NORTH CAROLINA 1-13-20

NORTH CAROLINA EDITION

GOOGLE ADWORDS: How to Make Google Do the Work for You

COOPERATION, NOT COMPETITION, CREATES MUTUAL SUCCESS FOR AGENTS The Daily Schedule of a

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SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE AGENT

NANCY ANDERSON & BOB ROBBINS ERIKA MENDOZA

COVER STORY

ALINA KARPENKO

NORTH CAROLINA EDITION

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ALINA KARPENKO

4) GOOGLE ADWORDS: HOW TO MAKE GOOGLE DO THE WORK FOR YOU

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ERIKA M

Top Agent E Lead of The M Northstar Rea Charlotte, No surrounding a cated real est with well ov NANCY ANDERSON ERIKA MENDOZA experience he & BOB ROBBINS sellers achieve objectives. With a winning personality industry knowledge, Erika has earned he CONTENTS tion as a trusted advocate for her clients business is a testament to both her ha 16) CREATIVE WAYStoTO SAY unparalleled commitment providing THANK YOU to her many clients in the Charlotte mar

19) THE DAILY SCHEDULE Erika began her journey in the world of OF A SUCCESSFUL REAL 13) COOPERATION, NOT she was buying her own home back in ESTATE AGENT COMPETITION, CREATES estate agent I was working with sugges MUTUAL SUCCESS FOR good fit as TO a Realtor,” she recalls, “so 22) 4 EASY WAYS REDECORATE AGENTS and dabbled it for a number of year YOUR OFFICE THAT in WILL BOOST jobs, and in 2011 I went full-tim MORALEother & IMPRESS CLIENTS Erika has built a flourishing business b dation of honesty, integrity and a true s for her buyers and sellers. In 2017, E

by NAHREP (National Association o Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 Estate Professionals) as number 49 am mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com Millennials in real estate, and she is a re No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent company RE/MAX’s Diamond Award, Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published $100 millionby in sales volume. materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied its authors.

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

Published in the U.S.

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Currently overseeing a small but eq team that shares her client-first busin can justifiably boast thatMagazine the lion’s sh Top Agent ness is based upon referrals and positive

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com http://www.topagentmagazine.com

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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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ALINA KARPENKO Top Agent Magazine

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ALINA KARPENKO Top Agent Alina Karpenko is a short sale and foreclosure specialist who works significantly with her local Russianspeaking community in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Alina Karpenko – Broker/Owner of Alina Real Estate in Raleigh, North Carolina – is a dedicated professional who consistently achieves the best possible outcomes for her many grateful clients. With a focus on educating her clients using her vast reservoir of industry knowledge, and with a true sense of empathy for her buyers and sellers during the often 8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

convoluted transaction process, Alina sets the standard for customer service in her market.

Alina moved to United States from Russia in 1990, where she had been a history teacher. “When I first arrived in America,” she recalls, “I worked in retail for a while, I really enjoyed working Top Agent Magazine

with people; helping people. When my family moved to North Carolina in 2007, I began my journey in real estate and I discovered my great passion for this job.

I didn’t know anyone at first, but I’ve now got a large group of friends, many of whom are ex-clients of mine.”

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Alina found success quickly, based on her commitment to providing excellent customer service and her true passion for helping her buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals. Since 2007, she has helped put well over 300 families into their new homes. She can also currently Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

claim that almost two-thirds of her business is based upon referrals and positive word of mouth, a true achievement in an industry whose customers are not always known for loyalty to a single agent.

Alina, who is a short sale and foreclosure specialist who works significantly with her local Russian-speaking community, believes she knows the reason for the trust her clients have shown her. “I think they like the work I do for them,” she Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

says, “because they can see that I put my heart into it. I use my knowledge to educate them about the transaction process and to make sure that they get the best deal possible, whether they are buying or selling. I do a yearly Free Home Buyer Seminar, teaming up with a lender and a closing attorney to help first time buyers understand the whole process well before they start to search for their dream home. I’m very positive and optimistic, and I think my clients appreciate that as well.”

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“I do a yearly Free Home Buyer Seminar, teaming up with a lender and a closing attorney to help first time buyers understand the whole process well before they start to search for their dream home.”

Alina’s – whose brokerage currently employs five other equally dedicated agents – is also an expert and strategic marketer of her listings. Excellent photography ensures that each of her properties are shown in their best light, and great staging preparation, open houses and deft utilization of the Top Agent Magazine

internet and social media – including Facebook, Zillow, Realtor and others – make certain that they are seen by as many potential buyers as possible.

When she’s not working, Alina enjoys spending time with her family and friends and traveling. She has solid ties Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

to the Russian-speaking community in the Raleigh area, and has also participated in Habitat for Humanity, as well as donating to Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital. “I’ve always loved children,” she says.

Alina’s future plans are straightforward: to continue to grow her business, add new agents she can mentor to find the same success she has, and to keep offering the very best customer service available in the Triangle market.

For more about Alina Karpenko please call 919-906-3419 or email AlinaRealty@gmail.com

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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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Creative Ways to Say Thank You

Most top real estate agents find ways to welcome their clients to their new home. A common theme is a bottle of wine and some wine glasses for that first post-threshold toast, or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up that empty living space until the furniture arrives.

But are you truly being as creative as you can with your appreciation? Here are some innovative gift ideas that will truly keep you front of mind with your valued customers and assure their gratitude and repeat business, not to mention a slew of referrals.

1. How about a streaming video device, like a Roku

or Amazon Fire Stick? There’s a good chance your clients will not have their cable service up and running for a few days, and this is an excellent way for them to enjoy their television before they get that connection going. Bundle it up in a basket with some DVD’s for the kids, and don’t forget all necessary cables.

2. Matching bathrobes and Bath kits: Fleece or ter-

rycloth bathrobes and a basket filled with highend his and her body scrubs, bubble bath and other luxurious pampering items can make the first night in a new home feel like a check-in at a fabulous resort and make the memory of that first night one to cherish. Again, don’t forget the kids!

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3. Arrange a catered meal from a local vendor. As-

certain in advance dietary preferences and restrictions, and have a wonderful, healthy meal delivered on move-in night. To complete the magic, provide brand new plates, silverware and glassware to serve it all on.

4. For homes with swimming pools or Jacuzzis, a

stack of fluffy pool towels is always appreciated and will be used by family and friends for years to come. Additionally, acrylic stemware for celebrating safely can be provided alongside them.

5. If it’s winter time and the home has a fireplace, make sure there’s plenty of wood to burn. Some fireplace accessories and a log holder will certainly make your clients appreciate you on every chilly night to come.

So when it comes to gifting your buyers, the trick is to be creative. A bottle of wine lasts one night, and the flowers wilt in a few days. Try coming up with something a little more creative that will remain with your clients in their day-to-day lives and remind them of you consistently. The little bit extra you spend to show your gratitude can reap huge dividends when it comes time for your client to purchase a second home or refer a friend.

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NANCY ANDERSON & BOB ROBBINS Top Agent Magazine

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NANCY ANDERSON & BOB ROBBINS Combined, Bob Robbins and Nancy Anderson have over a half-century of real estate experience between them.

As a top-ranking husband and wife team, Bob and Nancy have each been operational in the business for the last twenty-eight years, earning a host of accolades along the way. Today, they continue to fortify their reputation for insightful service, transparency, and a proven track record.

Serving clients across the North Carolina counties of Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, and Rowan, Bob and Nancy are also the top team on High Rock Lake, the state’s second largest body of water. There, they own a home of their own and have built a regional presence on the waterfront. In conjunction with their assistant— credited as pivotal to their business’s operations—Bob and Nancy’s venture is almost exclusively driven by repeat and referral clientele who trust their expertise and superlative guidance. In fact, Bob and Nancy have worked with multiple generations of families, as well as long-time clients who they have served for close to three decades. “We really love working with people and helping them through this transition,” Bob says.

“Our careers have allowed us to meet so many new faces, and many we’ve worked with some of our clients for more than twenty-five years. That’s the heart of our business, and it all comes down to the quality of our service and the relationships we build along the way.”

Bob and Nancy bring a decidedly twenty-first century approach to the listing process. All homes headed to

market are first prepped through professional photography and videography that offer an immersive look inside listings. Then, each home is leveraged across the leading online listing platforms, social media outlets, and MLS boards statewide. Additionally, print marketing, high-quality brochure materials, and placement in regional publications offer more regional exposure to the Triad area, while promoted ads on Facebook and other mediums drums up far-reaching interest. All told, Bob and Nancy close roughly fifty to eighty homes annually, at an average price-point of $300,000—though their range varies tremendously, and current listing includes a $1.5million, 8,500 square foot property.

Outside the office, Bob and Nancy have spent years giving back to their local communities, including through the Meals on Wheels program, as well as the Children’s Miracle Network. In their free hours, they most enjoy time spent with family and loved ones, as well as boating and fishing on High Rock lake.

As for the future, Bob and Nancy plan to keep progress steady as they continue to serve clients past, present, and future. Now, after nearly thirty years in business, their resolve to provide superior service remains steady as ever. “The future of our business is driven by our family of clients, and we want to continue what we’re doing,” Bob says.

“We love what we do, and we can’t imagine doing anything else.”

To learn more about Bob Robbins & Nancy Anderson, email hellobobrobbins@aol.com, visit andersonrobbinshomes.com, or call (336) 655–6595 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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ERIKA MENDOZA Top Agent Erika Mendoza – Lead of The Mendoza Group at Northstar Real Estate, serving Charlotte, North Carolina and surrounding areas – is a dedicated real estate professional with well over a decade of experience helping buyers and sellers achieve their real estate objectives. With a winning personality and a wealth of industry knowledge, Erika has earned her sterling reputation as a trusted advocate for her clients, and her thriving business is a testament to both her hard work and her commitment to providing unparalleled customer service to her many clients in the Charlotte market.

Erika began her journey in the world of real estate when she was buying her own home back in 2007. “The real estate agent I was working with suggested that I’d be a good fit as a Realtor,” she recalls, “so I got my license and dabbled in it for a number of years while working other jobs, and in 2011 I went full-time.” Since then, Erika has built a flourishing business based on a foundation of honesty, integrity and a true sense of empathy for her buyers and sellers. In 2017, Erika was ranked

by NAHREP (National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals) as number 49 among the Top 250 Millennials in real estate, and she is a recipient of former company RE/MAX’s Diamond Award, signifying over $100 million in sales volume.

translates into quick sales for top dollar, and in turn, happy clients. Among the techniques Erika utilizes to get her homes sold are high-quality, professional photography, open houses and adroit use of multiple social media platforms.

Erika also has deep ties to her community. A member of both NAHREP (she formerly sat on their Board of Directors) and the Latin Chamber of Commerce, Erika also gives back in a multitude of ways, including her support of The Abandon Project, an organization created by a friend that provides mentorship for underserved youth in her area.

When she’s not working, Erika loves spending time with her three children, Angie, Matt and Jazz, and is a self-professed “foodie” and sports fanatic. “I love anything sports related,” she says.

Looking to the future, Erika’s plan is to continue educating herself in order to better serve her clients (she will soon earn her GRI – Graduate, Realtor Institute – designation), to grow her business and add like-minded, client-focused team members, and above all, to continue providing the amazing customer service that has become her calling card. “I love being the person who can make things happen for my buyers and sellers,” says Erika, with obvious sincerity. “That’s very gratifying to me.”

Currently overseeing a small but equally dedicated team that shares her client-first business ethos, Erika can justifiably boast that the lion’s share of her business is based upon referrals and positive word of mouth, which is perhaps the best way to measure excellence in customer service. “I treat everyone as if they’re my friends and family,” says Erika, by way of explaining how she manages to inspire such consumer confidence and loyalty.

Erika, who is bilingual and works frequently with the local Hispanic community, is also an adroit negotiator and marketer of her many listings, which almost always Top Agent Magazine

For more about Erika Mendoza, please call or text 980-395-1003 or email SouthCharlotteBroker@gmail.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 21

4 Easy Ways to Redecorate Your Office that Will Boost Morale & Impress Clients Your office is a battle-station of sorts. It’s where you field business, launch your communications, and make the magic of your enterprise happen on a daily basis. While you’ll certainly need to have all the functional elements of an office in order to get your work done—desk, chair, internet—have you really considered the physical environment you’ve cultivated in the process? Think of it this way: working all day in a windowless, poorly lit room 22

wouldn’t exactly inspire productivity or morale, would it?

The fact is humans take all sorts of social, behavioral, and emotional cues from our environments.

And as a real estate professional, you likely already understand the power of the visual and the benefits of making a good impression. With all that in mind, how can you redecorate or retool your

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office space in a way that will boost your mood, productivity, and client relationships? For inspiration, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you consider the ambiance and environment in which you conduct business.

1. A little goes a long way Redecorating your office space doesn’t have to break the bank. Style and décor are often about tiny details adding up to make an overall impression. For instance, paint color, plant life, and lighting are all straightforward ways to rejuvenate a room without spending a fortune. Have dark, drab walls? Consider springing for a lighter, fresher color that will breathe new life into your space. Have bare window sills or empty corners?

Buying and potting a few low-maintenance plants like ferns or succulents can add freshness and pops of color to a sparse room. Rely on fluorescent lighting? Consider sprucing up your space with a few well-chosen floor and table lamps that add accents of taste while warming up the tone in your office. A few intuitively placed items can inspire renewed energy.

2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle One way to make a big change in your office environment without spending a penny is to declutter and reorder. Let’s say you have rows upon rows of crowded, bulky filing cabinets. Try digitizing your records and cut the clutter, opening up square footage in the process. Maybe your desk has faced the same wall for years. Have you considered rearranging your existing furniture and décor? Just by reorganizing the flow of your workspace, you can give your office the cheapest face-lift possible.

You can also make work areas flow more intuitively, based on the processes and collaboration you’ve adapted to over time.

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3. Think like a client Imagine you’re walking into the office for the first time. As a client, what details would stick out? What red flags would come to mind? While you’re used to working in the same space every day, clients are coming into your office with no set expectations. With that in mind, complete a walkthrough of your office area to address eye sores, clutter, and whatever feels unprofessional or amateur. Half the battle of redecorating your space is finding opportunities and seeing things anew, instead of being content with the status quo.

4. Build out your brand Redecorating your space is about aesthetics, but it’s also about creating a unifying setting for your professional brand. If you’re catering to luxury clientele, it makes sense that your office space should appear elegant, high-end, and sophisticated.

If you’re selling second homes out in the country, perhaps a more rugged but well-curated ambiance would set the right tone for your services. Maybe you’re courting the Millennial market or touting your tech-forward approach to real estate. In that case, a modern, sleek, progressive layout would speak to your company’s values and culture.

Whatever the case may be, think of your office environment as an extension of your brand that communicates with clients, motivates your team, and sets the tone for your day-to-day operations.

Even if decorating isn’t exactly in your wheelhouse, there are plenty of simple and philosophical shifts you can make to your space that will maximize your presence and productivity. What’s more, real estate is a business built on relationships—so it doesn’t hurt to create an office where clients are comfortable and confident in the environment you’ve built.

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