NEW JERSEY 12-6-21

NEW JERSEY EDITION

3 EASY AT-HOME DIY PROJECTS

TO INCREASE PROPERTY VALUE

Easy Blog Topics for Your Real Estate Blog

SMALL YARD? BIG STATEMENT:

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF MICRO OUTDOOR SPACES

FEATURED AGENT

KIMBERLY COLGAN

COVER STORY

DAYNA RESTAINO

NEW JERSEY EDITION

KIMBERLY COLGAN

For Kimberly Colgan, real estate is much the region to uncover the right 19 their needs. In fact, she keeps in to more than a career. Prior to her9current status as a leading agent in Central New after the closing through regular c Jersey, she started out in the corporate handwritten notes, and lively app sphere, but later found herself seeking a events such as Thanksgiving pie fresh opportunity that better complimented bowling outings—all to ensure h her entrepreneurial spirit while affording are satisfied in their new homes. her time to be there for her family. One up with my buyers and sellers is my day, she was chatting about her future favorite part of the business,” she s still good friends with my very fir plans with her 11 year-old son Zachary Through the years, I’ve been invite when he said something that would funDAYNA DAYNA RESTAINO KIMBERLY COLGAN damentally change her life: “You need to do some- weddings, barbecues, baby and bridal show RESTAINO thing that makes me proud of you. Why don’t you be name it. At the end of the day, it means so mu them happy and thriving in our community.” a person who sells houses?”

Over the years, Kimberly has earned a terrific r Inspired by these words, Kimberly decided to pursue CONTENTS her real estate license—and the rest is history. Today, throughout New Jersey, with the vast major volume coming from repeat clients and refer she is a Realtor® with RE/MAX First Realty, where she serves clients throughout Central New Jersey. Having the key to her success? “Above all, I treat m 4) EASY BLOG TOPICS FOR 15) 3 EASY AT-HOME DIY been recognized with numerous Circle of Excellence needs as if they were my own. Whether I’m n YOUR PROJECTS TO orINCREASE a challenge, connecting them with my e SalesREAL Awards,ESTATE RE/MAX BLOG 100% Club Sales Awards, and PROPERTY VALUE the elite RE/MAX Executive Club distinction, she pos- network of referral partners, I’m always he sesses the YARD? business acumen, expertise, and kind-hearted they need me.”

6) SMALL approach needed to assist any buyer or seller.

21) COOPERATION, NOT BIG STATEMENT: HOW TO Outside her career, Kimberly enjoys crafting COMPETITION, CREATES MAKE THE MOST OUT OF When listing a home, Kimberly is there for her clients refinishing furniture, spending time with her f MUTUAL SUCCESS FOR MICRO everyOUTDOOR step of the way SPACES and has even gone so far as to having fun with the family dog Ralph. Lookin AGENTS though, she also has exciting plans for the f sheetrock a clients basement to pass a township CO Zachary, her son, is in the process of earning inspection!. After helping them prepare their property real estate license and joining her business. To for the market, she shares their listing to a blend of highly targeted digital and social media campaigns. began as a lighthearted conversation has no Moreover, she leverages the many resources available into a cherished family legacy in the heart o RE/MAX| First Realty to ensure a seamless New Jersey. “That’s what’s so wonderful a Phonethrough 310-734-1440 Fax 310-734-1440 estate,” Kimberly says. “Each day brings a process catered to each client’s| best interests. mag@topagentmagazine.com www.topagentmagazine.com client with different needs; it’s ever-chang No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent Elsewhere, Kimberly is equally attentive when assist- that keeps it exciting. Life begins at home a Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published to getting you there!” leaning onheld herresponsible in-depthforknowledge of forward materials,ing Top her Agentbuyers, Magazine cannot be opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors.

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

Published in the U.S.

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For more information about Kimberly Colgan email KC@SellingWithKimberly.com, visit kcolgan.remax.com or call (848) 228-679 Top Agent Magazine www.

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Easy Blog Topics for Your Real Estate Blog Today, blogging looks a lot different than it did back in 2007, when the platform was just beginning to take off. Successful bloggers don’t choose blog topics on a whim. They think strategically and develop pillar content that their target audience will come back to again and again.

Real estate bloggers should be less concerned with whether the same post already exists (it does) 4

than with how they can be more informative and helpful than their competition. Your personality is likely the thing that your clients connect with, and your blog is another place where you can let it shine.

Pillar content refers to those evergreen posts that never get old because they are always timely.

Think about those questions that you’ve had to

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answer a hundred, if not thousands of times— that’s your pillar content. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could direct your clients to a blog post or, better yet, they discovered the answer on your website rather than you having to constantly repeat yourself?

Or maybe you helped a client sell their house for much more than they were expecting by conducting a series of small and inexpensive renovations. Tell your readers how you did it.

Evergreen Content

Your clients are likely new to the area. Inform them about upcoming community events or mom-and-pop shops they may have never heard of. Are there hiking trails or parks nearby?

What’s the best place to grab a cup of coffee before work or a beer after? You can spotlight these places regularly as a monthly series.

This should really make up the bulk of your content. The possibilities are endless, and you could easily come up with an entire year’s worth of content with only a few hours of brainstorming.

Here are some examples: You could provide your readers with a list of questions they should ask when interviewing a realtor, the steps to becoming a real estate investor, real estate facts all first-time homeowners should know, steps new parents should take to prepare their home for a baby, recommended vendors for home maintenance, or common real estate terms defined.

You could explain to your readers what they need to know about home staging, which home renovations add the most value to their home, how to research schools or crime rates in specific neighborhoods, what a home association is, or how to start flipping houses and buying foreclosures.

Case Studies Sometimes realtors work with a client for years before they are ready to buy a home. Personal finance blogs are a thing for a reason. People want to see exactly how someone else achieved a shared goal. If you have a close relationship with a client who you helped become a homeowner, consider interviewing this client and writing up a case study that shows exactly how the two of you worked together to achieve this goal.

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Stay Local

There are plenty of real estate news outlets that will be posting about the state of the market—but they won’t be talking about your specific community, and that’s where your blog comes in.

Of course, if you only blog about community functions or properties on the market, then as soon as that event is over or that listing is sold, your content ceases being useful.

The best real estate blogs balance their content by posting a little about all the above. Maintaining a high-quality blog means your prospective clients don’t need to visit several websites to have their questions answered because you’ve done the work for them. It’s a tool that helps you make a great first impression.

If you still need help coming up with blog topics for your real estate blog, consider sending a survey out to your clients. You can send it via email and post it on social media. Ask your clients what real estate problems they need help solving and write your content with their responses in mind.

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Small Yard? Big Statement: How to Make the Most Out of Micro Outdoor Spaces When house-hunters compile their lists of musthave home items, a dreamy backyard space is often near the top. After all, who doesn’t want an outdoor oasis of their very own? From summer barbecues to open space for your dog to frolic— everyone has their own aspirations when it comes to creating the perfect backyard paradise. But as homebuyers seek properties deeper within city limits, and Millennials opt for properties with 6

urban amenities and access, home-connected outdoor spaces are becoming a bit smaller in stature.

Of course, size isn’t everything when it comes to outdoor space. Even balconies, rear patios, and ultra-tiny yards can provide homebuyers with the outdoor reprieve they crave—even on a smaller scale. For a few ideas that can help you envision all the possibilities of a micro outdoor space, read on for inspiration.

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Think vertically.

When space is at a premium, think up instead of out. In other words, make the most of small spaces by capitalizing on your backyard, balcony, or patio’s overhead height. Mood-setting string lights, hanging pocket or wall gardens, floating shelves, and modern overhead hangings can create a sense of privacy and luxury without cluttering the square footage on the ground.

Soothing sounds set the mood.

Upgrade the look of structural components.

Not in love with your patio pavers? Don’t have the sweetest view off your balcony? Whatever your small backyard living space gripe may be, there’s always a solution if you go back to the basics. Consider the structural components of your outdoor space that you aren’t in love with and there’s likely an affordable, eye-pleasing solution. For instance, plenty of home goods Top Agent Magazine

retailers make a variety of punchy or luxe outdoor rugs that can disguise stained or lackluster outdoor flooring. Power-washing is another great solution for old grime and dirt that’s an eyesore. Don’t have a great view? Planting ivy on bare walls, installing adjustable mood lighting, or hanging planters can create a more inviting ambiance.

While there may not be room for a swimming pool or pond in a micro yard or balcony, you can still bring the calming presence of water to your outdoor oasis. Fountains run the gamut in sizing and price, making this amenity an easy acquisition. What’s more, a running fountain not only adds a soothing sound to your space, but it also helps drown out noise from the street or the neighbors—making your space entirely your own and stress-free.

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Don’t compromise on your culinary dreams.

If you love to entertain in outdoor spaces or relish the chance to man the grill—small outdoor spaces don’t have to trip you up. Grill options (both propane and charcoal) come in a range of sizes, many of which can be outfitted securely to balcony posts or be tucked away and out of sight when out of use. Consider nesting tables or those with a removable leaf to adjust your seating and dining options depending on company.

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Another trick? A small, oscillating fan can keep air flow moving in a small space during grill season—and can be easily affixed to walls or posts, as well.

Don’t let yourself or clients be discouraged by spaces with more limited square footage in outdoor areas. Furniture and design trends have already begun shifting toward providing better small-space options, and at the end of the day, a backyard space is all about providing an area for relaxation. With a few well-placed, strategic choices, you can still have it all.

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DAYNA RESTAINO Top Agent Magazine

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DAYNA RESTAINO “I love helping walk clients through the process – it’s my favorite part of my job. My clients are the heart and soul of my business, and guiding them towards success is incredibly fulfilling.”

Born and raised in Staten Island, NY, Dayna moved to Long Beach Island, NJ in 2015 so she and her husband could get involved with his family building business. For her part, Dayna got involved by acquiring her real estate 10

license to help with the sales side of the properties – as it turns out, she was very talented, and used it as a method to launch a full-time career as a Realtor®. After four years in the business, Dayna has grown her brand and built a following Top Agent Magazine

through her extensive knowledge and personal service, and she hopes to continue developing her Team as her career continues to blossom.

When Dayna works with clients, her Top Agent Magazine

number one priority is to make the transaction process as stress-free as possible for them. To this end, she keeps herself available to answer questions and solve any problems that might arise, and takes a personal approach to pinpointing 11

clients’ needs and doing everything in her power to meet them. “I love helping walk clients through the process – it’s my favorite part of my job,” Dayna says. “My clients are the heart and soul of my business, and guiding them towards success is incredibly fulfilling.”

Dayna devotes time to maintaining lasting relationships with past, present, and future clients. She currently gets more

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than half of her business from repeat clients and referrals, and looks forward to growing her sphere of influence even further in the future.

Dayna has recently brought her husband, Frank, onto her Team, who comes from a background in building and brings extensive knowledge of construction to their real estate Team. Together, they

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Dayna has recently brought her husband, Frank, onto her Team, who comes from a background in building and brings extensive knowledge of construction to their real estate Team. share a wealth of experience that is a huge benefit to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.

Dayna works with a lot of buyers buying beach houses and second homes, and is eminently capable of navigating the market in Long Beach Island to get the best possible results for her clients.

In terms of marketing, Dayna focuses on social media as the platform to garner the most exposure for her listings. She uses professional photography and drone footage to highlight the strengths of each property. Dayna advertises heavily through social Top Agent Magazine

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media, but also strongly believes in print advertising, including direct mailers and ads published in the local newspaper and the Homes and Lands Magazine. She reached her goal of closing more than $8M in total sales volume last year. Now with her husband on her Team, their goal to close $14M on the year has now been reached in early October.

The Bay is Dayna’s happy place – she loves fishing and being out on her boat. This is her favorite place to spend her free time. As an active member of the community, she regularly participates in Cleaning the Bay events and contributes to the David’s Dream and Believe Foundation, one that is close to her heart. Dayna loves being able to live an active lifestyle through her job and how different every day can be - she looks forward to growing her business, and hopes to get her Broker’s license soon.

If you’re looking for a Realtor® with knowledge, enthusiasm, and generosity, get in touch with Dayna Restaino today!

You can contact Dayna at (609) 361-3121 or LBI.Dayna@gmail.com, and you can visit her website at realestatewithrestaino.com. www.

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3 Easy At-Home DIY Projects to Increase Property Value Most homeowners have a lengthy list of chores and bit projects they intend to accomplish around the house. Oftentimes, those to-do items are completed piecemeal over a long stretch of time, or else sometimes not at all. However, when it comes time to prepare a home for market, all those tasks begin to pile-up and overwhelm. The Top Agent Magazine

list of things to do before the photographer comes or the first open house is held might seem endless, but not if you tackle just a few things here and there as you go. These sorts of projects—easy, DIY, at-home tasks you can accomplish in a few hours or less, with tools you most likely have on hand— go a long way with marginal effort.

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Complete a quick rehab of closets and storage areas Many agents advise clients to declutter and depersonalize their spaces ahead of professional photography and home showings. The idea is to provide prospective buyers with a neutral palette. Not only does this allow them to imagine their own lives unfolding within those four walls, but it also helps make a home’s square footage stand out. One way to add visual space to your home without calling in the contractor is to declutter common storage areas and closets. When buyers can get a complete look at a closet’s capacity, or a pantry’s depth, or the garage’s full functional potential, they get a better sense of a home’s potential and thus, its value.

In that vein, consider decluttering and cleaning your high-traffic storage spaces: the garage, pantries, closets, attics, and basements. Besides, organizing and discarding unwanted items help you prep for a move anyway, while giving potential buyers a peak at how spacious your home really is.

Add easy curb appeal with a bit of sweat equity Sure, curb appeal can arrive in the form of a new mailbox, pathway lighting, or updated house numbers, but it can also come cheaper than that. Curb extends to the upkeep of your lawn, landscaping, and home’s façade, and there are plenty of ways 16

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you can give these zones a refresh without spending anything but time. Keeping your front and back yard green and uniform adds a lux layer to exterior square footage.

Likewise, polishing the outside of your windows, trimming hedges, and sweeping the walkway can make a tidy and wellcared for first impression. There are other measures you can take too. Planting wildflower seeds in empty beds, or collecting some landscaping rocks to frame mulched areas can add a bit of character to your residence. Repainting the front door, ensuring trees are trimmed, and keeping back patios Top Agent Magazine

neat and uncluttered also underscore a home at its finest, which is ripe for buyers to snatch up.

Transform tiled spaces into sparkling clean surfaces.

Bathrooms and kitchens are where sellers can stand to add plenty of value in the process of selling a home. While pricey renovations might be out of the question for some, there are still affordable and time-effective ways you can transform for these spaces for the better. Cleaning,

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bleaching, or redoing your tile grout—in either kitchens, bathrooms, or other tiled spaces—can give these high-trafficked areas a new lease on life. Ensuring windows, mirrors, stainless steel appliances and backsplashes are streak-free and polished also demonstrate to buyers that your home is well-cared for and practically move-in ready. Sometimes, the devil is in the details. You might consider relining drawers, changing out knobs and fixtures,

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or else decluttering cabinets and shelves for a fresher look.

No matter the challenges ahead as you prepare your home for sale, completing a few small tasks every weekend or so can put you miles ahead of the competition.

Without spending a dime, you can add serious value to your home’s bottom line, setting you up for success as you begin your own home-shopping adventure.

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KIMBERLY COLGAN For Kimberly Colgan, real estate is much more than a career. Prior to her current status as a leading agent in Central New Jersey, she started out in the corporate sphere, but later found herself seeking a fresh opportunity that better complimented her entrepreneurial spirit while affording her time to be there for her family. One day, she was chatting about her future plans with her 11 year-old son Zachary when he said something that would fundamentally change her life: “You need to do something that makes me proud of you. Why don’t you be a person who sells houses?”

the region to uncover the right home for their needs. In fact, she keeps in touch long after the closing through regular check-ins, handwritten notes, and lively appreciation events such as Thanksgiving pie parties or bowling outings—all to ensure her clients are satisfied in their new homes. “Keeping up with my buyers and sellers is my absolute favorite part of the business,” she says. “I’m still good friends with my very first clients.

Through the years, I’ve been invited to their weddings, barbecues, baby and bridal showers—you name it. At the end of the day, it means so much to see them happy and thriving in our community.”

Inspired by these words, Kimberly decided to pursue her real estate license—and the rest is history. Today, she is a Realtor® with RE/MAX First Realty, where she serves clients throughout Central New Jersey. Having been recognized with numerous Circle of Excellence Sales Awards, RE/MAX 100% Club Sales Awards, and the elite RE/MAX Executive Club distinction, she possesses the business acumen, expertise, and kind-hearted approach needed to assist any buyer or seller.

Over the years, Kimberly has earned a terrific reputation throughout New Jersey, with the vast majority of her volume coming from repeat clients and referrals. And the key to her success? “Above all, I treat my clients’ needs as if they were my own. Whether I’m navigating a challenge, or connecting them with my expansive network of referral partners, I’m always here when they need me.”

When listing a home, Kimberly is there for her clients every step of the way and has even gone so far as to sheetrock a clients basement to pass a township CO inspection!. After helping them prepare their property for the market, she shares their listing to a blend of highly targeted digital and social media campaigns.

Moreover, she leverages the many resources available through RE/MAX First Realty to ensure a seamless process catered to each client’s best interests.

Elsewhere, Kimberly is equally attentive when assisting her buyers, leaning on her in-depth knowledge of

Outside her career, Kimberly enjoys crafting projects, refinishing furniture, spending time with her family, or having fun with the family dog Ralph. Looking ahead, though, she also has exciting plans for the future, as Zachary, her son, is in the process of earning his own real estate license and joining her business. Today, what began as a lighthearted conversation has now grown into a cherished family legacy in the heart of Central New Jersey. “That’s what’s so wonderful about real estate,” Kimberly says. “Each day brings a different client with different needs; it’s ever-changing, and that keeps it exciting. Life begins at home and I look forward to getting you there!”

For more information about Kimberly Colgan, email KC@SellingWithKimberly.com, visit kcolgan.remax.com or call (848) 228-6797. www.

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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 22

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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