers.

Google AdWords is also extremely cost-effective. This multifaceted tool gives you much more control over your advertising campaign than other more traditional methods. You can target specific audiences, choose the specific search terms, also known as keywords, that will bring up your ad in someone’s search results, and you can set a budget for each campaign that will dictate it’s reach and how long the campaign will run. Here are some tips for how to put Google AdWords to work for you.

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ent websites. You want to set yourself apart from every other real estate website users are viewing in their search for a house.

MAKE SURE YOUR ADS ARE GOING TO SEND USERS TO A SITE THAT WILL CAPTURE THEIR ATTENTION

You can spend an infinite amount of money on Google advertising campaigns, but if those ads don’t send users to a site that will capture and hold their interest, then you’ve just wasted all that money. Don’t put your cart before the horse. Make sure you are considering exactly where these ads are going to send users. To set up your website for success, at the very least you want to make sure users are greeted by clear call-to-action, such as a message that will encourage them to sign up for your newsletter or subscribe to your blog. You want to set up your website to maximize and capture the leads the ad campaign sends your way.

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BUILD CUSTOMIZED OR CUSTOM-MADE WEBSITES RATHER THAN TEMPLATE WEBSITES It is easy and tempting to use template websites, or to offer your agents template websites if you are a real estate manager or broker. While this offers a cost-effective solution to providing every agent with a website, it does little to set you or your agents apart and capture the attention of users that are used to seeing a wealth of differ-

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MAKE SURE YOU ARE OFFERING VALUE ON YOUR WEBSITE

Don’t simply use your website as a kind of brag sheet. Let users know what makes your particular services valuable to them. Highlight your expertise in a certain location through tools such as blog posts, providing market updates, or giving pertinent information on a unique type of property. This will ensure that your online advertising campaigns are much more successful.

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LOCATION IS EVERYTHING!

Location is everything in real estate, and the same holds true for Google AdWords. You can target specific locations in your ad campaign. While one approach is to focus on the area around your location, a more advanced approach would be to link AdWords campaigns to your Google My Business account. This is a Google service that includes your address in the ad, allowing people to then click on it and see exactly where you are located on a map.

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USE GOOGLE ADWORDS IN YOUR CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS IN GENERAL

Focus an AdWords campaign on expanding your business by incorporating specific zip codes and neighborhoods that will help you establish a presence in an area where you would like to increase your real estate business. Making sure that your ad appears in search results that are related to the real estate in a specific area will help shape the image and brand of your business as well as bring in new leads.

HARNESS THE POWER OF DATA

When you run a Google AdWords campaign Google Analytics captures a wealth of information about your target client demographic.

You can gain real insight into your online visitors, such as when they visit, what they do and look at on your site once they get there, and what search terms they use. You can use all of this information to grow your business. Use Google Analytics to determine which users (location, gender, age) are utilizing specific aspects of your site, such as looking at multiple listings, reading your blog, etc. You can then use this information to target these specific demographics in your AdWord campaigns, Gmail ads, the Google Display Network, and other advertising.

Using the internet to help advertise your business and your listings is one of the smartest moves you can make as an agent in this modern age. However, you don’t want to simply go into the process blind or you’re wasting a lot of potential resources and data that could make all the difference. To reap the benefits of Google AdWords, you must apply an intelligent strategy to using these campaigns.

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ANGELA FOX

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Top Agent Angela Fox – Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Urban Properties in Denver, Colorado – is a formidable player in that city’s real estate industry.

Top Agent Angela Fox – Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Urban Properties in Denver, Colorado – is a formidable player in that city’s real estate industry. Intelligent, honest and possessed of an enthusiastic and gregarious nature, Angela is a consummate professional who is truly dedicated to providing a top-notch real estate experience for every one of her many grateful buyers and sellers.

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Angela began her career in 2005. “I started working in the real estate industry because I knew I wanted to be a mom,” she recalls, “and I knew I wanted to be able to have the freedom and flexibility that would offer. We didn’t actually have kids for some time, so that allowed me to really build my business, and it has just continued to grow and grow and grow.”

Nearly a decade-and-a-half later, Angela is the proud mother of two daughters and the proprietor of a thriving brokerage that currently has a roster of twenty-five agents.

On the average, Angela sells a home every ten days, a remarkable achievement by any measure, and she is quick to commend her support team for their contributions to that staggering statistic. “I Top Agent Magazine

really have the best team,” says Angela.

“Every one of them is a loyal team player, and they are an integral part of my business.”

Nearly the entirety of Angela’s business is based upon repeat clients, perhaps the Top Agent Magazine

surest sign of a job well done in the highly-competitive real estate industry. “For me, real estate is less transactional-based than relationship-based,” says Angela, when asked how she manages to generate such impressive levels of trust and loyalty. “It’s exciting to get my clients to Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

“I really love that no two days are the same in this industry. I actually thrive on the stress.

‘Hustle’ could be my middle name.” the closing table, but for me, that’s where the relationship really starts.”

There are many factors that come into play when assessing Angela’s success story. Among them are her undergraduate Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

degree in Marketing, and her Master’s Degree in Management, which inform her stellar business acumen and negotiating prowess, and expert marketing strategies which consistently result in quick sales for top dollar.

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“I really love that no two days are the same in this industry,” says Angela, when asked what she enjoys most about what she does for a living. “I actually thrive on the stress. ‘Hustle’ could be my middle name. During the busy season, if I have Top Agent Magazine

to work thirty days in a row, then I will.

Whatever I need to do to make sure all of my clients are taken care of, I’ll do. It’s very rewarding to guide people through what is likely the largest purchase they’ll ever make. I want to make sure they’re Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

happy all the way through the transaction, and then for many years to come.”

When she’s not working, Angela loves nothing more than spending time with her family. She also enjoys live music, and is a competitive tennis player. “Tennis is where I get my meditation and quiet space,” she says.

Angela has big plans for the future of her business, which include continuing to grow her roster of exceptional agents, and to mentor them so they can find the same success she has enjoyed. Above all, however, is one overarching objective: to continue enhancing and refining the exceptional customer service that has long been synonymous with her name.

For more information about Angela Fox, please call 303-246-6629 or email Angela@AngelaFoxSellsDenver.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 12

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Cooperation, Not Competition, Creates

Mutual Success for Agents When people get along during a business transaction, everyone comes out happier. And in a service industry like real estate, agents have the power deliver that happiness. By working cooperatively, sharing advice and helping each other help clients, agents not only enhance their own reputations, but that of real estate in general.

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“Bring everyone together” Matt Kobelski, with Credentials Real Estate Group in Massachusetts, points out that providing good service involves more people than the party you’re representing. “I’m not afraid to bring together all the parties in a deal and say, ‘OK, let’s figure out a solution that works best

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Teaming up with an agent from a different brokerage on a transaction is not as uncommon or complicated as it might seem

for everyone,” he explains. “My goal is to avoid being adversarial.” Real estate, he believes, should always be a field in which each person can win. “It’s about working toward a mutual goal, shaking hands, and walking away happy that a seller sold, a buyer bought and everyone got what they wanted.”

But Is it that simple? Most agents have experienced the ways conflicting personalities and tension during a transaction can heat up even the most cordial relations. In reality, however, it’s more productive to let down your guard and work with others as a team than it is to allow stress and competition to preside. South Florida REALTOR® and broker associate, Risë V. Siegrist, for instance, has zero interest in competing with other agents. “It’s more important to be professional and associate with competent, caring people,” she says. By serving others with a cooperative spirit, experienced agents like Risë set an excellent example for emerging real estate stars. Risë hopes to be a model for the next generation of agents, training people who may one day become part of her team.

Risë’s position on cooperation inspires more reasons for nurturing relationships with other agents. Over the decades, many agents change brokerages several times. Who knows if that agent across the table will one day work at the 14

same brokerage you do? Perhaps you’ll even have an opportunity to partner on an exciting, future transaction. Good relations keep doors open to endless possibilities.

Co-listing cooperation Teaming up with an agent from a different brokerage on a transaction is not as uncommon or complicated as it might seem. In fact, some agents cleverly capitalize on their collective attributes, rather than competing against one another. South Carolina REALTOR® Kimberly Pannit is a perfect example of the universal benefits of co-listings. Although she has always been an independent agent, Kimberly works hard to form professional alliances that give her business the feel of a cooperative network across brokerages.

This cooperative approach may be nontraditional, but it benefits clients in unique ways. By working closely with agents at other brokerages, she shows how agents can improve client service while helping one another.

Kimberly’s cooperative approach began in her own neighborhood, where an agent friend from a different brokerage also lives. “Several years ago, I approached her because both of us were friends with our neighbors. I asked, ‘Why don’t we give our neighbors superior service and

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co-list together? We both love our area and are passionate about our jobs, the location and schools.’” She also didn’t want to make their mutual friends choose between them when they could work together. “I said, ‘Let’s give them amazing service together!’” With their brokers’ permission, two weeks later the agents co-listed their first home and put extra energy into ensuring uninterrupted client service.

Networking and “Co-opertition” When the ultimate goal is to match a client with the perfect home or create optimal terms of sale for a listings, networking with other agents can facilitate that ideal buyer-seller match.

Nashville REALTOR® and broker/owner Lisa Land embraced every opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the real estate industry and to her local market, even before building her own team. “Agents would frequently ask me for help or advice,” she says, noting that she shares, rather than guarding, the methods she uses to get through difficult or confusing transactions. “I was fortunate to have great mentors when I started in real estate, so I’m always

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willing to offer help, even to agents outside of The Luxe Collective.”

Meanwhile, on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Janet Leigh Scott describes the climate between agents as relaxed and professional. “While the real estate market is highly competitive, we’re truly a ‘co-opertition’ market; agents work together and a have greater sense of community than you might experience in off-island brokerages,” Janet says. “If I have buyer coming into town, I’ll reach out to agents I’ve done transactions with to ask if they have anything coming up that might not be on the market yet.”

Even in hot, competitive L.A. real estate, independent agents such as Andrej Nagy of The Agency RE knows the importance of receiving and providing professional mentorship.

“My relationships with clients are extremely important,” he says. “But my relationships with agents on the other side of a deal are also important.” For REALTORS® like him, working smoothly with other agents is a privilege.

Doing so builds rewarding relationships while ensuring win-win transactions for everyone at the closing table.

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KRISTEN WHITE

Kristen White – Broker/Owner of Front Range Realty in scenic Aurora, Colorado – has more than earned her Top Agent Status. With well over two decades of real estate experience under her belt, Kristen is consistently ranked among the top 100 Realtors in the Centennial State, selling a wide swath of territory that stretches from Colorado Springs north to Loveland, and closing between 70 -90 transactions per year with a total volume of over $30 million. Enthusiastic, honest to a fault, and possessing a deep knowledge of her industry, Kristen’s reputation for providing excellent customer service to her many clients is truly warranted.

Kristen, who has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Gerontology, as well as an Executive MBA, began her journey in the world of real estate in 1995. “I was working in a hospital,” she recalls, “but I found that I would get too emotionally attached, and when someone would pass away 16

I would be in tears. I needed to find a way that I could still help people, and I decided that real estate would be a good way to do that.” Since then, Kristen has, indeed, been helping legions of clients achieve their real estate goals. “I really love helping my clients,” she explains. “It’s such a big, emotional and financial commitment on their side, and I love to treat it like that, and like they’re my only customer. Having them feel, at the end, that they could not have done it without me makes me so thankful.”

Kristen, who opened Front Range Realty in 2009 currently works with a team of two other equallydedicated, high-producing agents who share her client-first business ethos. Additionally, her husband lends a much-welcomed hand behindthe-scenes with vital support tasks. Impressively, almost the entirety of Kristen’s business is based upon repeat and referred customers, perhaps the most accurate measure of a job well done in Copyright Top Agent Magazine

the highly-competitive real estate industry. “We treat every transaction as if it’s our own,” says Kristen, when asked how she manages to inspire such incredible customer loyalty. “I’m very particular with customer service because that’s how we get those referrals. I have solid standards and expectations of anyone who joins my team.”

One major factor in Kristen’s success story is her close ties to the Home Building Industry, and she offers the List Assist Program to 4 Builder Accounts. Others would be her expert marketing strategies that result in quick sales for top dollar, and her fierce negotiation skills.

When she’s not working, Kristen enjoys nothing more than spending time with her family, and traveling is a particular passion. She is also an ardent philanthropist, and she is heavily involved with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. As the 2018 and 2019 chairperson for their annual fundraising gala, Kristen oversaw the raising of more than $664,000. “I work all year on that event,” she says.

Looking towards the future, Kristen’s plans for her business are fairly straightforward: to continue growing her business, and adding like-minded, ethical team members.

Above all, however, her primary goal is to continuing offering the exceptional customer experience that has become her calling card.

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For more information about Kristen White, please call 720-607-4337 or email Kristen@Frrsold.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 17

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The Daily Schedule

of a Successful Real Estate Agent Everything you do should be intentional. A busy schedule isn’t the same thing as a productive schedule. Sometimes people write things like “find clients” on their to-do list, but finding clients isn’t actually a task. It’s a goal. Your daily schedule should be created with your goal in mind if you want to be a successful real estate agent, but a goal is too broad to add to your calendar.

Instead, you can break your goal down into projects, break those projects down into tasks, and schedule time in your calendar to complete each task. You’ll find that some of these projects will have an immediate impact on your business, and that those are the tasks that should be completed first.

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The fact is that as a real estate agent you can set your own schedule—if you’re not productive until 10am, then you don’t have to start your day until then. But having a daily schedule means that every day you have a running start on all those other agents who just “wing it.”

You don’t want to feel burned out and busy but like you’re simultaneously not getting a whole lot done. You can only keep up 70+ hour weeks for so long before your body breaks down and both your performance and income drop as a result.

Since every real estate agent’s operating hours look different, the following daily schedule is broken up by the suggested amount of hours you

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should spend on each task rather than specific times of day. However, certain tasks, like prospecting, appointments, and listing presentations should be performed at times when it’s most convenient for clients. If you’re an agent who likes to end their workday at 5 o’clock, remember that this is also the same time your clients are likely ending their day, meaning you might be unavailable for showings during the only time their schedule allows.

3.5 hours – This is that time of day that you should schedule all your appointments and listing presentations. If you are a newer agent, you might use this time instead to do more prospecting and appointment setting.

1 hour – Spend this time waking up, exercising either at home or at the gym, and eating breakfast.

2 hours – Now it’s time to unwind. Use this time to have dinner and spend time with you family. If you have children, this is usually the time of day when they are wrapping up homework assignments and getting ready for bed.

It’s important that you make time for these moments the same way you make time for your work.

2 hours – Use this time before you head to the office to develop a morning routine, if you haven’t already. You can meditate, journal, practice affirmations, or read personal development books to prepare for the day ahead.

1 hour – Once you’re at the office, spend this time to review the day’s schedule, catch up with your assistant or other colleagues, and check the latest industry news. This is also the time of day that you can role play to prepare for appointments.

1.5 hours – Spend this time prospecting and appointment setting.

1 hour – Now it’s time for a lunch break. If you’re a multitasker, you can also use this time to prepare for the afternoon and any meetings you have scheduled or connect with followers on social media.

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.5 hours – Look over the day’s schedule again and ensure you’ve checked every task off your to-do list. While you’re at it, be sure to review tomorrow’s schedule and goals too.

2 hours – Spend these last couple hours before you fall asleep to have quality time with your spouse or perform your self-care routines.

8 hours – Now it’s time for sleep—getting a full night’s rest is crucial if you want every day to be productive.

As you can tell, there’s still some wiggle room left in this schedule, but the important thing is to block out time every day so you can achieve your goals and help your clients.

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CHRIS GRUND Top Agent Chris Grund – Broker Associate at LISTINGS.COM in Englewood, Colorado – is a consummate professional who has more than a decade of experience working with buyers and sellers. With an emphasis on top-notch customer service, Chris has earned the sobriquet “Your Realtor Concierge,” and takes great pride in going above and beyond his client’s expectations. The recipient of a large and growing number of awards and high-profile recognitions, he has built a stellar career on a foundation of honesty, integrity and extensive industry knowledge.

Chris – a proud Colorado native - began his journey in the world of real estate selling new construction after graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Urban Planning. “That was in 2007,” he recalls, “so I was learning about finance and construction and sales in what was probably the worst market ever. It was like being thrown into the fire.” The economic crisis begat a layoff, and Chris decided to venture into the resale business. “I got my license, and within thirty days I had my first home under contract.” Soon, his business began to skyrocket, and it continues to do so to this day. After a stint working for RE/MAX, Chris found a comfortable home at LISTINGS.COM, where he oversees his own equallytalented and dedicated roster of agents, all of whom share his customer-first, give-it-all-you’ve-got business ethos.

Nearly 25% of Chris’ business is based in the community he calls home, Sterling Ranch, that will ultimately consist of 12,000 “smart homes,” each of which is equipped with residential internet speeds of 1 Gigabyte which, to provide perspective, allows a full-length high-definition movie to be downloaded in less than six seconds. “It’s a fantastic community,” says Chris. “They’ve just opened a tap house, we’ve got community and rec centers opening, and a million square feet of retail are coming.”

A significant portion of all of Chris’ business is based upon repeat and referred clients, perhaps the best indicator Top Agent Magazine

of the exceptional service he is providing his buyers and sellers. “I put a lot of pride and passion into what I do,” says Chris, when asked to account for the impressive loyalty and trust he inspires. “I believe that the financial rewards of this job will come, as long as you prioritize providing a high level of service and give them a great experience. Being a good Realtor is a little like being a psychologist, in that you have to manage people’s expectations in a responsible way. I tell my clients what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. That transparency goes a long way, and they appreciate it.”

There are many other factors that come into play when assessing Chris’ phenomenal success story. An impressive business acumen that makes him an ideal negotiator, a solid work-ethic that translates into quick response time when his clients need him, and expert and thorough marketing strategies that ensure quick sales for top dollar, not to mention satisfied customers.

Chris, married with three children, has fairly simple plans for the future. First, to grow his business while still maintaining the delicate work/life balance that allows him to spend quality time with his wife and kids, and second, to continue refining and enhancing the already-exceptional customer service that has become his calling card.

For more information about Chris Grund, please call 303-815-2505 or email CGrund@Listings.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 21

Creative Ways to Say Thank You

Most top real estate agents find ways to welcome their clients to their new home. A common theme is a bottle of wine and some wine glasses for that first post-threshold toast, or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up that empty living space until the furniture arrives.

But are you truly being as creative as you can with your appreciation? Here are some innovative gift ideas that will truly keep you front of mind with your valued customers and assure their gratitude and repeat business, not to mention a slew of referrals.

1. How about a streaming video device, like a Roku

or Amazon Fire Stick? There’s a good chance your clients will not have their cable service up and running for a few days, and this is an excellent way for them to enjoy their television before they get that connection going. Bundle it up in a basket with some DVD’s for the kids, and don’t forget all necessary cables.

2. Matching bathrobes and Bath kits: Fleece or ter-

rycloth bathrobes and a basket filled with highend his and her body scrubs, bubble bath and other luxurious pampering items can make the first night in a new home feel like a check-in at a fabulous resort and make the memory of that first night one to cherish. Again, don’t forget the kids!

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3. Arrange a catered meal from a local vendor. As-

certain in advance dietary preferences and restrictions, and have a wonderful, healthy meal delivered on move-in night. To complete the magic, provide brand new plates, silverware and glassware to serve it all on.

4. For homes with swimming pools or Jacuzzis, a

stack of fluffy pool towels is always appreciated and will be used by family and friends for years to come. Additionally, acrylic stemware for celebrating safely can be provided alongside them.

5. If it’s winter time and the home has a fireplace, make sure there’s plenty of wood to burn. Some fireplace accessories and a log holder will certainly make your clients appreciate you on every chilly night to come.

So when it comes to gifting your buyers, the trick is to be creative. A bottle of wine lasts one night, and the flowers wilt in a few days. Try coming up with something a little more creative that will remain with your clients in their day-to-day lives and remind them of you consistently. The little bit extra you spend to show your gratitude can reap huge dividends when it comes time for your client to purchase a second home or refer a friend.

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MIKE HILLS Mike Hills knows firsthand how much real estate can truly change your life for the better. After watching his friend’s father own, rent out and sell properties, then have enough capital to build his own customized house, Mike knew he wanted to jump into this career path. “I saw him do this while I was still in college.

Once I graduated, I thought, ‘if he can do this, I can,’ so I bought my first house,” he explains. He still owns that house today, and it has proven to be a viable investment. From then on, he began buying rental properties. Soon, others began asking him for advice, so he started coaching them.

market, Mike knows they only need three things: good credit, a down payment, and income. “Usually we tell people if they can get two of those three things, we can coach them on how to get the third.

We can get them to the finish line even if they don’t have all three items right away.”

Mike’s coaching flourished and evolved into a fulltime career at Atlas Real Estate Group, where he’s been actively working for the last 7 years. His team consists of himself and four others who focus on teaching people how to grow wealth and pave a path to financial security through real estate investing.

They also locate deals for their clients and help them manage their properties.

As Mike looks towards the future, he’s eager to continue growing, and wants to expand into other cities. “I want to keep teaching people that real estate can give them the freedom to not worry about their future. It gives them security, and it’s so rewarding to be a part of that.”

“I teach a free class with my team called Real Estate Investment Hour (REIH) once a month in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Phoenix. If participants are interested after the class, we find them a deal, and if they buy it, we will also manage the property for them. We take the fear completely out of the process for them, so they’re not confused about what to do next,” Mike explains. “We are a one-step solution for buyers.” Mike serves all types of buyers, young and old alike, but wants them to think of real estate in a 20-year timeframe. It’s a long-term investment that can create long term-income. “It’s a way for people to build wealth, even if they don’t have a lot of money.”

Although people often think they need a lot of experience or preparation to jump into the real estate Top Agent Magazine

When talking with Mike about real estate, it is easy to feel inspired and excited to start investing. Part of that comes from his extensive knowledge in the industry, but it also comes from his background in public speaking.

He was a speaker for Rachel’s Challenge, a nonprofit that features motivational speakers at middle and high schools. Rachel was a victim of the Columbine High School shootings, and this program teaches teenagers the importance of caring about others.

Mike Hills and his family.

For more info please call 303-242-8980 or email michael@realatlas.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 23

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