FLORIDA 1-25-21

FLORIDA EDITION

What the First Thing You Do After Work

SAYS ABOUT YOU How to

SPEED UP FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER TRANSACTIONS

Embracing Smart Homes: Does New Technology Really Increase Home Value?

COVER STORY FEATURED AGENTS

KRISTEN ADAMS-KEARNEY KIYE LYONS JOSEPH MIRANDA

ASHLEY CUSACK

JOSEPH MIRANDA FLORIDA Joseph Miranda, aEDITION successful investor from Chicago, first came to Florida in 2012. At the time, he had developed a passion for real estate from his experiences managing and flipping properties. While Joseph had already begun his new career as an agent, the Sunshine State put wind in his sails, and his career took off. In 2019, he decided to build on his momentum and open KRISTEN his own brokerage.

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Today, Joseph 15 is the Owner of IBIS20 Realty where he supervises a growing team to serve clients all throughout South Florida. By applying his more than 13 years of professional experience, he has established himself as a tireless advocate for buyers and sellers of all kinds. “I’m always KIYE LYONS KRISTEN looking for an edge ADAMS-KEARNEY in the market,” he says. “I want to give my clients as many options as possible, and I want to know precisely how our choices will impact our future.”

“If you’re looking a road map to acc also need to be wil new information.”

Over the years, Jose skills, helping his ADAMS-KEARN Els ser ou 25 wi co thi pu at acc the

JOSEPH MIRANDA

Me me “I an CONTENTS up attention to deta Kristen Adams-Kearney began her career in the real marketing, inclu estate industry as her husband’s assistant in 2003.

When listing a home, Joseph stands we pro then, sheWHAT has workedTHE hard to help herTHING clients staging, and ma 4) HOW TO SPEED UPon the cutting edgeSince 18) FIRST of his industry. and become one of the top agents in her region. After compassionate After providing his some clients with aDO suite ofKeller immaculate for greatness and ha FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER YOU AFTER WORK SAYS rate her clients’ time working with Williams, in 2014, professional photography, he her shares their Kristen ABOUT and husband wenthome off onover their own and which has allow TRANSACTIONS YOU everyone Kearney Associates Realty. Today, Kristen numerous digital andstarted social media&platforms—ensuring Outsidewith of his carees and her team service the Palm Beach a nationwide reach. Meanwhile, he is always looking currently serving on EMBRACING County 22) community, Florida area andSMART 13) UNTANGLING THEforBIDDING new marketing resources while adjusting his stratWhen he’s not assis specialize in the WesternDOES Communities.

HOMES: NEW WAR: A BUYER’S & SELLER’S egies based on changes in the “Today, when be found spending q She makes aboutmarket. four to five sales each TECHNOLOGY REALLY children.

PERSPECTIVES month herself inthey addition to supervising buyers are looking for a house, begin their search INCREASE HOME VALUE? online,” he says. “Soother we agents. need our clients to stand out in their digital listings,At right from the start.”

Looking ahead, Jos 18) 9 THINGS THE BEST least 80 percent of Kearney & Associ26) 4 REASONS WHY MULTIfuture. As he contin ates Realty’s clients come from repeats LEADERS NEVER SAY TASKING CAN or referrals.

Kristen attributes this Joseph is equally detailed when assisting hisACTUALLY buyers. is also looking to e impressive statistic to the customer serYOUR Above all, he emphasizesDERAIL the importance of aDAY tightly Florida. “The future vice and personal attention that is given organized approachto from the beginning to the end that if I help my age every client. “We pride ourselves on of the process. “You have to make a plan,” says. dreams, they will he providing executive-level servicehethat

KIYE LYONS

surpasses industry standards,” Kristen explains, “and we give that to all of our Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 To learn clients, moreno about Miranda, email Joseph matter whatJoseph the size of their mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com purchase visit or sale is.”

She uses her strong ibisrealtyinc.com or call (954) 999 www.

No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors.

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How to Speed Up First-Time Homebuyer Transactions Working with first-time homebuyers can be among the most rewarding real estate transactions an agent can embark upon.

Not only are you helping guide newcomers into the housing market, but you’re also witness to the excitement and triumphs along the way, including handing over those keys for the first time. While 4

helping first-time homebuyers navigate the transactional process can be a reminder of real estate’s benevolent power, it can also come with its own bumps and bruises.

So, what’s the best way to streamline the homebuying process for first-timers, while maintaining the magic and keeping your sanity along the way?

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While helping first-time homebuyers navigate the transactional process can be a reminder of real estate’s benevolent power, it can also come with its own bumps and bruises.

Set expectations upfront and often.

It’s no secret that communication is a cornerstone of a successful real estate practice and client relationship. Amidst a transaction as complex as buying (or selling) a home, it’s important that no wires get crossed, no questions go unanswered, and no information gets lost in translation. To accomplish this, create communication parameters with your clients up front. Inquire about the communication medium they’re most comfortable with—a text, a call, an email, etc.

Then, tailor your outreach accordingly.

Also, consider setting a weekly time to check in, even if no official progress has been made. This helps clients and agents touch base, float questions and concerns, and get ahead of any problems or developments. Another helpful tool is to draft a transaction timeline for your client that outlines the major milestones along the way, what sort of information will need to be gathered, what steps taken, and what outcomes are possible. This might seem like exhaustive work, but in the era of digital research, clients will come to their own conclusions and biases

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whether you like it or not. To stay on the same page and timeline, be the foremost resource for your client, and don’t leave their questions up to chance.

Know your first-time homebuyer programs and perks.

There are a variety of national, state, regional, and local grants and programs that aid first-time homebuyers as they pay their down payment, shop for home or mortgage insurance, and otherwise deal with the financial implications of becoming a homeowner. Sometimes these programs are neighborhood-specific in certain cities, with incentives to buy in up and coming areas. In some cases, there are grants that support underrepresented minority communities breaking into homebuying, and these can go a long way in making the burden of a down payment and associated fees doable. In other words, do your research.

The right program or grant could make the difference in nabbing a dream starter home for your client, while setting them up for future financial success.

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Get pre-approved for a mortgage—and shop around for the best rate.

Not all mortgage rates are made equal. As an agent, you likely have good relationships with area lenders that you trust, but it’s still important to complete your due diligence when helping first-time homebuyers find the rate that suits their longterm housing goals. Also remember that first-time homebuyers are new to this process, and while real estate transactions are complex in their own right, the borrowing and lending processes can be alienating in their complexity. As an agent, it’s your job to play intermediary and teacher, ensuring your clients know their options, are prepared to make an educated decision, and

feel confident that they’ve chosen correctly. Talk with your preferred mortgage partners to best outline options for your clients’ understanding, laying out a framework that’s informative, projected into the future, and allows them to feel empowered by knowledge.

All in all, working with first-time homebuyers can be an exciting and joyous occasion, as long as you’re adequately prepared for some hand-holding and instruction along the way. Aside from the enthusiasm of successful first-timers at the closing table, you’ll also enjoy the lasting benefit of strong referrals to their friends and family, many of whom will be shopping with you for their own first dream homes.

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ASHLEY CUSACK Top Agent Magazine

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Top Agent Ashley Cusack runs the Ashley Cusack Team for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty out of Miami— she has sold nearly $1 billion in residential real estate in her almost 30-year career.

Right out of college, Ashley Cusack fell into the real estate business as an assistant to a top producing Miami broker. “I knew the prior assistant who suggested I apply for her job, and I got it,” she recalls. “It was a great starting point, as I was able to learn the business from the ground up.” From there, she moved up to agent, and then broker-agent. That was almost 30 years ago, and she’s never looked back.

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Ashley currently runs the Ashley Cusack Team for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty out of Miami, Florida. She has sold nearly $1 billion in residential real estate in her almost 30-year career with a business that’s almost entirely repeat and referral. “I’m very involved in the community,” she says.

“Volunteering has allowed me to get to know so many people and establish a strong client base. Fortunately, my clients appreciate my Top Agent Magazine

negotiating skills and my willingness to go the extra mile for them, so they have referred me to their friends over the years and allowed me to grow my business!“ It’s not surprising that Ashley receives stellar reviews for her esteemed work ethic. One client recently wrote: “Ashley and her group went above and beyond to make the selling Top Agent Magazine

experience positive for us. She handled every issue as it arose to make sure the sale went smoothly. Selling can be stressful, but Ashley handles both the seller and the buyer with utmost attention and professionalism.”

Her client-focused attitude has translated into great success. Ashley has consistently been in the top one-half of 1 percent of Realtors Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

Ashley has consistently been in the top one-half of 1 percent of Realtors nationwide and in the top 5 of 800 agents at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty. nationwide and in the top 5 of 800 agents at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty–an accomplishment spanning the past 15 years. Ashley has also been recognized as the area’s top residential Realtor by the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, Miami Agent Magazine and The Real Deal.

better. “We used to hold open houses and do public events,” she says. “We still do live opens when appropriate, but now we also hold virtual open houses, which I love.

It enables our listings to go global, so ultimately more eyes are on us than just the standard open house.”

Ashley admits that her marketing tactics have changed over the past year due to the COVID pandemic, but it has been for the

Because she is highly civic-minded, Ashley continues to stay involved with multiple community organizations. “For the past

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35 years, I have been a member of the Jr. League of Miami as an active and now sustaining member,” she says. “I’m very committed to them.” She also volunteers at Ransom Everglades School and St. Thomas Top Agent Magazine

Episcopal Church and School; Beaux Arts; Sewanee The University of the South Parent Council; and helped coach the girls’ lacrosse team at Ransom Everglades to help grow the sport in South Florida.

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Ashley and her family enjoy boating and spending time on the water. “We love to free dive and go lobstering,” she exclaims. She’s also an avid Miami sports fan and enjoys Pickle Ball.

As for her future plans, Ashley wants to continue along the same path, serving her clients and community to achieve their hopes and dreams.

To learn more about Ashley Cusack, email her at ashley@ashleycusack.com, or visit ashleycusack.com, or call (305) 798.8685 https://

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Untangling the Bidding War: A Buyer’s & Seller’s Perspectives In a competitive marketplace, bidding wars become the norm. While this may put sellers in an excellent position to recoup on their investment, it can push buyers beyond their budgets and test their temperaments in the process. As an agent, how do you navigate both sides of the coin? After all, you want to net the best results for your client—regardless of which side of the closing table they’re on. To fortify your approach to a heated bidding war, here are a few ideas and insights to better clue you in on the perspectives of buyers and sellers alike.

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Buyer’s Perspective: Emotions Running High?

Channel it.

When the market is booming, buyers feel the pressure—especially when affordable inventory is limited. This can create stress, feelings of hopelessness, and impulsivity. As an agent, how do you channel this emotional energy into something positive? Consider asking buyers to put those anxieties and high hopes onto paper. Have buyers outline

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who they are, why they’re inspired to buy a home at this juncture in their lives, and how they see their lives unfolding once they become a homeowner (or repeat homeowner). Think of it as a letter of intent.

Buyers benefit from taking abstract fears and dreams and articulating them on paper. Likewise, this document can serve as a valuable tool during a bidding war. Letters like these can help sellers with multiple offers make a personal, emotional connection with a particular buyer.

Sellers Perspective: Manage expectations.

When multiple offers are rolling in on a property, it’s easy for sellers to get carried away. Numbers are flying, expectations are heightened, and sellers may become hypnotized by higher and higher offers and ideal outcomes. While it’s good to celebrate prime market positioning, it’s also important to maintain an even keel so that your seller’s mind is clear and they’re thinking rationally through their options.

Sometimes the highest offer isn’t necessarily the sure thing. Manage your clients’ expectations by leading by example, offering a balanced perspective, and talking them through all potential outcomes so that they don’t only hone in on the best-case scenario.

During a bidding war, tensions are running high for seller’s too, who will soon begin their next chapter in another home. Keep a cool head and remind your client to see the big picture, recognize that it’s possible for some offers to fall through, and to sit tight until the closing table has been successfully reached.

Buyer’s Perspective: How do you authentically and convincingly convey your interest?

When ten or so offers are in the mix, it can be hard to differentiate your buyer from the next. While numbers will obviously do a lot of the talking, you’d be surprised how much of a difference a 14

personal touch can make. Some popular approaches to standing out include personal letters—as mentioned above—tailored to the property. Was the property in question a family home for years? You might have clients detail their dreams of raising a family inside those walls, rather than tear the property down and rebuild something to boost the lot’s value. Including a family photo is also a good tact for personalizing letters in a bidding war. Likewise, little gifts included with your offer can speak volumes about your personality and due diligence as an agent. It may seem a little cheesy, but when sellers are looking at ten near-identical offers, those personal touches can really paint a compelling, personalized picture.

Seller’s Perspective: How powerful is cash?

Data shows that cash offers—typical of investor clientele—double the chances of having an offer accepted. This goes hand in hand with waiving a financing contingency, which also helped boost the probability of an accepted offer, according to research. Cash is king, however, since offers that aren’t completely reliant on comprehensive financing seem to minimize risk for sellers, who are already eager to see a deal go through. Cash deals also tend to go through quickly, freeing sellers up to pursue their next property and move on to new horizons. While not every buyer has the ability to operate in cash, it’s a worthwhile consideration for those in ultra-competitive markets and with liquid capital.

While the bidding process can be stressful for agents and clients alike, it’s important to remember that it’s a time of opportunity, too. If you want to make the most of it as a seller, data shows that a personal touch can endear buyers to their seller counterparts. For sellers navigating a competitive process, it’s important to keep a balanced perspective. For agents, here’s the bottom line: get creative, be resourceful, and use all the tools in your arsenal to achieve the best result for the clients you serve.

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KIYE LYONS Top Agent Magazine

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KIYE LYONS

Kiye Lyons is the name that should come to everyone’s mind when thinking of real estate in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas. With the assistance of eight agents, Kiye has fast tracked to becoming a top producing realtor. Her vast experience in the banking and mortgage industry has served her well as she seamlessly completes 25 to 30 transactions a year. Kiye provides premium service to clients, which is evident through 90 percent of her business coming through referrals alone.

detail-oriented skills and keen communication abilities. Kiye’s work performance was so outstanding that it led to her promotion as a mortgage broker after just 3 months. Gaining the understanding of loan processing and the brokerage aspects of property sales has been an added benefit to the service Kiye offers her clients.

The road to leaving her mortgage broker position and earning her real estate license came at a risk.

How did Kiye rise to the top? It all began with processing loans. In her younger years, Kiye developed a strong interest in real estate. “How does the industry work?

What is the realtor’s role? What do clients need to purchase their dream home?”

Kiye was intrigued and felt inexplicably drawn to the real estate industry. She made it her mission to break into the business, and started her journey as a loan processor.

Kiye flourished in her loan processing position, which allowed her to develop strong 16

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It was the aftermath of the unfortunate market crash in 2008, when Kiye made the uncertain decision to become a realtor. This would become one of the best decisions in Kiye’s professional career; She’s been thriving in the real estate industry ever since.

Kiye is passionate about service and going the extra mile to ensure clients get the deal they want. In Kiye’s words, “If you take care of people, they’re going to take care of you. I believe in going above and beyond for my clients. They trust me and I want to earn their trust. I am known to do things that no other realtor will do!” Kiye’s can-do attitude and problem-solving skills have yielded 100 percent satisfaction from her clients and keep customers coming back for more.

She finds that the most important part of her job is being genuine and building relationships with her clients. This allows her to offer unmatched service to her clients. Kiye considers herself the people’s problem solver, as she is willing to think outside the box and do what needs to be done to get her clients the prices they want when buying and selling a home.

Kiye’s advice for other realtors or those interested in the business is in regards to customer service.

She states, “Sometimes people get into this business because they think there is a lot of money to be made.

I want realtors to know that you can become financially successful and make a lot of money but to do that you have to be willing to give away a lot of money too. When you are a giver, your clients will take care of you and trust you because you have a giving heart and not a taking heart.” Kiye’s final tip to for other realtors is to be generous. Generosity pays infinite dividends because it creates happy customers that keep coming back and referring others.

Outside of Kiye’s love for the real estate industry, she enjoys spending quality time with her family as they keep her grounded and surrounded with love and support. Her professional goal for the future is to grow her team, increase their sales volume, and move into investing in new homes and apartment management.

Kiye Lyons is a realtor who puts service first, and with that mindset the sky’s the limit for her and her team!

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You can contact Kiye by phone at (321) 960-1454 or by email at kiyetherealtor@gmail.com. You can also check out her website at klrgroupllc.com for more details. www.

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What the First Thing You Do After Work Says About You We all have our routines. From that morning cup of coffee to a jog at the gym, it’s common to establish touchstones for our daily lives.

But have you ever considered what these habits tell us about ourselves? Our actions reveal much about our motivations and emotional life, so taking a second look at your first move at the end of the day can be telling.

With that in mind, see how you fare when it comes to post-workday habits...

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Break a Sweat After a long day of work, is your first instinct to strap on your sneakers and take off on a run? Do you stop off at the local yoga studio for an extended stretch? Maybe you head to the weight room to pump some iron. Whatever your exercise pick, if you’re inclined to sweat it out at the end of a long day, you’re likely a routine-oriented profes-

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sional who internalizes work-related stress. Of course, you’ve chosen a healthy release for all that pent-up tension, and you’ve discovered the power of endorphins. Once work hours are over, not everyone finds the motivation to stay active. This means you’re driven by routine, conscious of your emotional and physical health, and prefer to leave your cares at the gym, rather than bring them into your home oasis. However, it’s important to give your body a rest now and again, as recuperation time is not only beneficial for physical health, but can help prevent burnout for the long haul.

Flexibility is a skill, and one just as important to cultivate as rigid commitment. If you find yourself out of sorts if you miss just one day of working out, you might want to pay some attention to your routines and motivations, and rebalance your commitments and fitness routine accordingly.

Round-the-Clock Hustle If you’re the type to bring work home with you, you aren’t alone. While your motivation to work nonstop is admirable, it’s also important to make the mental transition from workplace to home, establishing the time to hustle and the time to relax. Just like those that hit the gym without fail after a long day, sometimes you’ll need to practice saying no. If your work life is indistinguishable from your personal life, it’ll be hard to catch a break and recharge.

This means burnout, frayed nerves, and missed details will soon be on the horizon. Of course, round-the-clock hustle is a strength, too. You’re passionate about your work, care deeply about doing things right, and failure is not an option.

Just make sure that you establish some foundational boundaries so that you maintain an Top Agent Magazine

appropriate, healthy balance between your time at work and your time at home with the loved ones and hobbies you cherish. If making way for downtime isn’t easy, try penciling it in the way you would a work engagement. Dinner with a friend, a date night with a significant other, or a solo movie fest can be readily added to your calendar, and thus built in to your regimented schedule.

Turn to Food If your first instinct after work is to eat, it can say a few different things about your routine.

Perhaps you’ve been so on-the-go all the day that you haven’t had time for lunch. In this case, you might need to regiment your schedule with more purpose aimed towards downtime and self-care; food is fuel, after all. If you head home and gorge after an average day, you may be turning to food as a way to relieve stress.

In this case, you may need to reassess some of your post-work habits and find a healthier balance and outlet for your tension. Taking a walk, grabbing fresh ingredients for dinner, hitting the gym, or decompressing by catching up with a friend or a good book—all are healthier, more balanced ways of executing the transition from the office to the home. Pay attention to your consumption post-work. Determine how hungry or satiated you really are before making a grab for the nearest sustenance.

People decompress in all different ways after getting home from the office, but always remember that routines are telling. Don’t take your daily actions and impulses for granted. Examine the root behind your well-worn practices, and you may detect nuances at play beneath the surface that can you help you recalibrate for the better.

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KRISTEN ADAMS-KEARNEY

Kristen Adams-Kearney began her career in the real estate industry as her husband’s assistant in 2003.

Since then, she has worked hard to help her clients and become one of the top agents in her region. After some time working with Keller Williams, in 2014, Kristen and her husband went off on their own and started Kearney & Associates Realty. Today, Kristen and her team service the Palm Beach County community, Florida area and specialize in the Western Communities.

She makes about four to five sales each month herself in addition to supervising other agents.

attention to detail to provide everyone with top-notch marketing, including the use of social media, mailers, staging, and professional photography. Kristen is very compassionate and always does her best to incorporate her clients’ goals and needs into the transaction, which has allowed her to form strong relationships with everyone she works alongside.

At least 80 percent of Kearney & Associates Realty’s clients come from repeats or referrals. Kristen attributes this impressive statistic to the customer service and personal attention that is given to every client. “We pride ourselves on providing executive-level service that surpasses industry standards,” Kristen explains, “and we give that to all of our clients, no matter what the size of their purchase or sale is.” She uses her strong 20

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The passion and hard work that Kearney & Associates Realty puts into every transaction is obvious, especially to their clients. One former client shared, “Kristen is the best! We were given nothing but the best service throughout the entire process of selling our home. From bringing in a professional decorator to help with staging advice, professional photos for the listing, to an Italian ice stand for our open housethey go big with everything they do! Kristen and Jesse spent hours here helping us prep and moving around furniture. Kristen even lent us her decor for staging. She even helped coordinate with different vendors to help make our home shine, a task that would have been impossible for me to accomplish while juggling a toddler and homeschooled child in a pandemic without her assistance and leg work.

During our open house, the neighbors kept sending us pictures of all the prospective buyers waiting in the driveway to get inside our house! As a lawyer myself, I was impressed with her contract writing and negotiation skills that ensured we were protected and covered. She responded quickly and checked in often to address all our concerns and questions. They absolutely set a new standard for the industry!” Even once the job is done, Kristen loves staying in touch with her clients, particularly through social media, phone calls, and mailers.

Outside of her career in real estate, Kristen maintains her busy lifestyle by working to help the Palm Beach community and spending time with her family. In particular, she enjoys contributing to the Boys & Girls Club of Wellington and serving on the executive board of the PTA at Binks Forest Elementary School. Kristen and her husband have two sons ages 27 and 10, and they love spending time with family.

Some of Kristen’s favorite parts of her job include staging homes, getting them ready for photos, and hosting successful open house events. “I just love what I do,” Kristen explains, and she sees her business continuing to grow in the future. Her goal for Kearney & Associates Realty is “to continue to provide the excellent service we give to our clients and meet the needs of future clients.” It is clear that she is on the right path and that she and her brokerage will continue surpassing their clients’ expectations for many years to come.

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For more about Kristen Adams-Kearney, please call 561-628-1143 or email Kristen@SearchSoFloHomes.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 21

Embracing Smart Homes:

Does New Technology Really Increase Home Value?

Technology and innovation move at a lightning-fast clip, so it can be hard to keep up with all the smart-home trends sweeping the market at a given time. From smart thermostats to security systems accessed through an app on your phone—there are endless options to customize and update your home for the modern era. But which, if any, of these smart home products add 22

value to property in a significant, worthwhile capacity? Especially with new generations of the same products released in quick succession, it can be hard to determine whether it’s worth it to take the plunge. With that in mind, we’ve conducted a deep-dive into the smart home options out there that make the most sense for your bottom line and real estate investments.

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Smart home amenities range in price and return.

There are certain smart home products that won’t break the bank while still adding lovely touches and time-saving features to your space. For instance, a smart thermostat may not run more than a few hundred dollars, but it can take so much of the guesswork and analog nuisance out of programming your home’s internal environment. That said, buyers selling properties with mid-range amenities like this can’t expect a windfall in return. While smart home features can certainly lure buyers and give the sense that a home is attractively modern (and thus move-in ready), it doesn’t mean that you’ll be reaping a sizable monetary reward for your foresight. Conversely, this reality doesn’t mean those smart options

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are without value entirely; it just means that the value of smart home options may be apparent in a different capacity, like luring a particular buyer or creating a desirable, sleek image for a property headed to market.

On the other hand, larger scale smart home amenities that are being left behind for the buyer—like a smart refrigerator or wired sound throughout the property—may be able to lure particular buyers who value high-end details. While it can be difficult to state definitively the value of smart home options, the rule tends to be that the more you put in, the higher the likelihood you’ll reap the investment you sow. Focus your smart home options on home appliances first, then work your way toward security, thermostat, and entertainment options.

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Smart home amenities capture the attention of buyers

Agents must know how to pitch the value of smart home options

Even if you have mostly opted for small or mid-range smart home options, you can still benefit from their presence in a property—even if they don’t inflate your bottom line as a result. Smart home amenities have the power to focus the attention of buyers, sending a clear signal that the previous owners were tech-forward and made an effort to upgrade the property for the contemporary era. Millennial or Gen Z buyers especially value these up-to-date modifications, and the presence of these desirable gadgets can create added interest and drive up value naturally. Likewise, featuring these options in listing photography can also drive interest from younger or high-end buyers looking for move-in ready spaces.

Remember that smart home features are relatively fresh to the market. While some new construction properties are equipped with these smart amenities, just as many homes on the market don’t offer these upgrades and modern flairs. This means that many buyers, of all ages even, aren’t familiar with the benefits and perks of these options, let alone how they’re operated. Before you can derive value from a smart home or smart home features, you’ll need to understand a product’s proper usage, cost, and benefits. Do your homework regarding what smart home features can offer in terms time or cost savings, and be able to show prospective buyers how easy these objects are to use, as well. Do both, and you’ll be in proper command of what smart home features can offer buyers and pitch them accordingly.

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JOSEPH MIRANDA Joseph Miranda, a successful investor from Chicago, first came to Florida in 2012. At the time, he had developed a passion for real estate from his experiences managing and flipping properties. While Joseph had already begun his new career as an agent, the Sunshine State put wind in his sails, and his career took off. In 2019, he decided to build on his momentum and open his own brokerage.

Today, Joseph is the Owner of IBIS Realty where he supervises a growing team to serve clients all throughout South Florida. By applying his more than 13 years of professional experience, he has established himself as a tireless advocate for buyers and sellers of all kinds. “I’m always looking for an edge in the market,” he says. “I want to give my clients as many options as possible, and I want to know precisely how our choices will impact our future.”

When listing a home, Joseph stands on the cutting edge of his industry.

After providing his clients with a suite of immaculate professional photography, he shares their home over numerous digital and social media platforms—ensuring a nationwide reach. Meanwhile, he is always looking for new marketing resources while adjusting his strategies based on changes in the market. “Today, when buyers are looking for a house, they begin their search online,” he says. “So we need our clients to stand out in their digital listings, right from the start.”

Joseph is equally detailed when assisting his buyers.

Above all, he emphasizes the importance of a tightly organized approach from the beginning to the end of the process. “You have to make a plan,” he says.

“If you’re looking to buy a house, you need to draft a road map to accomplish that goal; however, you also need to be willing to change that plan based on new information.”

Over the years, Joseph has developed elite negotiation skills, helping his clients get the best deal possible.

Elsewhere, his remarkable customer service and work ethic have won an outstanding reputation around Florida, with the vast majority of his volume coming from referrals. The key to all this success? “No matter what, I’m putting my clients at the forefront of a transaction. I won’t let any of them accept a bad deal, and I’ll always tell them the truth.”

Meanwhile, Joseph is a hands-on mentor to his up-and-coming Realtors.

“I sit down with all our new agents, and we craft a business plan for the upcoming year,” he says. “From there, we revisit that plan every week. I make sure all my agents are on track for greatness and have the tools they need to excel.”

Outside of his career, Joseph is active in his community, currently serving on his local Chamber of Commerce.

When he’s not assisting clients or giving back, he can be found spending quality time with his wife and three children.

Looking ahead, Joseph has strong ambitions for the future. As he continues to grow and foster his team, he is also looking to expand his client base around South Florida. “The future is bright,” he says. “And I know that if I help my agents, buyers and sellers achieve their dreams, they will help me achieve mine.”

To learn more about Joseph Miranda, email Joseph@ibisrealtyinc.com, visit ibisrealtyinc.com or call (954) 999-7536 www.

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4 Reasons Why Multitasking Can Actually Derail Your Day Common wisdom dictates that a master multitasker is likely to garner the most success. After all, doesn’t juggling multiple projects at once mean you’ll work faster than if you took each one as it came? While multitasking is often cited as a desirable skill—and surely serves its purpose now and again—studies show that a mere 2% of individuals can actually multitask effectively. Meanwhile, the remaining 98% might be doing more harm than good by trying 26

to tackle too much at once. Take a look below at some little-known facts about the risky side of waging a routine built on multitasking.

1. Multitasking decreases productivity While multitasking gives us the illusion of completing two tasks at once, it actually means

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our focus and productivity is split. In other words, switching back and forth between two activities doesn’t mean they’ll each be completed sooner; it means that you’re getting half-as-much complete as you would if you focused on a singular task. Multitasking fatigues your brain, elicits stress, and make you less efficient in retaining new information.

2. Multitasking is actually addictive While watching TV or taking a walk, have you ever noticed the impulse to check your smartphone or scroll through your social media feed? Even though we think about multitasking as a workplace skill, it’s also an addictive form of mental stimulation. By satiating our need for distraction with constant check-ins online, we become accustomed to frequent breaks in our focus, training us to crave updates, messages, and push notifications—we even hit refresh when we’ve checked in five minutes prior! This negative habit-building makes it difficult to complete sustained bouts of concentration.

3. Multitasking has negative physical side effects Studies show that those who juggle multiple focus-intensive activities actually show spikes in cortisol, a stress hormone. Likewise, frequent multitaskers display symptoms of sleep deprivation: fatigue, disorientation, and lack of focus. Studies in Europe have recently Top Agent Magazine

discovered that those who consistently multitask may actually show decreases in empathy and emotional control. What’s more, a constant sense of anticipation—readying to switch from one task to another, or persistently checking for e-mail updates—can potentially cause a decrease in overall IQ.

4. Multitasking breeds mistakes When our attention is split between tasks, it’s difficult to perceive and retain detail-oriented information. Because of this, mistakes—typos, clerical errors, mislabeled documents, and the like—occur with greater frequency. We’re in such a hurry to complete a portion of a task and switch to the next project that we lose sight of prompts, deadlines, and tying up loose ends. This means multitaskers are far more likely to overlook a glaring error than an individual who is devoting 100% of their attention to the task at hand.

Now that we understand some of the dangers of multitasking, what can we do about it? While our tech-driven day-to-day might make focusing on a singular task a difficult endeavor, it’s the surest way to produce efficient, error-free work—while cutting down on stress, fatigue, and miscommunication.

Try approaching your tasks for the day with a clear-cut schedule, moving one task at a time down your to-do list. This approach can eliminate some of the inefficiency inherent in multitasking and make for your most productive work routine yet.

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