NATIONWIDE MORTGAGE 5-17-21

NATIONWIDE MORTGAGE EDITION

EMBRACING SMART HOMES:

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Does New Technology Really Increase Home Value?

SUREFIRE METHODS THAT MAKE FOR A PRODUCTIVE MEETING

How to Incorporate CURRENT EVENTS to Your Email Blasts and

FEATURED AGENTS

JINNETTE LANDEROS PHILIP LANINO

STAY RELEVANT 4 EASY WAYS to Redecorate Your Office That Will

BOOST MORALE & IMPRESS CLIENTS

COVER STORY

NATHAN NELSON

NATIONWIDE MORTGAGE EDITION

JINNETTE LANDEROS PHILIP LANINO

m there from start to finish,” says Jinette loves the close-knit atmosp With a people-loving personality and a It’s also Philip’s 9 19 ette Landeros, senior loan shared by the 20 lender contributes at Strongto his H desireofficer to help others, it was only natural Strong Home Mortgage for in Philip Tempe, Mortgage. “We’re really in a family,” shemos Lanino to enter the mortgage the last 12 industry.

“I was looking for a career over $50M new ona. “I engage with my clients at the “I am the only point of contact withinthe c change, a friend got me an interview at doesn’t work, we nning. I talk to them on the phone and to keep things simplified.” Jinette works w a mortgage bank and it seemed like the make it work whe what will fit, and discuss whether it’s a couple of dedicated processors and ap right job for me” he explains. “Looking just turn the loan nefit for them. I walk them through ciates the support of her management back, it was the best decision I ever flexible when ittea co whole way. Everything frommade.” gathering credit, if someone I amborrowers even able tow r documents to going over their Outside of providing her their scores up an Almost 10 years ing disclosure, I’m there for them.

I later, Philip is now the high-quality service, Jinnette loves credit in about fiv Assistant Branch Manager for a satellite e sure they understand spend timeLANINO with her family. Both she NATHANeverything NELSON JINNETTE LANDEROS PHILIP office of Nationwide Mortgage Bankers, ut the process.” her husband“Helping are involved with their s Inc. in Moriches, New York. NMB is a direct lending people purchase a ho school, and loans they inparticularly enjoy supporting mortgage bank, “we offer your traditional their existing mortgage is a very to some niche products, such as nonteam.

QM loans is a financial aspect to it ette first got involved in theaddition mortgage industry in basketball Most there recently, they purchased which don’t require tax returns,” he says “we’re allowed emotional transaction with a lot o CONTENTS 5. She began her professional career as a travel shoes for the entire team. to think a little more outside the box if the loan doesn’t to be handled delicately; people nt. One of her coworkers thought that she would fit the traditional mold.” relying on you and it feels goo 4 EASY WAYS TO from there,” Jinnette 16) isHOW good fit as4) a lending officer.

“It went also anTO avidINCORPORATE traveler and likes nothing m he adds. Philip is always search REDECORATE YOUR OFFICE CURRENT EVENTS TO explains. “By my third month, was already a top to attend live concerts. looks forward to ret growShe his business and is able to l WithI about 90% of his businessthan consisting of referrals, THAT WILL BOOST MORALE YOUR EMAIL BLASTS AND the United States. ormer. I was so ecstatic to do different. to both when restrictions related to COVID-19 he something consistently goes above and ing beyond to meet clients’ & IMPRESS CLIENTS STAY RELEVANT “It always comesShe backlikes to service, I make as so exciting, and I loved itexpectations. immediately.” to stay active, taking part in Zumba and Y myself available anytime, outside of new business hours and going out to the movies trying restaurants, 6) EMBRACING SMART 22) 3 SUREFIRE METHODS as well, because a lot of things happen on nights and ette’s clients are glad that weekends. she madeRealtors the switch. are my biggestTHAT source of referrals FOR A HOMES: DOEScomes NEWfrom referrals MAKE under half of her businessand Looking to the Jinnette is excited to cont they’re typically not showing houses 9-5, theyfuture, are MEETING TECHNOLOGY REALLY PRODUCTIVE m past clients. Jinnette is proud service for her clients. “ out inthat the they field attrust nighther and onproviding the weekendher andexcellent that’s INCREASE HOME VALUE? theycan needtell to reach most; when other doing banks what I’m doing, working re their family and friends. when “They that me I thegoing to keep arethey’re closed, I’m always open!” y care. I want to make sure happy,” she hard, and focusing on my clients,” she says. “I’m exc . She credits their loyalty with her knowledge of to see what the future of the industry holds for me.”

Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax Philip is able310-734-1440 to produce a pre-approval letter for clients ndustry and availability. right away, even if it’s 6PM on a Saturday night. “Not

NATHAN NELSON

mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com a weekend goes by that I don’t get a call or text from a

portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent Magazine ways answerNo the phone,” Jinnette says.just “I’m not aa client a house and needs to realtor who showed is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top get an responsible offer in right away.

I will usually call the client -to-five kindAgent of person.

I don’t care if it’s five in theexpressed Magazine cannot be held for opinions or facts supplied by its authors. to introduce myself and text them a link to my online To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. ning or eleven at night, I will answer the phone. I’m Published in the U.S. application which takes about 5-10 minutes to fill out.

nsed in eleven states across Once the country, so their somethey upload paperwork, I can typically get s they’re calling from different zones.within It’s about an hour’s time from them a time pre approval anywhere. Technology ortant that and I wanthas really helped move my 2 they know I’m approachable, business forward and this can be the difference maker in m to ask me if they’re unsure about anything.” getting an accepted offer for a client.”

For more information ab Top Agent Magazine please call 631or email planino@n

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

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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 4

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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Embracing Smart Homes:

Does New Technology Really Increase Home Value?

Technology and innovation move at a lightning-fast clip, so it can be hard to keep up with all the smart-home trends sweeping the market at a given time. From smart thermostats to security systems accessed through an app on your phone—there are endless options to customize and update your home for the modern era. But which, if any, of these smart home products add 6

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

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Smart home amenities range in price and return.

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

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

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

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Smart home amenities capture the attention of buyers

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

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

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

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NATHAN NELSON

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Specializing in new construction financing, Nathan Nelson is passionate about offering the highest quality of service, whether a client is buying their first home or an investment property.

After 22 years in the mortgage industry, Nathan Nelson knows earning people’s business comes down to two things: staying flexible, and doing the simple things well.

It’s the model that sustained him through the crash of 2008, when so many others were getting out of the market. It’s also the 10 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

reason his clients keep coming back, and recommend him to family and friends.

Nathan began his career as a customer service representative with Bank of America as part of their college reimbursement program. The bank offered him a job when he Top Agent Magazine

graduated, but Nathan decided to stay in California to complete a manager-training program with a finance company. “I discovered that I could specialize in mortgage, which was what I really wanted to do. I got my broker’s license in 2004 and have been Top Agent Magazine

helping hundreds of families achieve their goal of homeownership ever since.” He now works as a lending officer with loanDepot, the second largest non-bank lender nationally according to Mortgage Executive Magazine.

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Nathan’s clients praise his honesty, his willingness to go above and beyond expectations, and his patience in educating them on the latest market information to help them make good decisions.

Nathan is passionate about offering the highest quality of service, whether a client is buying their first home or an investment property. He represents clients in and around his home of Brentwood, California, and is an expert on FHA, VA, and FirstTime Homebuyer loans, specializing in new construction financing. He also offers special loans depending on the state of the market. “Markets change frequently, Copyright Top Agent Magazine 12

so you have to adapt to stay relevant. In past markets, Down Payment Assistance Programs were popular, but there are too many cash-strong buyers with too little inventory for that kind of loan to make sense right now. I’ve recently been doing Purchase Reverse Mortgages for senior clients who have outgrown their neighborhoods and want to move somewhere with more people their age.”

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Nathan’s clients praise his honesty, his willingness to go above and beyond expectations, and his patience in educating them on the latest market information to help them make good decisions. Not surprisingly, his repeat client and referral rate in an impressive 90 percent, the majority of the referrals coming from local homebuilders and a few veteran real estate agents. He credits client loyalty to his adherence to those basic practices. “No matter the market, I focus on always being available, efficient, and consistent, which Top Agent Magazine

makes it easy for clients to work with and recommend you.” As an example, Nathan has retained the same cell phone number for his entire career, ensuring that clients know where to reach him. He contacts them with regularly scheduled update calls to see if they need anything, and when a deal is developing he reaches out to the real estate agents on both sides, just to ensure his homebuyer’s transaction is going smoothly. His team is also diligent about reviewing all documents with his clients so that they understand everything.

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When not working, Nathan spends time with family and has enjoyed coaching his sons’ little league teams. He’s also taught karate at one of the local dojos, and coached the golf team at the high school.

Going forward, Nathan’s focused on tweaking his process to deliver even better customer service. “I’ve loved working for loanDepot and helping thousands of homebuyers achieve their dreams. I’m always looking for ways to do that more efficiently.”

Contact Nathan direct at 925-623-1019, his office at 925-326-1433, or email Nathannelson@loanDepot.com

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How to Incorporate Current Events to Your Email Blasts and Stay Relevant Email marketing is a cost effective and straightforward method of getting your name and services in front of clients with just a few keystrokes. This tried-and-true approach to digital marketing is a favorite of many, and there are countless ways to customize (and maximize) your email blasts to reap superior results. Despite this, many real estate profes16

sionals are content to standardize their email advertising and take a broad, one-size-fits-all approach to capturing interest and leads. While an up-front sales pitch certainly has its uses and benefits, it doesn’t hurt to shake up your routine and refresh your email marketing approach by adding specifics that draw renewed interest from your audience.

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One way to accomplish this is by tying in current events and local happenings to your email blasts. After all, your sphere of influence likely receives countless marketing emails per day. To cut through the noise, sharpen your message with a few specifics that separate your communications from the pack. Not every email should be focused on closing a sale, or else your audience will learn to stop listening.

How do you build your brand, stay top of mind, and keep the lines of communication open with your clientele? Here are a few ideas to get you started.

against an old rival? Do they host themed fan days honoring veterans or catering to families? Tailoring your communications to a local sports franchise’s big news or next event can draw intrigue and provide added value for your clients. Remember, not every communication you send should be focused on pitching and closing a sale, otherwise your audience will tune out your emails altogether. Instead, incorporate fun, community-oriented content that lets readers know you’re a resource for much more than real estate.

Sports news makes a splash

Become a one-stop-shop for holiday fun and seasonal ideas.

People love to rally behind the home team.

Is a regional, local university, or professional sports team in your area headed to the playoffs or the championship? Are they facing off

From Mother’s Day to Thanksgiving, anyone can send an email wishing clients a happy holiday. While the sentiment is a good one, you’ll be one of dozens flooding inboxes with

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your well-wishes. Instead, go beyond the traditional greetings and good tidings and become a hyper-specific resource for clients. Create a gift guide for Mother’s Day, outline family-friendly local events occurring in your area around the holidays, or engage in a promotional partnership with a local business who’s offering a holiday special of their own. In other words, don’t settle for just saying hello during certain times of the year. Instead, up the value of your email blast by offering clients curated information that relates to their interests and area.

Doing so makes your emails a must-read, while demonstrating your ability to go the extra mile.

Pop culture serves as a fun and timely tie-in.

Is a new gaming app sweeping the nation? Have your social media feeds been flooded with the same viral video? Is everyone gossiping about the same TV show premiere? Pop culture tie-ins in your email marketing campaigns can be extremely effective, but in order to for

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them to work, you’ll need to move quickly and keep your focus on the phenomenon, rather than your service pitch. The goal behind pop culture marketing tie-ins is communicating the progressiveness and hip factor of your brand, while capturing timely, topical interest that’s at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be in on a running joke or trend, and if you leverage trending pop culture moments in your email marketing, you’ll be able to draw views and clicks from a wide audience.

Plenty of services offer standardized email marketing templates and content for today’s real estate professionals, and while the motivation behind marketing is transactional, your communications don’t have to be. The surest way to make an impact in your clients’ inboxes is to add original value and break apart from the pack. Consider updating some of your routines with these current events oriented techniques and your email audience is sure to take a second look.

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JINNETTE LANDEROS “I am there from start to finish,” says Jinnette Landeros, senior loan officer with Strong Home Mortgage in Tempe, Arizona. “I engage with my clients at the beginning. I talk to them on the phone and see what will fit, and discuss whether it’s a benefit for them. I walk them through the whole way. Everything from gathering their documents to going over their closing disclosure, I’m there for them. I make sure they understand everything about the process.”

Jinnette first got involved in the mortgage industry in 2005. She began her professional career as a travel agent. One of her coworkers thought that she would be a good fit as a lending officer. “It went from there,” she explains. “By my third month, I was already a top performer. I was so ecstatic to do something different.

It was so exciting, and I loved it immediately.”

Jinnette’s clients are glad that she made the switch.

Just under half of her business comes from referrals from past clients. Jinnette is proud that they trust her with their family and friends. “They can tell that I really care. I want to make sure they’re happy,” she says. She credits their loyalty with her knowledge of the industry and availability.

Jinette loves the close-knit atmosphere shared by the lender at Strong Home Mortgage. “We’re really a family,” she says.

“I am the only point of contact with the client to keep things simplified.” Jinette works with a couple of dedicated processors and appreciates the support of her management team.

Outside of providing her borrowers with high-quality service, Jinnette loves to spend time with her family. Both she and her husband are involved with their son’s school, and they particularly enjoy supporting his basketball team. Most recently, they purchased new shoes for the entire team.

Jinnette is also an avid traveler and likes nothing more than to attend live concerts. She looks forward to returning to both when restrictions related to COVID-19 lift.

She likes to stay active, taking part in Zumba and Yoga, trying new restaurants, and going out to the movies.

Looking to the future, Jinnette is excited to continue providing her excellent service for her clients. “I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, working really hard, and focusing on my clients,” she says. “I’m excited to see what the future of the industry holds for me.”

“I always answer the phone,” Jinnette says. “I’m not a nine-to-five kind of person. I don’t care if it’s five in the morning or eleven at night, I will answer the phone. I’m licensed in eleven states across the country, so sometimes they’re calling from different time zones. It’s important that they know I’m approachable, and I want them to ask me if they’re unsure about anything.”

When asked about her favorite part of her job, Jinnette does not hesitate to answer. “I’ve been doing loans for close to fifteen years now, and I love the whole thing,” she says. “It’s a roller coaster sometimes. I love this process, and I enjoy helping people. That’s really the bottom line.”

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To learn more about Jinnette Landeros, call 928-364-3515 (office), 602-577-1644 (cell), email jlanderos@stronghome.com, or visit stronghome.com www.

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PHILIP LANINO With a people-loving personality and a desire to help others, it was only natural for Philip Lanino to enter the mortgage industry. “I was looking for a career change, a friend got me an interview at a mortgage bank and it seemed like the right job for me” he explains. “Looking back, it was the best decision I ever made.”

Almost 10 years later, Philip is now the Assistant Branch Manager for a satellite office of Nationwide Mortgage Bankers, Inc. in Moriches, New York. NMB is a direct lending mortgage bank, “we offer your traditional loans in addition to some niche products, such as non QM loans which don’t require tax returns,” he says “we’re allowed to think a little more outside the box if the loan doesn’t fit the traditional mold.”

With about 90% of his business consisting of referrals, he consistently goes above and beyond to meet clients’ expectations. “It always comes back to service, I make myself available anytime, outside of business hours as well, because a lot of things happen on nights and weekends. Realtors are my biggest source of referrals and they’re typically not showing houses 9-5, they are out in the field at night and on the weekend and that’s when they need to reach me the most; when other banks are closed, I’m always open!”

Philip is able to produce a pre-approval letter for clients right away, even if it’s 6PM on a Saturday night. “Not a weekend goes by that I don’t get a call or text from a realtor who just showed a client a house and needs to get an offer in right away. I will usually call the client to introduce myself and text them a link to my online application which takes about 5-10 minutes to fill out.

Once they upload their paperwork, I can typically get them a pre approval within about an hour’s time from anywhere. Technology has really helped move my business forward and this can be the difference maker in getting an accepted offer for a client.”

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It’s also Philip’s creative approach that contributes to his continuous growth and in the last 12 months he has originated over $50M in new business. “If something doesn’t work, we try to figure out how to make it work whereas other banks would just turn the loan down. We are very flexible when it comes to debt to income, credit, if someone’s score is a little low, I am even able to advise on ways to get their scores up and we can rescore their credit in about five days.

“Helping people purchase a home or save money on their existing mortgage is a very rewarding experience, there is a financial aspect to it, but it is also a very emotional transaction with a lot of moving parts and has to be handled delicately; people and their families are relying on you and it feels good to have an impact,” he adds. Philip is always searching for opportunities to grow his business and is able to lend throughout most of the United States.

For more information about Philip Lanino, please call 631-346-6803 or email planino@nmbnow.com Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

Laughs!

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Putting the power of humour to work for you!

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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 Top Agent Magazine

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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