NATIONWIDE & INTERNATIONAL 3-7-22

NATIONWIDE & INTERNATIONAL EDITION

FEATURED AGENTS JOHN BAKER JASMIN COMPERE ELI JOHNSON JESS & JOE VITATOE SANDI MCGLATHERY HOLLI MENDICA MOLLY LAWLESS ALI ALICHARAN ARTHUR KLOCK CHRIS CRADDOCK CHRISTINA RICE

FEATURED AGENTS

DANIEL O'BRIEN

QUINN GUAN

DEANNA ARMARIO

REGAN SAMPLE

GAYLE HUNTER LAKIA HASENJAEGER

GEORGE 'SKIP' & BECKY WATWOOD

LYNN BURNETT

TRAVIS BIRDSONG VINNIE CRUMP

PHIL SHIVELY TEAM

COVER STORY

DAVID & CYNDIE CHINN

NATIONWIDE & INTERNATIONAL EDITION

JASMIN COMPERE

e in my life has preafter the deals are done to cultivate a last7 15 19 29 35 er,” Jasmin Compere ing relationship and ensure her clients are e strong foundations satisfied in their new homes. “My goal is Back eal estate. Equipped to have a client for life,” she says. “When munity kground in customer speaking with my buyers or sellers, I want ntrepreneurship, she to treat them with honesty and integrity.

HOLLI MENDICA er real estate license SANDI For me, that startsALI with really listeningJESS to & JOE VITATOE MCGLATHERY JOHN BAKER JASMIN COMPERE DAVID & CYNDIE ELI JOHNSON MOLLY LAWLESS ALICHARAN e took a break from whatCHINN they say and getting to know them A longtime resident of Georgia, Ali clients,” he says with a laugh. “I’ve DAVID & CYNDIE 41 46 first took 50 estate 55 56 meaningf h her children during over the course of their transaction.”

Alicharan an interest in real believed that if you build CHINN through Ross Goolsby of Palmerhouse tionships, the business will come. An mic. In 2021, though, Properties, a friend who recommended that of the day, it’s so heartening to was right to return to Since launching her career, Jasminend has he pursue his license. Drawing from his ten invites to Thanksgiving dinner.” goal to complete ten earned a fantastic reputation throughoutgoing personality and entrepreneurial spirit, Ali would launch his career as an by her rapidly increasThrough the years, Ali and his tea illion in volume by the end of the out Colorado, as evidenced agent and find fast success, building a earned a fantastic reputation thro nths, she had well exceeded those network ing referral base.

And the his keys to her success?Georgia, “My as evidenced by their stro of satisfied clients that spans HN SANDI W. BAKER MCGLATHERY HOLLI MENDICA MOLLY LAWLESS ALI ALICHARAN ARTHUR KLOCK n’t looked back since. husband have lived allheover the country, andofeven home state. and Most Irecently, though, repeat clients and referrals. Havin they will ever make. “It is such Real estate comesdecided naturally to to Holli Mendica, she’s tolargest take his aswork the transactions next level Whenever meet someone, I can pleted find $22 a million in volume in 202 a big deal, we I never lose sight that this is a major a second generationinternationally.

Realtor . Deciding to enter the and start his own team. he continues to cultivate the model milestone for our client. field was one of the best choices she ever made, as ® Sandi integrity and compassion, meeting the needs Born and raised Plant City, oker Associate andinRealtor commonality After all,him this shewith is thriving as an agent in the greater St. to Louismake them comfortable.vice that sets apart in the region. “I rememb anymade transaction.

McGlathery has always possessed area. an entreWhether they’re assisting a buyer in61) getting3 their first “When Iof first the move into real estate, 4) 5 FRESH NEW 44) 4 EASY WAYS TOLawless SUREFIRE METHODS Broker’s License.

I tookhad the never course believed with F.C. they w Top Agent Molly – of F.C. the Tucker’s Ali leads Square Real Estate Consultants, helping client who comes down finding humanity each Estatepreneurial Group, she assists home, orto helping a seller earnan topelite dollar for their prop- a in Ifrom was working atToday, abusiness tooth factory making dentures,” spirit.where Having graduated the APPROACHES TO REDECORATE YOUR OFFICE THAT MAKE FOR A Tucker School of Real estate and joined their The Lawless Team in Indianapolis, Indiana – erty, Holli and the team put their clients first.

Exceeding she explains.

“It was not what I wanted to be doing, property, Sandi is there for Alpharetta/North of Phoenix with her Bachelor of When teamlisting witha Coldwell Banker Realty able to afford their own home. real At the closing, team.

I was excited to dive right into estate for isofone ofway. those rare real isestate agents who expectations always the goal, andconone wayWith they do so onceshe I saw that my parents’ business was growing transaction.” oulder University County theManagement, surroundCONTENT THAT WILL BOOST MORALE PRODUCTIVE MEETING a natural talent herPoint, clients each step the Valuing Science degreeand inMARKETING Business where he tosistently assists throughout Alpharetta me such a heartfelt hug, comforted in the kno this is by staying updated on the latest technology.

“We in 2012, I felt like it was the right time jump in.”clients goes above beyond for her many full time in 2015.” open above all else, sheand took an interest in real estate After in 2004, & license, IMPRESS CLIENTS have access to cutting edge tools from RE/MAX, so earning her realcommunication estate she joined The do. In first combining her resourceand the surrounding cities.

“My team deserves a that he had provided for his family.

Moments l grateful clients.

Hardworking, intelligent and helps them prepare theirherhome when she accepted a position withAlexander a local Team, wefor keepthe those in front of us and we constantly adapt to a TO which nowfully consists of herself, and love of real estate, J 14) A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE 65) 3give WAYS MAKE YOUR Currently working with her parents and one deeply committed to providing both buyers tremendous amount of credit for all the success we’ve me goosebumps to this day.” market, then shares it to a blend of highly brokerage.

From there, Sandi would learn the changing landscapes.

But it’s not all about always parents, and her younger sister.

Innovative and deterOutside her career, Jasmin is deeply committed ess work ethic and penchant for other agent WORK on the top-producing andmedia sellers top-of-the-line customer service, TObusiness CONVERTING INTERNET 48) 3their MENTAL TRICKS THAT WORKSPACE FOR YOULawless they are eager todigital achieveand targeted social campaigns. the from the ground up,mined, delving had,” he says.

“We call ourselves the United Nations become a established top team clients’ goals and tend to every detail.

Team, Molly quickly herself as a in th Molly has developed a sterling reputation as to her community.

Alongside her family, she has s cultivated a TO boutique workflow into property management and earning her While utilizing the extensive resources availLEADS REAL LIFE SALES WILL TAKE YOUR BUSINESS real estate teams.

Together, we represent a variety Outside his career, Ali is deeply committed to h This has resulted of in the massive growth highly effective and incredibly talented agent, a trusted and honest real estate advocate who ablewith through Jason Mitchell Group, she Inspired by these experiences, of theirshe business, around 85% of NEXT TOThe THE LEVEL 68) 4 QUALITIES OF built a legacy of volunteer work at the Humane of anylicense. transaction. of ethnicities and cultural backgrounds; we’ve truly munity.

On top of supporting his local vetera started off asof thea rec achieving impressive success right out truly cares about achieving the very best out- Jess included throughout the later decided to take her work to the next their level clientele keeps derivingher fromclients their SOI, 17) 4 WAYS EMPLOYEES gate. Presently, almost the her busicomes for her process, ensuring a seamless that every bitLibrary, and launch her careerMENTORING as an agent. repeats, or referrals. created a melting pot, transaction and weclients. love of it.” EXCEPTIONAL police department, hisentirety team ofalso contributes Society, Longmont Public and area food ness is based upon repeat clients and referrals, maximizes theirBEYOND value.

UP-AND-COMING 52) CLEANING AND company, which led toBanke he Children’s Hospital through Coldwell “WeJason take a realistic and enthusiastic Molly, who graduated from Ball State a REASONS significant achievement in the fickle world Today, Sandileverages is a Realtor with The banks.

Meanwhile, she enjoys joining her colerty, Jasmin theYOU suite EMPLOYEES MAKES DECLUTTERING: WHAT 73) 4 WHY approach,” Holli When explains. listing “We’re very a property, Ali caters his in approach to the plans expand charitable of real to estate and antheir accurate barometerwork of thein 2022 University with a degree Communications, Sandi is justRealtors as committed when assisting her Mitchell Group, where she assistsdown clients .” to Earth and not flashy handling 40+ files per A BETTER AGENT IMPROVEMENT EXPENSES MAKE MULTITASKING CAN ACTUALLY leagues at PorchLight Real Estate in contributing to e through theall PorchLight Real distinct needs of his clients.

After helping them fully he’s not with clients or giving back, he canm b amazing, hands-on and personable service she comes from a background steeped in the real throughout of Central Florida.

As a buyers, leaning on her in-depth knowledge The Alexander Team is focused on MOST SENSE? DERAIL YOUR DAY the region to help them uncover the“My rightmother President’s Club Sales Consultant,making she has provides everyone she works with. estate industry. and father are both their of buyers andTHE sellers each prepare their home for the market, he shares it to both traveling, attending events with his team, or sp Foodshare events.I graduated to the industry was throu her clients anan added advantage, feel like they investment are Community the mostfor important their bestRealtors interests. fact, she cultivated award-winning workflow ,”Inshe 26) 5 TIPS TO MAKE NEW HIRES thethis regional MLS and a blend ofexplains. digital “After and social me- quality time at home with his wife and two chi client, as they know is one of the aroundlive. an unmatched blend of expertise, in touch long after the college closing through from I worked in Commercial Real “I think that’s because I provide my clients ing goes Starting out, she stays A LONG-LASTING SUCCESS 57) 3 MIND-BENDING 77) HOW TO SENDtouches,”sales dia campaigns.

Moreover, he leverages the database backg with a lot of personalhis she says, when Estate for a short period of time,” recalls realized TO EXPAND SMARTER EMAILS his team toMolly. give his sellers an added advantage.

Looking ahead, Ali has bold ambitions As PHILOSOPHIES Jasmin drafts her goals for the new year, she prepare their home for the mar- within she has managed to achieve such for th “My parents encouraged me to get my asked how of Squareinto Real Estate Consultants. on 5 TIPS TO GET NEW CLIENTS YOUR PROFESSIONAL well estate.Now“W looks forward to as furthering herassisting education in real es-real m with 32) professional staging and But elsewhere, Ali is just hands-on when exceed 2020’s volume, he intends on growing h PERSPECTIVE 81) TIPS ON BEING A tate while scaling the approach to service that has s. From38)there, she shares their knowledge to make a car his buyers, leaning on his twelve years of experience while scaling the dynamic approach that brou 6 HABITS OF HIGHLY GOOD TEAM LEADER uncover right investment their bestAbove interests. all,to though, real estate inshe the first place. “Our goal is to PRODUCTIVE AGENTS hertheapart in the for region. of major syndications, third par- toset agents,” Joe explains. “ In fact, his team keeps in touch long after the deals are clients up in the best possible position to achie excited for the new connections that await in her tal media campaigns—all in the done Phone 310-734-1440 |isFax 310-734-1440 through frequent check-ins, postcards, gifts at the dreams,” he says. “So if you are looking to b opportunities real estate p Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 Boulder “This job,” ut open housemag@topagentmagazine.com showing. holidays, and community. lively appreciation events.is“Inever couldn’ta static or invest in realshe estate, we will take care of you | www.topagentmagazine.com mag@topagentmagazine.com |“Sure, www.topagentmagazine.com tell you how many real times estate I’ve beencan adopted by my step the way.”in.” Today their says. sometimes stressful. tobeofjump 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 But once wethecross finish line, is no better attentive when assisting buyPublications GA, Inc.her Although precautions are taken to ensure accuracythe of published materials, Top there Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for selves, Joe’s mother, Pam To learn more about Ali Alicharan email ali.alicharan@cbrealty.com, opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors.

To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com.

Published in the U.S. than knowing my clients realized them to the right home for their feeling in the world visit alicharanali.georgiamls.com, or call (404) 452-7682. and Megan Diamond. W she prefers to keep in touch long their dreams in the market.”

ELI JOHNSON

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Top Agent Magazine ness consisting of repeat

CHRIS CRADDOCK

LAURA EVANS GAYLE HUNTER STACEY COULTHARD DEANNA ARMARIO GROVE HOMES GROUP CHRISTINA RICE DANIEL O’BRIEN RACHEL HUDGINS

“I am trying to save life, the Daniel islandReal thatestatehashas been part way toMarietta, get there is byathis boat.

“There are G Gayle began her real estate career ofHunter Paige accomplish is by implementing Rachel Hudgins isthe in Daniel The aspec Throughout O’Brien Over years, has earned fantastic Christina Rice his – LeadThe of Redux Group for their mentorship, not sure where and American Quarter Horse Associatio Situated atI’m the northern edge ofbased d team Top Agent features a fulland marA California native resident of homes.

Moreover, she 68 59 64 60 63 Ensley Real Estate’s Christina Rice I’d be right now without their help.”

Ihichlove,” declares Laura Evans while no bridges to the island.

It’s a very 59 60 64 67 Georgia, and does business all across the most excit 7 years ago, but her passion for the busiGrove’s life for Arizona’s decades. After Paige reputation ough marketing “Weaas is keting staff with extensive marketing, always been passionate about helping with thestrategies. vast Maricopa County, throughout very wellSydney, the bond between rider and Team in Cedar Springs, Michiganthe – is anBay Area for more than 35 years, assistance through her west side of the state.

She developed an ent, and ev Metro from Craigslist and the MLS to paygraduated from the almost University of ofmajority the amongst our brokerage “S nesstown wasentirety long before that, when discussing herHe beloved Smith Island. peaceful existence.

Ifrom can ride my bike honest, hardworking and truly dedicated Currently, the others. first took an interest in real estate of ahis volume coming importance of word having therepeat right resources the little ofborn Wickenburg orthern per-click advertising and Facebook. interest in real estate as child, when and learns Georgia in 1991, shecareer decided to earn her 18is and purchasing her firstever vendors we have a listing,” Paige says Armario began her an and real estate professional who isDeAnna comChristina’s considerable business an sheas was only in 2002, hegrateful got start in tohome sales. clients anduncle, referrals.

With place.” his team nowcontractor dWith most mitted Theyhis make sure diligently check less than when 200 residents, around whole she to ride athe realtor, finds selli riding lifestyle.

She’s an expert at offindi known worldwide forwithitsher to providing her manyfulltime basedis upon repeat clients andused referrals, real estate license.

Although she took a also advertise on hundreds web accountant alarge prominent engineering ents wish toasremodel or tim house in heEdinburgh.

“I really enjoyed imore. clients with on and update theirmarket, buyer list indicator as made the rounds showing houses. ing. She lo top-notch customer service. true of the exceptional cus-averaging After finding fast success in for the hea her over 350 annual transactions property for her buyers. many rodeo events, and hasAside Smith is known as last inhabfrom her work, Laura isa passion break to raise children, sheherwas in-admired take professional photos, and mak ield in WithIsland andthe 17,000-person database as tomer well. service her focus on forming long-lasting she and team provide.

Rachel her uncle andit his busipeople, ar es that process, and the challenge presentfirm in San Francisco.

But as a single to their property. would on toChris industrial buildings and he remains focused upholding the the volved industry for years. the on home looks its best.” the county a group, premier ristian relationships to be in ablethe to building sharemade withmove her buyers There are many factors that come into ited island off thevalued shore ofis delighted Maryland, ate about being involved in loca ness piqued her interest; needless to say, possibly tht ed,” Gayle recalls.

After getting married Christina has more than play when assessing this impressive level mother, she soon found herself seeking t wife and sellers, real estate with so many people; he commercial real estate in 2005.“So In Ithe years proven trackWhen record thatcomes has settohim apart in everStace was alwaysdestination staying updated on Rachel obtained her license and has now made it her listings, for western-style her stellar reputation as a trusted trust and loyalty exhibited byathose located Chesapeake Bay. The island community.

“IDuring am involved in virtually th and starting family, Gayle and her huswent to earnedon deeply rewarded by market helpingofothcurrent trends,” she says.

After any free time, and been working as anyou agent for 19GROUP years. in helping since, he has on to closer author an accomthe “We understand that the day you Paige AKIA HASENJAEGER anfeels opportunity that spoke toLAURA her entreOver the years, DeAn RACHEL HUDGINS QUINN GUAN OKSANA BOGOTT STACEY COULTHARD EVANS AUSTIN LAPP GROVE HOMES integrity-based real estategone advocate sheby works with, and chief among them sellers on preparing and staging their ho riders everywhere.

And ifregion.

ANTHONY PENNA y book andCANDICE ers come toLA theirRICE aspirations REGAN SAMPLE BRENT MAHAGAN CHRIS CRADDOCK CHRISTINA DANIEL O'BRIEN DEANNA ARMARIO GAYLE HUNTER KING NATANEL MALKOUKIAN band eventually moved from Scotland the wideth r is recognized worldwide bycommercial its famous everything that happens this island!” her kidssphere, were would grown she had remarstay active in on the community.

“M looking to sell or purchase be and theSHIVELY relationships she strives tostop learning PHIL TEAM plished career in the isthe thecontemporary day you should retire. esting. for anyone showing themspirit. how easy it is to build preneurial After getting introduced fantastic reputation thr are a horse enthusiast looking to buyer.

With the hel involved in the greater Grand Rapids market. build with each of them.

“I’m not just ne to Canada, where she built a successful ried, Paige decided to begin again in real year old started the CDAWG Found Rachel works with a partner – her daughAustin Lapp has never been a one-sizetrack to close around $12 million in Quinn Guan, a licensed realtor since ever-new properties makes the r pre-approved, Ilast stay by their side, helping e field wealth and strive for the success. multi-layered Smith Island Cake, She is the manager of creates the Island Working inclients real estate aManagfamily tradi- working lot and running the commercial divisions of several As such, weinis–derful are constantly working onSmith our urney began keep my wants and needs at th in world this business toalso sell astays house and thengoing Well-known the region, word Phil has the Top Agent Natanel Malkoukian problems have come up.”

She manag King for your Having entered the of real estate directly with the to mortgage lending, she took an interest Area, with the majori energy and assistants, she professiona toShively move tospent the center of the action, you are to hasing first resources Agnelli provides as one of the ter, Peyton Lamb, who just started in estate.

Joining Century 21, her knowledge about new which raises money for children who can’t buying ofl career in the service industry with an 2012, isthat based inagain,” Bridgeport, Illinois, tor’s life a perfect fit for Quinn. fits-all kind of Realtor.

Since getting his sales volume by the end of 2021, Austin 71 72 75 76 79 tion for Regan Sample.

“My dad was a Every 77 78 them build their credit and putting them 71 Christina began her journey in real estate began in never talk to client she explains.

“I spoil of mouth is the main way they 25 years helping people achieve 72 75 leading offices in Sydney.

Inspired by these personal development and mindset, whether that means ticipated i ® experiofficial state dessert, and its abundant Cultural Center, owns the island’s only ing Director of New Development at Nest among in touch through annual client appreciaher one in 2019, Brent Mahagan is a caring to try to put together a fun January – and a buyer’s agent, Zach Fox. Chris is also highly involved in his community.

He’s ven a copy of Gary license of the home and the surrounding proper contact Stacey Coulthard. inhusband real estate and decided toin pursue coming from repeat cli construction ledafter to her being aher ofShe aestate team’s new extracurricular Paige explains.

“So w 2013, following the loss ofin her2013, first in anseen accimy and clients, even the transaction ispart completed.” grow their business.

One recent their real estate dreams, and real attorney, and my mom was a activities,” well m serves the surrounding area. hewant has people move gets about half of his business from international corporation while raising seasoned investor, largest brokerages in the area enables intion ato position toRealtor succeed the future.” eer in mediforefront of the transaction.” charity wi been an integral figure in the local church for many The team averages $10 to $13 million in Seekers International in New York – is a ences, he then decided the time was right to take his attending conferences and seminars or completing team efreshly Agent by a friend. events, or via interactions on social ry.

Her client raved, “Great firm!

Phil wouldn’t itit’s anygot other dent. “Icaught was living inseafood.

Kansas City,” shehe recalls, “andhave Ihome division.

Soon Paige became so busy that she always giving back to that, and I’m also a board professional who goes out of his way the wrestling team so tha licensed agent who managed our rental can re To Laura, hair salon, she is a notary, an electora to market the listing on the MLS, social her start in real estate workfor years, many different sobeen knows repeat clients or referrals.

It’s a marketing, diverse license in 2002, quickly finding her niche With her Gayle team having For her Quinn has dev also lom their two children.

When they were grown, she deThese with foste and with sixtoreasons, children alland involved with sports in the at book, annual sales, and their rate of repeat Shively and team have aand wide way.

“My family has in wantedin to2014 sell mytohome and move back Michigan.

Another reason would her exceptional, thorough if you are him toclients spend more time generating new hardworking, intelligent real estate profesmedia.

Candice keeps allatbe of her sebuyer, you work the next level and launch his own company, training exercises.

Each day, we strive to remain at the properties,” Regan explains.

Upon gradvation encouraged her husband, David Grove, to earn his ber of the 400 North Association of REALTORS to provide his clients with the best serget new uniforms next ye ing part time a nonprofit housing andprocess. has even teamed a methodical She starts thateveryone market knowledge only part of approach clientele, and Austin caters to the websites. local dedicated real estate She also Aluxury Maricopa County native who has spent ofjudge, and school activities, there isisno shortage of avenues and buyers’ base in the Indiana’s Brown County forLakia simply her home—and as loyal resand very involved with he I called the person said was the best agent and intelligent to marketing her manybusiness list-much “Two small many tail team, which has israpid an astonishing 95%.

Rachel attribroader needs cided toreferral turn her passion for real estate into second in the market. million in volum Over the years, has earned awho teruating from college, Regan thought he a$108 better g sional has made asellers ascent in his updated on the latest market developsm she license.

It wasn’t long before Paige and Dave formed X-Commercial. rest is history. forefront of our industry.” inwith Massachusetts inventory for buyers.

Those resources are Nashville Indiana area, so characterized youboth generations,” he explains. inalmost the area, and what he told me I’d beThe bettermany off just letting ings.

Professional photography is utilized exclusively department, then eventually decided Christmas toy drive.

S forclients community engagement.

For the future of the use $200 vice.

With a knack for thinking outside his background, Brent su sharing new listings on social m need from their agent. farming community by the butes this to the large sphere of influence she and his serv agents and buyers infocused her sphe her liferewarding the back ofproperty anewsletter. horse, Stacey is deft living her rific reputation throughout Indiana, with Habitat for H getting her license inroute 2015. would take a are different and went intopotential very pp ident, she’s doing inon her church.

In the rare event that she does chosen industry.

Natanel, who began his she remains guaranteed to have your “So it’s very to guide ments with her monthly hrough. the bank take it back becauseGroup, Ieverything wouldn’t make enough to continue showcase each incareer, its best light, and Opportunities await Paige and Dave, as they Grove Homes Group.

Determined, highly experienced Redux Chris simply hopes to to help American Legion chap me last year. to pursue real estate as a career and Peyton possess, as well“But ashe their capacity for personalwhen she first receives them, ling 4 days When preparing a new listing marke area’s large Mennonite population, asto the box and a determination to help enforcement and first res com: going to want to a boon for the investors works with of financial advising. over the years, I right ht real-estate needs met.

Very my clients in setting down money from the sale to get out from underneath it.

It utilization of social media ensures maximum exposure able network given her many years in th best life, combining her love of horses with her pasthe vast majority of her volume coming Leisure time fW journey in real estate in a2018, and currently people theirprevious way toDeAnna accomplishment.

His on team ct way toToday, ing location. motorcycles, playi move their team to continue aa likes larger They w and focused service, Paige and Dave have led their power itandtofind its glory. have free time, she to relax with Today, is the Senior Partner and Owner of standards that to set her a switched toisaand full time.

She currently ized service and casual and approachable demeanor. hires professional photograp Daniel the CEO of X-Commercial, private Outside his career, Daniel is deeply committed to his knowledgeable and honest, all roots here.”

Leading the Phil was very restore disheartening, Iisset out tolong prove them to potential buyers a fast sale for top dollar, not to felt I made the wrong decision,” he says. to get “It didn’t take me to realize that this well as to those seeking vacation homes Natane Candice issoalways for ways toalongside give buyers and sellers can always well.

Hegroup, recently started eat and referral busion the cutting edge ofothers, real estate, there is looking no real from repeat clients and referrals.

She has with family) in the her works partner Michael Bethony, as aclients lifelong resident of theher area. sion for helping people find the right property to care family, and tra The is“Imore history, and in the years since then Gayle nthony La Penna. course, but perhaps even more so for peocontinue expanding their welcoming bot team to close almost $75 million in real estate in 2021.

Most of their clients end up being “friends, family ofhelp questions are answered with Shively Team, he’s continually wrong.”

Prove them wrong she did, taking on the saleof mention happy clients. works solo, with plans torest bring and shares it again, this time an would always joke with my friend, forse apo Washington, Lynn works with to them Armario Homes, powered by Keller Williams Tri “Honesty and integrity matter most While as the manager the family and friends. is a very emotional business,” Austin on the Finger Lakes.

The different needs agency, where he oversees an elite team community, lending support to a local charity throughNathan he guidance serving ofcommercial Chris, need to grow the business, although of course each back to her community.

One cause that is count on him to have their best interHeroes program where firs BRENT MAHAGAN NATANEL transparency.

The marketing campaign for my propgrown the peobusiness and doesn’t plan on slowing also expanded her business into differclosed more than half a billion dollars in VINNIE CRUMP CANDICE KING herself.

“I did some marketing, and I had eleven ANTHONY LA PENNA AUSTIN LAPP friends or friends of friends,” and thus Rachel’s pracCARLOS ORTIZ and experienced people on board.

With her olde has built a strong reputation based on her work ethic, for them.

She got her license in 2003, partnering with LAKIA HASENJAEGER LYNN BURNETT PHIL SHIVELY TEAM QUINN GUAN REGAN SAMPLE agents on, and in the past few years who worked as a managing broker, that with a cial post with high quality pho about this job is ple shopping for a home to live in.

“My hetween in Leadership, the member, Chris included, is always working to learn RYAN RAFFETTO “You have to be aBECKY good listener. oftoand his clients are reflected in Austin’s and he GEORGE GEORGE ‘SKIP’ ‘SKIP’ & & BECKY WATWOOD WATWOOD MARIE-FRANCE VACHON BOBBI PRICE erty was well targeted the the proper audience, which down any time soon.

With twoisother team members, ofthrough 45explains. agents spread across four offices Sydney. out the year.

When he’s not with clients orreceive giving back, KAITLIN WHITCHER ple Cultural come over the first weekend, and I ended Christina also heavily inCentury her community, Valley Realty, where she assists clients throughout “From start to finish, the client is m close to her heart isin the nonprofit orgalocal Center, Laura realized MALKOUKIAN tice almost completely reference-based.

Rachel offers an interes est in mind.

Affiliated with eXp Realty, ers $1000 dollars to volume in 2021 alone, pair are on ent markets, having built ainvolved full-service children working in her office, it’s aleisure family bus Serving the entire state as the 21 #1crashed Team in Iisinshould be working with him.”

One day, after a long prompt with comm As for the fut her deep knowledge of the market, and the personal she has done around $10 million in the go-to expertsmuch in I’ve and improve.

Stacey still loves to ride in her tim her mother for four years before the market eoleeat to look for the house quickly and get the maximum She then turns to her general sph resulted 2 serious buyers within a week.”

Kim Brady and Ginger McClellan, he’s formed an up getting more than what I had been asking volunteering and donating to any worthwhile charitavery htI always enjoyed meeting people and strategies, which include both nization she helped establish to ensure cesofpeople, we plans: “I think where and experience has given meand aBIRDSONG keen eye Detail oriented with deep ties hismarketing selling quickly, often fo Specializing inandthe large industrial lots and buildings he betoback found travelling, spending time with friends, Skip Skip and Becky and Watwood’s Watwood’s spread spread the word the word about about their their to hit more than one billion in 2022. the Bay Area.

With her team as acan Leading 100 always putting their needs first and anyone who joins is the treated just the same.

“E Georgia and based inranked Atlanta, those who work with drive from visiting his grandmother, hefor decided working alongside rehab that atrack one-stophe throughout Colorado closing costs from his com the real estate unstoppable trio.

Kim has been inprovides the business for 26 there was athe large demand for ateam real Through her love for island, and he for, enough toBecky move myself my kids back toserves the bleclients effort, including feeding the needy and organizing annual sales.

This year she’s poised TRAVIS i Price began her real estate career When itbegan comes to marketing, Bobbi truly to share with connections she forms with her clients.

“Real estate of influence, notifying people Marie-France Vachon her real estate way for optimum exposure.

“I al Kaitlin Whitcher found her passion for thin Premier Residential Broker and Founder the beginning of COVID-19.

The key many local trails with family or friends. in 2007.

While the real estate business was down, uthat lives.

“I truly care about my clients,” he highly hearing their personal stories anyway, and a heavy social media presence and print of my business to be.”

80 83 84 By staying active in the community, they make sure love love of people of people led them led them properties. properties.

“We use “We the use MLS, the MLS, a safe and equitable environment for all comes community, is nolooking surprise that price orappreciation above. toveteran go for it.with After earning his real estate license, he To stay inVinnie touch past clients, Rachel swears by her years, and brings to clients the table aand passion forit real estate, knowledge to Grand Rapids area.

And that’s when I realized that this coat drives.

She is also active withor many ofoffer, the Sydney Metropolitan area, heArea, has established aapart. relaxing at home with his wife and two daughters. one here is part of the family.

It’s been so rewa Grove Homes Group are consistently blown away 89 86 shop for investors to 85 82 elping them make red about property,” says Anthony. to exceed $10 million.

Springs and the Eastern Plains. aruns show of for “I to get into a 81 business sets herself “We do aa lot of print Team of the Bay she has combined her years of transaction smoothly.” n77. recalls.

“I return on their investment.

“I offer stag or people who may be lo real estate while she was working aTravis will career 35 years ago, thanks to the encourHDR photography and Matter & Associates, isisflags based on your trust, integrity, market knowledge, of Raffetto Estate Pointe3 Real tothe his success isknows ensuring Brown County remains a marketing wonderful place toas call professional who could advise fierce drive, Laura is positive that she with the place she has to awanted tosuccessful a every successful career intaking in and and through through our brokerage our brokerage extensive customer service experience and a familyNatanel began his career real estate need hi friends are once and future clients.

She she began riding professionally again, competing as a I career think the time to at learn the why ad campaigns. isteam’s something I should be doing for aReal living.” groups, as her current husband retired military. began working as ain full-time agent.

Growing up in theprovide During his off hour to the patented “quarterly pop-bys,” which she undertakes A lifelong entrepreneur, and them with ongo deestate says.

“That means going to bat for them, students at academy she attended in hardest Crump has flourished as an agent in to work as a group together and watch everyone by their guidance, coaching and support throughout legacy of service, integrity, and excellence in his city, I would be totally responsible for advertising and online advertising,” she realize their goals in real estate.

“In this home.

“Our team supports the Brown County MIBOR ing for a property.

Finally, when the property real estate. real estate.

Originally Originally from from we are we able are able to maintain to maintain a a they do. oriented approach.

“I have five grown children, and real estate paralegal for law firms around and ply wants to continue w of her father, who was ahelp commertours on each and every one ofthro my Estate, Ryan Raffetto isagement a buy prominent that all histo are innovating and experience with her penchant for client service to growing real e communication and understanding what your clients hony “I “I can them steer clear of homes ves a veryexplains. significant area and watching hislistings parents invest in and manage munity through the during holidays, back school, or other important working for the highly reputable Ryan Serhant Team Birdsong first took an interest properties and purchases. behind someone’s decision to or sell with them at various riding events, or barrel racer on the rodeo circuit.

She returned tomeet real northeast Indiana region.

But the journey Vinnie is heavily involved high “Those students come from visitors interested in purchasing propercan bring about the changes she hopes division through volunteering and/or monetary donaand succeed.” the transaction.

“We are all in this together,” Paige eperformance, and looking out for their interest 100 aitbackground inschool. nursing and hotel management,” she and I’d either make explains.

“I believe in advertising.

Even San San Diego, Diego, Skip Skip moved moved to to presence presence on over on over 200 web200 webAfter then selling her parent’s house, Christina Looking to the future, Christina’s plans include conal estate, so ing and make honest recommendation meeting the demands of even the toughest transaction.

But going forward, Daniel also has strong plans for the business, no two transactions are ever people and making frie There are many ot Quinn’s rate of repeat and referral business is the market she holds an open house, even assis the Seacoast of New Hampshire.

“I loved them name in the Seattle real estate marleading the online platforms, especially cial real estate agent.

Marie-France got even rentals,” she says.

For certain properties, it felt natural for Regan to join this industry. his kids’ schools. “ As a former law enforcement official, moments throughout the year.

She drives to about 100in real estate 32 years ago.

As at the legendary Nest Seekers International.

“My pertions.

We also recently donated children’s coats to really want.

My continued success comes from the me serve them better.

People will Austin has are helped shape the demands of any transaction.

Outside herthecareer, DeAnna isisland deep to the top was rough at times for Vinnie, area, and hasspecial recently been explains.

Meanwhile, Ginger’s forensic science andagents everywhere inin the world, and arrive with obtained license and signed up with Ensley Real tinued growth, and adding new shelost can mentor explains.

“All of our team members work to benefit Brookings Brookings toisland. raise tohelps raise aput family aShe family sites, sites, including including Realtor.com, Realtor.com, ors to where the repair costs prohibitive, sends on holidays and other occas estate full time 2014, but has never her conneceak itdirectly on myher own,” Bobbi recalls. though very few people do print anymore, on the obtained her license shortly after. to see.

“I want everyone togo fall incommunity love this rties percent.

But itabout also means always tell60%.

She appeals to potential new and with staging ifBrent needed.

This way she has full role in Natanel’s the same.

At the end of the day, there’s diving into the paperwork and documents, feed Commerce and hav 150 houses and drops off desserts or toys, and this future of X-Commercial.

As his volume maintains its ket.

Appreciated for his personalized on social media.

Another essential God’s Grace, aall, local clothing mission.”

They support amember distinguished auctioneer, he Instarted thewith meantime, Travis hasc her license in 1987, and the rest is history.

Marie-France will also invest works mortgage experience help thehe group find solutions Brent knows how to look after others his team, SO Estate, eventually opening own branch and formto develop their own successful businesses.

Above spective and my mindset were always to after new with with his wife, his wife, Becky.

Becky.

“She “She isher is Zillow, Zillow, Trulia, Trulia, and more.” and more.” keep coming back to you if they know you care.” he serves as a of one of the local planning commitment I put into constantly elevating my as experienced homelessness in ing rights to a dog park. a variety of needs.

It means a lot to me to the team as a whole.

We’re all extremely close and cance shows particul estate seemed like a good match, I’ve had good luck with print, so I keep community.

On top of supporting ® the local rotary clubs, Brown County Music Center, nsed.”

Howfor improvements to sell their home faste tion to the horse-riding scene, or the many wonderful Serving Boulder County in Colorado, Regan recently various different com unique approach undoubtedly contributes to her repureferred clients through her open and honest trol over the way her listings are marketed. learned the business from the an accomplished career in th would be his expe to difficult problems.

Together, they’ve established deeds and title searches,” Kaitlin recalls. kee on to succeed and but I can also connect them with the right always something new toclients learn and share ingfrom the Christina Rice Team, currently employs however, her constant objective: to continue approach, upbeat attitude, and drive for component in his recipe for success is oholds ing them the truth, helping them avoid Leading theremains Marie-France Vachon team, photography and pamphlets.

While many REALTORS and see the beauty and calmness that exists living here work tirelessly to find their When listing asales.” property, Daniel equips his rapid growth, he way intends on opening four new offices most say from here, here, and her and father her father has which has development in the same he did,” recalls Natanel. in stressful times.

Understanding how Homes—where his wife w boards inafinally the Village ofup Penn Yan, and has contributed for past clients.

Eugene, Oregon atbackgrounds.” age 15.

“I of aexdog kennel, anything a and foodwas pantries. come from a variety ofcentral This results in knowledge and always finding solutions versus make sure they are well cared for.”

I loved houses and I knew investing in it.”

Bobbi is also a member a reputation for excellence in the south started his own team called Sample Home Team.

As three other agents and an administrative assistant. providing the top-of-the-line customer service that has tation as warm and friendly agent and, subsequently, ground while traveling the as the partner of choice for nature, and makes sure to be up front with everyWhen listing a home, DeAnna helps her clients her team donates a portion of each “It was all really interesting to me.

I got brokerage’sStacey internaLc As for thewith future of her business, people ityour gave her the opportunity towhile meet. been in real inwith estate real estate here since here since By continually By continually being being there there helping people, he strives to provide approaching all listings the same with clients, and that’s what keeps itsmooth she services the greater Montreal area, was years old, doing ge of9been real estate a situation that isn’t right for them, even with a cutting edge strategy.

After helping them fully expanding into the Brisbane and Melbourne “So, during my first nine months of working with that tail side, I’m able people to the process and put the Indiana area.

Austin originally entered the industry as a property to the growth of a number of the businesses along Main able to make a life for myself in 1997, holds a special place in his I want to fill the island with good families who care clients the perfect home, for Laura, who has watched a cohesive team that works diligently to accomplish “I’m so grateful to my brokers Pat and Laura Ensley become her calling card. important and nerve-wracking a transphotographer—in order to moving from California to Colorado of several networking groups, including he builds out his group, he hopes to add members who Regan’s sights are se the network of references she isof always building. cuses to ensure all my expectations arethe fulcountry to conduct real estate biofuel consultin ng challenge and for more money,” she says.

“I talk tt the early the 70s,” 70s,” Skip Skip explains. explains. for their for their clients, clients, even even after after Loving their work, they wantclients’ to continue onmy this path one, even when obliged to break bad news to my real estate license as part job Loo ods utilized includ exceptional service andincluding experiences. mindset, no matter the price point.

“Ilargest When not working, Quinn spends as much advocates forearly investto helping more more people as th so exciting for me.” the island of Montreal and the Community involvement is imp fully prepare for the connecting them to her school of their client’s choosing.

Wh Going forward, Candice will bemarket, an administrasgs,also aWith Realtor. team, Imarkets. was fortunate enough to get my excluprepare forestate the market and connecting them with ais Through itworking, all, though, he is and most excited the same client-centered focus.

“Ihis never want host client apprec when Iadding moved to Indiana,” heexhibit explains. is also aweto coach for his tenmanager when an investor reached out to him inwant 2011 Street.

When he’s not he loves spending time if it’s not something they to hear.

I mmany client goals.

They make the experience so exceptional Bobbi went toHer real school the Elite 25 and Peak Producers.

She is aThey and expand their team over time. are grateful tofirst auctions.

After pursuing “Since have conducted au With Brookings Brookings being being a a the transaction, the transaction, they they have have action can be for clients, he takes his agents, and that continues “Around 90% of our business derives from repeats construction I’ve home in shape when we find a situation filled.

I truly stand by my slogan: ‘I love what I do about its rich history, and who will honor its past.

My of the island homes become abandoned and left clients.

In short, she always looking out for her as a paralegal, and I really started to love hav gents alike (20% of media platforms, Ryan started in realto estate 16 years ago, give allasmy listings the same level ofWHITCHER Forassistant more information about Christina Rice, aswait she can with her two young children.

For GEORGE 'SKIP' &in TRAVIS VINNIE CRUMP KAITLIN surrounding Aeven rainmaker for her Marie-France and her team.

In CARLOS ORTIZ BOBBI PRICE tive the team January, which will allow he joined her mother MARIE-FRANCE RYAN RAFFETTO be aBIRDSONG part of Brown County, and can’t tocommunity assist horse continues to grow.

S2a Today isand aclients horse property specialist with West us to come off salespeople,” Regan says.

“Ibasketball want and foster the relati sive project in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood small small town, town, Skip Skip and Becky and Becky had tohad decide to decide on a of new on aStacey new become become aBECKY well-known asuburbs. well-known team team in the in region. the region.

One buyer One buyer network inspectors, home stagers, and professional clients or giving back, she can be got started.

The is history, and member of the Pikes Peak Association of license, he also found quick for almost 32 years all acros After working in manufacturing and team.

In add that past have asked to join their team. and referrals,” Phil says.

When asked what their for help managing his vacation rentals in the Finger with his wife and daughter, hiking, playing music, and suite of partnering professional photography videography about the network of satisfied clients and colleagues Rachel utilizes all of the standard methods for marI knew 5 my clients about doing the little thing think my clients value that.” yed, tment properties).

Inrest time and walks them through every step of the promain focus going forward.

“My plan the marketing aspect of real estate.

I took to ci clients’ best interest.

She makes it clear that she is and the people I do it for.’” please call 616-375-1606 or email Christina@EnsleyTeam.com up with downtown Seattle concentration.

What sets me apart are Maximum, targete future of her business, she plans to continue gr more people in their real estate goals.

“We feel fortuWATWOOD ® ® t to help families that works.” goal is to let the buyers know what living here entails in dire conditions, it became a mission to help homes team, Marie-France currently has three was named Keller Williams Am to partner with our clients, actually listen their frequently value in everything strengths are, he narrows itfirst down to and honesty, careercareer path path tohas pursue to been pursue upon upon arriving. arriving.

Growing Growing up up recently recently raved, raved, “Becky “Becky Skip and Skip went went out of out their offriend their VACHON Outside her career, Lakia is tremenagents to give even more attention to their clients.

She’s her license soon after success a toBroker, later throughout North, Central an of Brooklyn, which was eight That’s how I togot 4o be years, Bobbi serving her Realtors ,property the Denver Board of Realtors , asunits.

“When we started, about half of our team was like to expand her team, bringing on and USA Realty in Peoria, representing clients all over robotics for several years, a broker Realty raises m keting her listings, but prioritizes social media, which Lakes area of Upstate New York.

Austin was only 23 bee keeping. used in the purservices, he shares their listing to a blend of highly he has cultivated in the city he loves. photographers ensure their shines in all spending quality time with her chil nate to be able to work in this beautiful community, Reach Chris at: (703) 868-3118, on a few clients for the benefit of the law kee to from clients at all times, noNew -ys, knowledge andteam “Our philosophy is that we cess.

“Iservice. dotheir the best Ius.questions can to take care of the be successful, and become househol developers to support sales in highthepeople in-depth custom video reels my always at ing her practice, tosix people on and for surrounded surrounded by real byestate, real estate, as her asfather her father Dick Dick Wilson Wilson way way toavailable assist to assist us.

They They were were always always available available and and ® and needs, and guide them in this chapter.”

Thus far inbring his trulya achieved, believe that members, with aPaige goal set for 2022 of Culture for because opening offices into Missouri Mexico as ato base can work anywhere,” he say also putting together continuing education classes to 2011, when took dously involved with community. ts and helping them their real the Pueblo Board of Realtors .can Her my start, and we sold that whole project within has come to be aout great fit for social and person“wein wantcharge toshe give made of past clients,” says. encouraged him to become an agent.

“I ities, andI Canada recently donat It’s very remote, Iher need make them aware wha find their loving owners. where millions of people desire to so visit each year.” easonable price.” atachieve the time, but had already established aand reputation ker where they make the most money. agents who share her dedication to offerin Maricopa County, with aher particular emphasis inknew the chris.craddock@thereduxgroup.com, are not sales butmade rather real estate consultants. ®Also, ownsowns andtargeted operates and operates Century Century 21 Agate 21 Agate Realty, Realty, it feltpeople, ititleads felt made us feel us like feel we like were we were their their most most important important cliclifirm, and before I it, I was falling in to digital campaigns.

Along the way, his team matter what time it is or what she’s doing.

Quinn rise buildings.

He now a team of six agents media team collaborates on creating together. career, Regan has done just that, as he prioritizes the good that comes bac its promotional materials.

From there, she shares all the Bay Area has to offer. team, and to invest in more properties herself.

I serve,” he says, and adds, “I try not to overload Southern Colorado.

I did 50 deals in firs with Today Gayle is an award-winning Realtor of operations to service most regions of the U.S. Today, the size of the project, we ca Copyright Top Agent Magazine When comes to marketing his listeedice reach atwatched least 10 agents, with atwo hub to service them. dedication to helping others, whether inholid or oc able approach toAustin realthe estate.

“Social media isgrowing how goals. great relationships with other agents helps to get help train new agents, and isCounty excited to help them build leads a them team of months, which was tremendous.

We were then given On top of supporting local charities throughout the year Our knowledge of Brown Planning &private Zoning him grow for years, going those in need for the dmv.thereduxgroup.com as a hard worker and someone people could trust.

As Going forward, wants to continue his natural natural for for them to pursue to pursue a path a path as agents. as agents.

“So we “So we ents. ents.

We bought We bought from from private sellers sellers who had who no had idea no idea The sky is the limi love with real estate each day!”

The rest isservice. may customer West Valley.

An enviable 100 percent of her business day-to-day life will look like in quaint and client experience and advises them on what steps to this iscodes dedicated to finding information and answers and assists buyers and sellers throughout the Metro with the pandemic going on, itShe was imperative to Anthony stays in with the investors alsoourutilizes its own extensive database tocontemporary expand each Travis istheir the Owner oftouch the Birdsong Auction & Real all their Large sma Iensure built my business,” she says. also makes use regulations, septic system has myself with too many deals atagents one time because Ifull and I’m hoping to that every ye her listings to ateam blend ofmore highly targeted digital and Royal LePage, delivering superior service to clients real estate industry.

One of needs.” themake ways sheorand word out about her listings.

“My listings get very ings, Carlos meets buyers eting their own business by sharing her experiences.

“It’s Realty, representing other projects in the I’ve been able todouble As leaders, Paige and Dave that all memreceived received our real real estate licenses, licenses, and it’s and been it’s been amazamazwhat what they were they were doing, doing, so to helped so ensure to ensure we got we the got house the house and providing rental assistance toinsight those in-need, she has from aand group of five to 21, and Ineighborhood.

250 people, and I have dependable vendors on my team to th aestate native ofarea. the area, he also had great into the business, bringing on and training new agents, investexactly what he’s take next.

He understands that hisfranchises buyers and sellers history, and for the past 17 years, Kaitlin for her clients, even if they’re not directly related You can reach R Estate Group LLC. and United Country we handle them all. us become a top team.”

They are experienced in Seattle present potential buyers an authentic peek inside comes from referrals or repeat clients, many of whom of personalized brochures for each listing, which client’s reach, ensuring a seamless transaction catered quiet fishing village.”

“Because I leading so much for the island, I’d like to see i comprehensive is ing. one ofisa the agents for The Platinum coverage, not just here, but outside of this area as It ing.

It afocus wonderful is acare wonderful career.” career.”

Working Working as a as team, a team, we wanted, we wanted, Becky Becky also helped also helped the sellers the sellers with with their their About 80% of Marie-France’s business comes from give back is by volunteering to help a local munications from he’s worked with, often just to see how in Kelowna and up and down the entire Okanagan want to treat each person with the utmost care and my team wanting to help the people that bers are on the same page and maintain the same core build my reputation from that success and start branchabout creating something that everyone—agents and area with on thought I’d getmeans my license,” he explains.

Years into hisor career, Vinn social media campaigns.

But she also utilizes print For DeAnna, real estate very much also collaborated with an area nonprofit organization to where they are at, which ahas heavy are hiring him to them accomplish astep goal, and utility availability and property and their local market, and inCounty 2015 he decided toresearch, begin offering in his team toneighborhood help them bestatistics, successful.

“I love being the is most valued rea where an elite team helps tohelp navigate real estateand & been helping her clients achieve their Thi rlmiller1013 to a specific transaction.

After closing deals, Copyright Top Agent Magazine include photos, much of the homes without them ever having to outSkip Skip and Becky and Becky serve serve the greater the greater Curry Curry County area. area. paperwork. paperwork.

I have I have already already referred referred them them to several to several p, where she and her smallclients team properties serve Colorado well,” she says. are horse owners and competitive riders themselves. to their needs. repeat and referral clients, an impressive that shelter insigns Montreal. value of putting the client first.

Acknowledging that membership with the Metropolitan Indianapolis ing out into other areas, including downtown Brooklyn.” alike—want to be arecommended part of,” says Candice.

“I’m 2021 she closed $5emphasis he takes that role seriously.

“I’m working for them to Valley.

She ranked in the Top 3my percent of agents inserving Although Vinnie thought itmore be afeat climb toagricultural no of slowing down.

He’s found but where there’s improvements.

My resources areahJhg some of the neglected improved and cared and work as hard as IWeekly can to make sure they not for them to help meanyone grow and eort!’ their home for provide subsidized housing for at-risk youth in the area. asset projects of all kinds, including land, Over the years, Travis has ing that knowledge torespect, buyers and sellers full time.

He in awould position toslow help both clients and my agents. and bettin the-rachel-hudgins-te ate University, Anthony began they are doing, but also to alert them tohelp, new opportunion social media, targeted on real estate goals. took and publications like The Pleasanton and Luxury with her daughter aspassed her information.

His impeccable client service and to connect Quinn also makes periodic phone calls and utiWith With Becky Becky licensed licensed in Oregon in Oregon and California, and California, she she people people whoability are who looking are looking tomarketing buy to and buy sell.” and sell.” side,” he says. gs and the surrounding area.

This includes all , Broker Listing Cooperative Board of REALTORS demonstrates the trust and confidence she inspires. buy or sell a house, so they are the boss, and they have “The rodeo world is relatively small,” Stacey explains. this is one of the largest transactions someone can Soon came a project on Long Island City consisting very excited about our future.” nd 90 percent of that the top, he sold $3.5 million in his first year and has and doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soo residential properties, commercial and industrial develtion throughout the nation, w her marketplace from 2017 through 2020, earning get what they want and that we have a great time want to keep mentoring them and help th gional MLS and When she’s not with clients or giving back, she can be maintains maintains a presence a presence in both in both states. states. big mistake. bought outyear aof boutique brokerage and been delivSometimes I feel like I won the son lottery.” company withpho ov toasclients personally is drawn from the high percentlizes ahas company program forsays, mailed promotional for.”

Laura’s mission has been quite successful far, keeps them updated on the latest developments.

“WeBobbi fter 23 years Google, and allhelp of the dedicated real estate websites Home Magazine to give her sellers an added advantage her serving as her team’s PasoEstate County, as well parts Pueblo, Teller, Looking to theso future, “I plan to keep eal his senior to ties, for which he is constantly on the lookout.

On the the steering wheel.

I’m the guide that keeps them onforever.

“More than three-quarters of my business is comLooking to the future, Marie-France says, make in their lifetime, Paige and Dave take their roles opments, agricultural, heavy and industrial equipment, ume coming from repeat clie ended up finishing her deep, and I can take care of managing the projects of 77 units, and – after splintering off from the Ryan When When they they aren’t aren’t working, working, they’re they’re enjoying enjoying everyeveryrepeat clients.

The continued to grow ever since.

Today he’s a solo agent will be in my life It offers me “So I know that network very well.

And I’ve built my But Daniel is just as attentive when assisting his sellers, also have relationships with local contractors and Royal LePage’s Diamond Award four years running.

Having worked asfor a solo agent for most ofknow hermove career, emphasizes that ite 6506 Loon Dr, Nineveh 46164 . Along the way,ering found travelling ortospending quality time with her family excellent service hisit.clients. clients ever since.

“Iin fell age of repeat and referral Ryan understands Ryan’s passion helping others extends beyond doing Igoing really goof tostay bat for them.” successful out on their own.” material to touch with her pastlike clients. glas, Park counties.

Anlike impressive 98% ofleadup Bobbi’s like I’m going.

I’m 79 and feel I’m 60! the right path.”

Whether he’s getting toand his buyand she managed to complete five transactions in her looking for a Zillow or Realtor.com.

All his clients bene“We “We work work really really hard hard to ensure to ensure that our that buyers our buyers and and thing thing their their beautiful beautiful area has area togolf has offer. tohouse offer.

They They contribcontribin the to their standout open showing. forward, she is excited continue courses, mining and mineral rights, biofuel, wind team on years, paceto toDavid complete an seriously.

“We are professional, and we do everything ing back to me because clients were happy with my been in real estate for 35 I am thinki Brown County government officials.”

This means For more about Paige and Gro Serhant Team and joining forces with Bethony in 2019 with nearly half of his business deriving from repeats tunities, and it brings me so much to ing.

His work ethic impressed rare occasions when he is not working, Anthony enjoys and her dedication to leveraging his decades experience and clear style of reputation asthe someone who islocal very familiar with Kaitlin took on her longtime friend Carol Lavigne as is creating joy relati the importance ofof placing client needs at the real estate and into hisno personal life.

He’s aDiamond sponsor dia presence, as and children. inthelove with the process,” says Austin.

“It’s aforefront blessing The brokerage recognized her with the Red ers and implementing a plan to find them the he ideal ess comes from repeat and referral clients, aexfeat I’m going to keep working until Iother can’t, and I both have sellers sellers understand understand process, the process, and know and know what what to to exute to ute law to enforcement, law enforcement, the the local humane humane society, society, clients can trust that Phil Shively Team is always For more about Phil Shively Team, energy and assets.. remains focused on the p we can to find our buyers their dream home at a great services,” she explains.

“I have quite a few raving fans my legacy.

I want to have a solid team wi n volume and winning so they don’t have to.” would allow fit from “In Your Corner,” the weekly informational please call 770-757-2773 or email a major coup: the tallest residential building in New REALTOR Vendors and Real Estate Companies— and referrals. very first weekend as an agent.

“I was worried that ervice is what keeps Homes while sharing her proven va a of buyer’s agent.

Carol hashis been ingolf, real 22get years, also my in network of each transaction and ensuring that clients achieve the Washington Athletic Club, theestate Seattle Yacht home, orBobbi marketing sellers’ properties to them communication to guide them to the right investment to be able to help and that’s always my focus. working with best interests in mind.

“They know ors pect,” and buyers, the area and the unique needs of horses.

My clients call 812-988-2227 oramongst email speaks topect,” the trust and confidence she inspires. plans to retire before then.”

Above all, looks Skip Skip says.

This This holds holds especially especially true for true their for their their youth youth sports sports and student and student activities, activities, helping helping toplease ensure to ensure raduating hesays. was offered apeople, full spending time with his family, or playing basketReal estate is a naturally socially engaged field, Award in 2021 for performing the Top 2 perBrent focuses on forming lasting bonds with clients him to real estate the first price, and get our sellers the most for their properas well!

These clients will refer me to their friends, help them build their own clientele, and als grovehomesgroup@youneedresults.co York outside the Manhattan skyline tower consisting we will do everything possible toto make happy.” nuing tobuyers, vlog he posts on YouTube.

“I offer advice on buying and works with buyers so specialize in listfriendships.

I care philshivelyteam@callcarpenter.com the highest price, he’s going above and atcomes buyers, asfor there astheir there are many are many details details in the in transaction the transaction their their community community remains remains aor safe aWhen and safe fun and place fun place to live. to live. their desired outcomes.

“I’m all about building relaClub.

Inof addition, he donates various causes near Elsewhere, DeAnna is just as attentive when assistgeneration of agents.

“Since start keep coming back because they like me and forward continuing to be there for her clients.

“IKaitlin aoffer low number, but then Itreats asked my friend on I’m not concerned about pushing clients to buy sell and Quinn isthem grateful for the opportunity toand meet to was each client’s Going forward, Lakia has strong ambitions for the future best interests.

In fact, heball stays injust touch long listing property equipment fortocan traditional orbeyond ness down toItreating rely on me to help them find the right property for cent of all of its agents nationwide.

She also received and them how he’d want to be treated. ty in the shortest amount of time.”

One way they kerage’s REO team.

“It was a and football with his friends coworkers.

As for gitnts expectations and layfamily, and colleagues.” care of mine.

I also have a goal of expanding of 67 stories, 802 units, and a $1.1 Billion sellout which that can that go can unnoticed. go unnoticed.

“We “We try to try make to make them them aware aware “Early in life, I wanted to be a self-made millionevery step.

Get Nationwide &her International exposure! ings.

“Carol ishis absolutely awesome, andaiming this ahas nottreated. necessarily ab tionships with my clients.

Ihis want to of beapprised their broker and dear to heart, including those to been helphas the job done,” Bobbi says.

“Iare get a transactions lot ofto repeat love serving my clients, and they can feel that I really joyed during or selling, tips for current homeowners, or updates on auction marketing, Travis equips his clients with want to be We appro as much as giving people the information they need tokeep afuture lot great people through her She loves of The Jaeger Group.

As her volume maintains its steady ing her buyers, leveraging insight into the local mom, real estate been such a after the deals keep clients of that year’s Award of Excellence. the mainland how many she had done in riding and training.” f it ofwere my own,” Copyright Topmarket Agent Magazine what of what they are they purchasing, are purchasing, and pay anddone close pay close attention attention “Our “Our future plans plans are toare keep to doing doing what what we’re we’re “I’m not in it for the money.

People are notjob. just numcenters throughout the province of Qu as of this writing is more than 50% sold. aire, however once becoming energized with success, a great way to streamline our business.

We love our many families I ork with top agents, learn a lot, the future of his business, Anthony’s short-term goal diversified strategy.

After helping them prepare for the client were a member of ou for life.

Whether it’s their first home, a second investthe LGBTQ community, Homelessness, and Cancer ess, and in some cases I’ve worked with three do care about them.” her clients and feels that, just as she strives to take make the right decision for themselves and their famwas impressed trends in the market.”

Conta growth, she is excited to deepen her work with mentorto the to condition the condition of it, of because it, because we don’t we don’t want want anyone anyone doing,” doing,” Skip Skip says. says.

“We’re “We’re dedicated dedicated to this to comthis comthe market and foster a lasting relationship.

“Above uccessful career.

Since toward the future, Lynn plans to continu sleep,first I the can’t sleep.

Those who choose Regan always feel heenjoy has theirand best market to uncover the right investment for their best Today, Ihe nothing more than For 8 Looking years, Marie-France has been with Keller elsewhere in Canada.”

Above all, Marie-Fran bers to me.

I want to help them find forever homes No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. her year, while working at a big brokerage, and I realized it wasn’t the money at all that makes one dynamic, and our clients love it too.” what’s important t market, he shares their listing to a variety of highly beyond to ensure they are For mor rations of same family!

I care about my people, ment, or their children’s home, I want to make sure Research in Seattle.

In his spare time, loves to ski, care of they take careThey of her too.

She also To learn more about Daniel O’Brien closing closing escrow escrow toily. later to later find good out find something outat something they they had had munity, munity, we aren’t wethem, aren’t going going anywhere.”

They findReal find I’m communicating my observations, so ifanywhere.”

Top Agent Magazine is seen by Estate Agents ble service for this area’s invesis to double his volume next year.

He looks forward to hen assisting her ship and new investor training, which will allow her to or email interests in mind.

Oneher client recently said, “Regan Currently, Natanel and Michael are representing multiurchasing his w murky the waters You can reach Quinn at 312.730.8319 all, I’m honest and direct with all my buyers and sellAn enviable 98 percent of business comes from Williams, a company she was drawn to because they forward to continuing to provide the same targeted digital and social media campaigns, reaching successful,” Vinnie says.

“It’s about how good of a She laughs, before adding, “The house is usually the interests.

In fact, she keeps in touch long after the agents on our team that you can and create memories.

When my son passed away, I please think shows.

They feel that, and that makes Top Agent Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy that they’re pleased with the experience,” he explains. renovate his Palm Springs homes, and spend time no that idea no about.” idea about.”

When When it comes it comes to their to their sellers, sellers, they they happiness happiness in helping in helping people people accomplish accomplish their their it turned out she completed four transactions in her loves properties, and enjoys being able to see newin allpossibly I don’t think apassion particular transaction iswith rightthose for someemail daniel@Xcommercial.com.au, exceeded all expectations when it comes toofdealing ge of Northwest share her for real estate in her homeple new development projects five boroughs the exceeded expectations growing her business and expanding heyis rk totake put themselves globally.

Moreover, he gives hisfocus clients anor added ad-Strafford Outside career, quinn.guan1@gmail.com, and becoming reaches out toyou past clients to see dove into ittime headfirst and never many years of helping investors, and hopes to begin known for the sophistication of their models and real estate experience to her clients.Travis ers,” he says.

“In real estate, you truly have to enjoy referrals, or from repeat clients who put their trust inall his person are along the way.”

Putting all of his the take time thean to understand to Carlos understand property the property and all and ofall itsfrequently ofare its goals, goals, and and can’t can’t see themselves see themselves doing doing anything anything With Great Island Realty, Kaitlin serves feel comfortable with me.”the materials, email and Brokers in every U.S. city and Internationally! with his beloved dog, Charlie. last thing we talk about.” learned that money is just money.

You can’t take it of published Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by self-employ its properties all the time.

The convergence of social deals are done through frequent check-ins and lively career while still being with an agent.

He helped me buy and sell an open land/ one, I’ll advise them to look for something else.” visit www.xcommercial.com.au entire first year!

That’s when I knew that I wasn’t doing Big Apple, along with a big, recent get: a 35-story, 450 stment for their town.

Lakia also plans to expand her market to other vantage as an affiliate with United Country Real Estate, faith, family, community an intricacies. intricacies.

“We “We want want to ensure to ensure that the that property the property is is else. else.

“Our “Our family family has grown has grown up in up this in town. this town.

We We o afford a home, my systems.

Marie-France also incorporates her own sys-out on helping his clients, Vinnie always looks for Published County and Rockingham County in visit Newwindycityrealestatepro.com Hampshire, Emphasizing education, Ryan believes indie. walking dealing with people—and make sure that comes across never looked if there’s anything he can do for them, whether itgiveaway— fulfillment and the excitement of experiencing building his own portfolio soon. with you when you But your memory can live authors.

To subscribe orlike change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. in thebusiness: U.S. Above events her popular Thanksgiving pie love about this The more y the country’s largest organization of real estate and supporting various events at well well represented represented and that and we that are we showcasing are showcasing allfeels ofall of really really appreciate appreciate being being able to able see to all see these all these familiar familiar their real estate goals. small team to help better serve her clients. al unit building in downtown Los Angeles.

“I feel incrediContact Stacey at 623-606 ker, she is able to areas.

“Real estate like a ministry for me,” she says. or call 02 9189 9900 line!” familybad.” feel also shows in transaction.” the makeup of Bobbi’s tems real into the process.

“When I’m meeting new buyers too covering the area from the to thetrue Lakes Region. their best interests.

Knowing that this can beRyan anSeacoast overhis clients through the transaction process Heading into 2022, will remain to his core Please contact mag@topagentmagazine.com with every experience inthe has anything toSkip do with estate or not.

He’s also its features its features to to best the of best our ofknowledge.” our knowledge.”

Skip and and faces purchase purchase or sell homes, sell homes, and being and being there there for for From auction professionals. trusted methods annual St. Jude’s charity auct on through others for aorastep-byvery long time.

Memories areutilizing Stacey understands.

As member of the Professional That foundation of honesty hasfaces helped Austin build

LYNN BURNETT

https://

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she looks forward to continuing to be a resource an trusted advisor to help get her clients achieve thei real estate goals. “My favorite part of real estate b

bly fortunate,” says Natanel. s,Her assisting them “After all, there’s better investment out there.

And all to sure her are thriving inand their new more you receive.” or email scoulthardre@gma granddaughter and partner, Jade,techniques is amake licensed About 50% ofabove Kaitlin’s comes from repeat and whelming in moment.” life, he goes andbusiness beyond sellers, Iclients usepivotal achapter questionnaire tobrochures really understand step to know what to no expect throughout the process. values commitment to consistently advocate for Becky Becky also to also utilizeutilize many many marketing marketing techniques to orto them them during during this this pivotal life moment.” life like color on manyinformation. projects to employing wn’t to listen active in his community with the volunteer work he end at the finish a very successful business over the last six years.

As Copyright Top Agent Maga always going to be more important than money.”

Rodeo Association, National Barrel Horse Association or call 310-734-1440 for ad rates and and has been working with Bobbi for 12 years. eltor fullyfor informed younow, just can’t a price seeing smiling, referral clients, an impressive feat that demonstrates the to ensure theyclients understand every step of the process.

“Education leadsput to empowerment.

I’m people perhis clients’ best interests and provide them with whatontheir real ayour estate project is and what they’re looktwo years licensed forward-thinking digital strategies, he industry is there for Going forward, he has stron Fortunate, yes, but backed by deep andhismarket uilds strong relationbroker and owner of Wine Trail Properties, he leads a With the ferocious speed at which the modern world It’s important does with local elementary schools, helping build a Bobbi’s daughter, Jade’s mom Lori, is unlicensed For more information about George George ‘Skip’ ‘Skip’ and and Becky Becky Watwood, Watwood, confidence she inspires.

Part oftheir whatdreams keeps up on a client,”For more crying, celebrating atto their closing.

Truly, ittrust never This holds true even the transaction, asthem he makes son, andinformation Iand want myabout clients be happy and to feel highest level ofway. service whileatmaking ing for,” she says.

“Then I after have aand meeting with clients each step of the legacy for hisEvans business. Wi Contact Austin 315-882-2343 orLaura knowledge that keeps both developers and buyers flockTo learn more about Connecticut.

In his first year To learn more about DeAnna Armario, call (925) 260-2220 snd become good team of around a dozen agents who deliver exceptional please please call 541-661-1504 call 541-661-1504 or email or email skip@century21agate.com skip@century21agate.com s have the team’s transaction coordinator for over 30 clients coming back is Kaitlin’s dedication and work Outside of work Brent and his wife are deeply eis looking for float for the Torchlight Parade in Old Saybrook, or confident about the decisions they’re making.

My goal come true.

He’s currently looking to hire two addiFor more his ab moving, it’s no surprise that many are deciding to himself available to them and is happy to help out with recently coming struggling to get gets old.” where I go deeper into their answers, because I want 33aboard Top Agent Magazine ing to him for his services.

“I think a lot of it has to do email alapp@winetrailproperties.com “After closing, Iis service to Yates County and theinto surrounding area.

On .sales That’sthe in addition toand another part-time assistant, Contact Candice at 404-660-9565 email ladylauraevans@gmail.com, ethic.

“I love being busy,” Kaitlin says.

“I can’t sit still, volume is on pace to Travis is just as helpful when assisting his buyers. further the scale with the utm To learn more about Brent Mah to help people build wealth, manage their investtional agents and is launching a new website along any issues.

“If the water suddenly overflows after they involved their local community.

He serves as the please them feel that I’m there to help them out and be of ArmarioHomes.co email deanna@armariohomes.com or visit participating insays. his “Icommunity’s “Trunkwith or being Treat” unplug relocate to Bobbi more remote areas. Adding to different, yet being consistent and unthinking sy. a and family thing here!” of “It’s weeks.

Because Leaning on decades of experience esty, and integrity that have orVice email myrealtorcandice@gmail.com and that serves clients really wellin-depth because dediments, and grow—whichever way that is,” says. with his interactive email newsletters.

In I’m addition, move help them clean it his out, orsays ifmy the seller left aand greater service toI he them.

Ioutside present all the strategies that email email Nata President ofin, the Ellicott Metro District Board y the end of 2021.

Heon has found or call (443) 235–4649 event Halloween.

When he’s not working or givthe box,” Natanel, when asked howbrentm@socodream.c he has

to Charleston in 2017, derful city and the sur-

www.

5 Fresh New Approaches to Content Marketing A couple of weeks ago we were conducting a workshop when we were asked two excellent questions about content marketing:

• People

don’t want to hear from a roofing company every day. So how do you produce fresh and interesting content for social media that goes beyond your core services and yet ties back to your business?

• Can

you extend your social media presence and content to include personal things (like your hobbies) and how does that affect your overall business image?

4

The workshop attendee who asked the first question was right. Almost no one wants to hear from any company every day… especially if all the content is about products and services…and yes, even if they’re giving helpful tips and information. Does that mean you should stop producing excellent daily content related to your business? No, of course not! Content is created for two reasons.

First, to provide knowledge, expertise and even entertainment to your ideal customers in order to achieve top of mind awareness as an authority in your industry. And second, to produce SEO-rich results that keep you at the top of search engines. You must strike a

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

balance between the two, and try to include content that draws people in by being super interesting and entertaining….and yes, sometimes personal.

To help answer those content questions above, here are five different types of content (beyond the traditional stuff) that can give your brand a fresh, unique and balanced approach:

1. PHILANTHROPIC Your community efforts say a lot about who you are, and people will make an extra effort to do business with you as a result of this connection. We’ve consulted business owners who are very hesitant to promote these efforts because they don’t want it to seem as though they are exploiting the charities and organizations—and most especially because they don’t do it for the promotional aspects. They do it to give back. I ask you to keep this in mind. Nonprofit and charitable organizations very often have small marketing budgets. Not only do they rely on outside marketing forces to promote their initiatives, they would likely be forced to close their doors without that support. That means that when someone with a strong brand and presence promotes them, it’s a highly trusted and personal connection, and you can’t buy that kind of support. In other words, they not only need you to promote them, they want you to promote them. But your instincts are correct. It’s not about you. So just make sure your entire content focuses on the organization you’re helping, what they do for the community and how Top Agent Magazine

others can join in the cause. Then it becomes a huge win for all.

2. HOBBIES You bungee jumped from four of the tallest bridges in the U.S. In your spare time, you go fly fishing. You love playing chef and use only locally grown, organic foods. Your friends are always begging you to go to Vegas with your card shark talents. You’ve done mission work in Africa and would like to start your own group. You almost played professional baseball. You have an insane talent for gardening design or bass guitar.

Your family works at a soup kitchen once a month. Ok…you get the picture. And two more words. Reality TV. People are interesting…and people are interested in interesting people. We remember others based on these unique traits. And most of all, people love the story behind the face. Don’t be afraid to share your hobbies. Quite often, it’s the first thing that will personally connect you to a prospect.

3. CREATIVE CONNECTION This one is perhaps our favorite. While we can’t imagine seeing something come across our news feed from a landscaping company every day, imagine this for a moment. What are we always told to remember in this hectic world? Stop and smell the roses, right? So what if…a landscaping company posted a beautiful flower each day, just to remind you to ‘stop and smell the roses’. And at the bottom of that photo (small print), you included

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5

the type of flower and type of environment needed to make it flourish (moist soil, full sun, etc.). And then, of course, watermarked it with your logo….and a title like, “Sam’s Daily Reminder: It’s Time to Stop & Smell the Roses”. You could even include some great, thought-provoking quotes. It has the personal connection (Sam), the business connection (flowers & logo watermark) and a cool creative connector (pause the meetings and paperwork to take a moment and appreciate life by noticing this beautiful flower). This is a great idea for staying ‘top of mind’ and connecting business with the kind of creative messaging people wouldn’t mind seeing every day.

4. EXPERIENCES This one is similar to hobbies from the personal aspect, but instead of something that identifies us like our hobbies, our experiences are random happenings that can have great interest and meaning to our audience.

Whether you have a unique experience buying a new car or a fateful conversation with a stranger in the airport, if you feel it ties into a life lesson or business lesson you’d like to share, by all means do. The lesson is to keep your radar up 24/7. Any experiences you have which relate to your

ideal customer are an opportunity to connect beyond the business world. And when we do that, we become a part of the family.

5. INFLUENCERS “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”. You’ve probably heard that saying, and the same is true whether you are a teenager or a business owner. Maybe you’ve learned a lot of your business knowledge from Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Warren Buffet…or you like to quote Benjamin Franklin. Perhaps you have some mentors you’d like to recognize and tell why they’re important to you. Sharing the people and things that influence us is what makes us human. No matter how successful your business, you didn’t get there alone. People and circumstances shaped you along the way. Recognizing others for their contribution in our lives, large or small, is important in staying connected and grounded.

We hope these five types of content help you to put a fresh spin on what you share with your audience, whether personal or professional. We believe you must have the combination of both to build an incredible brand.

Tonya Eberhart is the Branding Agent to Business Stars and founder of BrandFace®, LLC. Michael Carr is America’s Top Selling Real Estate Auctioneer & BrandFace® partner. Together, they focus on personal branding and marketing designed to help real estate professionals become the face of their business & a star in their market. BrandFace® for Real Estate Professionals is a book, professional speaking series and an exclusive workshop for agents, and is currently active in 18 U.S. states, Canada and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.BrandFaceRealEstate.com.

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Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

Giving Back to Community

JOHN W. BAKER

Top Agent Magazine

7

JOHN W. BAKER SOLD

With over a decade of experience in real estate, John W. Baker brings knowledge and professionalism to every transaction he is part of. John got his start in the business when a friend asked him to become a property manager for one of his income properties.

Curious about the position, John decided to give it a try. “I had no experience in real estate, but I quickly grew to love it.” After obtaining his license, he joined the Century 21 Beutler office where he currently serves buyers and sellers throughout Spokane, Washington.

“One of my specific business goals is to achieve a high level of client satisfaction,” John says when discussing what he prioritizes in his business. Since he frequently works with military families and seniors, he is always careful to give them an elite level of service. He approaches each client with a keen listening ear and an abundance of patience. His efforts with clients have been recognized. John has been the recipient of the Quality Service Producer Award multiple times awarded by the national Century 21 office. “It’s important to be a good listener 8

in this business. I pay careful attention to what my clients are trying to achieve because at the end of the day, we both want the same outcome.”

John believes his life experience has greatly contributed to his success as a REALTOR®. “I’m in my 60’s and I have a lot of experience that many other agents may not have. I’ve had a lot of personal loss in my life throughout the years such as cancer survivorship, spouse loss and child loss. It’s made me very motivated and focused on the important things in life. It’s been faith-strengthening and taught me to

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

We make a living by what we get, But we make a life by what we give.

JUST LISTED

-Author unknown

not waste time and to be careful about what I complain about,” he says. Words that describe John?

Self-discipline, humor; adaptable, passionate.

Another factor in his successful business is John’s strategic marketing. “I have a degree in Communications/Advertising from WSU. I worked in advertising media for 26 years, so I have a high appreciation for marketing. Modern technology has brought a new element into the mix, which I am happy to utilize to market my listings. I also lean on the wonderful Century 21 marketing system closely.”

Outside of work John loves spending time with his fiancé, his two adult daughters, son-in-laws and three grandsons now in elementary school. “Family is number one for me. They are at the center of my universe. Anything I can do with them, or to help them develop their interests and skills, is what I spend my free time on.” He is also involved in his community and serves many non-profit agencies supporting CF Cystic Fibrosis research and organ donation. When he has a moment to himself, he likes to enjoy the local outdoors. “Spokane is home to 50 lakes in the region and hiking is a big deal around here, so I try to do as much exercise as I can.”

Going forward John is focused on continuing to serve his clients to the best of his ability. “I always want to be recognized as a Quality Service provider.

I don’t measure success by the sales volume, it’s all about satisfied clients for me.”

Top Agent Magazine

“Papa” John with his three grandsons, Wyatt, Emmett & Colton Want more? Email John Baker at johnbaker@21goldchoice.com or text/call (509) 251–1566 Copyright Top Agent Magazine 9

Congrats John!

Krista L. Baker was 20 years old awaiting a double lung transplant when she passed due to complications from CF. She became a cornea donor enhancing the lives of two young men.

L-R: Daughters Amanda Nelson, Nicole Jonak, John Baker

The Salty Licks hiking team, in 2021, generated over $14,000. m pledges to fund national CF medical research. Average pledge was $65. Will you help us in 2022?

3rd Annual Pacific Northwest

XTREME HIKE for CF 12 Hours in 1 Day June 25, 2022 Pacific Crest Trail on Mt. Hood, Oregon Elevation gain of 5500 feet.

“I will match every donation to The Salty Licks Hiking Team up to $5,000. made prior to June 25, 2022.”

John Baker, CF Father of Krista L Baker.

Go to one of these secure pledge donation links today! Your contribution is fully tax deductible.

http://www.cff.org

John Baker Cystic Fibrosis, CF, is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. For more information, contact the CFF Oregon/ Southwest Washington Chapter at 503-226-3435 or cff.org Thank you! www.

https://fightcf.cff.org/site/TR/Hike/102_Oregon_ Portland?px=4774897&pg=personal&fr_id=9323

Amanda Nelson

https://fightcf.cff.org/site/TR/Hike/102_Oregon_ Portland?px=4474881&pg=personal&fr_id=9323

Nicole Jonak

https://fightcf.cff.org/site/TR/Hike/102_Oregon_ Portland?px=3587739&pg=personal&fr_id=9323

10

JOHN W. BAKER

Top Agent Magazine

February 15, 15, 2022 February 2022

JohnBaker Baker John CENTURY CENTURY21 21Beutler Beutler && Associates Associates 101 North River 101W.W. North RiverDrive Drive Spokane, Spokane,WA WA99201 99201 Dear DearJohn: John: InIna aworld on third-party third-partycustomer customer testimonials worldthat thatbases basesmany manyofofits its decisions decisions on testimonials andand as consumers increasingly look to brands who create experiences, as consumers increasingly look to brands who create experiences,not notjust justcomplete complete ® transactions, you are helping the CENTURY 21 brand change the way transactions, you are helping the CENTURY 21® brand change the way real real estate estate is is done.

It is your relentless effort and pursuit of the extraordinary will ultimately help us achieve done. It is your relentless effort and pursuit of the extraordinary that will ultimately help us the bold ambitions we set forth for the CENTURY 21 brand: to be the real estate choice for achieve the bold ambitions we set forth for the CENTURY 21 brand: to be the real estate homebuyers, homesellers and investors and industry professionals alike.

choice for homebuyers, homesellers and investors and industry professionals alike.

Congratulations on an extraordinary year and for earning the highly coveted 2021 Congratulations on anService extraordinary and forAward! earning the highly coveted 2021 CENTURY 21 Quality Pinnacleyear Producer

CENTURY 21 Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award!

Together, along with your peers across the globe value, we appreciate your outstanding level of realalong estate business excellence.

Weglobe, celebrate your desire to always elevate and Together, with your peers across the we appreciate your outstanding level dedication to giving 121% to every client, every time.

You are a shining example of of real estate business excellence. We celebrate your desire to always elevate and delivering experiences! dedicationextraordinary to giving 121% to every client, every time. You are a shining example of

delivering extraordinary experiences!

I am excited by what the future holds for you, your business growth, and for the CENTURY 21 brand.

I am excited by what the future holds for you, your business growth, and for the CENTURY 21 brand.

Best BestRegards, Regards,

Mike MikeMiedler Miedler

Mike Miedler, President & CEO Century 21 Real Estate LLC 175 Park Avenue • Madison, NJ 07940

Top Agent Magazine

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2021

QUALITY SERVICE PINNACLE PRODUCER Testimonials

CENTURY 21 Beulter & Associates

John was referred to me by a trusted friend. As we started to work together, John demonstrated a depth of knowledge which helped me navigate past potential pitfalls and economic loss. He guided me in my decision making process without coercion, and let me make my own decisions with patience on his part. I would not hesitate to recommend John to friends and relatives. I look forward to continue doing more business with him.

—Ron Kellam, Investor I would recommend John Baker to any buyer or seller. His honest and clear communication makes it very easy to deal with any transaction.

I trust John as my brother Because we are brothers in Christ!

—Art Ellwanger, Seller John Baker is an amazing individual and agent, he was there for us every step of the way. In such a dynamic market, John Baker was the steady force that you could rely upon from start to finish.

—Eddie Ballew, Seller

I am delighted to write up a recommendation for John Baker, the realtor with whom we most recently worked. We had a unique situation in selling our property due to a last-minute overseas deployment.

Our short-fuse decision was extremely stressful given the timing and the fact that much needed to be done prior to packing out. John met these challenges head on and with calm, grace and a focus. His analytics provided the basis for pricing our property and determining the best approach to marketing.

With a two-day turn around, he organized a lovely open-house (with wine and cheese for relaters and potential buyers to preview of our home) and followed up with a targeted marketing campaign.

His background in marketing gave us the edge which enabled buyers and realtors alike to understand the special qualities of the property. His responsiveness enabled us to respond quickly to inquiries and fine tune our messaging as needed. Throughout it all, our family was appreciative of his professionalism, demeanor and ability to tailor our requests to an intense market. John provides high -quality service which is personalized and professional. It has been a blessing to have worked with him.

—Brian Hering, Seller

JOHN W. BAKER 12

Top Agent Magazine

Art Sharpe and Finance of America are proud to congratulate

JOHN BAKER

on being featured for the State of Washington in Top Agent Magazine!

ART SHARPE (509) 951-4444 | Art.Sharpe@financeofamerica.com

1120 N. Mullan, Suite 120, Spokane Valley, WA 99206

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13

A Step-by-Step Guide to Converting Internet Leads to Real Life Sales In the era of apps, instantaneous social platforms, and text messaging, it’s little surprise that the modern homebuyer begins his or her search for real estate representation online. Even if you’ve got a top-notch website or an influential social media presence, how do you connect with web surfers who have yet to commit to the services you offer? Take a look below to learn a few key techniques to bridge the gap between digital interest and real-world sales.

RESPONSIVENESS IS KEY Like it or not, our digital culture relishes immediacy and instant gratification. With that in mind, be sure to stay on top of online interest forms, e-mails, or newsletter sign-ups. Don’t let an online lead go to waste by taking too long to engage and follow-up. Things move fast, and it’s easy for potential clientele to forget which websites they’ve visited. Even if your lead isn’t ready to commit then and there, you demonstrate your accessibility and attentiveness by following up swiftly—a characteristic anyone would seek in an agent or lender.

ENGAGE WITH OPEN-ENDED CONVERSATION

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

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

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

Digital leads don’t have to be difficult to capture.

The internet plays a powerful role in funneling When online back-and-forth goes stale, commumodern clientele your way, but in order to take nication drops off quickly. If you’re following full advantage of the web’s reach, you’ll need up via e-mail, social media, or text, be sure to to tailor your follow-up technique. Mastering keep topics focused squarely on the potential the fundamentals of digital communication is client. Ask open-ended questions to give your the first step to converting digital interest into lead the opportunity to loosen up and engage concrete business. Keep these tips top-of-mind on a personal level. There’s no better way to as you build your online presence and mine the cement a digital lead than to take a pointed vast world wide web for an endless wealth of interest in the specifics of their situation. Doing clientele. Earning a command of digital lead so transforms the impersonal invisibility of the conversion is the surest way to bolster your internet into a true connection. business in the ever-evolving digital era.

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Top Agent Magazine

JASMIN COMPERE “Everything I’ve done in my life has prepared me for this career,” Jasmin Compere says, reflecting on the strong foundations that brought her to real estate. Equipped with an extensive background in customer service, sales, and entrepreneurship, she decided to pursue her real estate license in 2019; however, she took a break from the business to be with her children during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, though, she decided the time was right to return to the business, setting a goal to complete ten transactions and $5 million in volume by the end of the year. Within nine months, she had well exceeded those numbers, and she hasn’t looked back since.

Today, Jasmin is a Broker Associate and Realtor® with the PorchLight Real Estate Group, where she assists clients throughout Boulder County and the surrounding areas of Colorado. In combining her resourcefulness with her tireless work ethic and penchant for client service, she has cultivated a boutique workflow to meet the demands of any transaction.

When listing a property, Jasmin leverages the suite of resources available through the PorchLight Real Estate Group to give her clients an added advantage, even before their listing goes live. Starting out, she helps her sellers fully prepare their home for the market, connecting them with professional staging and photography services. From there, she shares their property to a variety of major syndications, third party websites, and digital media campaigns—all in the lead-up to the standout open house showing.

But Jasmin is just as attentive when assisting her buyers, carefully guiding them to the right home for their best interests. In fact, she prefers to keep in touch long

after the deals are done to cultivate a lasting relationship and ensure her clients are satisfied in their new homes. “My goal is to have a client for life,” she says. “When speaking with my buyers or sellers, I want to treat them with honesty and integrity.

For me, that starts with really listening to what they say and getting to know them over the course of their transaction.”

Since launching her career, Jasmin has earned a fantastic reputation throughout Colorado, as evidenced by her rapidly increasing referral base. And the keys to her success? “My husband and I have lived all over the country, and even internationally. Whenever I meet someone, I can find a commonality to make them comfortable. After all, this business comes down to finding the humanity in each transaction.”

Outside her career, Jasmin is deeply committed to her community. Alongside her family, she has built a legacy of volunteer work at the Humane Society, Longmont Public Library, and area food banks. Meanwhile, she enjoys joining her colleagues at PorchLight Real Estate in contributing to Community Foodshare events.

As Jasmin drafts her goals for the new year, she looks forward to furthering her education in real estate while scaling the approach to service that has set her apart in the region. Above all, though, she is excited for the new connections that await in her Boulder community. “This is never a static job,” she says. “Sure, real estate can sometimes be stressful.

But once we cross the finish line, there is no better feeling in the world than knowing my clients realized their dreams in the market.”

To learn more about Jasmin Compere email jasmin@porchlightgroup.com, visit porchlightgroup.com or call (760) 331-7991. www.

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Calvin Cox is proud to congratulate

Jasmin Compere on being featured for the state of Colorado in Top Agent Magazine!

CALVIN COX Partner‑VP Mortgage Banking | NMLS 256450 phone: (303) 544-0600 cell: (303) 931-8360 fax: (303) 496-1970 calvin@changemtg.com Hawaii Office: 330 Ohukai Road #105, Kihei, HI 96753 Colorado Office: 1637 Pearl St, Suite 203, Boulder, CO 80302 Change Lending, LLC, dba Change Home Mortgage (“CHM”), is a state-licensed mortgage lender, NMLS ID #1839. To verify licenses, visit www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Headquartered at 16845 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 200, Irvine, CA 92606. AZ: Arizona Mortgage Banker License #0925326; CA: Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act and California Financing Law; CO: Regulated by the Division of Real Estate; GA: Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee #48010; MN: This is not an offer to enter into an agreement and an offer may only be made pursuant to Minn. Stat. §47.206 (3) & (4); NJ: Residential Mortgage Lender License – licensed by the N.J. Department of Banking and Insurance; OH: Licensed by the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions, Ohio Residential Mortgage Lending Certificate of Registration #RM.804654.000.

For other states, visit changemtg.com. All loans are subject to credit approval and acceptable collateral. Additional terms and conditions apply. Programs, rates, terms and conditions may change without notice. All programs are not available in all states. There is no guarantee that all borrowers will qualify. Restrictions may apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Terms, conditions and programs are subject to change without notice. © 2021. Change Lending, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Top Agent Magazine

4 Ways Mentoring Up-and-Coming Employees Makes You a Better Agent In the world of real estate, there are always new agents joining the ranks. Even if you’ve been practicing for just a few short years, you’ve likely learned your fair share of lesson along the way. As an agent, much of your working philosophy is derived from first-hand experience and your work on the ground. This means that new agents are less prepared for the inevitable curveballs of the industry. That’s where you come in.

While mentorship is often pitched as a relationship that solely benefits the mentee, there is actually plenty to be gained from becoming a mentor. After all, personal growth goes hand-in-hand with professional growth, and becoming a mentor asks agents to thoughtTop Agent Magazine

fully explore and demonstrate their own ideologies, practices, and rationale. With that in mind, take a look at some of the benefits of mentorship below, and you’ll get a sense of why counseling new agents can be a boon to your own business.

Teaching lessons to others reinforces your own professional values.

Showing the ropes to young agents is a great way to brush-up on your foundational skills.

Verbalizing and demonstrating processes, or walking through the rationale behind negotiation tactics—all cause mentors to think through their established practices and outline in detail why they’ve chosen this route over an

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alternative. This helps older agents fine-tune their routines, while getting back in touch with the critical thinking that went into constructing those habits.

Mentorships allows you to see the big picture.

surely sharpen your ability as the head of a team. What’s more, you’ll be building skills of empathy, understanding, teaching, and constructive criticism. Working on those skills will better your practice and your ability to lead in your office.

After a lengthy industry tenure, it’s not uncommon for battle-worn agents to lose some steam and begin to burn out. By devoting some time to mentoring up-and-coming agents, you’ll get back in touch with your early days, remembering the excitement, the trials, and the hard lessons gleaned. Spending time with the next generation of real estate professionals can reinvigorate your practice, as seeing the business from the eyes of an eager amateur can inject energy into your working life.

You’ll benefit from seeing things from a new perspective.

Just as working with young agents can help you remember your career’s big picture, you may also benefit from working alongside someone with a new perspective. Young agents bring a different set of skills and awareness to their work, and established agents can benefit from a fresh take. If technology isn’t your strong suit, or you’re interested in tapping the Millennial homebuyer market, working with a younger agent is an excellent way to see through fresh eyes.

Mentoring young agents makes you a better leader.

As a mentor, you’ll often direct the flow of your professional relationship—figuring out which issues to tackle, making an agenda, and imparting lessons in a clear way. These are all characteristics of a leader, and acting in a position of authority as mentor can 18

While some may balk at the time commitment or energy required to take on a mentee or two, you might consider it an act of ongoing education or professional development. While your mentee will undoubtedly benefit from access to your expertise, there’s certainly much to be gained from taking the time to cultivate tomorrow’s real estate leaders.

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DAVID & CYNDIE CHINN Top Agent Magazine

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New River Gorge National Park

Serving Raleigh County and surrounding regions in West Virginia, Top Agents David and Cyndie Chinn provide exceptional service to all buyers and sellers—from veterans to first time home buyers.

Skilled entrepreneurs with a love for helping others, David and Cyndie Chinn were destined for success in real estate. With a master’s degree in leadership and 30 years of experience in retail, David’s first foray into business ownership started in 2000, when he and Cyndie purchased popular gym LA East Fitness. But when the pandemic hit, Cyndie was laid off from her 20+ year career as a physical therapy assistant, and the gym was required to shut down for several weeks. “This was when we 20 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

decided to consider real estate, and we took the online course to earn our licenses,” David explains. “We wanted to do this as a team, we knew if we were working together it wouldn’t feel like work.” Although they intended to make it a weekend focus, real estate soon became their main pursuit, as they fell in love with it. By the end of 2021 they have already sold more than $10 million in sales, over 60 closings which adds up to more than one property a week.

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Serving Raleigh County and surrounding regions in West Virginia, David and Cyndie provide exceptional service to all buyers and sellers. From veterans to first time home buyers, and everyone in between, those who work with Top Agent Magazine

David and Cyndie are continually impressed.

“We now offer every client a membership to our fitness center,” they explain. “We also send out Christmas cards. All our clients get to use our personalized moving truck for free.”

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At every step, David and Cyndie guide their clients, ensuring every aspect is understood. They get to know them and determine the best way to accomplish their goals.

But it’s often easy to stay in touch with those they’ve helped, as they become very close during the transaction. At every step, David and Cyndie guide their clients, ensuring every aspect is understood. They get to know them and determine the best way to accomplish their goals. “Whether it’s a $10,000 property or a million dollar one, these people are buying a place to call home, and we take that very seriously.”

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Word spreads fast about David and Cyndie, as their skills and guidance are unparalleled. One buyer recently said, “The best part about working with Dave and Cyndie was that they were always focused on answering our questions, giving sound advice, and finding properties that met our needs. Their professionalism, knowledge, honesty, and hard work ethic are without reproach. We cannot speak highly enough of our experience with them.”

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David and Cyndie moved to the area in 1995 to merge a local furniture store with another.

They are heavily involved in their community. They recently hosted a fundraiser at their fitness center in support of the Raleigh County Humane Society. “We Top Agent Magazine

frequently raise money for charities through events like an indoor 5k or weightlifting competitions.”

David and Cyndie also started a 12 Days of Christmas event, which highlights 12 locally owned businesses on their Facebook page.

“We will give away 12 $50 gift Copyright Top Agent Magazine 23

cards to each of those places.” During any free time, they are hanging out with their children, Lexie 21, David III 20 and Lakyn 14. Their son David, just finished his real estate licensing course and will be joining the team soon!

Endless opportunities are in David and Cyndie’s future as David eyes his broker’s license. They can’t wait to see where this path leads. “What we love most is the gratification of seeing our clients happy.”

For more about David & Cyndie Chinn, please call 304-575-0838 or email dchinnjr@gmail.com

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

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5 Tips to Make New Hires

a Long-lasting Success Bringing a new employee into the mix is process commonly known as onboarding. The idea behind onboarding is to make the transition from new hire to team member as efficient and pain-free as possible. However, polling shows that some 31% of entry-level and intermediate level hires leave their new posts within just six months of starting. The question is: why?

The hiring and training process is time-intensive and doesn’t come cheap. This means that making 26

a good match for the long haul requires more than just assessments of skill and personality. To ensure a talented new hire sticks around and is truly positioned for success, the onboarding process must be executed with the same care applied during hiring. For a few ideas on how to make the most of the onboarding process, consider the tenets below as you guide your new hire toward long-lasting success within your company.

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1. Be honest about the scope of the role

2. Build in some perks

Let’s say you’re looking to add a new buyers agent or loan processor to your team. You write up the position’s responsibilities, but neglect to mention that you want the new hire to handle a host of administrative tasks, as well. Maybe it doesn’t seem important enough to outline in detail, as it’s the sort of thing the rest of your does. Miscommunications like these are a leading reason why new hires leave their roles.

If there isn’t clarity and transparency about a position’s true responsibilities, then new hires may become quickly disillusioned and seek out greener pastures.

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While stocking the breakroom with bagels every Friday may seem like a small gesture, it’s often those little morale-boosting moves that build loyalty and comradery among the team. Bike-to-work incentives, subsidized gym memberships, and benefits that match the needs of your employees—all are ways to demonstrate appreciation and investment in your team.

Likewise, the right candidate will return the favor and invest his or her energies into their new role.

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3. Get a sense of big-picture career plans

4. Keep the lines of communication open

Another reason new hires move on may have nothing to do with you or your office. In fact, many hires in entry-level or even intermediate roles have doubts about their long-term vision.

That’s why it’s important to be upfront from the beginning regarding a candidate’s five-year plan and ultimate dream job. Maintain realistic expectations when asking these questions, but use it as an opportunity to gage a candidate’s seriousness about the real estate or mortgage industry. Why this line of work over another?

Emphasizing industry longevity and career growth during the interview process can save you drama down the road.

Take a proactive approach in communicating with your new hire. Take time to check in regularly during the first six months of his or her addition. If you can, make time to train new hires yourself—if only for a part of the onboarding process. You’ll forge a deeper professional bond and create an avenue for further questions. All in all, make it clear that you’re personally invested in their presence and talents, and that you care what they have to say. That way, if any issues or doubts arise, you can stay on top of it and work out a solution, rather than lose a new employee.

5. Give new hires meaningful work to do It’s natural to keep the kid-gloves on with new hires, but don’t let that stop you from giving them a chance to shine. New team members will feel empowered and motivated if given meaningful projects to focus on. Don’t relegate their daily duties to busy work as they build experience.

Instead, task new teammates with something challenging, or that draws on a specific skill you hired them for. You’ll instill confidence, demonstrate your commitment to their growth, and with any luck—keep them around for the long haul.

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ELI JOHNSON Top Agent Magazine

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ELI JOHNSON

Creativity comes naturally to Eli Johnson.

His lifelong love of music led him to play drums and teach for many years. “I never thought I would become a professional musician, but it was just what I loved to do,” he explains. On the side, he would wait tables, which unintentionally led him to his career in real estate. “I was working at a restaurant in the Twin Cities, where the owners of a local brokerage would frequent,” he says. “I had a house that I was going to be selling, so I let them know. They worked with us to sell the house and purchase a new one. I was enthralled by the process, and a light bulb went off in my head.” Seeing all of the intricacies involved in the transaction, and the limitless growth opportunities, Eli knew this was the path for him. Able to utilize his creativity to help clients reach their goals, he feels he has found his dream career. “I love the variety, it is so fun and keeps me energized.”

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Serving the greater Twin Cities region, much of his business consists of repeats and referrals.

A true people person, Eli puts his clients needs first, and always wants what is best for them.

“This is such a big chapter in their life, so I take my role very seriously,” Eli explains. He takes the time to educate his buyers and sellers, which eliminates some of the stress associated with decision making. By informing them

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ahead of time about the process, they are prepared and able to enjoy the journey. Abiding by his principles of practicing good karma and being good to himself and others, transactions have a way of flowing smoothly.

When assisting buyers, he determines their budget and their must-have list, then gets to work at finding them their dream home. Patient throughout the transaction, there is no pressure to make a choice, as Eli genuinely wants them to find the perfect property. With sellers, Eli takes advantage of all the latest tools and technology to spread the word about his listings. “My brokerage has some of the best proprietary systems that allow me to reach a wide audience.”

When he’s not working, Eli is staying active in his community through various groups and charities. He’s a board member of the Armatage Neighborhood Association, which hosts many events throughout the year, including a holiday lights and halloween decoration tour. His brokerage hosts a fancy Fall Soireé party for clients and a Thanksgiving Pie Giveaway. During the spring, Eli invites his clients out to a tailgating party for a St Paul Saints game. He also loves spending time with his family, including his wife, their son, and their pets.

Eli has reached a point in his career where his main goal is staying at his current pace. “I don’t need to grow much more,” he says. “I am so happy with where I am currently, and I look forward to achieving a work/life balance.” The joy he feels from helping others with their real estate needs is just as apparent as it was on day one of his journey. “I get such satisfaction from working with people towards something that is absolutely, without a doubt, one of the largest and most meaningful purchases they will ever make.”

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For more information about Eli Johnson, please call 651-357-2536 or email eli.johnson@evrealestate.com

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5 Tips to Get New Clients

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If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you’ve probably built up a healthy percentage of repeat and referral business.

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

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

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1

Become a referral partner with industry peers

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Cold Call Expired and FSBO Listings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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3

Partner up with a Relocation Company

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Become a Builder’s Realtor® of choice

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

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

This can be a real score for any Realtor®.

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

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

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

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

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Create a Website that Offers Real Value to Potential Clients

Perhaps the most useful way of getting contact information for people looking to sell is by adding a home valuation feature to your website. When people are first considering selling their home, finding out how much 34

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

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

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JESS & JOE VITATOE Top Agent Magazine

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JESS & JOE VITATOE

With a natural talent for connecting with others and a love of real estate, Jess and Joe Vitatoe have become a top team in the greater Detroit area.

Jess started off as a receptionist at a mortgage company, which led to her becoming a processor handling 40+ files per month. Joe’s introduction to the industry was through Jess, and he quickly realized his sales background would translate well into real estate. “We had all the skills and knowledge to make a career change and become agents,” Joe explains. “We both loved all the opportunities real estate presented. So we decided to jump in.” Today their team consists of themselves, Joe’s mother, Pam Vitatoe, Andrea Walsh, and Megan Diamond. With much of their business consisting of repeats and referrals, they do everything possible to make their clients happy.

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“I think what sets us apart is our industry experience and our willingness to go above and beyond,” Jess says. “We were both in positions where a high level of customer service was necessary, so we’ve brought that into our work in real estate. We always put ourselves in our clients’ shoes and we fight for them.” They handle every aspect of the transaction, ensuring no stone is left unturned. When it comes to communication, they’re constantly keeping their clients

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updated, even if it’s about something small.

Seeing themselves as educators, they take the time to teach their clients about the process so they can make sound decisions. “If you’re working with us, you’re going to fully understand the circumstances of what’s happening, and we’re going to frame it in a way that will make it easier for you to choose what to do next.”

One recent client raved, “Jess and Joe are amazing! They make the selling and buying really smooth. It took us a while to find our new house, and Jess and Joe made us comfortable with not settling. They are honest and that makes the whole process smooth. Their experience in the business is really beneficial to their clients. They helped us sell our house and buy a new one and I will recommend Jess and Joe to anyone looking to sell or buy. They really are wonderful to work with. Thank you again for helping us find our new house for us to gain some peace!”

During their off hours, Jess and Joe stay active in their community. They participate in Keller Williams Red Day and are part of the Agent Leadership Committee. When the pandemic reached its peak, Joe and Jess delivered snacks and food to local hospitals. When they’re not working or giving back, they are spending time with family and friends.

Looking ahead, they hope to continue growing and putting their clients first. “We want to build a bigger team and help our agents become successful. We are aiming to create sustainable careers for our team members.”

Wherever it takes them, they are eager to assist more people with their real estate dreams, as they find it incredibly rewarding. “It is so great to meet and assist so many different people, and make a difference in their lives.”

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Joe & Jess Vitatoe, please call 734-250-9773 / info@soldbythevitatoes.com website: vitatoerealestategroup.com www.

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

1. Learn how to prioritize Although it might be your instinct to get some of the boring work out of the way first, things 38

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. Remove distractions

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

We all do it!

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

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

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

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

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

5. Be deliberate

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

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

6. Always look for ways to

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

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

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

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SANDI MCGLATHERY Top Agent Magazine

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SANDI MCGLATHERY

Born and raised in Plant City, Sandi McGlathery has always possessed an entrepreneurial spirit. Having graduated from the University of Phoenix with her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, she first took an interest in real estate in 2004, when she accepted a position with a local brokerage. From there, Sandi would learn the business from the ground up, delving into property management and earning her license. Inspired by these experiences, she later decided to take her work to the next level and launch her career as an agent.

Today, Sandi is a Realtor with The Jason Mitchell Group, where she assists clients throughout all of Central Florida. As a President’s Club Sales Consultant, she has cultivated an award-winning workflow around an unmatched blend of expertise, 42

integrity and compassion, meeting the needs of any transaction.

When listing a property, Sandi is there for her clients each step of the way. Valuing open communication above all else, she helps them fully prepare their home for the market, then shares it to a blend of highly targeted digital and social media campaigns.

While utilizing the extensive resources available through The Jason Mitchell Group, she keeps her clients included throughout the process, ensuring a seamless transaction that maximizes their value.

Sandi is just as committed when assisting her buyers, leaning on her in-depth knowledge of the region to help them uncover the right investment for their best interests. In fact, she stays in touch long after the closing through Top Agent Magazine

regular check-ins and gifts throughout the year—all to build a lasting relationship and make sure they are satisfied in their new homes. “In life, I believe that when you help others reach their goals, success will come. As such, I’m always looking out for my buyers and sellers.”

Over the years, Sandi has earned a fantastic reputation throughout her home state, with the majority of her volume coming from repeat clients and referrals. With 45 homes closed in 2021 alone, she is most gratified by the new connections real estate has allowed her to forge in her community. “Whether you are buying, selling, or downsizing, these are emotional processes. But that’s why I love this business. After all, there’s nothing better than celebrating with your clients on their closing day.”

Outside her career, Sandi is deeply involved with her community. On top of having supported the Make A Wish Foundation, she currently sits on the Historic Resources Board in Plant City, as well as the board of the East Hillsborough Historical Society, where she is working to preserve the many historic buildings around Plant City. When she’s not with clients or giving back, she enjoys cheering on the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buccaneers with her family.

Looking ahead, Sandi has strong plans for the future of her business. As her volume maintains its steady growth, she intends on adding new agents to her team and sharing with them the proven standards that have anchored her accomplished career. More than anything, though, she is excited for all the clients and opportunities that await in her hometown.

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To learn more about Sandi McGlathery email sandi@sandisellstampa.com, visit thejasonmitchellgroup.com or call (813) 719-0358. www.

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4 Easy Ways to Redecorate Your Office that Will Boost Morale & Impress Clients Your office is a battle-station of sorts. It’s where you field business, launch your communications, and make the magic of your enterprise happen on a daily basis. While you’ll certainly need to have all the functional elements of an office in order to get your work done—desk, chair, internet—have you really considered the physical environment you’ve cultivated in the process? Think of it this way: working all day in a windowless, poorly lit room 44

wouldn’t exactly inspire productivity or morale, would it?

The fact is humans take all sorts of social, behavioral, and emotional cues from our environments.

And as a real estate professional, you likely already understand the power of the visual and the benefits of making a good impression. With all that in mind, how can you redecorate or retool your

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office space in a way that will boost your mood, productivity, and client relationships? For inspiration, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you consider the ambiance and environment in which you conduct business.

1. A little goes a long way Redecorating your office space doesn’t have to break the bank. Style and décor are often about tiny details adding up to make an overall impression. For instance, paint color, plant life, and lighting are all straightforward ways to rejuvenate a room without spending a fortune. Have dark, drab walls? Consider springing for a lighter, fresher color that will breathe new life into your space. Have bare window sills or empty corners?

Buying and potting a few low-maintenance plants like ferns or succulents can add freshness and pops of color to a sparse room. Rely on fluorescent lighting? Consider sprucing up your space with a few well-chosen floor and table lamps that add accents of taste while warming up the tone in your office. A few intuitively placed items can inspire renewed energy.

2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle One way to make a big change in your office environment without spending a penny is to declutter and reorder. Let’s say you have rows upon rows of crowded, bulky filing cabinets. Try digitizing your records and cut the clutter, opening up square footage in the process. Maybe your desk has faced the same wall for years. Have you considered rearranging your existing furniture and décor? Just by reorganizing the flow of your workspace, you can give your office the cheapest face-lift possible.

You can also make work areas flow more intuitively, based on the processes and collaboration you’ve adapted to over time.

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3. Think like a client Imagine you’re walking into the office for the first time. As a client, what details would stick out? What red flags would come to mind? While you’re used to working in the same space every day, clients are coming into your office with no set expectations. With that in mind, complete a walkthrough of your office area to address eye sores, clutter, and whatever feels unprofessional or amateur. Half the battle of redecorating your space is finding opportunities and seeing things anew, instead of being content with the status quo.

4. Build out your brand Redecorating your space is about aesthetics, but it’s also about creating a unifying setting for your professional brand. If you’re catering to luxury clientele, it makes sense that your office space should appear elegant, high-end, and sophisticated.

If you’re selling second homes out in the country, perhaps a more rugged but well-curated ambiance would set the right tone for your services. Maybe you’re courting the Millennial market or touting your tech-forward approach to real estate. In that case, a modern, sleek, progressive layout would speak to your company’s values and culture.

Whatever the case may be, think of your office environment as an extension of your brand that communicates with clients, motivates your team, and sets the tone for your day-to-day operations.

Even if decorating isn’t exactly in your wheelhouse, there are plenty of simple and philosophical shifts you can make to your space that will maximize your presence and productivity. What’s more, real estate is a business built on relationships—so it doesn’t hurt to create an office where clients are comfortable and confident in the environment you’ve built.

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HOLLI MENDICA

Real estate comes naturally to Holli Mendica, as she’s a second generation Realtor®. Deciding to enter the field was one of the best choices she ever made, as she is thriving as an agent in the greater St. Louis area. “When I first made the move into real estate, I was working at a tooth factory making dentures,” she explains. “It was not what I wanted to be doing, so once I saw that my parents’ business was growing in 2012, I felt like it was the right time to jump in.”

After earning her real estate license, she joined The Alexander Team, which now consists of herself, her parents, and her younger sister. Innovative and determined, they are eager to achieve their clients’ goals and tend to every detail.

This has resulted in the massive growth of their business, with around 85% of their clientele deriving from their SOI, repeats, or referrals.

largest transactions they will ever make. “It is such a big deal, we never lose sight that this is a major milestone for our client.

Whether they’re assisting a buyer in getting their first home, or helping a seller earn top dollar for their property, Holli and the team put their clients first. Exceeding expectations is always the goal, and one way they do this is by staying updated on the latest technology. “We have access to cutting edge tools from RE/MAX, so we keep those in front of us and we constantly adapt to the changing landscapes. But it’s not all about always

“We take a realistic and enthusiastic approach,” Holli explains. “We’re very down to Earth and not flashy Realtors®.”

The Alexander Team is focused on making their buyers and sellers each feel like they are the most important client, as they know this is one of the 46

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having the latest and greatest technology, it’s really getting back to the basics of providing exceptional customer service. All technology that is coming out today will soon be dated in the next few years, however these relationships we are creating today keep generating business over and over again and will never go out of style.” They utilize all of the trending social media apps, virtual tours, fun real estate videos, and HDR photography, which keeps their client base engaged. When it comes to marketing, they tailor custom plans for each property they list. “If a home has stunning views or great outdoor space, we’ll offer drone footage,” Holli says, “but certainly not every property is best marketed by drone. We’ll provide sneak peeks of our listings and create buzz about it on social media. But every approach is different, because every property has its own unique qualities that need to be showcased uniquely.”

Holli stays active in the community through various groups and her local association. Recently she has been the chair of the Community Engagement Committee for the St. Louis Realtors®. “Within the last few years, our committee has helped fix up numerous homes for people in need and we have even transformed vacant lots into new community parks the public can enjoy. Small acts are the first step to making a major difference in the community and it’s awesome to do it in neighborhoods where I work, live, and play.” She is also involved with the Special Olympics. “Staying immersed in the community fulfills my heart. All this service work has helped me see the world in a different perspective, and it is a very beautiful thing.” Mendica credits her community involvement for her being named an honoree in NAR’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2019.

“Our top goal will always be client satisfaction as we continue to evolve as a team in upcoming years.

We have added siblings to the team, recently had our own babies that we refer to as our ‘future junior apprentices,’ and are eventually going to figure out how to transition some team members into retirement.” No matter what happens, their focus will continue to be on their clients’ happiness. “We want it to look just like it does now–with us prioritizing their experience and creating lasting relationships with everyone we serve.”

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For more about Holli and The Alexander Team, call 314-913-1699, email askhollid@gmail.com, or visit HolliSellsSTL.com www.

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3 Mental Tricks That Will Take Your Business to the Next Level It’s no secret that running a successful business requires careful planning and a tireless work ethic. Beyond those obvious ideals, it also takes the right mindset in order to capitalize on professional opportunity. In the world of real estate and mortgage lending, mental fortitude is a major component to reaching the next 48

level and achieving longevity in a sector that requires so much self-discipline. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a few key mental tricks you can employ to reinvigorate your working philosophy. Incorporate these techniques into your daily mindfulness routine and your business will surely benefit.

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1

Visualization helps you work efficiently and keep your cool.

This may sound like one of the oldest tricks in the book, but there’s a reason why Olympic athletes and those serving in first-responder positions use visualization as a time-honored mental technique. Not only does visualizing your daily tasks help you organize your mind, but it amps up your ability to focus on what’s important. Visualization also helps reduce stress in the moment, since you’ve already created a mental expectation of the task ahead. Whether you’re preparing for a negotiation or a pitch to new a client—visualization primes your brain and affords you an extra sense of control as you tackle your day.

2

Distill concepts into their simplest terms for ultimate understanding.

As an agent or loan officer, you’re likely juggling numerous clients and commitments on any given day. That’s why it helps to distill your responsibilities in clear, definitive terms. Let’s say you have a meeting set with a client to outline a marketing approach for their property. You may understand the broad strokes, but beforehand, try verbalizing the exact takeaways you’d like to impart to your client.

This may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to clarify your communication and ensure your com-

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plete understanding of a subject is to explain it aloud in its simplest terms. This crystallizes your main point and can come in handy if you drift off-topic or need to double-down on your message.

3

Accept that mistakes will be made.

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

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

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

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MOLLY LAWLESS

Top Agent Molly Lawless – of F.C. Tucker’s The Lawless Team in Indianapolis, Indiana – is one of those rare real estate agents who consistently goes above and beyond for her many grateful clients. Hardworking, intelligent and deeply committed to providing both buyers and sellers top-of-the-line customer service, Molly has developed a sterling reputation as a trusted and honest real estate advocate who truly cares about achieving the very best outcomes for her clients.

Molly, who graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Communications, comes from a background steeped in the real estate industry. “My mother and father are both Realtors®,” she explains. “After I graduated from college I worked in Commercial Real Estate for a short period of time,” recalls Molly. “My parents encouraged me to get my 50

Broker’s License. I took the course with F.C. Tucker School of Real estate and joined their team. I was excited to dive right into real estate full time in 2015.”

Currently working with her parents and one other agent on the top-producing Lawless Team, Molly quickly established herself as a highly effective and incredibly talented agent, achieving impressive success right out of the gate. Presently, almost the entirety of her business is based upon repeat clients and referrals, a significant achievement in the fickle world of real estate and an accurate barometer of the amazing, hands-on and personable service she provides everyone she works with.

“I think that’s because I provide my clients with a lot of personal touches,” she says, when asked how she has managed to achieve such Top Agent Magazine

impressive levels of trust and loyalty amongst those she helps. “I work with a lot of first-time home buyers, and when I consult with them, I really explain the process to them because there’s a lot more that goes on than they may think.” Molly is also an excellent communicator, and she makes certain that her clients are never left in the dark regarding the status of the transaction, putting even the most skittish buyers at ease.

When working with listings, Molly and her team’s approach to marketing is both comprehensive and intelligent. Professional photography and video ensure that each property is showcased in its best light, and deft utilization of social media makes certain that their listings are given maximum exposure to potential buyers. The most frequent outcome is a fast sale for top dollar, not to mention happy clients who continue to refer friends and family.

When she’s not busy making her clients’ dreams come true, Molly enjoys spending time with her husband and her baby daughter. She is also an avid traveler who enjoys working out. Additionally, she is very philanthropic-minded and is heavily involved with the Junior League of Indianapolis and with the Ball State University Indianapolis Alumni Chapter. Molly is part of the Northside Mibor Association. She is the 2020 winner for the Northside Mibor Denver Hutt Award for her commitment to community service.

Looking to the future, Molly’s plans are to assume leadership of The Lawless Team when her parents retire and to continue growing her already considerable business. “My goal is to continue to thrive in the Indianapolis market,” she says.

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For more information about Molly Lawless, please call 317-362-8635 or email Molly.Lawless@talktotucker.com 51

Beyond Cleaning and Decluttering: What Improvement Expenses Make the Most Sense?

Decluttering open spaces, emptying cabinets and drawers and removing knick-knacks might seem like obvious – and free – ways to improve a home’s presentability. Unfortunately, however, not all sellers or agents are willing to do much more than decluttering and cleaning.

Think of the listing as a reflection on yourself. If you didn’t comb your hair, shine your shoes, dress 52

neatly and drive a clean car, people would think you don’t care about yourself. They may wonder, “If he doesn’t care about how he presents himself, how is he going to present my house?” Likewise, not prepare a house for its most beautiful presentation might cast doubt on how the overall marketing will go. And, while not all changes will be immediately noticeable, chances are that what isn’t changed will be noticed.

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Ashley Aguilera, REALTOR®, broker and owner of The Aguilera Team in California’s Murrieta Valley and Temecula, says that after every consultation, her team formulates a game-plan. “We want to set their property apart from everything else on the market, but also fall within the comfort zone of the seller’s lifestyle,” she says. Changes may run the gamut from minor repairs and moving furniture for better flow, to adding accent pieces to harmonize the home’s look or create a “wow” factor before professional photography.

Many agents recommend conducting a professional inspection prior to listing; some will even hire the inspector at their own expense. Of course, any necessary repairs found during inspection and not repaired before listing must be formally disclosed. But wouldn’t it be nice to have no surprises during the buyer’s formal inspection?

In general, some improvements are required, others are low-cost and others pay for themselves

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with lower time on the market, competing offers or higher sale price.

Landscaping & Exterior First impressions begin outside. Be sure to mow and edge the lawn regularly; prune back overgrown trees and hedges; hire a professional to repair uneven pavement (especially if it’s a hazard); remove or replace dying annuals; and clean or repair porches or railings. Are there dry or dead patches of lawn? An inexpensive repair to the irrigation system might be the solution.

While painting an entire house can be extreme, a wise investment is to paint trim, porches, steps or railings that may look tired or have too many colors; choosing a single, neutral color for trim can create a bright, cohesive look. Finally, check the roof, gutters and windows, looking for spots to caulk, shingles to replace, or debris to remove.

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Paint is extremely important if the home has faded or dirty walls, holes or chips on paint or plaster. If an entire paint job is not feasible, at least consider cleaning repairing the obvious and adding a fresh coat of semi-gloss to baseboards, moldings, windowsills, doors, banisters balustrades and built-ins. Don’t overlook the ceilings!

A long-ago leak from a second-floor bathroom may have been completely repaired and moisture abated, but a patched-up ceiling is a red-flag.

Kitchens and baths

Walls, carpets, ceilings and trim Next, it’s time for agent and seller to open up to one another about the interior. Janelle Holte, who leads Seller’s Edge Home Team in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, loves walking into a home knowing that her team will be the driving force behind selling it.

“I like seeing how owners took care of it and raised their family in it,” she says. “But I won’t sugar-coat anything, so I tell them not to shoot the messenger!” She gives it to them straight, explaining what needs to be done to stage it to present well from a buyer’s perspective.

Those changes often include repainting at least the primarily living areas and replacing carpet, especially worn carpet or carpet that has faded or stained beyond what professional carpet cleaning could remedy. Sometimes, all that’s needed is professional carpet stretching to remove any buckling prior to cleaning.

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Most agents agree that the easiest costs to recoup in home improvements prior to selling are those spent in bathroom and kitchen updates. Complete remodels are unwise; you can’t anticipate the style preferences of their buyer. But refinishing, touching-ug up or painting cabinets can create a great impact, while also forcing the seller to remove unwanted or overstocked items from cabinets and drawers. Don’t forget the cabinet pulls – shiny, new nobs look nice.

Lee Ritchie of Ritchie Realty Group in Columbus, Ohio, gives a reminder to discuss any and all issues up front. “People need to be able rely on the professional who’s presenting, pricing and marketing their home,” she says. An honest and diligent agent will be an open book about the current market conditions, the quality of comparable listings and the potential return-on-investment for improvements.

Some agents, like Debra Dobbs of @properties in Chicago, even roll up their sleeves to help with decluttering and repairs. While not at all required or expected, doing so sure lets sellers see the investment their agent is willing to make for them.

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ALI ALICHARAN A longtime resident of Georgia, Ali Alicharan first took an interest in real estate through Ross Goolsby of Palmerhouse Properties, a friend who recommended that he pursue his license. Drawing from his outgoing personality and entrepreneurial spirit, Ali would launch his career as an agent and find fast success, building a network of satisfied clients that spans his home state. Most recently, though, he decided to take his work to the next level and start his own team.

Today, Ali leads Square Real Estate Consultants, an elite team with Coldwell Banker Realty Alpharetta/North Point, where he assists clients throughout Alpharetta and the surrounding cities. “My team deserves a tremendous amount of credit for all the success we’ve had,” he says. “We call ourselves the United Nations of real estate teams. Together, we represent a variety of ethnicities and cultural backgrounds; we’ve truly created a melting pot, and we love every bit of it.”

When listing a property, Ali caters his approach to the distinct needs of his clients. After helping them fully prepare their home for the market, he shares it to both the regional MLS and a blend of digital and social media campaigns. Moreover, he leverages the database within his team to give his sellers an added advantage.

But elsewhere, Ali is just as hands-on when assisting his buyers, leaning on his twelve years of experience to uncover the right investment for their best interests.

In fact, his team keeps in touch long after the deals are done through frequent check-ins, postcards, gifts at the holidays, and lively appreciation events. “I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been adopted by my

clients,” he says with a laugh. “I’ve always believed that if you build meaningful relationships, the business will come. And at the end of the day, it’s so heartening to receive ten invites to Thanksgiving dinner.”

Through the years, Ali and his team have earned a fantastic reputation throughout Georgia, as evidenced by their strong rate of repeat clients and referrals. Having completed $22 million in volume in 2020 alone, he continues to cultivate the model of service that sets him apart in the region. “I remember once helping a client who had never believed they would be able to afford their own home. At the closing, he gave me such a heartfelt hug, comforted in the knowledge that he had provided for his family. Moments like that give me goosebumps to this day.”

Outside his career, Ali is deeply committed to his community. On top of supporting his local veterans and police department, his team also contributes to the Children’s Hospital through Coldwell Banker, with plans to expand their charitable work in 2022. When he’s not with clients or giving back, he can be found traveling, attending events with his team, or spending quality time at home with his wife and two children.

Looking ahead, Ali has bold ambitions for the future of Square Real Estate Consultants. Now on pace to exceed 2020’s volume, he intends on growing his team while scaling the dynamic approach that brought him to real estate in the first place. “Our goal is to set our clients up in the best possible position to achieve their dreams,” he says. “So if you are looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, we will take care of you—each step of the way.”

To learn more about Ali Alicharan email ali.alicharan@cbrealty.com, visit alicharanali.georgiamls.com, or call (404) 452-7682. www.

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ARTHUR KLOCK Over his 51 years as a Realtor, Arthur Klock’s work has attracted the attention of just about every major real estate company out there, all of whom have offered him a franchise. But he never took the bait. “I don’t believe in franchises,” Arthur explains. “I can better serve my clients as an independent agent. My focus isn’t on the size of my business, or how much territory I cover or even the size of the commission. I’m here to help people, period.”

Those who know him will tell you Arthur has always been a maverick with energy to spare. While he got his license in 1968 as a sales agent, his real estate career might have actually started 10 years earlier. “I built a house for a guy when I was 14. Does that count?”

Arthur laughs. His official entry into the business came in 1970 with Haver Land Company in Pueblo, and two years after that he got his broker’s license.

Today Arthur serves clients across Southeastern Colorado, with a focus on Pueblo, Custer, and Huerfano counties. As a Colorado native and long-term resident of both Rye and Pueblo, he knows the area very well. “I’m a firm believer in geographical competence,” says Arthur. “My license is good anywhere in the state, but I think it’s really important for agents to have a deep knowledge of the market they cover. For instance, Colorado has some different laws regarding water rights. If you’re purchasing land here, you first need to understand where things like your water and electricity will come from. No one knows the ins and outs of these rural areas better than me.”

His clients clearly agree. This year Arthur is on track to close around $12 million in sales, with 90 percent of that business coming from either repeat clients or referrals. Arthur’s low-key approach is another thing that keeps his clients coming back. “People around here know I’m always going to be up-front and honest 56

with them. And whether they are repeat or new clients, I don’t call and harass them into a transaction. I meet with them, take them to look at properties, and when they decide they are ready to buy I’m here for them.”

Arthur stays in touch with clients the old fashioned way—by meeting and talking to them at community functions. Over the years he has served his community in many different capacities, including 3 stints as president of the Pueblo Association of Realtors, 4 years as a parliamentarian for the Colorado Association of Realtors, and 12 years as a member of the Pueblo County Fair Board. He’s active in his local Methodist Church, attends many high school sporting events, and donates funds to their banquets when needed. He’s purchased Christmas lights for Rye, and is in the planning stages to provide metal hanging flower baskets for the city’s street lamps. All of these activities put him in frequent contact with his clients.

In his leisure, Arthur enjoys woodworking, local sports events, and fishing. He’s also restoring a 1969 Oldsmobile 442 for one of his daughters. Going forward, he has no plans to retire: “I’ll keep on until they carry me out of here in a box,” he laughs.

Contact Arthur at 719-251-5703 or email artklock@hotmail.com Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

3 Mind-Bending Philosophies to Expand Your Professional Perspective

Beyond the day-to-day duties that make your business tick, so much of success is derived from the principles you put in place to guide your business. The foundational tenets you subscribe to can make or break your business for the long-term; they not only influence how you complete routine Top Agent Magazine

tasks, but also impact your growth, your ability to manage a team, and what the future might hold. With all that in mind, here are three philosophies to remember as you strategize your professional life—whether you’re mapping your monthly goals or creating an overarching plan for growth.

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1

Treat Your Business Like a Business

One of the perks of working in real estate is that you’re often able to create and manage your own schedule and volume, but that doesn’t mean you can skimp on the technical details of being your own boss.

No real estate professional worth his or her salt would forgo empowering tools like a business and marketing plan, or spreadsheets to track cash flow and expenses, or regular profit-and-loss statements, or fiscal year budgets and projections. Taking these measures may appear daunting at first— and completing them will certainly require discipline and a learning curve—but harnessing valuable data and information can intelligently inform your professional decisions, strategies, and long-term growth.

2

Achieve a Holistic Understanding

When schedules are busy, it sometimes feels like enough to reach the end of the week’s to-do list. But, if you’re planning on a lasting career built on year-to-year growth, it’s not enough to account for the short-term.

By creating daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly, and five-year goals, you’re outlining and quantifying your progress.

While your quarterly and yearly goals may be clear in your mind, what about five years from now? Perhaps you’d like to add to your designations, or incorporate a new team member, or add an additional branch.

No matter how you envision your profes58

sional future, the first order of business is to create a timeline. Once you have a clear deadline in mind, it’s far easier to build out the steps and calendar necessary to achieve your goals.

3 Specificity is Empowering While you may have a general sense of where you’d like to see your business go in the next few months or years, it’s hard to work toward or attain a goal that’s abstract.

To make the most of your time and efforts, you must identify and understand precisely what you’re aiming toward. For instance, instead of planning to add volume to your enterprise, outline a specific, attainable number to work toward. Or, if you’d like to add an administrative staff in the years to come, consider the details of this decision—the money it would take, the type of people you’d want to hire, how many hours per week they’d work, what tasks they would complete, etc. Adding hard details to your goals not only makes them more realistic, but progress is more easily made when you have specific items you can cross off your to-do list along the way.

While there are no 100% fool-proof or guaranteed routes to success, shifting your mindset from the present and the abstract, to the specific and the long-term can have a major impact on your chances of success.

Instead of dreaming of being more productive or successful, do yourself a favor and craft a gameplan you can bank on.

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CHRIS CRADDOCK Chris Craddock is the owner and team leader of The Redux Group, which is based in the Washington DC Metro area. The Group covers northern Virginia down to Richmond and most of Maryland including Baltimore.

Chris found his way into the field in 2003, while working at a Christian ministry. He and his pregnant wife needed better income, so he went to the library and checked out every book he could find on real estate investing.

Worked on his knowledge of the field until 2011, when he started buying and selling houses, and was given a copy of Gary Keller’s Millionaire Real Estate Agent by a friend.

Inspired by the model presented in the book, in 2014 Chris was able to launch his retail team, which has grown into a 27-agent powerhouse with almost $200 million in collective sales volume last year.

The Redux Group’s rate of repeat and referral business was 48% last year. Under the guidance of Chris, a nationally certified Life Coach in Leadership, the team works extremely hard to be the go-to experts in the field. Chris envisions the role of the real estate agent as a wise counselor with knowledge to offer, and he applies this philosophy to the team’s every transaction, each of which involves a very significant decision for clients.

Chris’ awareness of this significance shows particularly in the investor seminars he holds for past clients.

He wants to share his knowledge of real estate with as many people as possible, and advocates for investing on the part of buyers and agents alike (20% of his team’s business is with investment properties). In Chris’ eyes, real estate is a tool to be used in the pursuit of life goals, and, as he says, “we want to give our clients the tool.”

The Redux Group features a full marketing staff with extensive marketing, from Craigslist and the MLS to payper-click advertising and Facebook.

They make sure to diligently check on and update their large buyer list and 17,000-person database as well.

Chris is delighted to be able to share real estate with so many people; he feels deeply rewarded by helping others come closer to their aspirations by showing them how easy it is to build wealth and strive for success.

Chris is also highly involved in his community. He’s been an integral figure in the local church for many years, and with six children all involved with sports and school activities, there is no shortage of avenues for community engagement. For the future of the Redux Group, Chris simply hopes to continue to help people find their way to accomplishment. His team is on the cutting edge of real estate, so there is no real need to grow the business, although of course each member, Chris included, is always working to learn and improve.

Reach Chris at: (703) 868-3118, chris.craddock@thereduxgroup.com, dmv.thereduxgroup.com https://

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CHRISTINA RICE Top Agent Christina Rice – Lead of Ensley Real Estate’s Christina Rice Team in Cedar Springs, Michigan – is an honest, hardworking and truly dedicated real estate professional who is committed to providing her many grateful clients with top-notch customer service.

With her focus on forming long-lasting relationships with her valued buyers and sellers, Christina has more than earned her stellar reputation as a trusted and integrity-based real estate advocate for anyone looking to sell or purchase in the greater Grand Rapids market.

Christina began her journey in real estate began in 2013, following the loss of her first husband in an accident. “I was living in Kansas City,” she recalls, “and I wanted to sell my home and move back to Michigan.

I called the person everyone said was the best agent in the area, and he told me I’d be better off just letting the bank take it back because I wouldn’t make enough money from the sale to get out from underneath it. It was very disheartening, and I set out to prove them wrong.” Prove them wrong she did, taking on the sale herself. “I did some marketing, and I had eleven people come through over the first weekend, and I ended up getting much more than what I had been asking for, enough to move myself and my kids back to the Grand Rapids area. And that’s when I realized that this is something I should be doing for a living.”

After then selling her parent’s house, Christina obtained her license and signed up with Ensley Real Estate, eventually opening her own branch and forming the Christina Rice Team, which currently employs three other agents and an administrative assistant.

“I’m so grateful to my brokers Pat and Laura Ensley

for their mentorship, I’m not sure where I’d be right now without their help.”

Currently, almost the entirety of Christina’s considerable business is based upon repeat clients and referrals, a true indicator of the exceptional customer service she and her team provide.

There are many factors that come into play when assessing this impressive level of trust and loyalty exhibited by those she works with, and chief among them would be the relationships she strives to build with each of them. “I’m not just in this business to sell a house and then never talk to that client again,” she explains. “I spoil my clients, even after the transaction is completed.”

Another reason would be her exceptional, thorough and intelligent approach to marketing her many listings. Professional photography is utilized exclusively to showcase each property in its best light, and deft utilization of social media ensures maximum exposure to potential buyers and a fast sale for top dollar, not to mention happy clients.

Christina is also heavily involved in her community, volunteering and donating to any worthwhile charitable effort, including feeding the needy and organizing coat drives. She is also active with many veteran groups, as her current husband is retired military.

Looking to the future, Christina’s plans include continued growth, and adding new agents she can mentor to develop their own successful businesses. Above all, however, remains her constant objective: to continue providing the top-of-the-line customer service that has become her calling card.

For more information about Christina Rice, please call 616-375-1606 or email Christina@EnsleyTeam.com 60

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3 Surefire Methods that Make for a Productive Meeting Sometimes a business meeting can achieve exactly what it sets out to do: communicate, assess actions, set goals, or otherwise. Other times, meetings can feel like a drain on your time and energy, and only advance your agenda in marginal ways. While meetings are an integral form of communication in the professional world, how can you ensure that they are both productive and worthwhile?

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The truth is, it takes intentioned planning to make a meeting a success. A well-curated meeting makes partners and employees feel unified as a team, excited about what’s to come, and motivated to achieve a collective goal. With that in mind, consider a few approaches below to maximize your next meeting and ensure that all parties involved leave with a renewed sense of direction and inspiration.

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1. Create a detailed agenda in advance Oftentimes meetings are scheduled with a loose goal in mind—to hash out the terms of a contract or to strategize a new marketing campaign, for example. To ensure your meeting is productive, time-efficient, and achieves its end, create a detailed agenda in advance. This means breaking down your overarching goal into pieces and outlining what’s required to complete each component. You might also consider making time blocks for each respective component, so there is a clear structure and hierarchy in place. Not only does this ensure that time is used wisely and evenly, but it also creates order and momentum for the greater task at hand. What’s more, you’ll want to distribute this detailed agenda in advance of your meeting, so that all attendees will be familiar with the format and delineated goals of your gathering. This will set a professional tone, while keeping team members and conversation on task.

2. Reserve off-topics ideas and comments for later Too many meetings are derailed when an off-topic question or comment is made and hijacks the attentions of attendees. While it’s natural that outlying issues may arise when all team members are gathered, you can ward off distractions by creating a so-called holding area for off-topic talking points. This holding area will serve as the receptacle for any off-topic or lower priority addendum, and you can create a chunk of time towards the end of your meeting to readdress those 62

points separately. Once you’ve achieved the highest priority goals of your meeting, you can then return to the items in your holding area. Note: be sure to familiarize your staff with this approach so that the expectation is already in place and interruptions won’t distract from your meeting’s true intent.

3. Conclude every meeting with a brief summary and action items The very last thing you should do before concluding your meeting is to reemphasize the main takeaways of your gathering and outline a specific list of action items. Again, successful meetings are clear and give attendees a sense of direction. That’s why reiterating action items—or next steps in need of completion—to each respective employee is an essential component of a productive meeting. Likewise, summarizing main takeaways unifies a team’s understanding of what’s important and why the meeting was called in the first place. Ending on a concrete yet proactive note helps launch team members toward the next event in their day and gives them a sense of confidence as they tackle their duties.

Meetings don’t have to be a formality or a bore. When planned and executed with incisiveness, they can inspire your talent roster and streamline productivity in your office.

Especially in the world of real estate, ensuring everyone is on the same page and doing their jobs effectively is key to success and longevity. Put a little planning into your next meeting, and you’ll save yourself valuable time and energy as you move forward.

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DANIEL O’BRIEN Throughout his life, Daniel O’Brien has always been passionate about helping others. He first took an interest in real estate in 2002, when he got his start in home sales.

After finding fast success in the market, he would move on to industrial buildings and commercial real estate in 2005. In the years since, he has gone on to author an accomplished career in the commercial sphere, running the commercial divisions of several leading offices in Sydney. Inspired by these experiences, he then decided the time was right to take his work to the next level and launch his own company, X-Commercial. The rest is history.

Over the years, Daniel has earned a fantastic reputation throughout Sydney, with the vast majority of his volume coming from repeat clients and referrals. With his team now averaging over 350 annual transactions as a group, he remains focused on upholding the proven track record that has set him apart in the region. “We understand that the day you stop learning is the day you should retire.

As such, we are constantly working on our personal development and mindset, whether that means attending conferences and seminars or completing team training exercises. Each day, we strive to remain at the forefront of our industry.”

Today, Daniel is the CEO of X-Commercial, a private commercial agency, where he oversees an elite team of 45 agents spread across four offices in Sydney.

Specializing in the large industrial lots and buildings of the Sydney Metropolitan area, he has established a legacy of service, integrity, and excellence in his city, meeting the demands of even the toughest transaction.

Outside his career, Daniel is deeply committed to his community, lending support to a local charity throughout the year. When he’s not with clients or giving back, he can be found travelling, spending time with friends, or relaxing at home with his wife and two daughters.

When listing a property, Daniel equips his clients with a cutting edge strategy. After helping them fully prepare for the market and connecting them with a suite of professional photography and videography services, he shares their listing to a blend of highly targeted digital campaigns. Along the way, his team also utilizes its own extensive database to expand each client’s reach, ensuring a seamless transaction catered to their needs.

But Daniel is just as attentive when assisting his sellers, leveraging his decades of experience and clear style of communication to guide them to the right investment for their best interests. In fact, he stays in touch long after the deals are done to keep his clients apprised of the market and foster a lasting relationship. “Above all, I’m honest and direct with all my buyers and sellers,” he says. “In real estate, you truly have to enjoy dealing with people—and make sure that comes across with every transaction.”

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But going forward, Daniel also has strong plans for the future of X-Commercial. As his volume maintains its rapid growth, he intends on opening four new offices while expanding into the Brisbane and Melbourne markets. Through it all, though, he is most excited about the network of satisfied clients and colleagues he has cultivated in the city he loves.

To learn more about Daniel O’Brien email daniel@Xcommercial.com.au, visit www.xcommercial.com.au or call 02 9189 9900 63

DEANNA ARMARIO A California native and resident of the Bay Area for more than 35 years, DeAnna Armario began her career as an accountant for a prominent engineering firm in San Francisco. But as a single mother, she soon found herself seeking an opportunity that spoke to her entrepreneurial spirit. After getting introduced to mortgage lending, she took an interest in real estate and decided to pursue her license in 2002, quickly finding her niche in the luxury market.

Today, DeAnna is the Senior Partner and Owner of Armario Homes, powered by Keller Williams Tri Valley Realty, where she assists clients throughout the Bay Area. With her team ranked as a Leading 100 Team of the Bay Area, she has combined her years of experience with her penchant for client service to meet the demands of any transaction.

When listing a home, DeAnna helps her clients fully prepare for the market, connecting them to her network of inspectors, home stagers, and professional photographers to ensure their property shines in all its promotional materials. From there, she shares her listings to a blend of highly targeted digital and social media campaigns. But she also utilizes print publications like The Pleasanton Weekly and Luxury Home Magazine to give her sellers an added advantage in the leadup to their standout open house showing.

Elsewhere, DeAnna is just as attentive when assisting her buyers, leveraging her insight into the local market to uncover the right investment for their best interests. In fact, she keeps in touch long after the deals are done through frequent check-ins and lively events like her popular Thanksgiving pie giveaway— all to make sure her clients are thriving in their new

homes. Moreover, she provides ongoing assistance through her extensive list of vendors and contractors, should her clients wish to remodel or make any changes to their property.

Over the years, DeAnna has earned a fantastic reputation throughout the Bay Area, with the majority of her volume coming from repeat clients and referrals.

With her team having completed over $108 million in volume in 2021 alone, she remains focused on the excellent standards that continue to set her apart in California.

“Honesty and integrity matter most to me,” she says.

“From start to finish, the client is my top priority; I’m always putting their needs first and making sure their transaction runs smoothly.”

Outside her career, DeAnna is deeply involved in her community. On top of supporting local businesses, her team donates a portion of each commission to the school of their client’s choosing. When she’s not with clients or giving back, she can be found travelling, spending quality time with her children, or enjoying all the Bay Area has to offer.

For DeAnna, real estate is very much a family business, with her daughter serving as her Junior Partner and her son serving as her team’s photographer. Going forward, she is excited to continue growing Armario Homes while sharing her proven values with the next generation of agents. “Since I started out as a single mom, real estate has been such a great experience.

Today, I enjoy nothing more than showing the new agents on our team that you can have a successful career while still being self-employed. That’s what I love about this business: The more you give back, the more you receive.”

To learn more about DeAnna Armario, call (925) 260-2220 email deanna@armariohomes.com or visit ArmarioHomes.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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GAYLE HUNTER Gayle Hunter began her real estate career 7 years ago, but her passion for the business was born long before that, when she was only 18 and purchasing her first house in Edinburgh. “I really enjoyed that process, and the challenge it presented,” Gayle recalls. After getting married and starting a family, Gayle and her husband eventually moved from Scotland to Canada, where she built a successful career in the service industry with an international corporation while raising their two children. When they were grown, she decided to turn her passion for real estate into a second career, getting her license in 2015.

The rest is history, and in the years since then Gayle has built a strong reputation based on her work ethic, her deep knowledge of the market, and the personal connections she forms with her clients. “Real estate is based on your trust, integrity, market knowledge, communication and understanding what your clients really want. My continued success comes from the commitment I put into constantly elevating my knowledge and always finding solutions versus excuses to ensure all my clients’ expectations are fulfilled. I truly stand by my slogan: ‘I love what I do and the people I do it for.’”

Today Gayle is an award-winning Realtor® with Royal LePage, delivering superior service to clients in Kelowna and up and down the entire Okanagan Valley. She ranked in the Top 3 percent of agents in her marketplace from 2017 through 2020, earning Royal LePage’s Diamond Award four years running.

The brokerage recognized her with the Red Diamond Award in 2021 for performing amongst the Top 2 percent of all of its agents nationwide. She also received that year’s Award of Excellence.

An enviable 98 percent of her business comes from referrals, or from repeat clients who put their trust in Top Agent Magazine

Gayle again and again. Her reviews all tell a similar story, with one couple writing: “She truly has a passion for Real Estate and loves what she does. She takes the time to listen to you and makes sure you are comfortable with everything along the way.” All of Gayle’s clients receive the same gold-standard service. She takes the time up front to learn their wants and needs, explain the process, and answer all of their questions throughout the process.

Gayle also loves to give back and attends to the broader needs of her community, collaborating with Habitat for Humanity and the Women’s Shelter.

Leisure time for Gayle is enjoying quality time with family, and traveling.

As for the future of her business, Gayle is excited to share with everyone the launch of Gayle Hunter & Associates, to enhance client services in today’s growing real estate market.

Contact Gayle at 250-575-9184 or email gaylehunter@royallepage.ca

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4 Qualities of Exceptional Employees Hiring a new employee is one of the more stressful parts of being a business owner. After all, you’re taking someone on and trusting that they’ll not only be a valuable addition to the team, but won’t do anything to hurt your business’s hard earned reputation.

Sometimes a person comes in and you click right away, and other times you might be blown away by an impressive resume. But there are things you should look for that might not be as obvious at first. Employees that have the following qualities are ones you should seek out, because they will definitely be well worth the time and energy you invest in them.

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1. They have the confidence to be innovative There’s a reason people are drawn to those who think outside the box. Not only do innovations often lead to an extremely profitable business, even when that thinking doesn’t pan out, creative thinking is something that will energize your business and will motivate more employees to start taking chances.

Innovative thinkers also usually have great leadership skills. Ironically, you want an employee who isn’t afraid to speak up to authority and is someone who knows how to bend the rules without breaking them. They know that

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the success of the team and business is what’s most important, as long as it’s done ethically and with respect for everyone involved.

2. They are constantly reviewing their past performance A good employee looks forward, but they also look back. They are always evaluating what worked and what didn’t work in past performances and then adjusting their plans going forward accordingly. If they are coming off a big win, they know how to capitalize on that by using the momentum and cementing in everyone’s minds the value that they add to the team.

If things didn’t go as planned, they assess what they can do better next time, and they don’t get bogged down in insecurity. They take responsibility and they have confidence that they won’t repeat past mistakes. They know that failure is a temporary state, and are able to learn lessons from their mistakes, that will make them a better employee going forward.

While no one wants to fail, having the confidence to try something and fail will one day let you strike gold. Someone who lets failure shut them down, leads to a dead end and will soon make them a dead weight on your team.

3. They value teamwork Even though an exceptional employee might be a rising star, they realize that success is Top Agent Magazine

not an individual endeavor, it relies strongly on who you’re working with. Exceptional employees make sure that everyone is contributing and valued for their input. They put the interests of the company above their own, and thrive in an environment where ideas and information are shared freely.

Shared success is the ultimate goal for every project. Exceptional employees have the confidence to know that even when they’re not singled out for praise, they’re an irreplaceable component of a larger machine.

4. They are self-motivated learners A key thing to remember is that while experience is a valuable commodity, intelligence and intellectual curiosity is usually something that can’t be taught. Yes, you might request employees get additional training or attend seminars, but exceptional employees will be seeking out educational opportunities constantly. Even if they don’t have a lot of money for weekend retreats, they will be getting books from the library, downloading audiobooks, and most importantly, taking advantage of one their greatest resources, YOU. Exceptional employees know that the way to stay ahead is to always be at the forefront of new technology and systems. They don’t see educating themselves as a burden, they actually enjoy it. They realize that everything they take in, will one day make them not only an exceptional employee, but an exceptional boss as well.

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LAKIA HASENJAEGER Throughout her life, Lakia Hasenjaeger has always possessed an entrepreneurial spirit. After starting her career in corporate America, she began taking an interest in real estate while investing in properties. In particular, she was inspired by the ways in which the business spoke to her passion for helping others while still leaving her time to be there for her growing family. So in 2006, she decided the time was right to pursue her license—and she hasn’t looked back since.

Today, Lakia leads The Jaeger Group, LLC., where she assists clients throughout all of Northwest Indiana. With her team specializing in everything from residential real estate to rehabs and investment properties, she possesses the expertise, insight, and enthusiasm needed to assist any buyer or seller.

When listing a property, Lakia prefers a comprehensive strategy. After helping her clients prepare their home for the market, she shares it both over the regional MLS and a blend of over 100 syndicated websites. Along the way, she leverages her far-reaching social media presence, as well as her extensive network of investors and buyers, to ensure a seamless transaction catered to each client’s best interests.

Elsewhere, Lakia is just as hands-on when assisting her buyers, leaning on her acute knowledge of Northwest Indiana to uncover the right home investment for their needs. Formerly a licensed mortgage broker, she is able to walk her clients through the entire process, assisting them with credit repair and helping them make fully informed decisions on their future. “I never give up on a client,” she says. “If I encounter a buyer who is struggling to get

pre-approved, I stay by their side, helping them build their credit and putting them in a position to succeed in the future.”

Over the years, Lakia has earned a terrific reputation throughout Indiana, with the vast majority of her volume coming from repeat clients and referrals. She has also expanded her business into different markets, having built a full-service rehab team that provides a one-stopshop for clients and investors looking to realize their goals in real estate. “In this business, no two transactions are ever the same. At the end of the day, there’s always something new to learn and share with your clients, and that’s what keeps it so exciting for me.”

Outside her career, Lakia is tremendously involved with her community.

On top of supporting local charities throughout the year and providing rental assistance to those in-need, she has also collaborated with an area nonprofit organization to provide subsidized housing for at-risk youth in the area.

When she’s not with clients or giving back, she can be found travelling or spending quality time with her family and children.

Going forward, Lakia has strong ambitions for the future of The Jaeger Group. As her volume maintains its steady growth, she is excited to deepen her work with mentorship and new investor training, which will allow her to share her passion for real estate with those in her hometown. Lakia also plans to expand her market to other areas. “Real estate feels like a ministry for me,” she says.

“After all, there’s no better investment out there. And you just can’t put a price on seeing your clients smiling, crying, and celebrating at their closing. Truly, it never gets old.”

To learn more about Lakia Hasenjaeger, please call (219) 796-0449, email thejaegergrp@gmail.com or visit thejaegergroup.com www.

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LYNN BURNETT Lynn Burnett’s real estate journey began in 2004, after a 20-year career in medicine as an Ultrasonographer. “Two small children, my husband traveling 4 days a week, and a move from Washington, DC to Charlotte, NC led me to look for a different career path,” Lynn recalls. “I had always wanted to sell real estate, so I went to school and got licensed.” However, Lynn faced an interesting challenge early on. “On the day I started, I knew 5 people in Charlotte. My broker in charge told me I should be contacting 250 people, and I said, ‘Oh, I’m about 245 short!’ but where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Lynn ended up finishing her first year with $4.8 million in volume and winning Rookie of the Year, shattering expectations and laying the groundwork for a successful career. Since then, Lynn has continued to exceeded expectations in helping her clients realize their real estate goals.

Lynn and her family moved to Charleston in 2017, and she now serves that wonderful city and the surrounding areas of the Low Country. Almost 100% of her business comes from repeat and referral clients, a testament to the trust and confidence Lynn inspires. “My clients become friends and continue to work with me because I care about the people more than the transaction,” she explains. “I want them to be happy, comfortable, and love the decisions they make.” Real Estate is an emotional subject – a home is part of the family.

Her background in healthcare contributes to Lynn’s passion for helping people. “I truly love my clients.

In Ultrasound, I was helping people and their babies. Now, I help people find their dream home, investment property and second homes! I love getting to know everyone and taking good care of them.

I make good, solid recommendations, and constantly 72

keep my clients wants and needs at the forefront of the transaction.”

When preparing a new listing to market, Lynn works with clients to help them sell the house quickly and get the maximum return on their investment. “I offer staging and make honest recommendations for improvements to sell their home faster and for more money,” she says. “I talk to my clients about doing the little things where they can make the most money. I have dependable vendors on my team to make the recommended improvements. My resources are deep, and I can take care of managing the projects, so they don’t have to.”

Looking toward the future, Lynn plans to continue growing her business and possibly expanding her small team to help better serve her clients. Above all, she looks forward to continuing to be a resource and trusted advisor to help get her clients achieve their real estate goals. “My favorite part of real estate by far is the people,” she says. “I love working with people, and I find real estate so fascinating because a house can be different based solely on who occupies it. Thus, making this job is the perfect fit!”

To find out more about Lynn Burnett, please call 704-650-3472, email lynnburnett@kw.com or visit www.lynnburnett.kw.com Top Agent Magazine

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 Top Agent Magazine

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 74

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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PHIL SHIVELY TEAM Phil Shively has spent the last 25 years helping people achieve their real estate dreams, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “My family has been in Indiana’s Brown County for many generations,” he explains.

“So it’s very rewarding to guide my clients in setting down roots here.” Leading the Phil Shively Team, he’s continually grown the business and doesn’t plan on slowing down any time soon. With two other team members, Kim Brady and Ginger McClellan, he’s formed an unstoppable trio. Kim has been in the business for 26 years, and brings to the table a passion for real estate, extensive customer service experience and a familyoriented approach. “I have five grown children, and a background in nursing and hotel management,” she explains. Meanwhile, Ginger’s forensic science and mortgage experience help the group find solutions to difficult problems. Together, they’ve established a reputation for excellence in the south central Indiana area.

“Around 90% of our business derives from repeats and referrals,” Phil says. When asked what their strengths are, he narrows it down to honesty, knowledge and service. “Our philosophy is that we are not sales people, but rather real estate consultants.

Our knowledge of Brown County Planning & Zoning regulations, septic system codes and more has helped us become a top team.” They are experienced in utility availability and property research, and their membership with the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of REALTORS®, Broker Listing Cooperative® keeps them updated on the latest developments. “We also have relationships with local contractors and Brown County government officials.” This means clients can trust that the Phil Shively Team is always working with their best interests in mind. “They know we will do everything possible to make them happy.”

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Well-known in the region, word of mouth is the main way they grow their business. One recent client raved, “Great firm! Phil Shively and team have a wide sellers and buyers’ base in the Nashville Indiana area, so you are guaranteed to have your real-estate needs met. Very knowledgeable and honest, all questions are answered with transparency. The marketing campaign for my property was well targeted to the proper audience, which resulted in 2 serious buyers within a week.”

By staying active in the community, they make sure Brown County remains a wonderful place to call home. “Our team supports the Brown County MIBOR division through volunteering and/or monetary donations. We also recently donated children’s coats to God’s Grace, a local clothing mission.” They support the local rotary clubs, Brown County Music Center, and food pantries.

Loving their work, they want to continue on this path and expand their team over time. They are grateful to be a part of Brown County, and can’t wait to assist more people in their real estate goals. “We feel fortunate to be able to work in this beautiful community, where millions of people desire to visit each year.”

6506 Loon Dr, Nineveh 46164

For more about Phil Shively Team, please call 812-988-2227 or email philshivelyteam@callcarpenter.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 75

QUINN GUAN Quinn Guan, a licensed realtor since 2012, is based in Bridgeport, Illinois, and serves the surrounding area. She got her start in real estate working part time at a nonprofit housing department, then eventually decided to pursue real estate as a career and switched to full time. She currently works solo, with plans to bring more agents on, and in the past few years she has done around $10 million in annual sales. This year she’s poised to exceed $10 million.

Quinn’s rate of repeat and referral business is about 60%. She appeals to potential new and referred clients through her open and honest nature, and makes sure to be up front with everyone, even when obliged to break bad news to clients. In short, she is always looking out for her clients’ best interest. She makes it clear that she is available to questions from clients at all times, no matter what time it is or what she’s doing. Quinn is dedicated to finding information and answers for her clients, even if they’re not directly related to a specific transaction. After closing deals, Quinn also makes periodic phone calls and utilizes a company program for mailed promotional material to stay in touch with her past clients.

Real estate is a naturally socially engaged field, and Quinn is grateful for the opportunity to meet a lot of great people through her job. She loves her clients and feels that, just as she strives to take care of them, they take care of her too. She also loves properties, and enjoys being able to see new properties all the time. The convergence of social fulfillment and the excitement of experiencing 76

ever-new properties makes the realtor’s life a perfect fit for Quinn.

For her marketing, Quinn has devised a methodical process. She starts by sharing new listings on social media when she first receives them, then hires a professional photographer and shares it again, this time an official post with high quality photos.

She then turns to her general sphere of influence, notifying people she knows or people who may be looking for a property. Finally, when the property hits the market she holds an open house, even assisting with staging if needed. This way she has full control over the way her listings are marketed.

When not working, Quinn spends as much time as she can with her two young children. For the future of her business, she plans to continue growing her practice, to bring people on and form a team, and to invest in more properties herself.

You can reach Quinn at 312.730.8319 or quinn.guan1@gmail.com, and visit windycityrealestatepro.com www.

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How To Send

SMARTER EMAILS

Email is a great tool for agents to use when trying to stay in touch with their past clients, as well as for reaching out to prospective clients. However, used incorrectly it can make your attempts to reach out seem like spam. The secret to using email effectively is making sure that everything you send out does one thing: ensure that you remain relevant to your contacts. To do this you have to get personal. Personalization will go far to ensure that your contacts are actually clicking on your emails. This means that if you do reply on an automated drip email campaign to build business, you need to customize your content so that it delivers something meaningful to each individual recipient. Here are some steps that will help you do exactly that:

1. SEND A WELCOME EMAIL TO

NEW CLIENTS AND PROSPECTS Rather than simply add new contacts to your automated email drip campaign, make sure to send each new contact receives a warm welcome as well. Sending a welcome email along with adding new contacts to your drip campaign is proven to be 86 percent more effective at catching your contact’s attention. Let them know they are welcome and that you appreciate their interest.

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2. NURTURE YOUR RELATIONSHIP

THROUGH YOUR EMAIL To let your potential client know that you are thinking about them by sending them useful content that relates to the process of buying or selling a house. Some great topics include credit score information, ways to save money, regular market updates, what buying in your market is like, information about the neighborhood, tips on how they can prepare their home for sale, and other relevant information. A great way to

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add to these emails’ punch is to time them so that they coincide with what that individual is going through and dealing with at that time on their path through the buying or selling process.

3. CELEBRATE IMPORTANT DATES

Everyone loves to be noticed and appreciated.

Schedule emails to go to each client that celebrate their purchase anniversary or birthday.

Make sure you include a personal note and your own wishes that the year ahead goes well for them. If you’ve been a bit out of touch with your contacts, you might want to send them a friendly hello.

4.

MOBILE-FRIENDLY EMAILS With our phones being akin to mini computers, most people read their emails on their phone these days. So, it is particularly important to make sure that your emails are rendering well on the smaller screens. If you want to make any kind of impact, you have to run a mobile-friendly email campaign in today’s world. You are going to lose a lot of your audience if they can’t read your email on their phones.

5.

TRACK THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR EMAILS AND ALTER ACCORDINGLY The best way to make sure your emails are being read and making the kind of impact you desire is to consistently monitor the analytics,

and see what your readers are actually clicking on and what elements are most popular with your contacts. Going forward you can alter different elements of your email campaign such as content, images, graphics, and even smaller elements like your subject line to draw in more clicks from your readers, and cater to what grabs their attention.

You also want to follow a targeted email strategy. The best way to do this is segment your email list based on the data from your CRM and the demographics of your contacts. Different clients are going to be interested in different content. Long-time clients looking to buy a second home or possibly downsize are going to be interested in completely different content than your first-time buyers. A good way to filter your contacts is by looking at which ones are looking to buy or sell, how far along in the process they are, as well as other important information about them.

6.

DON’T SPAM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES You probably already know that flooding your clients’ emails is big no-no. However, different people have different ideas about what is too much contact. One great way to approach this problem is to ask your clients whether they would prefer weekly, monthly, or occasional emails from you. This way you can cater to each client’s preference.

The emails you send your clients can often be a double-edged sword when it comes to how well they work to bring in business. Following these simple rules will help your emails be as successful as they can possibly be, and will make your contacts much happier with you. So, don’t just send out emails without doing your homework about how to do it right. Your email campaigns can be a powerful tool if you know how to create and utilize them in the right manner.

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REGAN SAMPLE Working in real estate is a family tradition for Regan Sample. “My dad was a real estate attorney, and my mom was a licensed agent who managed our rental properties,” Regan explains. Upon graduating from college, Regan thought he would take a different route and went into financial advising. “But over the years, I felt I made the wrong decision,” he says.

“I would always joke with my friend, who worked as a managing broker, that I should be working with him.” One day, after a long drive back from visiting his grandmother, he decided to go for it. After earning his real estate license, he began working as a full-time agent. Growing up in the area and watching his parents invest in and manage properties, it felt natural for Regan to join this industry.

Serving Boulder County in Colorado, Regan recently started his own team called Sample Home Team. As he builds out his group, he hopes to add members who exhibit the same client-centered focus. “I never want us to come off as salespeople,” Regan says. “I want to partner with our clients, to actually listen to their needs, and guide them in this chapter.” Thus far in his career, Regan has done just that, as he prioritizes the client experience and advises them on what steps to take next. He understands that his buyers and sellers are hiring him to help them accomplish a goal, and he takes that role seriously. “I’m working for them to buy or sell a house, so they are the boss, and they have the steering wheel. I’m the guide that keeps them on the right path.” Whether he’s getting to know his buyers and implementing a plan to find them the ideal home, or marketing his sellers’ properties to get them the highest price, he’s going above and beyond at every step.

Those who choose Regan always feel he has their best interests in mind. One client recently said, “Regan exceeded all expectations when it comes to dealing with an agent. He helped me buy and sell an open land/ Top Agent Magazine

lot and buy a home in a crazy market.

Every part of the three transactions were well managed. After my experience I can recommend Regan without reservation. You’d be hard pressed to find a better agent.” Another wrote, “Regan is very passionate to help buyers find their right home. He bends over backwards to get showings scheduled, is punctual for appointments, and very thorough with all contracts and documents. Very prompt with communication, and has a great team working alongside to ensure a smooth transaction.”

During his off hours, Regan stays active in the community through the Longmont Humane Society and his kids’ schools. “I’m also part of the Chamber of Commerce and have been the Committee Chair for various different committees.”

Regan’s sights are set on continuous growth. He hopes to host client appreciation events throughout the year and foster the relationships he’s built. “I want to add value in everything I do, and focus on helping others.

I truly believe that the more good I put out, the more good that comes back.”

For more about Regan Sample, please call 720-438-5585 or email yourrealtorregan@gmail.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 79

GEORGE ‘SKIP’ & BECKY WATWOOD Skip and Becky Watwood’s love of people led them to a successful career in real estate. Originally from San Diego, Skip moved to Brookings to raise a family with his wife, Becky. “She is from here, and her father has been in real estate here since the early 70s,” Skip explains.

With Brookings being a small town, Skip and Becky had to decide on a new career path to pursue upon arriving. Growing up surrounded by real estate, as her father Dick Wilson owns and operates Century 21 Agate Realty, it felt natural for them to pursue a path as agents. “So we received our real estate licenses, and it’s been amazing. It is a wonderful career.” Working as a team, Skip and Becky serve the greater Curry County area.

With Becky licensed in Oregon and California, she maintains a presence in both states.

“We work really hard to ensure that our buyers and sellers understand the process, and know what to expect,” Skip says. This holds especially true for their buyers, as there are many details in the transaction that can go unnoticed. “We try to make them aware of what they are purchasing, and pay close attention to the condition of it, because we don’t want anyone closing escrow to later find out something they had no idea about.” When it comes to their sellers, they take the time to understand the property and all of its intricacies. “We want to ensure that the property is well represented and that we are showcasing all of its features to the best of our knowledge.” Skip and Becky also utilize many marketing techniques to

spread the word about their properties. “We use the MLS, and through our brokerage we are able to maintain a presence on over 200 websites, including Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more.”

By continually being there for their clients, even after the transaction, they have become a well-known team in the region. One buyer recently raved, “Becky and Skip went out of their way to assist us. They were always available and made us feel like we were their most important clients. We bought from private sellers who had no idea what they were doing, so to ensure we got the house we wanted, Becky also helped the sellers with their paperwork. I have already referred them to several people who are looking to buy and sell.”

When they aren’t working, they’re enjoying everything their beautiful area has to offer. They contribute to law enforcement, the local humane society, youth sports and student activities, helping to ensure their community remains a safe and fun place to live.

“Our future plans are to keep doing what we’re doing,” Skip says. “We’re dedicated to this community, we aren’t going anywhere.” They find happiness in helping people accomplish their goals, and can’t see themselves doing anything else. “Our family has grown up in this town. We really appreciate being able to see all these familiar faces purchase or sell homes, and being there for them during this pivotal life moment.”

For more information about George ‘Skip’ and Becky Watwood, please call 541-661-1504 or email skip@century21agate.com 80

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Tips on Being a Good Team Leader Your business is booming, so much in fact, that you’ve finally made the decision to start a team. You’ve made sure it’s financially feasible, and you’ve found the right people, but there is still one other component of a successful team. And that’s an effective leader. It’s your job to not only generate business, but to motivate your team, which in turn increase productivity. Here are a few simple tips on being a good team leader.

1. Evaluate each team member, making sure to utilize their strengths Hiring the right people is one of the first steps in creating a successful team, but once you have those people it’s really Top Agent Magazine

important to figure out where they best fit into the operation. Having every team member be an ‘expert’ in their part of the process leads to seamless transactions and a business that runs like a well-oiled machine.

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Of course it’s also important to create a supportive atmosphere that allows team members to stretch beyond their comfort zones, under your guidance. It’s to the whole team’s advantage when people take initiatives to up their game by taking additional training or mastering a new and innovative technology that can improve productivity. The key is to constantly evaluate not only your systems but the people running them. It’s your job as a leader to encourage that personal growth while making sure to always protect against any major misfires. Which leads us to…

2. Always reevaluate what is and isn’t working It’s a good idea to have a weekly meeting where the whole team can convene and go over any snags they may have hit in the systems that you developed when starting your team. Your team is in the trenches with you and since everyone probably focuses on a different aspect of the transaction, it’s important to make sure things are working on every level. Make sure copious notes are taken during these meetings so you have a track record of what was suggested, as well as a history of things that may have been tried and the results.

Another good thing to focus on in these meetings is goal setting. Set weekly and monthly goals, and use the meetings to discuss what’s being done or needs to be done to meet them. When goals are met, it’s a great bonding experience for everyone. When they aren’t, it’s a moment to learn how you can do better in the future.

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Don’t forget to always take in what you can do to be a better team leader as well.

3. Stay connected and in communication These are your team members! There’s more to that than just a label. Be connected to them on a daily basis. Clear, open and honest communication is important on a busy team and that’s much easier if you actually like and trust your co-workers.

Sure you want to succeed for yourself, but knowing that other people you respect are counting on you, is an additional motivating factor, that is certain to lead to everyone going above and beyond creating a wildly successful business.

4. Be inspiring and supportive If you’re enthusiastic about what you’re doing, it really will be infectious. Encourage innovation and creativity. Yes, systems and consistency are great but don’t let your team get in a rut either.

Support their individual careers, always encourage them to go for more, let them rely on you for mentorship. If they sense that you want each member to succeed as much as you have, you won’t find more loyal employees. And perhaps most importantly focus on what’s being done right. Don’t be the boss that just points out things they don’t like. Let them know when they’ve done an amazing job and be specific about what it is. Make them feel valued and they will become a valuable asset to you and your business.

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TRAVIS BIRDSONG A lifelong entrepreneur, Travis Birdsong first took an interest in real estate 32 years ago. As a distinguished auctioneer, he learned the business from the ground up while traveling the country to conduct real estate auctions. After pursuing his license, he also found quick success as a Broker, later opening offices in Missouri and New Mexico as a base of operations to service most regions of the U.S. Today, Travis is the Owner of the Birdsong Auction & Real Estate Group LLC. and United Country franchises where an elite team helps to navigate real estate & asset projects of all kinds, including agricultural land, residential properties, commercial and industrial developments, agricultural, heavy and industrial equipment, golf courses, mining and mineral rights, biofuel, wind energy and other assets..

When listing property equipment for traditional or auction marketing, Travis equips his clients with a diversified strategy. After helping them prepare for the market, he shares their listing to a variety of highly targeted digital and social media campaigns, reaching globally. Moreover, he gives his clients an added advantage as an affiliate with United Country Real Estate, the country’s largest organization of real estate and auction professionals. From utilizing trusted methods like color brochures on many projects to employing forward-thinking digital strategies, he is there for his clients each step of the way.

Travis is just as helpful when assisting his buyers.

Leaning on his decades of experience and in-depth understanding of all types of real estate & equipment transactions, he carefully guides clients to the right investment for their best interests. In fact, he keeps in touch long after the deals are done to cultivate a lasting relationship

and provide them with ongoing support with their new properties and purchases.

In the meantime, Travis has also continued to author an accomplished career in the auctioning space, serving as the partner of choice for Lee Enterprises Consulting, the largest biofuel consulting company in the world.

“Since we have conducted auctions and traditional sales for almost 32 years all across the country, with clients throughout North, Central and South America, our team can work anywhere,” he says. “No matter the client or the size of the project, we can offer a one-stop-shop for all their needs.” Large or small projects, local or global, we handle them all.

Over the years, Travis has earned an impeccable reputation throughout the nation, with the majority of his volume coming from repeat clients and referrals. With his team on pace to complete another record year for 2021, he remains focused on the proven values that brought him to real estate in the first place. “For me, this business comes down to treating people the way you would want to be treated. We approach every project as if the client were a member of our own family, going above and beyond to ensure they are fully satisfied.”

Outside his career, Travis is deeply committed to his faith, family, community and the industry. On top of supporting various events at his offices, he also hosts an annual St. Jude’s charity auction.

Going forward, he has strong plans for the future and legacy for his business. With his youngest son Cody recently coming aboard his team, Travis is excited to further the scale with the utmost ethical standards, honesty, and integrity that have consistently set him apart.

“In real estate, and auctions, every day is different,” he says. “From the clients to the transaction, there is always an opportunity to learn, while helping numerous communities, clients, customers, and friends.

To learn more about Travis Birdsong, email travis@birdsongauction.com, visit birdsongauction.com or call (573) 429-7069. www.

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VINNIE CRUMP Detail oriented with deep ties to his community, it is no surprise that Vinnie Crump has flourished as an agent in the northeast Indiana region. But the journey to the top was rough at times for Vinnie, as he experienced homelessness in Eugene, Oregon at age 15. “I was finally able to make a life for myself in 1997, when I moved to Indiana,” he explains.

After working in manufacturing and robotics for several years, a broker friend encouraged him to become an agent. “I watched him grow for two years, going from a group of five agents to 21, and I thought I’d get my license,” he explains.

Although Vinnie thought it would be a slow climb to the top, he sold $3.5 million in his first year and has continued to grow ever since. Today he’s a solo agent with nearly half of his business deriving from repeats and referrals.

selling quickly, often for their listed price or above.

Vinnie is heavily involved with his local area, and has recently been granted naming rights to a dog park. As the owner of a dog kennel, anything animal-related holds a special place in his heart. Vinnie is also a coach for his ten-year-old son’s basketball team. In addition, Hosler Realty frequently raises money for charities, and recently donated $2,500 to those in need for the holidays.

Years into his career, Vinnie is showing no signs of slowing down. He’s found his true calling, and doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon. “Real estate will be in my life forever. It offers me endless opportunities, and it brings me so much joy to help people.”

“Early in life, I wanted to be a self-made millionaire, however once becoming energized with success, I realized it wasn’t the money at all that makes one successful,” Vinnie says. “It’s about how good of a person you are along the way.” Putting all of his focus on helping his clients, Vinnie always looks out for their best interests. Knowing that this can be an overwhelming chapter in life, he goes above and beyond to ensure they understand every step of the process.

This holds true even after the transaction, as he makes himself available to them and is happy to help out with any issues. “If the water suddenly overflows after they move in, I help them clean it out, or if the seller left a bunch of garbage in the garage, I’ll get a dumpster and clean it out.”

For his sellers, he also exceeds expectations, marketing their listing on social media. “I can reach 10,000+ people very easily with Facebook ads,” he explains.

“I don’t ever stop marketing. If the house needs it, then I keep going.” This results in many of his homes 84

For more about Vinnie Crump, please call 260-318-4990 or email Vincecrump1@gmail.com Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

Laughs!

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