NEVADA 10-4-21

NEVADA EDITION

HOW TO RECOGNIZE

TRUE LUXURY

PROPERTIES

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SIMPLE MINDSET SHIFTS THAT WILL HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS FEATURED AGENT

HADLEY FAUGHT EMBRACING SMART HOMES:

DOES NEW TECHNOLOGY REALLY INCREASE HOME VALUE?

5 FRESH NEW APPROACHES TO CONTENT MARKETING COVER STORY

CHRISTINA CHIPMAN

NEVADA EDITION

HADLEY FAUGHT Even before he was a successful REALTOR®, Hadley Faught had7 already developed a relentless work ethic that would eventually help him grow his real estate business. “When I was in college, I would sell pest control door to door to help myself stay out of debt during college.” Later, he decided to get his real estate license in order to help his wife, a loan officer, grow her business. Serving clients in Fallon, Nevada, Hadley delivers results with professionalism, making sure that his buyers and sellers always CHRISTINA CHIPMAN receive the highest standard of service.

When it comes to marketi leaves no stone unturned. “I real estate photographer for and I reach out to top agents s spur some activity right wh goes live and land offers fairly

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Outside of work, Hadley li involved in his community. H a local golf course and has h the high school golf team. involved with the youth in hi am a very active member in HADLEY FAUGHT and right now I am a mentor t We do all kinds of activities to strength Hadley takes pride in his ability to connect to clients on a ships, and focus heavily on serving others. personal level—a trait that has helped him create plenty do yard work for an elderly person, or even of repeat and referral business. “There’s nothing better time at the local soup kitchen serving dinne CONTENTS than helping someone find a home or getting them top fortunate.” In his spare time, Hadley loves dollar for their property. I love making people happy travel with his wife. through estate, especially the first-time homebuy4) HOW TO real RECOGNIZE 19) 5 FRESH NEW ers. Buying your first home is an emotional process, and In the near future, Hadley is passionate abo TRUE LUXURY PROPERTIES APPROACHES TO if you can help take that stress away and make it a good ing to grow his business and bringing addit CONTENT MARKETING experience for people, there’s no greater sense of accomon board.

“Being so new to the business, I h 14) EMBRACING SMART plishment,” he says, and adds, “Usually when you serve able to automate a lot of my systems yet, s others, good things tend to happen in your life as well.” next stepMINDSET in my business: learning how to HOMES: DOES NEW 22) 5 SIMPLE in placeWILL and automate TECHNOLOGY REALLY SHIFTS THAT HELP them.

YOUMy next goal Establishing a precise morning routine has played a key and help other agents succeed in real e INCREASE HOME VALUE? ACHIEVEteam YOUR GOALS role in Hadley’s business success. Starting out, most agents think that being a REALTOR® means having flexibility. Hadley says that’s not the case for the most successful agents. “I learned early on from my real estate coach that morning routines are vital to success.”

Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 Waking up earlier than the average agent gives him mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com more time and energy to put into his work, helping set frombethe rest. “Iinwake up early every morning No portion him of thisapart issue may reproduced any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent Magazine is publishedtobyexercise, Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top read or listen to a podcast and completeto all Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied my admin work before 9:00 o’clock. Then I’m on the by its authors.

To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. phone working my sphere of influence. My morning To learn more about Hadley Fa Published in the U.S. routine allows me to do my job efficiently and gives email hadleyrealtor@gmail.c me ample time in the day to land more business.” His visit hadleyfaughtrealestate.c scrupulous approach to work has him on pace to hit 60 Top Agent Magazine or call (775) 217–3890 transactions this year.

CHRISTINA CHIPMAN

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How to Recognize True Luxury Properties What to Consider Other Than Location When luxury home buyers are looking for a new abode, they are often advised to pay most of their attention to location, location, location. And it’s true that good locations often have better properties, but if you’re only looking at location then you might be forgetting what it is in a luxury property that makes it luxury. You could view a property in a great location, and because you completely ignored any of the other factors that make a property high end, you might find that once you move in, you aren’t as pleased with the actual house itself as you thought you would be. Here are the other things you should look out for when purchasing a luxury home: • Architectural Uniqueness: The simple fact is that good

architecture retains its value. Do your homework on architects and find the ones that have a good track record of designing beautiful, but practical homes. Don’t simply pay attention to how the building looks today. Consider how it will look in a few decades. Keep an eye out for the “bones” of the building, and decide whether they will stand the test of time or not. Things such as a solid foundation, high-grade materials, unusual details, and artistic components are good aspects to consider.

Will the structure hold up well or will it degrade and crumble without constant upkeep? That funky molding may look artistic today, but in ten years will it be considered artistic or just plain weird?

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• Practical Layout: Make sure you have enough room to live

in comfort. As a buyer of luxury property, you probably have quite a busy social schedule. You want to make sure that the layout will lend itself to helping you maintain clear separation between your social areas and private ones. You don’t want guests having to go back into your bedroom to use the bathroom. Look out for places with stairwells, awkward columns, long hallways, and other wastes of space.

• Unobstructed Views and Light: You want to live in

a home that gives you lots of natural light, such as one that is open to the outdoors. That natural light will improve your mood, as well as the resale value. The openness of a space filled with natural light will make you feel more comfortable and happy in your new home. What about the view? Do you see a Do you park, a bridge, a river, or a skyline? Is the see a park, fantastic view out your window protected? a bridge, You’ll need to understand the surrounding air a river, or a rights and zoning allowances of neighboring buildings to understand the possible risks. skyline?

• Windows: Windows are the primary source of losing heat and

cooling. Make sure they are double-paned with good insulation that will protect your home against weather and noise. Unless the windows are already like this, it is unlikely that the condo or co-op board will allow you to install your own.

• Ceiling Height: Consider the cubic footage of the property.

You want to look for high ceilings that increase the openness of a room.

Of course, you don’t want to go too high. Above 14 feet will get you diminished marginal returns.

• Storage: If you’re a woman, you will understand this one. We need

lots of closets and additional storage room to fit all of our clothes, shoes, jackets, hats, purses, etc. However, lucky for you, your potential home’s existing closet square footage will not limit you from putting in more storage space. Custom closet companies can create any kind of storage

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space you desire. You will have to, however, make sure that your new home does have an area that you can turn into this storage space.

• In-Unit Laundry: In-unit laundry has become necessary for

any luxury home or apartment. Do you really want to have to trek down flights of stairs to use the basement laundry? If you still consider it wasted space, you can convert it into more closet space.

• The Gym: Having a fitness area nearby is an amenity that is especially

important, particularly in winter when you don’t feel like walking to the gym a few blocks down.

One thing to consider is the Do you really want of the gym in relation to have to trek down size to the size of the building in flights of stairs? light of common area fees.

• Move-In Ready: I’d advise against buying time-consuming and

frustrating fixer-uppers no matter how much you want to add custom kitchens, finishes, fixtures, and other characteristics. Choose a property that already has all of these amenities taken care of. These properties have already had the same designers you would hire fashion the house at a fraction of the cost you would pay to have them do it after you move in. In this light, it is worthwhile to pay a little extra for the move-in ready home.

• Reputation: Pay attention to the reputation of the building. A

property that has a good reputation tends to retain its value. You can easily find this out online on posts, and established locals are likely to have an opinion.

If you want to buy luxury property that is really worth it’s price, then I would suggest adding these points to your list of things your new home must have.

If you want to get a high quality home that is a true luxury, you’ll want to watch out for these aspects as well as the location. Some properties might claim to be luxury based on their location, but when compared against this list, they don’t make the cut. So, don’t be fooled by imposters, and make sure you find a true high-end property.

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CHRISTINA CHIPMAN Top Agent Magazine

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Serving the Greater Las Vegas area, with a strong focus on Henderson, Top Agent Christina Chipman’s business is entirely referral-based.

NICK VLASIDIS

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Born and raised in Las Vegas, Christina Chipman has a deep connection to Nevada. She loves showing people the natural beauty and amenities it has to offer. It made sense, then, for her to enter the real estate world. “I laugh and tell people that I went through a midlife crisis in my early 30s,” she explains.

“I was in insurance sales for about 13 years, and one day I just decided I didn’t want to do it anymore.” So she landed on real estate, knowing that it could offer her freedom and the ability to help others. “Real estate is one of those jobs that has no ceiling, I could take it wherever I wanted to, which is why I decided to get my license.” Six years later, Christina has a thriving business and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Recently, her daughter joined her as a transaction coordinator, and the future Top Agent Magazine

certainly looks bright for both of them.

Serving the Greater Las Vegas area, with a strong focus on Henderson, Christina’s business is entirely referral-based.

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“My clients come back to me and tell their loved ones about me because I treat them like they are family,” she says. “I give them one-on-one attention, holding their hand Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

“I just stay engaged and connected, I never try to separate my personal and business life because my clients become part of my life. They aren’t just a transaction.” throughout the transaction from beginning to end.” She develops lasting relationships with everyone she serves, regularly giving them small gifts and reaching out to them. “I just stay engaged and connected, I never try to separate my personal and business life because my clients become part of my life. They Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

aren’t just a transaction.” Getting to know each person on a deep level, Christina understands what they are looking for and is able to continually exceed their expectations. For her buyers, she doesn’t stop searching until their perfect home is found. Once they find it, she submits a competitive offer while also Top Agent Magazine

making sure her clients are getting the best deal possible. At the same time, her sellers enjoy short listing times, with most properties receiving multiple offers and selling within days. “I provide professional photography for all of my listings, and I’ll host open houses.” Completing $21 million in sales for Top Agent Magazine

2020, and on track to surpass $30 million for 2021, it’s clear she’s doing everything right.

Community is important to Christina, so she makes sure to donate her time and money to causes close to her heart. She has been on the board of directors for a local nonprofit Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

for several years and served on the Community Outreach Committee for the Las Vegas Association of REALTORS®. During the few hours that Christina isn’t working or volunteering, she can be found spending time with family, including her three daughters and her fiance.

Christina has found her dream job as an agent, and can’t picture herself anywhere else. She has her sights set on continuous growth and plans on starting a family team.

“I want to build something that my daughters and family can carry forever.”

For more about Christina Chipman, please call 702-604-4067 or email christinachipman@yahoo.com

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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 14

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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Laughs!

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HADLEY FAUGHT Even before he was a successful REALTOR®, Hadley Faught had already developed a relentless work ethic that would eventually help him grow his real estate business. “When I was in college, I would sell pest control door to door to help myself stay out of debt during college.” Later, he decided to get his real estate license in order to help his wife, a loan officer, grow her business. Serving clients in Fallon, Nevada, Hadley delivers results with professionalism, making sure that his buyers and sellers always receive the highest standard of service.

Hadley takes pride in his ability to connect to clients on a personal level—a trait that has helped him create plenty of repeat and referral business. “There’s nothing better than helping someone find a home or getting them top dollar for their property. I love making people happy through real estate, especially the first-time homebuyers. Buying your first home is an emotional process, and if you can help take that stress away and make it a good experience for people, there’s no greater sense of accomplishment,” he says, and adds, “Usually when you serve others, good things tend to happen in your life as well.”

Establishing a precise morning routine has played a key role in Hadley’s business success. Starting out, most agents think that being a REALTOR® means having flexibility. Hadley says that’s not the case for the most successful agents. “I learned early on from my real estate coach that morning routines are vital to success.”

Waking up earlier than the average agent gives him more time and energy to put into his work, helping set him apart from the rest. “I wake up early every morning to exercise, read or listen to a podcast and complete all my admin work before 9:00 o’clock. Then I’m on the phone working my sphere of influence. My morning routine allows me to do my job efficiently and gives me ample time in the day to land more business.” His scrupulous approach to work has him on pace to hit 60 transactions this year.

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When it comes to marketing, Hadley leaves no stone unturned. “I use the best real estate photographer for my listings, and I reach out to top agents so that I can spur some activity right when a listing goes live and land offers fairly quickly.”

Outside of work, Hadley likes to stay involved in his community. He is part of a local golf course and has helped coach the high school golf team. He is also involved with the youth in his church. “I am a very active member in my church, and right now I am a mentor to the youth.

We do all kinds of activities to strengthen relationships, and focus heavily on serving others. We will go do yard work for an elderly person, or even donate our time at the local soup kitchen serving dinner to the less fortunate.” In his spare time, Hadley loves to golf and travel with his wife.

In the near future, Hadley is passionate about continuing to grow his business and bringing additional agents on board. “Being so new to the business, I haven’t been able to automate a lot of my systems yet, so that’s the next step in my business: learning how to put systems in place and automate them. My next goal is to build a team and help other agents succeed in real estate.”

To learn more about Hadley Faught, email hadleyrealtor@gmail.com, visit hadleyfaughtrealestate.com, or call (775) 217–3890 www.

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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?

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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

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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 20

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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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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5 Simple Mindset Shifts That Will Help You Achieve Your Goals

Everyone knows that a positive attitude is one of the key steps to achieving success. It’s very easy to let negativity bring you down and oftentimes, people end up quitting at the first set back. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a negative person, you’re probably doing numerous things you don’t even realize are holding you back.

Recognizing these negative mindsets, and then implementing simple mindset shifts, are sure to help you not only create a more positive outlook, but a more successful outcome to whatever goal you’re trying to achieve.

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1

Turn jealousy into admiration

It’s very easy to look at someone who has what you want, and feel envious, which quickly turns into criticism and excuses about why you weren’t able to get what they seemed to get with ease. This is something successful people never do. Instead, they recognize that the only thing keeping them from success is themselves.

If you want what someone else has, you should look to them as a role model. What

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are they doing that you aren’t? There’s probably more to their story than you’re giving them credit for. Someone else’s success doesn’t hinder your ability to do the same, but constantly having a ‘life’s not fair’ attitude definitely will.

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Tackle the things you dread doing first

We all procrastinate to some extent. Usually it’s things we don’t want to do. But when you put something like that off, it creates a serious cloud over your whole day.

Experts recommend getting those things out of the way first. Not only do get it crossed off your list, but you will feel energized by your accomplishments and tackle the day with even more force.

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Don’t make decisions based on emotion

Reaching goals, especially long term ones, can have a lot of ups and downs. The key to achieving them is to stay level-headed during setbacks, really focusing on your plan and how the setback fits into your long term vision.

If you have a solid plan in place, you could be destroying months of hard work with one rash emotional decision, that is probably coming from a place of panic.

When you’re feeling emotional...wait.

It really is that simple. Wait it out until Top Agent Magazine

you’re back in a rational state of mind and take it from there.

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Learn to love feedback

It’s very easy to be thrown off by negative feedback or constructive criticism. No one likes it. But when it comes to achieving your goals, you need to be able to hear it, assess it and then make an unemotional decision about what it means to you and your success.

In fact the business world’s most successful leaders are there because they not only take in that feedback, they actually constantly ask for it. Fresh perspectives on what you’re doing are always valuable. When you’re in the thick of it, it can be hard to see what needs improvement. Asking a trusted peer or advisor can be instrumental in keeping the momentum on reaching your goal going.

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Replace a fixed mindset with a growth mindset

You might be wondering what the difference between the two are. A fixed mindset thinks that growing intelligence or skills is impossible, while a growth mindset thinks those things can be developed.

People with a growth mindset are more likely to expand beyond their comfort zone, since they really believe almost anything is possible with hard work. And if it isn’t?

They’re willing to give it a try. Being willing to try and fail, is a key element to reaching even the most lofty goals.

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