NEW JERSEY 1-27-20

NEW JERSEY EDITION

The Daily Schedule of a

GOOGLE ADWORDS:

How to Make Google Do the Work for You

SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE AGENT

COOPERATION, NOT COMPETITION, CREATES MUTUAL SUCCESS FOR AGENTS

FEATURED AGENTS

GLEN BAKER STACY ESSER RIVER GIBERSON COVER STORY

ROMAN BALANDIN & GEORGE PAVLUSHKIN

NEW JERSEY EDITION

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GLEN BAKER 19 STACY ESSER 23 RIVER G

Glen Baker sees his role as a they’re the only client, thanks River Giberso After seventeen years in fashion, guide. “I love being the Sherpa, We operate in seconds, other a CENTURY for her2 guiding people throughStacy this Esser was ready Redimportan Bank, next professional challenge. convoluted real estate process The only thinginmore achieved Top we have established in Licensed North his community.

“OA infamily 2010,and she transferred Jersey.” Being a Sherpa means around community and servi combination her team-building anda sales expeGlen needs the trust of his 20-year volunteer fireman, my empathy rience into a promising debutforash 7 clients, and he earns it through Fireman. We aaresolid dog fosters, comm an agent,I use now in the Topnot1% ofbe actions, not words.

“We don’t #pitbullagent only ROMAN BALANDIN & GLEN BAKER STACY ESSER RIVER GIBERSON customer serv the NJMLS since 2013. say we care, we prove it,” he says. “Our slogan is Agents ‘Trust inbecause of my negotiating skil GEORGE PAVLUSHKIN considerable Me, You Matter.’ We are Uber local, Ultra Responsive Now, she has cultivated a tightupon a foundation of and and do what we say.”

Glen relaxes byahonesty fixing things. knit team, along with reputation deservesI his reputation a lovehard-won construction.

I’m a ha for professionalism, transparency, advocate for his clients in New Jers Glen got into real estate after a successful career in the come across a project I couldn and a personal touch.

CONTENTS corporate world.

“I spent 18 years starting and selling Ocean Counties. companies,” he says. “I retired from corporate life in His biggest project is growing Today,to Stacy servesmeanclientshave across transactions North Jersey’s 2018 and decided I needed do something five yt River began600 his journey atin the 4) GOOGLE ADWORDS: 17) THE DAILY SCHEDULE ingful. I saw that Real Estate wasCounty. an industry of clients Glen toand have two built the largest a Bergen With five agents administy-two. not “Real estate was alway being underserved, and I craved working on something only in his brokerage HOW TO MAKE GOOGLE A members SUCCESSFUL trativeOF staff on her REAL team, Stacy has builtbuta i interested hehimself recalls, “and afta important that is one-on-one, not ‘corporate.’” within,” Glen business largely driven by repeat and referral mentoring clientele.

DO THE WORK FOR YOU

ESTATE AGENT ering working in other industries, Buyers and sellers trust her astute industry knowlleap get eye, my license In 18 months in the business Glen has been as big a andHe’ll get real thereestate by being com proven track record.

What’s more, Stacy is success in real estate asedge, he wasand in the corporate world.

Committed?

I ask myself this at first, trying to figure out how I 13) COOPERATION, NOT 21) 3 WAYS TO MAKE ® detail-oriented aboutteam every facet of a transaction—from believe in the “I have the fastest established and growing in REALTORS money selling houses.”

Figure it COMPETITION, CREATES YOUR WORKSPACE WORK students of the profession.

North Jersey,” Glen says.

“Right now we have five communicating with clients and educating them on the and today River can claim that heCh want to better the profession a teamFOR members and a Transaction Coordinator. expect MUTUAL SUCCESS FOR YOU ins and outs, to herI comprehensive staging selling over $65 millionrepertoire in volum justfull-time interested,professionals leave it to the to triple that by the endto of ensure 2020.” listings shine. “We’re AGENTS his lengthy career, deserve it.” with almost $1 and we believe in growth and giving back,” Stacy says.

2019 alone. He has also been awa As a student of data, Glen understands the value “We have team meetings every week and are constantly New of digital marketing. “We are social - we have an Jersey Association of Realto to improve in“We our mission,Award whichmultiple is to provide unstoppable presence intrying our area,” he explains. do Excellence times. true Facebook ads, notthe Boosts which are ineffective. highest level of concierge-style service.

We differPhone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 Nobody in Northern Jersey putsourselves up as much by valuable entiate our candor.

I’m exceptionally Currently overseeing an equally mag@topagentmagazine.com www.topagentmagazine.com content on as| consistent a basis as the MorrisAgent transparent about the market and conditions, andclient-fir we do forty agents who share his Team @ Weichert.

That’s why in the last 13 months No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher.

Top Agent a deep dive intoOur the analytics with every property.

You justifiably prides himself on the fac I Publications haven’t lost listing presentation. fivethe accuracy Magazine is published by Feature GA,one Inc. Although precautions are taken last to ensure of published have to ableunder to offer yourby value.

We want to thirds ofclients his entire business is based materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held opinions expressed or facts supplied its authors. listings soldresponsible just over for asking andbe were contract To subscribe or change address,in send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. and referrals. being in make sure there’s nothing being left“It’s on about the table and two weeks, one 73 minutes after the first showing.”

Published in the U.S. cation with my clients,” says Riv that our clients’ best interests are always served first.”

To find out more abo But data is only part of the equation, and doesn’t explain morrisage he has managed tovisit inspire such i why Glen’s business is 85% referral based. “We loyalty. treat email glenbaker@mo “Even transactio When listing properties, Stacy and herafter teamthe account for Top Agent Magazine clients like family,” he says. “They always feel like call (M) 973-727-8539 or still available them if they need every detail. “We recognize that theretoare certain things I’m available to explains. answer qu we can and can’t control in always the market,” Stacy www.

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Google AdWords:

How To Make Google Do the Work for You There is no denying that the internet is the first place a buyer begins looking for a new home in this digital age. Knowing how to put the powerful tools available on the internet to work for you can give you a decided advantage when it comes to attracting prospective buyers to your listings, as well as you as an agent. Google is easily one of the major superpowers of the internet, and they have one of the most powerful advertising tools available. Knowing how to utilize Google AdWords in the correct manner can make your internet advertising immensely powerful and possibly your best way to reach prospective buyers.

Google AdWords is also extremely cost-effective. This multifaceted tool gives you much more control over your advertising campaign than other more traditional methods. You can target specific audiences, choose the specific search terms, also known as keywords, that will bring up your ad in someone’s search results, and you can set a budget for each campaign that will dictate it’s reach and how long the campaign will run. Here are some tips for how to put Google AdWords to work for you.

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ent websites. You want to set yourself apart from every other real estate website users are viewing in their search for a house.

MAKE SURE YOUR ADS ARE GOING TO SEND USERS TO A SITE THAT WILL CAPTURE THEIR ATTENTION

You can spend an infinite amount of money on Google advertising campaigns, but if those ads don’t send users to a site that will capture and hold their interest, then you’ve just wasted all that money. Don’t put your cart before the horse. Make sure you are considering exactly where these ads are going to send users. To set up your website for success, at the very least you want to make sure users are greeted by clear call-to-action, such as a message that will encourage them to sign up for your newsletter or subscribe to your blog. You want to set up your website to maximize and capture the leads the ad campaign sends your way.

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BUILD CUSTOMIZED OR CUSTOM-MADE WEBSITES RATHER THAN TEMPLATE WEBSITES It is easy and tempting to use template websites, or to offer your agents template websites if you are a real estate manager or broker. While this offers a cost-effective solution to providing every agent with a website, it does little to set you or your agents apart and capture the attention of users that are used to seeing a wealth of differ-

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MAKE SURE YOU ARE OFFERING VALUE ON YOUR WEBSITE

Don’t simply use your website as a kind of brag sheet. Let users know what makes your particular services valuable to them. Highlight your expertise in a certain location through tools such as blog posts, providing market updates, or giving pertinent information on a unique type of property. This will ensure that your online advertising campaigns are much more successful.

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LOCATION IS EVERYTHING!

Location is everything in real estate, and the same holds true for Google AdWords. You can target specific locations in your ad campaign. While one approach is to focus on the area around your location, a more advanced approach would be to link AdWords campaigns to your Google My Business account. This is a Google service that includes your address in the ad, allowing people to then click on it and see exactly where you are located on a map.

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USE GOOGLE ADWORDS IN YOUR CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS IN GENERAL

Focus an AdWords campaign on expanding your business by incorporating specific zip codes and neighborhoods that will help you establish a presence in an area where you would like to increase your real estate business. Making sure that your ad appears in search results that are related to the real estate in a specific area will help shape the image and brand of your business as well as bring in new leads.

HARNESS THE POWER OF DATA

When you run a Google AdWords campaign Google Analytics captures a wealth of information about your target client demographic.

You can gain real insight into your online visitors, such as when they visit, what they do and look at on your site once they get there, and what search terms they use. You can use all of this information to grow your business. Use Google Analytics to determine which users (location, gender, age) are utilizing specific aspects of your site, such as looking at multiple listings, reading your blog, etc. You can then use this information to target these specific demographics in your AdWord campaigns, Gmail ads, the Google Display Network, and other advertising.

Using the internet to help advertise your business and your listings is one of the smartest moves you can make as an agent in this modern age. However, you don’t want to simply go into the process blind or you’re wasting a lot of potential resources and data that could make all the difference. To reap the benefits of Google AdWords, you must apply an intelligent strategy to using these campaigns.

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ROMAN BALANDIN & GEORGE PAVLUSHKIN Top Agent Magazine

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ROMAN BALANDIN & GEORGE PAVLUSHKIN Top Agents Roman Balandin and business partner, Co-Lead George Pavlushkin, currently oversee a team of eighteen members — The Premier Group at RE/MAX Central in Manalapan, New Jersey.

Roman Balandin and George Pavlushkin– Realtors and Team Leads of The Premier Group at RE/MAX Central in Manalapan, New Jersey – are respected and hardworking industry leaders in the central region of The 8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Garden State. Possessing an indefatigable work ethic and a vast reservoir of industry knowledge garnered during more than ten years in the business, Roman and George’s persisting objective is to provide their many Top Agent Magazine

clients with unparalleled service, an objective they not only meet, but frequently exceeds.

Roman began his journey in real estate when he was still working in the corporate world.

“I worked in finance as a Vice President of Alternative Investments,” he recalls, “and my plan B was to secure some real estate assets so I could retire with a good portfolio income-generating properties.” After obtaining his real estate license to facilitate this, he also began working as an agent on the side. Eventually, his real estate business Top Agent Magazine

grew so large he made the wise choice to leave his other job and pursue his new career full-time. George, who also comes from the corporate world, most significantly as fulltime Business Development Manager at Microsoft, also began working in real estate part time before his passion for it led him to decide to quit his full-time job and transition to working as a Realtor full-time.

Finding success quickly, George and Roman partnered up to form The Premier Group and soon became the recipient of multiple Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

industry awards, including the RE/MAX Platinum Club, the New Jersey Realtors Circle of Excellence Award, induction into the RE/ MAX Hall of Fame, and the America’s Best Award from REAL Trends. Together, the pair have leveraged their network and knowledge of real estate so that their clients can be sure that The Premier Group can find them a home that is perfect for their lifestyle and needs. Under their lead, The Premier Group has become a thriving, ever-growing business comprised of eighteen equally dedicated team members who share their client-first, go above and beyond business ethos. Not just real estate agents, Roman and George are involved Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

in every aspect of the real estate industry, from wholesale, development, renovation, and investment properties. This varied and expansive experience allows them to provide exceptional value to their clients, more so than the average agent who simply focuses on selling homes.

Roman and George strive to make every transaction run as smoothly as possible, and they are firm believers in the team concept, a team that they have structured in a way that is much like the corporate environment from which they both hail. “If there is structure, you can perform much better for your clients,” Top Agent Magazine

Roman and George strive to make every transaction run as smoothly as possible, and they are firm believers in the team concept, a team that they have structured in a way that is much like the corporate environment.

Roman explains. “This allows us to outperform people who have been in the industry much longer than we have been.” This structure has resulted in a level of customer service that has translated into a business that is based largely on positive word of mouth, as well as scores of glowing testimonials, particularly on Zillow.com, on which site Roman holds a perfect, five-star overall rating.

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“It would have to be our professionalism,” says Roman, when asked how The Premier Group manages to inspire such impressive levels of trust and loyalty amongst his clients.

“We also create solid relationships with our clients; many of them become friends.” Expert negotiation skills, and superior marketing techniques, have also played a significant role in their ever-expanding success story.

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They remain on the bleeding edge of real estate marketing technology, including drone photography, video, and 3D interior tours. Over the past few years, they have closed well over $200 million in volume, and between 170 – 200 transactions annually.

Looking to the future, Roman and George’s plans are to continue expanding their flourishing business, and perhaps bringing their unique and caring brand of customer service – the same customer service that has become their calling card - to new territories and even more grateful clients.

For more about Roman Balandin and George Pavlushkin, call 732-786-3838 or email info@PremierGroupNJ.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 12

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Cooperation, Not Competition, Creates

Mutual Success for Agents When people get along during a business transaction, everyone comes out happier. And in a service industry like real estate, agents have the power deliver that happiness. By working cooperatively, sharing advice and helping each other help clients, agents not only enhance their own reputations, but that of real estate in general.

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“Bring everyone together” Matt Kobelski, with Credentials Real Estate Group in Massachusetts, points out that providing good service involves more people than the party you’re representing. “I’m not afraid to bring together all the parties in a deal and say, ‘OK, let’s figure out a solution that works best

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Teaming up with an agent from a different brokerage on a transaction is not as uncommon or complicated as it might seem

for everyone,” he explains. “My goal is to avoid being adversarial.” Real estate, he believes, should always be a field in which each person can win. “It’s about working toward a mutual goal, shaking hands, and walking away happy that a seller sold, a buyer bought and everyone got what they wanted.”

But Is it that simple? Most agents have experienced the ways conflicting personalities and tension during a transaction can heat up even the most cordial relations. In reality, however, it’s more productive to let down your guard and work with others as a team than it is to allow stress and competition to preside. South Florida REALTOR® and broker associate, Risë V. Siegrist, for instance, has zero interest in competing with other agents. “It’s more important to be professional and associate with competent, caring people,” she says. By serving others with a cooperative spirit, experienced agents like Risë set an excellent example for emerging real estate stars. Risë hopes to be a model for the next generation of agents, training people who may one day become part of her team.

Risë’s position on cooperation inspires more reasons for nurturing relationships with other agents. Over the decades, many agents change brokerages several times. Who knows if that agent across the table will one day work at the 14

same brokerage you do? Perhaps you’ll even have an opportunity to partner on an exciting, future transaction. Good relations keep doors open to endless possibilities.

Co-listing cooperation Teaming up with an agent from a different brokerage on a transaction is not as uncommon or complicated as it might seem. In fact, some agents cleverly capitalize on their collective attributes, rather than competing against one another. South Carolina REALTOR® Kimberly Pannit is a perfect example of the universal benefits of co-listings. Although she has always been an independent agent, Kimberly works hard to form professional alliances that give her business the feel of a cooperative network across brokerages.

This cooperative approach may be nontraditional, but it benefits clients in unique ways. By working closely with agents at other brokerages, she shows how agents can improve client service while helping one another.

Kimberly’s cooperative approach began in her own neighborhood, where an agent friend from a different brokerage also lives. “Several years ago, I approached her because both of us were friends with our neighbors. I asked, ‘Why don’t we give our neighbors superior service and

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co-list together? We both love our area and are passionate about our jobs, the location and schools.’” She also didn’t want to make their mutual friends choose between them when they could work together. “I said, ‘Let’s give them amazing service together!’” With their brokers’ permission, two weeks later the agents co-listed their first home and put extra energy into ensuring uninterrupted client service.

Networking and “Co-opertition” When the ultimate goal is to match a client with the perfect home or create optimal terms of sale for a listings, networking with other agents can facilitate that ideal buyer-seller match.

Nashville REALTOR® and broker/owner Lisa Land embraced every opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the real estate industry and to her local market, even before building her own team. “Agents would frequently ask me for help or advice,” she says, noting that she shares, rather than guarding, the methods she uses to get through difficult or confusing transactions. “I was fortunate to have great mentors when I started in real estate, so I’m always

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willing to offer help, even to agents outside of The Luxe Collective.”

Meanwhile, on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Janet Leigh Scott describes the climate between agents as relaxed and professional. “While the real estate market is highly competitive, we’re truly a ‘co-opertition’ market; agents work together and a have greater sense of community than you might experience in off-island brokerages,” Janet says. “If I have buyer coming into town, I’ll reach out to agents I’ve done transactions with to ask if they have anything coming up that might not be on the market yet.”

Even in hot, competitive L.A. real estate, independent agents such as Andrej Nagy of The Agency RE knows the importance of receiving and providing professional mentorship.

“My relationships with clients are extremely important,” he says. “But my relationships with agents on the other side of a deal are also important.” For REALTORS® like him, working smoothly with other agents is a privilege.

Doing so builds rewarding relationships while ensuring win-win transactions for everyone at the closing table.

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GLEN BAKER Glen Baker sees his role as a guide. “I love being the Sherpa, guiding people through this convoluted real estate process we have established in North Jersey.” Being a Sherpa means Glen needs the trust of his clients, and he earns it through actions, not words. “We don’t say we care, we prove it,” he says. “Our slogan is ‘Trust Me, You Matter.’ We are Uber local, Ultra Responsive and do what we say.”

Glen got into real estate after a successful career in the corporate world. “I spent 18 years starting and selling companies,” he says. “I retired from corporate life in 2018 and decided I needed to do something meaningful. I saw that Real Estate was an industry of clients being underserved, and I craved working on something important that is one-on-one, not ‘corporate.’”

In 18 months in the business Glen has been as big a success in real estate as he was in the corporate world.

“I have the fastest established and growing team in North Jersey,” Glen says. “Right now we have five team members and a Transaction Coordinator. I expect to triple that by the end of 2020.”

As a student of data, Glen understands the value of digital marketing. “We are social - we have an unstoppable presence in our area,” he explains. “We do true Facebook ads, not Boosts which are ineffective.

Nobody in Northern Jersey puts up as much valuable content on as consistent a basis as the MorrisAgent Team @ Weichert. That’s why in the last 13 months I haven’t lost one listing presentation. Our last five listings sold just over asking and were under contract in two weeks, one 73 minutes after the first showing.”

But data is only part of the equation, and doesn’t explain why Glen’s business is 85% referral based. “We treat clients like family,” he says. “They always feel like

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they’re the only client, thanks to our responsiveness.

We operate in seconds, other agents operate in hours.”

The only thing more important than Glen’s clients is his family and community. “Our entire family revolves around community and service,” he says. “I am a 20-year volunteer fireman, my children are EMT’s and Fireman. We are dog fosters, especially. pitbulls, and I use #pitbullagent not only because of my fosters but because of my negotiating skills!”

Glen relaxes by fixing things. “Some people play golf, I love construction. I’m a handyman and I haven’t come across a project I couldn’t handle.”

His biggest project is growing his team - the plan is to have 600 transactions in five years and in ten years for Glen to have built the largest and most respected team not only in his brokerage but in Northern New Jersey, with Glen himself mentoring and out of production.

He’ll get there by being committed. “Interested or Committed? I ask myself this all the time. Interested REALTORS® believe in the quick buck, not being students of the profession. Committed REALTORS® want to better the profession and be truly valuable. If just interested, leave it to the Committed, the clients deserve it.”

To find out more about Glen Baker visit morrisagent.com, email glenbaker@morrisagent.com, call (M) 973-727-8539 or (O) 973.334.9400 www.

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The Daily Schedule

of a Successful Real Estate Agent Everything you do should be intentional. A busy schedule isn’t the same thing as a productive schedule. Sometimes people write things like “find clients” on their to-do list, but finding clients isn’t actually a task. It’s a goal. Your daily schedule should be created with your goal in mind if you want to be a successful real estate agent, but a goal is too broad to add to your calendar.

Instead, you can break your goal down into projects, break those projects down into tasks, and schedule time in your calendar to complete each task. You’ll find that some of these projects will have an immediate impact on your business, and that those are the tasks that should be completed first.

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The fact is that as a real estate agent you can set your own schedule—if you’re not productive until 10am, then you don’t have to start your day until then. But having a daily schedule means that every day you have a running start on all those other agents who just “wing it.”

You don’t want to feel burned out and busy but like you’re simultaneously not getting a whole lot done. You can only keep up 70+ hour weeks for so long before your body breaks down and both your performance and income drop as a result.

Since every real estate agent’s operating hours look different, the following daily schedule is broken up by the suggested amount of hours you

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should spend on each task rather than specific times of day. However, certain tasks, like prospecting, appointments, and listing presentations should be performed at times when it’s most convenient for clients. If you’re an agent who likes to end their workday at 5 o’clock, remember that this is also the same time your clients are likely ending their day, meaning you might be unavailable for showings during the only time their schedule allows.

3.5 hours – This is that time of day that you should schedule all your appointments and listing presentations. If you are a newer agent, you might use this time instead to do more prospecting and appointment setting.

1 hour – Spend this time waking up, exercising either at home or at the gym, and eating breakfast.

2 hours – Now it’s time to unwind. Use this time to have dinner and spend time with you family. If you have children, this is usually the time of day when they are wrapping up homework assignments and getting ready for bed.

It’s important that you make time for these moments the same way you make time for your work.

2 hours – Use this time before you head to the office to develop a morning routine, if you haven’t already. You can meditate, journal, practice affirmations, or read personal development books to prepare for the day ahead.

1 hour – Once you’re at the office, spend this time to review the day’s schedule, catch up with your assistant or other colleagues, and check the latest industry news. This is also the time of day that you can role play to prepare for appointments.

1.5 hours – Spend this time prospecting and appointment setting.

1 hour – Now it’s time for a lunch break. If you’re a multitasker, you can also use this time to prepare for the afternoon and any meetings you have scheduled or connect with followers on social media.

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.5 hours – Look over the day’s schedule again and ensure you’ve checked every task off your to-do list. While you’re at it, be sure to review tomorrow’s schedule and goals too.

2 hours – Spend these last couple hours before you fall asleep to have quality time with your spouse or perform your self-care routines.

8 hours – Now it’s time for sleep—getting a full night’s rest is crucial if you want every day to be productive.

As you can tell, there’s still some wiggle room left in this schedule, but the important thing is to block out time every day so you can achieve your goals and help your clients.

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STACY ESSER After seventeen years in fashion, Stacy Esser was ready for her next professional challenge.

Licensed in 2010, she transferred her team-building and sales experience into a promising debut as an agent, now in the Top 1% of Agents in the NJMLS since 2013.

Now, she has cultivated a tightknit team, along with a reputation for professionalism, transparency, and a personal touch.

Today, Stacy serves clients across North Jersey’s Bergen County. With five agents and two administrative staff members on her team, Stacy has built a business largely driven by repeat and referral clientele.

Buyers and sellers trust her astute eye, industry knowledge, and proven track record. What’s more, Stacy is detail-oriented about every facet of a transaction—from communicating with clients and educating them on the ins and outs, to her comprehensive staging repertoire to ensure listings shine. “We’re full-time professionals and we believe in growth and giving back,” Stacy says.

“We have team meetings every week and are constantly trying to improve in our mission, which is to provide the highest level of concierge-style service. We differentiate ourselves by our candor. I’m exceptionally transparent about the market and conditions, and we do a deep dive into the analytics with every property. You have to be able to offer your clients value. We want to make sure there’s nothing being left on the table and that our clients’ best interests are always served first.”

When listing properties, Stacy and her team account for every detail. “We recognize that there are certain things we can and can’t control in the market,” Stacy explains.

“One thing we can control is how a buyer feels about a space.” With that in mind, each property is prepped and staged prior to professional photography, videography, drone footage, interactive floorplans, and virtual walkthroughs. Carefully curated shots elicit emotion and make an immersive impression. Likewise, campaigns Top Agent Magazine

on social media and online listing platforms generate digital buzz. “We’re constantly exposing homes to the market and staying top of mind,” Stacy says. “We invest a tremendous amount of energy into social media and staying cutting edge on our marketing techniques.”

Beyond the office, Stacy and her team give back to the community through events, drives, and other fundraising opportunities alongside their clientele, supporting organizations such as the Center for Food Action. She also contributes her skills as a certified coach through speaking engagements and seminars that support up and coming agents and entrepreneurs. “Building people up is a really big motivation of mine,” Stacy says. “Building those relationships within and beyond our sphere is so important.”

As for the future, Stacy intends to keep progress steady as her imprint continues to grow. Now, with a decade of experience and insight behind her, Stacy considers some of the lessons learned along the way. “The landscape of our market is always changing,” she says. “It’s important that buyers and sellers work with a professional who invests the time and energy into understanding the market and its dynamics. We invest in our clients’ best interests, and that’s how we approach everything we do.

It makes a difference who you work with.”

www.

To learn more about Stacy Esser email Stacy@StacyEsser.com, visit StacyEsser.com, or call 201.256.1158 19 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

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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.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

RIVER GIBERSON River Giberson – Agent/Owner of CENTURY 21 Thomson & Co. in Red Bank, New Jersey – has achieved Top Agent status through a combination of hard work, true empathy for his many clients, and a solid commitment to excellent customer service. River, whose considerable business is based upon a foundation of honesty and integrity, more than deserves his hard-won reputation as a trusted real estate advocate for his clients in New Jersey’s Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

River began his journey at the tender age of twenty-two. “Real estate was always something I was interested in,” he recalls, “and after carefully considering working in other industries, I decided to take the leap and get my real estate license. It was a little scary at first, trying to figure out how I was going to make money selling houses.” Figure it out he did, though, and today River can claim that he has been involved in selling over $65 million in volume over the course of his lengthy career, with almost $10 million of that in 2019 alone. He has also been awarded the prestigious New Jersey Association of Realtors (NJAR) Circle of Excellence Award multiple times.

comprehensive approach to marketing his listings.

River believes that one of the reasons behind his quick sales for top dollar – not to mention his happy clients – is the fact that unlike many other Realtors, he stages every one of his properties. “I’ll have my Stager come in and do a written report, once that is complete, we’ll come in and make the house look beautiful, then bring in a professional photographer.” Following that, deft utilization of the internet and social media translate into maximum exposure for potential buyers.

River is passionate about giving back to his community, and does so through a variety of ways, including his office’s Adopt-a-Family program to provide Christmas gifts to those in need, and an annual toy drive. River is also looking forward to working with the SPCA and local animal shelters.

When he’s not working, River enjoys traveling, and has an upcoming trip to Spain that he is looking forward to.

He also likes visiting the local wineries and breweries.

Looking to the future, River’s plans include continuing to grow his already-thriving business, while making certain to maintain the unparalleled customer service that has become synonymous with his name.

Currently overseeing an equally dedicated roster of forty agents who share his client-first philosophy, River justifiably prides himself on the fact that more than two thirds of his entire business is based upon repeat clients and referrals. “It’s about being in constant communication with my clients,” says River, when asked how he has managed to inspire such impressive levels of loyalty. “Even after the transaction is completed, I’m still available to them if they need help with anything.

I’m always available to answer questions, and I never leave my clients in the dark.”

There are many factors to be considered when assessing River’s ever-expanding success story. Perhaps one of the most significant would be his thorough and Top Agent Magazine

For more about River Giberson, please call 609-276-8866 or email RiverGiberson@gmail.com 23 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

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Top Agent Magazine