MICHIGAN 5-17-21

MICHIGAN EDITION

PRODUCTIVITY KILLERS:

4 WAYS TO MAKE BETTER USE OF YOUR WORKING HOURS

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Ways To Make Your WORKSPACE Work For You COVER STORY

MARY PEACOCK

7 REASONS

WHY YOUR PROSPECTS AREN'T TURNING INTO CLIENTS FEATURED AGENTS

BILL UNDERDOWN GINO TOZZI LISA THOMAS WHAT THE FIRST THING YOU DO AFTER WORK SAYS ABOUT YOU

MICHIGAN EDITION

LISA THOMAS

GINO TOZZI

You might say Lisa Thomas has devoted cont her life to service.

7 15 A former police officer, 20 23 her she first moved to Rockford, Michigan, for y from her hometown of Tampa, Florida, expe in order to raise her family. At the time, repu she was seeking a new career that better near balanced her love of helping others with repe her entrepreneurial spirit—all traits that naturally led her to real estate. One day, Whe she was discussing the potential change how with her husband while out on Myer’s brou Lake in Rockford, and by happenstance, “Wh MARY PEACOCK BILL UNDERDOWN GINO TOZZI LISA THOMAS they bumped into the owner of a local brokerage, who do things differe offered Lisa a chance to learn the business fromGino top toTozziforhad me; Michigan it’s abo Before becoming a Realtor, another life as a Professor Political bottom. “So that’s how it got started,” she of says with Science, befriendInmy2020, clie MARY and that aexperience as an educator has shaped the vast a laugh. “I CONTENTS got my license few months later, hit the cli his approach to representing his clients.

“When ACOCK ground running, and haven’t stopped since.”

Lookingrepeat ahead, people work with me, they come away with with tha her business. As 4) 7 REASONS WHY 18)a 3successful WAYS deal, TO but also a better coming b not only Today, Lisa is a Realtor® for Polaris Real Estate, she intends on g YOUR PROSPECTS AREN'T MAKEofYOUR understanding the whole process. When they where she assists clients Grand Rapids allow fac “Intoreal accept a throughout deal, I want them to know they made a her TURNING INTO CLIENTS WORKSPACE WORK and the surroundinggood areas.

By combining her outgoing And in the mean going to decision based on what I’ve taught them.”

FOR YOU personality agent. you“ 14) PRODUCTIVITY KILLERS:with strong values of openness and aspiringwhy and trust Gino hasa much to teach, having been around boutique process to meet In real estate, Ih 4 WAYS TO MAKEintegrity, she has cultivated 22)estate WHAT THE FIRST the real industry his whole life.

His the needs of any buyer or seller. everyone like th BETTER USE OF YOUR THING YOU AFTER grandfather bought and DO developed real estate day, I truly belie WORKING HOURSWhen listing a house, WORK SAYS YOU around the Detroit MetroABOUT area. Gino’s father Lisa prefers a comprehensive positive attitude was in construction and helped develop some approach. After providing clients with condominiums. expert of those her parcels, building staging and professional photography, she broadcasts Growing up, Gino himself worked for his their property over afather blend of third party websites and project as a gofer, moving up to become Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 supervisor by theCollaborating time he was a with young adult. targeted social media campaigns. mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com While in college, he managed her in-house brand manager, she carefully devisesone an of his grandfather’s apartment No portion of this issue may be reproduced any mannerstrategy whatsoever without prior consent ofcomplexes. theeven publisher.

Top Agent Magazine organicincontent around each home, offeris published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top ing specialty services, such as personalized websites, Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts by its authors.

He got hissupplied real estate license in 2017, and after To subscribe or change address, send mag@topagentmagazine.com. to inquiry give toher clients almost an added advantage. Elsewhere, four years representing southeastern Published in the U.S. Lisa is just as attentive when assisting her buyers. As a longtime investor and former guest on House Hunters, she possesses an acute understanding of the local 2 Top Agent Magazine marketplace, which allows her to better guide a buyer to their dream home.

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7 Reasons Why Your Prospects Aren’t Turning Into Clients Real estate experts suggest prospecting daily so that your sales pipeline never runs dry.

But sometimes all that effort doesn’t translate into results. If your prospects aren’t becoming clients, there’s a reason, which is better than it sounds because that means you can fix the problem.

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1. You’re Too Slow The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials estimates that there are about 2 million active real estate licensees in the United States alone. Of course, not all these individuals are working in the same markets. Nonetheless, that

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If your prospects aren’t becoming clients, there’s a reason, which is better than it sounds because that means you can fix the problem.

means that realtors face a lot of competition. If you are slow to respond to messages from prospective clients, someone else is sure to beat you to it. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to return calls and emails within 24 hours.

If you’re too busy working with active clients to return the phone calls and emails of prospective clients, consider hiring a real estate assistant who can help take administrative or marketing tasks off your plate.

2. They Don’t Trust You There are different reasons why a client might not trust you, some of which overlap with others on this list. When a client asks you a question, do you answer it directly or do you sidestep it?

Do you have testimonials and reviews from happy clients publicly available? Do you have an online presence? Social proof of your skills and knowledge is key.

3. You Don’t Seem Knowledgeable Enough Is your client constantly coming to you with new listings or marketing ideas rather than the Top Agent Magazine

other way around? Do they mention real estate and finance terms you’ve never heard of or ask you questions you’ve never thought to ask yourself? Every agent starts somewhere, but if this seems to be a pattern, it’s one clients will pick up on too.

Your clients want to know that you will add value to their home buying or selling experience, and part of that value is your expertise and passion.

4. You Have No Web Presence It’s not enough to be on Zillow or have a Facebook page. There are clients who don’t use these platforms, and at the end of the day, you don’t own the content or your access to it. Both platforms could suddenly go out of business and any following you’ve gained could be lost.

It doesn’t cost much to create and maintain a website today. If customization matters little to you, sometimes you can even get up and running for free. At the very least, it’s a good idea to invest in a domain name because yourwebsite. wordpress.com looks a lot less professional than yourwebsite.com.

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5. You Don’t Seem to Care When clients don’t think you care, it usually means they don’t feel like you are listening.

You may have systems, processes, and a proven marketing strategy. You may like to get right down to business, but to your client, this isn’t just business—it’s their life and their family’s livelihood.

When your client tells you what’s important to them, they want to make sure that you really hear them. Make sure your body language conveys that. Slow down. Shut your office door.

Make eye contact, nod your head, and pause before you speak so that they understand that you’ve put thought into your words—that they aren’t simply lines from a script.

6. You Use Too Much Jargon Remember that your clients don’t speak real estate. At most, they might buy or sell a home once every few years. They hired you to be their advocate and may even expect you to be a bit of a teacher too. Use layman’s terms so that your

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client fully understands how the two of you will work together.

7. Your Target Audience Is Everyone Your clients are home buyers and sellers, yes, but who is your ideal client? Some specialties you might consider are college students and recent graduates, working professionals, military families, seniors, CEOs, or other high-profile clients.

As a newer agent, your target audience might be anyone who will hire you, but over time, you might find that you click more with certain clients, that their lifestyle is similar to yours, or that their goals align with your mission. Whatever the reason, marketing your business to this “ideal client” rather than every potential client will make selling your services easier.

Remember: It’s within your power to alleviate your client’s concerns, but understanding why your prospects aren’t turning into clients is a good start.

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MARY PEACOCK Top Agent Magazine

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Specializing in relocation, first time home buyers, and luxury listings, Top Agent Mary Peacock,has been helping buyers and sellers navigate the Michigan real estate market for the past 12 years.

Mary Peacock, owner of Peacock Real Estate, brokered by EXP Realty, has been helping buyers and sellers navigate the Michigan real estate market for the past 12 years. Specializing in relocation, first time home buyers, and luxury listings, Mary brings positive energy and years of knowledge to all her transactions.

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“Our team is made up of real estate experts who are truly client-driven and an excellent representation of our core values,” she says when discussing what makes Peacock Real Estate unique, and why they have such an impressive number of repeat and referral business. Mary adds, “I also believe it’s our 5-star service. Because of our commitment Top Agent Magazine

and work ethic our clients feel that they are the only ones we’re working with, and they get to experience an effortless transaction process that’s made possible by a lot of hard work from our agents behind the scenes.”

In order to best serve their clients, Mary’s brokerage focuses a lot of attention on techTop Agent Magazine

nology and ways of incorporating it into their marketing. “We’re always making sure that we’re being innovative because we realize that it will benefit our clients,” she explains. That includes investing in professional photography, aerial photography, 3D Matterport videos as well as online social media marketing.

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“When I am able to help out first time buyers who never even thought that it would be possible for them to own a house.

Seeing them become homeowners and helping them build financial wealth and security through real estate is very fulfilling,” Mary prides herself on her people skills, thanks to which she is able to easily form long lasting bonds with her clients. “My favorite part of the work that I do is getting to build meaningful relationships with the people I meet. Working with clients is a really special experience that I don’t take for granted. Especially when I am able to help out first time buyers who never even thought that it would be possible for them to own a house. Seeing them become Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

homeowners and helping them build financial wealth and security through real estate is very fulfilling,” she says. To show her gratitude Mary frequently hosts fun client appreciation parties and special events for past clients.

Active in her local community, Mary is a champion for causes dedicated to military veterans and children. “Our company has a soft spot for both of these causes, Top Agent Magazine

and we do what we can to help out.” That includes hosting backpack donation events for the local schools. “Last year we were able to donate almost 400 backpacks to various schools in the area.” When she’s not working, Mary loves to spend time with Top Agent Magazine

her family and friends, and she especially enjoys seeing her three grandchildren.

Mary’s passion for her work has fueled her career for many years, and she has no plans on stopping anytime soon. Going forward Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

she is focused on continuing to grow her business and brand not only locally, but also globally. “We want to provide our clients with the highest standards of service and

help as many people as possible attain the dream of homeownership. Our goal is to eventually serve over a thousand families per year.”

For more information about Mary Peacock, please email mary@peacockrealestate.com, visit peacockrealestate.com, or call (231) 707–7040 www.

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Productivity Killers: 4 Ways to Make Better Use of Your Working Hours 3.Create a goal-oriented reward system

Even on the busiest of days, it can be hard not to get distracted by social media, smartphones, chatty colleagues, or personal to-do list items. So how do you keep your professional blinders on and power through your tasks with efficiency? Practice these four tips and witness your productivity skyrocket—easing stress and bringing renewed energy to your daily duties.

Coffee breaks, coworker catch-up, and social media check-ins tend to break up our workflow on an hourly basis. Instead of trying to go cold turkey on these workplace routines, reframe them as rewards.

For every to-do list item you complete, allow yourself a fives minute treat, whether that’s a fresh cup of coffee or a walk around the block. Not only will creating a reward system help you stay motivated throughout the day, it will also provide you with much-needed mental breaks that actually boost long-term productivity.

1. Create a sense of peace and quiet The office may not be your idea of a tranquil oasis, but for most, focus requires quiet and calm to best lend attention to the task at hand. If you find yourself seated next to talkative coworkers or in the center of a bustling office atrium, consider noise canceling headphones, earplugs, or carving out an empty conference room for your work day.

Turning the volume down creates fewer chances for disruption, allowing you to make the best use of your time.

2. Organize your workspace A messy work area breeds anxiety and distraction, but a clean and organized desk inspires efficiency. If you’ve got a busy day ahead, take fifteen minutes and organize your workspace: gather miscellaneous papers into their proper place, dispose of out-of-date or unnecessary documents, or give your keyboard a dusting. Not only does cleaning and organizing your workspace prepare you for the work ahead, it also helps you transition to a productive, goal-oriented mindset.

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4.Take your smartphone off the table The number one productivity killer in this day and age? Smartphones. With access to endless social media portals, web browsing, text conversations, and games, smartphones are one-stop shops for distractions. While you may not want to delete apps from your phone, try leaving your smartphone in a locked desk drawer until your next break, or safely in your car. By simply putting your smartphone out of your line of sight, the impulse to distract yourself is muted.

Even though technology and the modern office create ample opportunity for distraction, making these few small adjustments can go a long way in safeguarding your productivity. After all, a productive day allows you to enjoy your time at home and outside the office, without the worry of incomplete tasks and looming deadlines darkening your day. Keep these productivity tricks in mind as you mount your daily to-do list and you’ll be thanking yourself tomorrow.

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BILL UNDERDOWN Top Agent Magazine

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BILL UNDERDOWN

Bill Underdown had been leading a global sales team for Marriott when his former Realtor asked him to get his Realtor’s license and come work for him. “The request took me by surprise. After 27 years with Marriott, I wasn’t really looking for a career change. But I was intrigued by the opportunity, which felt right. Real estate is sort of in my blood. My father was a Realtor and my Grandfather had been a developer. We also share the same name, so I often reflect on that heritage when I’m doing these transactions.”

changes that enhance their life. People don’t get transferred here or come here by chance. They choose to live here. I feel very fortunate to live in such a dynamic area.”

In 2020 Bill closed 38 transactions, earning the Centurion Award, and the Quality Service Award for providing an exceptional customer experience.

An impressive 80% of his business comes from

Bill’s been an agent for 16 years now, the last five spent with Century 21 Affiliated in Douglas, serving clients in Saugatuck, Douglas, and Fennville, as well as the lakeshore communities from South Haven to Holland. It’s been a dream job, allowing him to draw on skills he developed in the hospitality industry. “I thoroughly enjoy what I’m able to do and love where I live.

I’m always excited to share what we have here with people who are looking to make 16

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repeat clients and referrals. He attributes that success to his energy and attention to detail. “I’ve got a strong marketing background, and enjoy networking within my sphere. Often I’ve already got buyers as soon as a listing hits the market.

I’m constantly in touch with my clients. People know me as someone who will work very hard for their interests. It also doesn’t hurt to have a unique name like Underdown,” he laughs.

Bill is highly visible in his community. He created college internship programs for the Saugatuck Center for the Arts and for the SaugatuckDouglas History Center. As a board member for the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center, he aids their efforts to grow membership, fundraise, do renovations, and host educational activities. He also supports the Chicago Institute’s Ox-Bow School of Arts and Artists’ Residency program.

Bill works closely with the city of Douglas to repurpose buildings and create a stronger social scene downtown. His engagement with these organizations and the city uniquely positions Bill to welcome new residents to the area. “One of the things I love is helping people create relationships when they move here, helping them integrate, showing them what this area has to offer.”

When he gets time off, Bill embraces all the good stuff. “I love to travel. I like exploring different cultures, cooking, dancing, and just any kind of socializing in general. I’m looking forward to the time when we’re all able to get together in groups again.”

Going forward, Bill wants to continue helping the new agents in his office grow their business, and he wants to find new ways to market and build strong partnerships across his community.

A current focus is a mixed-use development in Douglas called the West Centre Collective, offering residential housing, commercial and long-term rentals.

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Contact Bill at 313-824-2000 or email Billunderdown@gmail.com. Please check out his website at Saugatuckrealty.com www.

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3 Ways to Make Your Workspace Work for You Productivity experts agree that a curated workspace positively impacts productivity and mood, but oftentimes we settle for bland desks and cubicles that lack personalized details or considerations for workflow. Why miss out on the opportunity to optimize your surroundings when it could brighten your day—and boost your performance? Keep in mind some of these tactics to make your workspace your own and reap the benefits along the way.

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DETERMINE YOUR WORKING STYLE AND DECORATE ACCORDINGLY For the creative set, a colorful and art-filled workspace can inspire fresh ideas and reduce stress. Likewise, casual yet aesthetically pleasing furniture, accessories, and décor set an inviting yet functional mood. A pop of color from an office tool—even something as basic as a stapler—can inject a sense of fun and modernism into your daily tasks. For the more analytical, right-brained worker, clean

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lines and zero clutter go a long way. A few well-chosen personal photos in tasteful, unassuming frames can provide a motivating connection to the world beyond the office, while accessories and supplies that are sleek, monochrome, and contemporary inspire a sense of calm efficiency.

BUILD A WORKSPACE WITH YOUR DAILY ROUTINE IN MIND If you find yourself spending hours on the phone per day, or assembling stacks of documents and brochures, or even coming and going from the office with frequency—there are simple adjustments you can make to your workspace that will save you time and energy. If you sit for long hours—responding to e-mails or making calls—try incorporating an ergonomic chair or keyboard wrist-pad to maximize comfort. If you spend a long time assembling presentation materials, then file organizers, trays, and easy-to-pull labels can shave valuable time off your efforts. Lastly, those who step out for frequent meetings can reduce the hassle of being on-the-go by making your space mindfully organized—a coatrack and a dish for your keys by the door, an auto-brew coffeemaker, or an easily edited whiteboard calendar can make jet-setting simpler.

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ADD EASY DETAILS THAT ENRICH YOUR WORKING EXPERIENCE While organization and décor can rally productivity and mood, there are also a few extra details you can introduce to your workspace to improve the quality of your working life.

Healthy, easy to grab-and-go snacks—think nuts, homemade trail mix, and fresh fruit— can keep your energy up without the sugar crush or guilt. If there’s a window nearby, a hard-to-kill plant like a philodendron or a fern not only cleanse the air around you, but also provide a welcome connection to the natural world. Being prepared in a pinch is another great way to make your workspace work for you: a spare tie, a tube of lip balm, hand sanitizer, or a box of Band-Aids can save you a trip to the store when an unexpected need arises.

While we take great pains to make our homes our sanctuaries—complete with the decorations, furniture, and food we favor—we often overlook our work areas, even though we spend a sizable portion of our week sitting at the same desk. Challenge yourself to add a few of these personalizing, productivity-boosting details to your work area and bring the comfort of home to your working life.

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GINO TOZZI

Before becoming a Realtor, Gino Tozzi had another life as a Professor of Political Science, and that experience as an educator has shaped his approach to representing his clients. “When people work with me, they come away with not only a successful deal, but also a better understanding of the whole process. When they accept a deal, I want them to know they made a good decision based on what I’ve taught them.”

Gino has much to teach, having been around the real estate industry his whole life. His grandfather bought and developed real estate around the Detroit Metro area. Gino’s father was in construction and helped develop some of those parcels, building condominiums.

Growing up, Gino himself worked for his father as a gofer, moving up to become project supervisor by the time he was a young adult.

While in college, he managed one of his grandfather’s apartment complexes.

Michigan he’s grown a very successful business.

In 2020, he closed 5.5 million in sales, with the vast majority of those deals coming from repeat clients or referrals. His honesty, combined with that mentoring approach, keeps clients coming back.

“In real estate, you don’t always know what’s going to happen, which can be stressful. That’s why you need a partner who’s knowledgeable and trustworthy and can give you the information

He got his real estate license in 2017, and after almost four years representing southeastern 20

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you need to make a good decision. I believe in over communicating, so nothing is misunderstood. As a former teacher, I don’t believe in dumb questions. It’s important to ask lots of questions in order to identify any problems, and then come up with creative ways to address them. I see myself as a problem solver for my clients.”

Once a property is ready for the market, however, Gino’s system ensures that problems are rare. He assists his sellers with staging their homes, and creates high-quality photos that are used to market them across all the social media platforms and the local MLS. Gino stresses creative presentation as key. “One aspect of this work that’s often neglected is photo layout. Anyone can create professional pictures and put them out there, but my job is to order them in such a way as to tell a story about the home that excites the buyer.”

Gino’s also a servant in his community. He sits as a director for the Grosse Pointe Board of Realtors and is Fundraising Chair for the Parent Action Committee at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Mount Clemens. He’s active with Boy Scouts and Ski Club for his children, and has been a member and sponsor of City Sneakers Walking and Running Club for the last several years. Gino does a lot of work through his church as well, such as volunteering at local homeless shelters.

When not working, Gino looks forward to dates with his wife, Courtney—also a licensed agent—and spending time with his two children.

Going forward, Gino simply wants to continue growing his business and helping his clients. “I love that one-on-one connection I make with people. I feel like I’m providing a valuable service.”

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Contact Gino at 313-587-6602 or email gino@tozzirealty.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 21

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...

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 professional 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.

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 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

Round-the-Clock Hustle

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 postwork. Determine how hungry or satiated you really are before making a grab for the nearest sustenance.

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

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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LISA THOMAS You might say Lisa Thomas has devoted her life to service. A former police officer, she first moved to Rockford, Michigan, from her hometown of Tampa, Florida, in order to raise her family. At the time, she was seeking a new career that better balanced her love of helping others with her entrepreneurial spirit—all traits that naturally led her to real estate. One day, she was discussing the potential change with her husband while out on Myer’s Lake in Rockford, and by happenstance, they bumped into the owner of a local brokerage, who offered Lisa a chance to learn the business from top to bottom. “So that’s how it got started,” she says with a laugh. “I got my license a few months later, hit the ground running, and haven’t stopped since.”

Today, Lisa is a Realtor® for Polaris Real Estate, where she assists clients throughout Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas. By combining her outgoing personality with strong values of openness and integrity, she has cultivated a boutique process to meet the needs of any buyer or seller.

When listing a house, Lisa prefers a comprehensive approach. After providing her clients with expert staging and professional photography, she broadcasts their property over a blend of third party websites and targeted social media campaigns. Collaborating with her in-house brand manager, she carefully devises an organic content strategy around each home, even offering specialty services, such as personalized websites, to give her clients an added advantage. Elsewhere, Lisa is just as attentive when assisting her buyers. As a longtime investor and former guest on House Hunters, she possesses an acute understanding of the local marketplace, which allows her to better guide a buyer to their dream home.

But above all, Lisa is there for her clients, educating them throughout the process and keeping their best interests in mind. Even after closing, the relationship Top Agent Magazine

continues on, as Lisa remains in touch with her clients and provides ongoing support for years to come. For her compassion and expertise, she has earned a tremendous reputation throughout Michigan, with the near entirety of her volume coming from repeat clients or referrals.

When asked about the key to her success, however, Lisa recalls the values that brought her to real estate in the first place.

“When I got started, I was determined to do things differently,” she says. “It’s not about the sale for me; it’s about the relationship. I genuinely look to befriend my clients over the course of our transaction.”

Looking ahead, Lisa has exciting plans for the future of her business. As her volume maintains its steady growth, she intends on getting licensed in Florida, which would allow her to facilitate transactions in her home state.

And in the meantime, she offers practical advice to any aspiring agent. “If you love what you do, it will show.

In real estate, I have to wear a lot of hats, but I still treat everyone like they’re my only client. At the end of the day, I truly believe that if you walk through life with a positive attitude, good things will happen.”

To learn more about Lisa Thomas, please call (616) 433-5551, email lisa@polarisrealestate.com, or visit polarisrealestate.com 23

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