NEW JERSEY 2-8-21

NEW JERSEY EDITION

Uncommon Contact:

COVER STORY

Debra Marshall

CONNECTING WITH CLIENTELE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

RECONSIDER REFERRAL-ONLY WHEN PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

5 Ways to TRANSFORM RENTERS INTO OWNERS FEATURED AGENTS

JULIE ELKON JACQUELINE HAYNES TAMMY LANCASTER

NEW JERSEY EDITION

e Ross Law Firm is proud to congratulate

JULIE ELKON

being

JACQUELINE “JACKIE” HAYNES TAMMY LANCASTER

top of the search results. So we’re always Jacqueline Haynes began her real estate Tammy Lancaster barely knew a soul when Tammy a looking to see how can23 we get an edge for career 6in 2006, after moving to 11 the US 20 she first moved to Brigantine, New Jersey tion of Zi from England in 1998. With a background our clients in this particular market. If that in 2000. “My husband is a contractor, and Zillow rea edge is providing an additional marketing in both teaching and pharmaceutical he was flipping houses, so I originally got But even t tool that puts the house in front of more sales, Jackie ended up getting her real my real estate license in order to help with large, I st potential buyers, then that’s what we’re estate license and has not looked back that.” It wasn’t long before she realized to my form looking to provide.” since. Working closely with her husband how rewarding the work could be. “I’ve the area e and business partner Eric Funk, Jackie always enjoyed meeting new people, and more pers The results speak for themselves: Jackie enjoys developing strong relationships I liked that every day was something new.” in Oasis, and Eric’s volume was just shy of 50 transwith clients to help them achieve their real ings on th actions in 2020, totaling about $23 million. estate goals.

Real estate turned out to be more than just a also blesse The team like to give back to their commuliving, however. It gave the Georgia native from frien JULIE ELKON MARSHALL JACQUELINE LANCASTER nity,TAMMY and Jackie says they are always As the Heart to DEBRA Home Team at RE/MAX a point of entry into her new community. to,” she ad looking for new ways to support those in Select, Jackie and Eric serve Northern “JACKIE” HAYNES “I didn’t really have a sphere of influence need. When they’re not working or giving back, Jackie Central A significant portion of their featured for theand State of New NewJersey.

Jersey here, so I had to start from scratch. But When sh and Eric have recently taken up golfing together and business comes from repeat and referral clients, and it’s in Top Agent Magazine! now I’ve become friends with most of my clients. It’s probably spending time w they also enjoy travel. easy to see what keeps people coming back. “I’m in nice to go into a community and see a lot of people you fortunate to have becom my 15th year in real estate, and combined with Eric’s know because you helped them sell their home.” still got so much energy.

In the future, Jackie says she would like to continue to 20-plus years, we have a wealth of experience we’re their lives.” develop a small team that can allow them to service the able to offer our clients,” Jackie explains.

DANIEL ROSS, ESQ. Tammy has been a realtor now for twenty-one years needs ofall more at a time, but without ROSS LAW FIRM LLC and serves the area from Brigantine the clients way down Tammy has no growing plans to too big and losing the personal attention clients value Jackie and Eric’s tenacity and work ethic go a long way to Cape May, selling everything from condos, to investhands-on kind of person, Office: (732) 858-0310 much.

“I lovewaterfront being able toyou get are involved with toward getting results for theirment “We never stop homes properties, to second and luxury coming to famiTamm 4) UNCOMMON CONTACT:clients.

17) 5so WAYS TO TRANSFORM Fax: (732) lies in such an important decision in their lives,” Jackie fighting for523-0106 our clients,” she says.

“Right now there are properties. Her business has grown considerably since home, you’re always gett CONNECTING WITH RENTERS INTO says.year “Real estateOWNERS is a relationship business, and we like a lot of multiple bidsCLIENTELE for buyers, it can very hardher best Daniel@rosslawco.com thoseand early days, with coming last year developing those connections.

We develop a very close, for people who haveMEDIA lost out onwhen several who of forty shehouses did a and volume million, with sevenTHROUGH SOCIAL trusted adviser relationship with our clients. We truly are starting to get demoralized.ty-four We never give up if our transactions. 21) Her secret?

“My upbringing HABITS is part 5 MORNING thewith people we work with.” clients still want to try and getofthat even though it. house, I was taught to alwayscare be about pleasant people. they’ve been told that they haven’t got it.

If they still 8) RECONSIDER REFERRALTO MAKE YOUR DAY And when I tell you I’m going to do something, to fol- SUPER want to try and improve on their andand fight get lowoffer through dotoit.”

ONLY WHEN PLANNING FOR PRODUCTIVE that house, we continue fighting and pushing with them.

THE FUTURE And we’ve been very successful at that.

Even The rest is just goodwhen old fashioned hard work. “I work other people have given up, weabout don’tsixty giveor up.” seventy hours a week, and I enjoy it. I’m

CONTENTS

going to get the job done.” She’s got the accomplishLikewise, when it comes to ments marketing theirit.listings, to prove She’s a seven-time winner of the New Jackie and Eric are always onJersey the lookout for ways Association of toRealtors Circle of Excellence give their clients an extra advantage in the market.

They Award. In 2018 she was named Top Selling Associate are Premier Agents on Zillow, for andWeichart they provide profesin the Mid-Atlantic region, and won that Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 To contact Tammy, you can sional photography for all theircompany’s listings. “We try to thinkClub award three years in a President’s her office at 609-2 outside the box with our listings,” Jackie says.two “For mag@topagentmagazine.com |row. www.topagentmagazine.com For the past years she was named Mid-aboutTammylancaster717@gm Forthe more Jackie Haynes, example, we’ve started to do Atlantic Zillow 360 tours, Top which at tammylancaster.c Producing Agent, ofand last year please call Top (201) 230-3312, or No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any mannerRegional whatsoever without prior consent the publisher.

Agent are similar to Matterport. But the difference is that zillow.com/profile/tam she earned the Pinnacle Award for Top Producing Agent email Jackie@JackieHaynes.com Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published in and aro having a Zillow 360 tour pushes thosefor listings to expressed the for Weichert Realtors Worldwide. materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible opinions or facts supplied by its authors. www.

www.

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

Published in the U.S.

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Uncommon Contact:

Connecting with Clientele Through Social Media Social media is one of the newest and most powerful tools in an agent or mortgage professional’s arsenal. With just a few keystrokes, you can stay top-of-mind with buyers, sellers, and borrowers near and far, past and present. The key is knowing how to use these mediums to your advantage, working smarter instead of harder to keep the thread of professional relationships intact. With that in mind, here are a few ways you can maximize the pull and power of social media by shifting just a few of your ideas and practices for the better.

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Not everything has to be about business.

While your relationship with a client or fellow vendor began over the course of business, your relationship going forward doesn’t have to be limited. One of the great things about social media is that’s it’s social. Not every comment, post, or communication has to revolve around your business, its metrics, or turning a sale. In fact, you should do your best to branch out and curate a brand and online identity that’s about who you are and

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the lifestyle you’re authentically interested in living. In that vein, consider interacting with clients in an organically-driven way, encouraging them during life’s milestones, reaching out with a local event, restaurant, or news item that’s relevant to their interests or neighborhood. The goal is to be a persistent presence in their lives without feeling like a talking head. Engage as you would like to be engaged with, as a human being with interests and needs and boundaries. Keep that personal thread in mind and your dynamic will shift from past business contact to present resource.

Expand your medium.

Many Realtors are comfortable on Facebook as an interactive meeting to connect with clients, but there are several other mediums where you can connect with clients both past and present, as well as future. Particularly when courting Millennial clientele, the fastest-growing segment of the buying market, a presence on Instagram and Snapchat are key to finding new faces, demonstrating hot properties, and creating an interactive brand as an agent. Not only does this help when you’re listing a property and seeking potential buyers, but it also serves as a perusable portfolio of your work and real estate prowess. You can also use these mediums to interact with clients on an outlet they might feel most comfortable in. Liking pictures, commenting, streaming Instagram Live home tours and Stories are all ways you can build engagement by simply spreading your social media presence around. Likewise, Top Agent Magazine

these photo and video driven mediums are popular for home design ideas, and before and after renovation pictures. When you expand from Facebook into these new platforms, you’ll already have plenty of visual content ready to be transferred and consumed by an expanded audience.

Don’t just react.

Create your own content.

It’s easy enough to post a link to a new listing, or retweet a helpful article on real estate news. Creating your own organic content is a different story, but worth its weight in gold when it comes to luring engagement, ranking higher in search fields, and overall crafting an interactive presence for yourself and your business online—which is where more than 90% of homebuyers and sellers begin their process. Creating your own content can seem risky, or else like no one is listening in a digital world already crowded with information. However, original content is sure to boost personal engagement with your social media pages, guaranteed.

Instead of recycling content, consider posting a video with a Q+A theme for first-time homebuyers, or perhaps posting a live tour of a new listing will perk up your clientele surfing at home.

No matter how you decide to expand your social media presence when it comes to interacting with clients, consistency is key.

Find the ways that work best for you and stick to them, and you’ll watch your audience and business grow in tandem.

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JULIE ELKON Determined, charismatic and a true people person, Julie Elkon’s career in the real estate industry quickly took off. “I started in 2015, after my husband and I wanted to do some investing,” she explains. She earned her license hoping to help them buy/sell investments, but ended up falling in love with it. “My real estate broker encouraged me to get into residential sales, so I did,” Julie says. After absorbing everything she could and helping her first few clients, she began getting referrals. Her business grew fast, and she moved to Keller Williams where she now has her own group – J, Elkon Realty Group. Julie is eager to see what the future holds, and hopes to build one of the most successful teams in New Jersey’s Ocean and Monmouth counties.

Asked what keeps her clients coming back, Julie believes it’s her unparalleled work ethic and honesty.

“I’m a really dedicated person,” she says. “I go way beyond the transaction. I even tell my clients to not buy a house if I believe it’s not the right fit for them.

I am always truthful with them.” After meeting Julie, both buyers and sellers know she only wants what is best for them.

As first time buyers, she helped us through the process so that we could easily understand it. When the listing we liked expired, she quickly inquired about it and had it relisted. She went out of her way to make sure we got everything we needed during the process. I gave Julie five stars in the category of responsiveness... it would have been much higher if we were allowed!

Aside from her professionalism and expertise, she is a great person and a pleasure to work with. I would recommend her to anyone who needs a real estate professional!”

One of Julie’s favorite things to do is give back to her community. She is committed to giving 10% of her income to local charities and those in need. In her free time, she enjoys the attractions that living near the shore has to offer and spending time with family and friends.

Looking ahead, Julie’s sights are set on hiring quality team members. She hopes to close 70 or more transactions for 2021. “I just love helping people. To see their satisfaction at the end is what makes it all worth it.”

When it comes to marketing, Julie also goes above and beyond, honing in on social media to spread the word about her listings and her work. “Right when I meet my sellers, I tell them exactly what I will do, including sending out postcards, blasting it on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and professionally photographing it so it looks amazing. We also stage the homes, and if it needs to be cleaned, whether it’s shampooing the carpets or tidying up, we will hire a team to do that.”

Afterwards, clients love spreading the word about Julie to their friends and family. They leave glowing reviews, with one recently saying, “Julie is an outstanding real estate professional (with an emphasis on professional).

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For more information about Julie Elkon, call 732-691-6499 or email jelkon@kw.com

Copyright Top Agent Magazine Magazine

The Ross Law Firm is proud to congratulate

JULIE ELKON

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

DANIEL ROSS, ESQ. ROSS LAW FIRM LLC Office: (732) 858-0310 Fax: (732) 523-0106 Daniel@rosslawco.com

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Reconsider Referral-Only When Planning for the Future

A 100% referral rate is a testament of client happiness. But even a 30% referral rate is proof of client satisfaction. It’s all relative, say some agents. One number pays tribute to past success, which is certainly a story worth telling. But the other might better predict the future. Many agents plan for the idea that 8

working only on referral may not be sufficient during slower times of the year, in a down market, or when an agent needs to expanding into a new sector.

Unless you are clairvoyant enough to flawlessly predict every market change or every

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Many agents plan for the idea that working only on referral may not be sufficient during slower times of the year, in a down market, or when an agent needs to expanding into a new sector. life change that your clients and referral partners may experience, it’s wise to maintain an active marketing presence. The reasons vary, however, depending on the goals and trajectory of each individual’s business.

If long-term success, a growing team, a legacy or expansion into new areas are not priorities, then working a sphere of influence may be enough for some agents, especially those who may be in the industry mostly for the love of the business. But for a majority of agents, no matter how much they love their work, their real estate and mortgage businesses are careers, first and foremost.

Let’s start with the team-builders and mentors. Agents and brokers who are building teams are wise to invest in business marketing, advertising and community outreach. Ty Hutchins, who owns and operates Ty & Company Real Estate in Colorado’s Front Range, says that, while she could personally live off referrals alone, her goal is to build up her agents. “I do the marketing piece for my team, so I can help them succeed,” she says. That marketing includes running commercials on TV and in movies theatres, as well as lead generation that identifies potential buyers, sellers and Top Agent Magazine

investors between the Colorado Springs and Denver markets. Her team’s goal, she adds, is to promote their reputation of being honest, hardworking professionals with the reach of a major brand but the personalized approach of a boutique.

Then there are the growers. Khrista Jarvis and Nicole Jung of The Khrista Jarvis Team in the San Francisco Bay Area, are on a considerable growth track. “We’re the #1 team in our area and the top team in Compass Real Estate nationally,” explains Khrista. While high marks for service on behalf of their clients have led them to these heights, they know that they must continue to evolve and market their brand. “We do a good deal of social media marketing for our listings and for our business,” she says. Their names, therefore, are frequently linked to sentiments of trust, dependability and market knowledge, both in their marketing and in their reviews.

Next, there are those who weathered the worst of times. Susan Roche entered real estate sales in 2003, following several years of property management in North Carolina.

The key to her sustained triumphs through major market swings lies in her long-range planning. “If the market starts to dip or fall,

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I have safety nets in place,” says Susan Roche, team leader of Simply Real Estate, based in Charlotte. “When it’s a seller’s market, I still plan for a buyer’s market and when it’s a buyer’s market I plan for a seller’s market..” In other words, no matter how comfortable her existing work may feel, she networks consistently. She also employs a full-time marketing director who leads several projects including ongoing research, events and social media exposure in addition to listings marketing. By staying ahead of market changes, Susan knows she can unfailingly represent her clients’ best interests while still maintaining a safety net for her business.

Even professionals with more than three decades’ experience and deep referral networks know the importance of business

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marketing. Cathy Richards, co-owner with Nancy Dalaska of Epic-Wasatch Homes in Park City, UT, entered real estate in 1987 and still draws at least a fifth of her business from lead generation, social media marketing and community outreach. Her business partner, Nancy, adds that real estate is about much more than their own business. “We love collaborating and brainstorming with other agents to help them prosper,” says Nancy. “We believe the healthier the market, the better we all are.”

Regardless of market conditions, even the best reputation can’t guarantee long-term success. To sustain and grow, it’s wise to feed your business by increasing exposure, remaining flexible and maintaining systems for customer service, networking, research, marketing and lead-generation.

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Debra Marshall

Top Agent Debra Marshall of Keller Williams Elite Realty, is a proud recipient of the New Jersey Realtors® Circle of Excellence Award® (2017-2020).

“I give one hundred percent all the time,” says Debra Marshall, a top agent with Keller Williams Elite Realty.

“I connect well with people, and I’m always the biggest advocate for my clients. Prior to getting involved with real estate, I trained social workers throughout the state of New Jersey. I have a master’s degree in social work, so I always tell people that I’m a real estate agent with a social worker’s heart.”

That heart and drive has taken Debra far. She’s been in the business for the past 4.5 years. She was inspired to Copyright Top Agent Magazine

make the jump into real estate after she bought her own house. “I had a really bad experience with an agent,” she says. “As a result, I looked into the field, and I thought that I could do this and might even like it! I ended up loving it!” Though she started out part-time, for the past three years Debra has worked in real estate as her full-time career. Debra is a proud recipient of the New Jersey Realtors® Circle of Excellence Award® (2017-2020).

Her business is built almost entirely on referral and repeat customers. Debra understands that knowing the real estate market helps her to provide the best service to her clients. “I care, and that comes across,” says Debra, explaining what brings clients back. “I work extremely hard and I get great results for my clients. I personally return every phone call and not delegate

the responsibility to somebody else. I make sure that I am attentive to all of my clients.”

Debra’s true passion is working with people.

“I like to encourage my sellers and buyers,” she says. “I work with a lot of people; however, the most fulfilling part is when someone is purchasing a home for the very first time.

They come to me with little to no information, and I make a point to educate all my clients.

When they purchase their home, they have a full understanding of the buying process. The same philosophy and practice goes for my sellers; I walk them through the selling process, step by step.”

During the COVID19 stay at home order; Debra witnessed first-hand families that unexpectedly lost their loved ones. Having little Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Debra started her own realty group.— Cosmopolitan Realty Group, LLC™—consisting of a team of experienced, energetic and innovative Real Estate Professionals within Keller Williams Elite Realtors. to no estate administration planning or knowledge of estate administration, the grief of these families was even more burdensome. Therefore, Debra successfully completed a Certified Probate Real Estate course and became a Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist (CPRES) in order to better service grieving families. Debra is also a preferred agent that is trained to assist homebuyers that are Veterans.

When she isn’t working hard going the extra mile for her clients, Debra is deeply involved in her community. After losing her mom to breast cancer, Debra founded the Yvonne McCalla Foundation Inc., (YMF Inc.) a non-profit breast cancer awareness organization that seeks to provide education and resources for women concerning breast cancer awareness. Additionally, she is a Commissioner on the Union County Improvement Authority, as well as the Fair Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Rental Housing Board of Elizabeth, NJ. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA); the first historically African American Greek-lettered sorority founded January 15, 1908. “Alpha Kappa Alpha has built a strong cohesive organization that positively impacts the lives of families and communities by providing “Service to All Mankind.”

Outside of work and giving back to her community, Debra loves to travel. “Prior to the

pandemic, my husband and I would visit several countries per year,” says Debra. “That’s when I receive my down time because if I’m home, I’m working!” She also loves to entertain and spend quality time with her husband, nephews, friends and extended family.

Debra has begun to expand her real estate business. She wants to be able to support the increasing volume of clients coming her way; therefore, she started her own realty group.

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Cosmopolitan Realty Group, LLC™ consists of a team of experienced, energetic and innovative Real Estate Professionals within Keller Williams Elite Realtors. Cosmopolitan Realty Group, LLC™ is known to facilitate a seamless real estate experience for all buyers, sellers, investors and renters.

Cosmopolitan Realty Group LLC™ embodies the slogan “Local Relationships World Class

Results™” as its real estate services extend beyond New Jersey through agents and partnerships around the world. Cosmopolitan Realty Group LLC™ specializes in getting high satisfaction results.

Cosmopolitan Realty Group LLC™ is also a Lifestyle brand that shares everything real estate infused with lifestyle activities, venues/hotels, beaches and cuisines in various countries.

To learn more about Debra Marshall, visit www.

debramarshallrealestate.com, Debramarshallrealestate

deb.marsh

debramarshallrealestate

Mobile: 917-562-0401; Email Debramarshall@kw.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine

5 Ways to Transform

Renters into Owners Perhaps the largest demographic of untapped business lies in the rental market. From major cities and suburbs to rural communities—renters across generations are opting to rent rather than own. The question is: why? For starters, many Americans are undereducated about the inventory and financing options available that might suit their budget and lifestyle. Secondly, many would-be homeowners have difficulty Top Agent Magazine

visualizing the potential investment of purchasing property, and how homeownership can build wealth and security in the long-term.

As an agent, you’re always on the lookout for potential clientele. Now, to guide renters toward the real estate market, keep a few of these strategies in mind as you meet and greet this untapped demographic.

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1

Show renters that purchasing a home isn’t impossible

Possibly the biggest hurdle for renters is believing homeownership is possible. Beyond saving for a down payment and boosting credit scores, there are dozen more factors to consider: affording utilities, homeowner’s insurance, renovations, property taxes, and more. Besides that, assembling pay stubs, finding an agent, arranging house tours, negotiating a price, and timing the transition are all major considerations to surmount.

One way to combat this thinking is to make the process transparent and demystified. Find examples of past clients who made the leap successfully, or profile the average buyer in your marketplace and see how that renter compares. Provide evidence that it’s been done before and can be done again, then build a game plan from there.

into play. Consider making a checklist, or step-by-step road-map, that guides clients through the process from start to finish. This way, you’ll manage expectations and create a path to ownership that’s specific, instead of abstract. They won’t have to wonder what goes into buying a home when they can look at an interactive site or read a document and see the steps outlined before them, with you there to guide the way.

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Collaborate with mortgage professionals to find the right financing opportunities

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Help would-be homebuyers create a road-map to ownership

It’s no secret that buying a home can feel overwhelming. Compared to signing a yearlong lease on an apartment, taking on the house-hunting process is a daunting affair.

That’s where your expertise as an agent comes 18

Many renters aren’t aware of the variety of mortgage financing options out there that cater to first-timers, offer low down payments, or down payment assistance. Most buyers believe that the standard 20% down is a hard and fast rule, when in reality, there’s far more flexibility out there to cater to renters where they are. There are even loan options catering to freelance workers, renovation options, and other unconventional routes to ownership.

Work with a mortgage pro and find the route that suits your renter best.

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pay monthly in a mortgage—while building a lasting asset.

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Compare and contrast rental rates with monthly mortgage payments One way to convince renters to make the shift is to demonstrate the savings potential of paying into a monthly mortgage, rather than throwing away rent on a property they don’t own. To do this, draw up the average rental rates in your area, then find some potential listings that would demand a similar amount in monthly mortgage payments. Sometimes placing these numbers and images sideby-side can prove to renters that what they manage to pay monthly in rent, they can

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Paint the big picture

For most, renting isn’t the most sustainable financial option when it comes to housing.

Rents rise, families grow, and retirement looms.

Building a financial future and homeownership go hand-in-hand. When planned appropriately, buying a home can create a path toward retirement and position homeowners in a better place for further investment in the future. A rental has little security or investment returns to offer, while owning a home makes a renter king or queen of the castle.

Prospecting renters as potential homebuyers may seem like a time-intensive way to cultivate new clients, but logic is on your side.

Keep these tips in mind as you broach the conversation with renters in your hometown.

All it takes is clear-cut value proposition and a listening ear.

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JACQUELINE “JACKIE” HAYNES Jacqueline Haynes began her real estate career in 2006, after moving to the US from England in 1998. With a background in both teaching and pharmaceutical sales, Jackie ended up getting her real estate license and has not looked back since. Working closely with her husband and business partner Eric Funk, Jackie enjoys developing strong relationships with clients to help them achieve their real estate goals.

As the Heart to Home Team at RE/MAX Select, Jackie and Eric serve Northern and Central New Jersey. A significant portion of their business comes from repeat and referral clients, and it’s easy to see what keeps people coming back. “I’m in my 15th year in real estate, and combined with Eric’s 20-plus years, we have a wealth of experience we’re able to offer our clients,” Jackie explains.

Jackie and Eric’s tenacity and work ethic go a long way toward getting results for their clients. “We never stop fighting for our clients,” she says. “Right now there are a lot of multiple bids for buyers, and it can very hard for people who have lost out on several houses and who are starting to get demoralized. We never give up if our clients still want to try and get that house, even though they’ve been told that they haven’t got it. If they still want to try and improve on their offer and fight to get that house, we continue fighting and pushing with them.

And we’ve been very successful at that. Even when other people have given up, we don’t give up.”

Likewise, when it comes to marketing their listings, Jackie and Eric are always on the lookout for ways to give their clients an extra advantage in the market. They are Premier Agents on Zillow, and they provide professional photography for all their listings. “We try to think outside the box with our listings,” Jackie says. “For example, we’ve started to do Zillow 360 tours, which are similar to Matterport. But the difference is that having a Zillow 360 tour pushes those listings to the 20

top of the search results. So we’re always looking to see how can we get an edge for our clients in this particular market. If that edge is providing an additional marketing tool that puts the house in front of more potential buyers, then that’s what we’re looking to provide.”

The results speak for themselves: Jackie and Eric’s volume was just shy of 50 transactions in 2020, totaling about $23 million.

The team like to give back to their community, and Jackie says they are always looking for new ways to support those in need. When they’re not working or giving back, Jackie and Eric have recently taken up golfing together and they also enjoy travel.

In the future, Jackie says she would like to continue to develop a small team that can allow them to service the needs of more clients at a time, but without growing too big and losing the personal attention clients value so much. “I love being able to get involved with families in such an important decision in their lives,” Jackie says. “Real estate is a relationship business, and we like developing those connections. We develop a very close, trusted adviser relationship with our clients. We truly care about the people we work with.”

For more about Jackie Haynes, please call (201) 230-3312, or email Jackie@JackieHaynes.com Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

5 Morning Habits to Make Your Day Super Productive For many, most mornings begin with a rush—a rush to get dressed, a rush to find something edible for breakfast, a rush out the door and into rush hour. Likely you have heard articles advising you to set your

alarm early to give yourself some flexibility —which is sound advice, of course—but consider a few of these additional tweaks to your morning routine that can set a productive tone for your day at large.

1. Keep Screens Away Until Breakfast Oftentimes, our first instinct upon waking is to check-in on our phones, tablets, or computers, to scope out the latest social media updates and e-mail correspondence. While diving into the action might seem productive, studies show that waylaying screen time until you’re up and dressed, and have had a good breakfast, will actually make your first pass Top Agent Magazine

at all things digital more focused, clear, and efficient. Instead of answering a few e-mails, checking out a friend’s photos, and then hurrying to shower and dress, instead make a resolution to keep the online world at bay for the first half-hour to an hour after you rise, then you’ll approach the digital world with fresh eyes, energy, and adeptness.

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2. Meal Prep Sometimes hitting the snooze button is inevitable, but if you make prepping breakfast the night before a part of your routine, then grabbing something healthy on the go will be a snap—and your stomach will thank you for it. Load up your coffee machine ahead of time, so all you have to do

is hit brew. Or, chop up a fruit salad, mix a smoothie, or simply put a granola bar and a grapefruit in your lunch bag, ready to be grabbed on your way out the door. Even if it’s small or basic, keeping yourself fueled will keep distractions, inefficiency, and mood swings at bay.

3. Queue Up a Podcast on Your Commute Whether you’re driving, biking, or taking public transportation into the office, a podcast is a perfect way to brush up on industry knowledge. Try sourcing a podcast relative to your field and narrated by experts.

Not only will it get you thinking about the topics of your industry—while expanding

your professional vocabulary—it will also wake up your brain and get your head in the game as you prepare to launch your day. Use your commute time to bump up your knowledge and conversation points, and you’ll be ahead of the curve before you reach the office.

4. Begin with a To-Do List When work gets busy, sometimes just getting started is an overwhelming prospect.

Before you dive in to your e-mails and projects, take twenty minutes and be thoughtful as you assess your daily and weekly to-do

list items, then map them. By giving yourself a bullet point system of what you need to accomplish and by when, you can undo some of the anxiety that a busy schedule promotes.

5. Walk It Out, Even If You Missed the Gym While we often rely on coffee for our morning buzz, exercise provides a potent burst of energy that can supercharge your day. But, let’s say you’re running behind and skip the gym—all is not lost! Take fifteen minutes in

the early morning to take a walk around the block a few times. The fresh air and aerobic exercise will wake you up, get your blood moving, and provide your morning with a natural injection of motivation.

Everyone’s morning routine varies, but perhaps the first step is identifying aspects of your routine that could be improved, and tackling them from there. From waylaying

screen time distractions to getting in a little blood-pumping exercise, keep these tips in mind as you launch your most productive morning routine ever.

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Top Agent Magazine

TAMMY LANCASTER Tammy Lancaster barely knew a soul when she first moved to Brigantine, New Jersey in 2000. “My husband is a contractor, and he was flipping houses, so I originally got my real estate license in order to help with that.” It wasn’t long before she realized how rewarding the work could be. “I’ve always enjoyed meeting new people, and I liked that every day was something new.”

Real estate turned out to be more than just a living, however. It gave the Georgia native a point of entry into her new community.

“I didn’t really have a sphere of influence here, so I had to start from scratch. But now I’ve become friends with most of my clients. It’s nice to go into a community and see a lot of people you know because you helped them sell their home.”

Tammy has been a realtor now for twenty-one years and serves the area from Brigantine all the way down to Cape May, selling everything from condos, to investment properties, to second homes and luxury waterfront properties. Her business has grown considerably since those early days, with her best year coming last year when she did a volume of forty million, with seventy-four transactions. Her secret? “My upbringing is part of it. I was taught to always be pleasant with people.

And when I tell you I’m going to do something, to follow through and do it.”

The rest is just good old fashioned hard work. “I work about sixty or seventy hours a week, and I enjoy it. I’m going to get the job done.” She’s got the accomplishments to prove it. She’s a seven-time winner of the New Jersey Association of Realtors Circle of Excellence Award. In 2018 she was named Top Selling Associate for Weichart in the Mid-Atlantic region, and won that company’s President’s Club award three years in a row. For the past two years she was named the MidAtlantic Regional Top Producing Agent, and last year she earned the Pinnacle Award for Top Producing Agent for Weichert Realtors Worldwide.

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Tammy advertises using a combination of Zillow and print. “I started with Zillow really hard about five years ago.

But even though my business has grown large, I still like to send out post cards to my former clients and friends around the area every time I get a listing. It’s more personal.” She also places adds in Oasis, a high-end magazine for listings on the Shore. “And of course I’m also blessed by how many referrals I get from friends that I’ve sold something to,” she adds.

When she’s not working, Tammy is probably spending time with her grandchildren. “I feel fortunate to have become a grandmother while I’ve still got so much energy. I have loved being a part of their lives.”

Tammy has no plans to start a team. “I’m a very hands-on kind of person, so I’m married to my job. If you are coming to Tammy Lancaster to buy or sell a home, you’re always getting me, not someone else.”

To contact Tammy, you can call her cell at 609-839-9691, her office at 609-266-2121, or email her at Tammylancaster717@gmail.com. Check out her website at tammylancaster.com or her Zillow profile at zillow.com/profile/tammylancaster717 for listings in and around Brigantine. www.

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