PENNSYLVANIA 8-16-21

PENNSYLVANIA EDITION

COVER STORY

JESSICA LAYSER FEATURED AGENTS

JOHN R. CHERNESKY FELIX FIGUEROA FONTINEESE GREEN

5 TIPS TO GET NEW CLIENTS INCORPORATING CHARITABLE GIVING In Your Real Estate Practice CONCIERGE CARE: Services that Lure Clients and Transform Your Reputation

PENNSYLVANIA EDITION

Steven C. Slaski is proud to congratulate

FELIX FIGUEROA

FONTINEESE GREEN JOHN R. CHERNESKY

Our blessings sometimes arrive well thattot For John R. explained how21 he wanted 4 Chernesky, real estate 9 17 disguised.

Fontineese Green had built a youra quickly became his true passion after our home. We did not want commercial cleaning business he started in 1999. “I successful thought it would house, so he worked around Mercer County, Pennsylvania before an Fontit be fun to try out, so Iindid it part-time soon as we listed, he went for the first year or two, and became contacting people, and local had accident forced her life in a new direction. a top agent shortly “After after,” Ihegotsays. of the house made to putform on th hurt, I was no longer able to do After deciding to devote fullHe was in contact with show us of thathimself job,” Fontineese explains. “I decided to time to this career, his business grew walked us through each ste give real estate a try, and soon realized that agen exponentially. Todayit was he ismylargely closing. John is a verynity cari calling. I should have been doing referral-based, which to son, and we appreciatedfor all hb thisheallcredits along!” his customer and detail-oriFELIXfor FIGUEROA JESSICA LAYSER JOHN R. CHERNESKY FONTINEESE GREEN being featured the Stateservice of Pennsylvania home ented nature. Serving all of eastern During any free time, John over in Top Agent Magazine! Licensed almost five years now, Fontineese Pennsylvania, he prioritizes his clifound running/biking/hiking, represents clients with Berkshire Hathaway Preferred community.” After ents’ needs and takes the time to truly ing time with his wife, fam her new neighbor counties, an area understand what theyRealty want. in both Mercer and Lawrence friends or working with humanitarian causes. with which she is quite familiar. “I grew up in Mercer letting them know a Navy veteran, served on a nuclear submar CONTENTS lived all my life.

This is home, see ifalso there’s an “I connect with my County clients, and and have I follow up here on the was honorably discharged.to He’s making many of to my also for long-time neighbors. details,” he says. “It’sand so important callclients peopleare back the future of his business and hopes to br 6) 5and TIPS 18) INCORPORATING They know know passion for people, When she’s resour not makeTO sureGET everything is on me, track.”

As my a notary, wifehelping on board soon. so “She was in human it didn’t mewith longsignatures, to build a strong client and been time her as to Presi he CLIENTS often helps his buyers andtake sellers she’srepeat bilingual, so I’ve nudging get NEW CHARITABLE GIVING INher YOUR STEVEN C. SLASKI, Managing Director which speeds up the process. licensed associateREAL bro- estate license,” John says. Association of Re referral A business.”

ESTATE PRACTICE Slaski@myccmortgage.com | 610-554-9765 (ALHS) Accredited Luxury Home Specialist™ and she takes part 15) ker, CONCIERGE CARE: crosscountrymortgage.com/Steven-Slaski and a REMAX Hall Serving of Fame the Agent, John stands out As time goes on, he falls more love with his community where she grew up has given ters.inShe also likes SERVICES THAT 22) 9 THINGS THE BEST NMLS: Personal 141931 Branch 1818561, CompanyLURE 3029 with his experience and success, and is able to educate and he can’t wait to see where this path leads. “ a beach somewher 4620 Hamilton Boulevard, Allentown, PA 18106 Fontineese an added sense of responsibility. Part of her CLIENTS AND NEVER SAY his clients every TRANSFORM steplong-term of the way.vision John holds than enjoy it, ablemore to create my own day and is to more workLEADERS with landlords toI’m bring eam handles all Purchases, Debt Consolidations, Home Equity loans, 8 designations which is extremely important when hir- schedule. It’s always exciting.”

YOUR REPUTATION stabilization As for her busine ces and all residential mortgage programs! You can reach us 24/7!! to some of her county’s blighted neighing an experienced agent.

For his buyers, he guides borhoods. She also wants to be a voice for the area’s The Fontineese G them throughout the transaction, leaving no questions underrepresented population. As one of only 3 AfricanShe’s excited to b unanswered. He ensures they are submitting competout of skills the 163 approach their bus itive offers and he American utilizes hisagents negotiation to agents in her listing area, shepossible. understands need for he that all too well. so they can better get them the best deal At thethe same time, Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 exceeds expectations with his sellers, often listing and “That starts“I|with education.

I teach people what they mag@topagentmagazine.com www.topagentmagazine.com selling a home within 24 hours. have professional need toallknow tomanner be smart buyers or sellers or investors. photos taken the listing information No portion of this issueand may Ibereview reproduced in any whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top The most rewarding moments for me are when I’m able the accuracy before it goes to market.”

Closing 30+ transactions Agent Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure of published Agent cannot be right. held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by each materials, year, he’sTop clearly doing toMagazine hand aeverything set of door keys to someone who never believed http://

its authors. To subscribe or change send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. theyaddress, would ever own a home. Seeing the joy Published in the U.S. After working with John, buyers and sellers love

on their faces is why I’m doing this. It’s not about the money.”

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telling people about their experience. One recently For more about John R. Chernesk said, “A friend recommended to us, we can please call 610-960-5868 or Nor is itJohn about theand transaction.

Fontineese is quick Top Agent Magazine not say enough goodtothings him. sometimes He was veryserving theemail john@johnchernesky.com pointabout out that client’s best professional; he told us what we needed to do and

interest means talking them out of a deal. “You have

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

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FELIX FIGUEROA When it comes to meeting the needs of his clients, Felix Figueroa goes above and beyond to ensure that they receive the highest level of service, and that each transaction is as smooth and seamless as possible. Whether they are looking to buy, sell, or invest, Felix is there to guide them through the process and be an advocate for them every step of the way. Affiliated with Real Living Spectrum Real Estate, he helps buyers and sellers throughout Lehigh Valley.

“I got started in real estate right after the market crash, around 2009. I was coaching a local soccer team and one of the parents who owned a building company asked me to come and work for them. I was a little hesitant at first and decided to do it part time for a while. But when COVID hit, I went all in and had a record year. I just really fell in love with it, and it’s been working out great,” he explains. 2020 continued to be a year of career highs for Felix, as he received the Sapphire Medallion Award from Real Living Real Estate for productivity and made the Top 100 Latino Agents in the Northeast through the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals.

a variety of causes. In his free time, he enjoys being with his family, working out, lifting weights, running, and participating in athletic events like the Spartan race and Mud Run. Felix is currently taking his brokers classes and plans to continue expanding his business in the coming years. “My goal is to help people’s dreams come true. I’m a bilingual—Spanish speaking—Realtor® who grew up in the inner city, so I know what it’s like to start from the bottom and work your way up. That’s why it means a lot to me to be able to help educate people about this process and guide them into buying or investing in real estate to make their future a lot brighter.”

Felix understands that buying and selling real estate can be a stressful process for his clients, that’s why he always tries to anticipate their needs and take the time to understand all of their concerns. “I’m down to Earth and I do my best to treat everyone as if they were my family. I pay attention to what they tell me and deliver top results. I love making their dreams come true.

There’s no better feeling than sitting down at the closing table and seeing an individual, or a family, smile and be excited and proud of their accomplishment. I would say at least 70% of my clients are repeat or referral because I keep a good relationship with everyone.”

Outside of work Felix is always looking for ways to be involved in his community. He has previously coached the local soccer club for 14 years and has been involved in various local charities and fundraisers for 4

To learn more about Felix Figueroa, email ffigueroa@Spectrum-grp.org, visit realliving.com/felix.figueroa, or call (484) 695 – 9912. www.

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Steven C. Slaski is proud to congratulate

FELIX FIGUEROA

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

_

STEVEN C. SLASKI, Managing Director Slaski@myccmortgage.com | 610-554-9765 crosscountrymortgage.com/Steven-Slaski http://

NMLS: Personal 141931 Branch 1818561, Company 3029 4620 Hamilton Boulevard, Allentown, PA 18106

Slaski Team handles all Purchases, Debt Consolidations, Home Equity loans, Refinances and all residential mortgage programs! You can reach us 24/7!!

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5 Tips to Get New Clients If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you’ve probably built up a healthy percentage of repeat and referral business.

Although it can be tempting to just maintain those relationships rather than generating new business, there’s something to be said for staying on top of 6

your game by never resting on your laurels. Actively pursuing new clients is not only a way to generate more business, but depending on how you do it, it could even lead to a profitable new niche. Here are just a few ways to build up your new client base.

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Become a referral partner with industry peers

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Cold Call Expired and FSBO Listings

Everyone from mortgage lenders, to financial planners, to insurance agents, can be potentially lucrative referral partners for a Realtor®. You may already have great relationships with some that just need to be more formalized. But, you don’t just want to partner with anyone, make sure these are people you also feel completely comfortable referring your clients to - people who share your values and work ethic.

Another avenue to consider is divorce attorneys – yes, you heard that correctly. Helping people go through this difficult period actually requires a very specific skill set.

You need to be able to handle the legal aspects, as well as the emotional ones. There are numerous training courses you can take if you decide to take this route, which could end up being a lucrative and much-needed specialty.

This is a route a lot of agents take when they are just starting out, that usually leads to great success. You probably haven’t cold called since you started out, and this is a great skill to build up again.

It will not only sharpen your sales skills, but could generate a lot more business.

People with For Sale By Owners (FSBOs) and expired listings, are usually very motivated to sell. This is a great chance for you to really hone in on why they need to hire you. Do you offer innovative marketing plans? Access to a large sphere of influence? Expired listing clients are looking for ways to sell a property that seems impossible to move. With FSBOs, you need to show them how you can get them more money in their pocket, even

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with paying you a commission. Pursuing both will really engage your mind to think outside of the box, which will not only get you more business, but make you better at what you do.

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3

Partner up with a Relocation Company

4

Become a Builder’s Realtor® of choice

This is another niche market that you can really capitalize on if you want to pursue a new specialty. But, it is a specialty, so getting educated on the process will help you generate the business you want. It’s a complicated area of real estate, you’ll often

times be helping to facilitate dual transactions, as you try and secure a property at the same time you are helping your relocation client sell their previous home. This specialty is becoming an in-demand skill in areas that have major corporate headquarters.

This can be a real score for any Realtor®.

The competition might be fierce to land a client like this, but there are numerous ways to make yourself stand out from the rest.

Gain certifications and become knowledgeable about the construction process. Be wellversed on what trendy materials, features, and finishes will add value to a property.

Get the builder on board with you by offering to take just a segment of the subdivision then wow them with your marketing skills.

Take on properties they haven’t been able to sell. You can even offer to throw an open

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Create a Website that Offers Real Value to Potential Clients

Perhaps the most useful way of getting contact information for people looking to sell is by adding a home valuation feature to your website. When people are first considering selling their home, finding out how much

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house for them. This is another way to show them the level of service they can expect from you. These clients might be harder to land, but the payoff will be enormous.

it is worth is one of the first questions they want answered. By becoming a resource to potential clients (and current clients!), you just might be the first person that comes to mind when they’re actually looking to sell.

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JESSICA LAYSER

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JESSICA LAYSER Top Agent Jessica Layser leads The Layser Team, serving Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.

When Jessica Layser was introduced to the real estate world, she knew she found her true calling. Having worked in sales related roles since she was 16, and always wanting to run her own business, Jessica quickly flourished as an agent. “I had a natural knack for sales, and always loved architecture,” she says. Today she leads The Layser Team, serving Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania. With a growing portion of her business consisting of repeats and referrals, Jessica goes above and beyond expectations to get her clients towards their goals.

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“I’m not a competitive person with other people, but I am competitive with myself,” Jessica says. “I am always looking for ways to improve my systems and customer service.”

She will do whatever it takes to keep her buyers and sellers happy. For her buyers, this typically means listening to their needs and outlining a plan to get them what they want.

Jessica prepares them for the current market conditions and educates them so they know what to expect at every step. Meanwhile, her sellers receive the same outstanding support and service, with their listing going out to Top Agent Magazine

as many people as possible. “I’m a prospector, so I call neighbors to help me find buyers, because people love friends and family to live close by,” she says.

After working with Jessica, clients love to spread the word about her work. One recently Top Agent Magazine

said, “My wife and I had listed our house for almost 90 days with our previous agent and had no offers. We took the house off the market, feeling discouraged, until we spoke to Jessica.

My wife and I met with her and knew instantly that we wanted to relist our house with Jessica as our agent. Within a month we had plenty of 11 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

“I’m not a competitive person,” Jessica says.

“I am not focused on my numbers or comparing myself to other agents. I just want to take care of my clients.” foot traffic and an offer! Jessica helped us realize the full potential of our house and helped get it sold quickly. She was extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with. When it came to buying our new house, Jessica was very Copyright Top Agent Magazine 12

proactive in sending us listings she thought would match our criteria. She helped us find our dream home within 3 weeks of looking.

She made the buying process extremely easy and was able to negotiate with the sellers to get Top Agent Magazine

us a great price for our forever home. I highly recommend anyone looking for an agent to talk to Jessica and you will be amazed at what she does.”

Community is important to Jessica, so she always gives back when she can. She was involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters before her kids were born, and continues to donate Top Agent Magazine

regularly to local causes. “I have also come to have the firm mindset that doing my job at a high level everyday not only allows me the opportunity to help even more people and make a difference in their lives but I also know that by doing my job I am putting an entire industry to work and improving my local economy.

From photographers to attorneys to movers to electricians, you name it.”

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When Jessica isn’t working, she’s spending time with family, including her two daughters. She’s also been planning for the future of her business, and hopes to continue building it so she can leave it to her girls when she retires. “I would love to grow it so they could potentially run it if they wanted to.”

But she doesn’t plan to exit this industry any time soon. She loves everything about it, and can’t see herself anywhere else. “It’s so fun to help people buy and sell. My favorite part is impressing them with multiple offers or getting them the home they really wanted. It’s such a great feeling.”

For more information about Jessica Layser, call 267-981-6992 or email jessicalayser@gmail.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 14

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Concierge Care: Services that Lure Clients and Transform Your Reputation It’s a no-brainer: customer service is central to success in the real estate industry. While properties may be the product, this industry really revolves around people and the relationships you cultivate along the way. With that in mind, how would you describe the service you provide? If solid service is the baseline, then to set yourself apart you must deliver service that’s exceptional. But, how? Returning calls and displaying a friendly face won’t necessarily separate you from the pack. If you really want to take your customer service to the next level and build a reputation for white-glove, concierge-level courtesy, then keep a few of the following tips in mind as you create a professional style that’s completely bespoke.

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Make your communications matter For many agents, communication during and after a transaction are perfunctory affairs, with one-sizefits-all newsletters or promotional postcards that feel mass-produced. To really grab the attention of your clientele, you’ll want to build a recognizable brand. To accomplish this, begin by adding value to your regular communications. Clients are likely to bypass your communications if they think your only intent is to sell them something. Focus instead on creating content that’s compelling and dishes out value to your clientele. Just like a favorite blog you revisit again and again for its quality content, con-

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sider your communications as an extension of your brand and identity. A few popular ideas from which clients can derive value include: local restaurant guides, tax tips for homeowners, reports on home values and the marketplace, or highlighting home décor and landscaping trends. Make your communications readable and useful, and your clients past and present will think twice before skipping past your name.

Showcase the lifestyle Clients remember when you go the extra mile, and that additional effort distinguishes run-of-the-mill agents from high-powered professionals. Whether listing or buying, consider a property’s lifestyle.

First, think about a client’s everyday experience.

Where’s the best breakfast spot nearby? How’s access to public transportation or bike paths? Which outdoor recreational opportunities exist in the area?

Where might your client swing by for coffee?

Neighborhood guides that outline the livability of a home and its area not only boost value and highlight potential, but they also demonstrate your ability to think outside the box and connect on a personal level. After all, a home isn’t just a house; a home is all about the daily experience that unfolds within and beyond those four walls. With that in mind, do your homework and make yourself a local expert.

Your clients will feel they’re in good hands and will better envision their future unfolding, all thanks to your thorough legwork.

Customize your approach to clients As an agent, it’s only natural that you build your own daily routines and practices that keep your business running. While it’s necessary to create positive habitats that streamline your workflow, it’s also important to remain adaptable. For instance, Millennial clients may prefer to chat by text, instant 16

message, or email, whereas older clientele may prefer face-to-face time or connecting by phone call.

Adapting your communication style is as simple as a brief discussion: ask your client how they prefer to communicate and adapt accordingly. While it may seem like a small matter, it provides clients with a sense of comfort and control. Again, the key here is communication. Talk with your clients about their preferred methodology. Maybe they prefer a marathon house-hunting trek on a weekend day, or perhaps they rather sift through listings online before making in-person visits to a narrowed list. It’s okay to encourage clients or fill them in on industry norms, but it’s important to create an experience that’s tailored to their style and personality.

Authentically seek feedback While it may feel uncomfortable, asking for feedback during and at the end of a transaction can dramatically improve your working style and professional blind-spots. It can also help you adapt your working style to better suit your respective clients.

Of course, it’s important to be open-minded and to quash the need to be defensive. Not all feedback will be useful, but you can incorporate the parts that are. This not only grows your skillset, but it also demonstrates to clients that you are open to constructive criticism and sincerely prioritize a job well done over personal praise. As a bonus, positive feedback can be parlayed into client testimonials, which are incredibly useful tools to boost your business on the whole.

It’s no secret that real estate is a busy, self-determined business. While your client care may feel all accounted for, there is always room to grow. Professionals at the top of their field know this and never stop building out their repertoire. If you want to take your business to the next level and create an imprint that’s synonymous with concierge care, then keep these ideas in mind as you build your relationships and your brand.

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JOHN R. CHERNESKY For John R. Chernesky, real estate quickly became his true passion after he started in 1999. “I thought it would be fun to try out, so I did it part-time for the first year or two, and became a top agent shortly after,” he says.

After deciding to devote himself fulltime to this career, his business grew exponentially. Today he is largely referral-based, which he credits to his customer service and detail-oriented nature. Serving all of eastern Pennsylvania, he prioritizes his clients’ needs and takes the time to truly understand what they want.

“I connect with my clients, and I follow up on the details,” he says. “It’s so important to call people back and make sure everything is on track.” As a notary, he often helps his buyers and sellers with signatures, which speeds up the process. A licensed associate broker, (ALHS) Accredited Luxury Home Specialist™ and a REMAX Hall of Fame Agent, John stands out with his experience and success, and is able to educate his clients every step of the way. John holds more than 8 designations which is extremely important when hiring an experienced agent. For his buyers, he guides them throughout the transaction, leaving no questions unanswered. He ensures they are submitting competitive offers and he utilizes his negotiation skills to get them the best deal possible. At the same time, he exceeds expectations with his sellers, often listing and selling a home within 24 hours. “I have professional photos taken and I review all the listing information before it goes to market.” Closing 30+ transactions each year, he’s clearly doing everything right.

After working with John, buyers and sellers love telling people about their experience. One recently said, “A friend recommended John to us, and we can not say enough good things about him. He was very professional; he told us what we needed to do and Top Agent Magazine

explained how he wanted to market our home. We did not want an open house, so he worked around that. As soon as we listed, he went to work contacting people, and had a video of the house made to put on the web.

He was in contact with us often and walked us through each step until closing. John is a very caring person, and we appreciated all he did.”

During any free time, John can be found running/biking/hiking, spending time with his wife, family and friends or working with humanitarian causes. John is a Navy veteran, served on a nuclear submarine and was honorably discharged. He’s also making plans for the future of his business and hopes to bring his wife on board soon. “She was in human resources and she’s bilingual, so I’ve been nudging her to get her real estate license,” John says.

As time goes on, he falls more in love with his career, and he can’t wait to see where this path leads. “I really enjoy it, I’m able to create my own day and set my schedule. It’s always exciting.”

For more about John R. Chernesky, please call 610-960-5868 or email john@johnchernesky.com 17 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Incorporating Charitable Giving in Your Real Estate Practice

As real estate professionals, taking part in the community and serving others is central to a long-lasting practice. After all, agents are in the business of homeownership, building a financial future, and helping their clients begin new and fruitful chapters. With that in 18

mind, how might an agent deliver that spirit of service in a broader sphere?

The truth is, charitable giving offers nothing but upsides. Contributing to a worthy cause is a noble and meaningful endeavor, but it

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Contributing to a worthy cause is a noble and meaningful endeavor, but it also presents positive byproducts for the giver: tax write-offs, name recognition in the community, and the ability to expand your network.

also presents positive byproducts for the giver: tax write-offs, name recognition in the community, and the ability to expand your network. If charitable giving is an idea you’ve toyed with, or a practice you’ve engaged in only now and again, here are a few ways to make it a foundational element of your business and a win-win for all.

Find causes that speak to you.

Donating funds or resources can feel anonymous if you’re divorced from the organization you’re working with. While national and international charitable organizations are certainly effective and worthwhile, you might consider partnering with local chapters of those organizations, or identifying hyper-local organizations that address need in your state, county, town, or even your own neighborhood. The first step to establishing a charitable relationship is to find a cause that you genuinely care about. For many, animal rescue is a tangible cause where resources and volunteership are always welcome. For others, children’s health and advocacy is a calling. Regardless Top Agent Magazine

of your personal passion, participation can be big or small. From sponsoring a local youth sports league to partnering with an area animal shelter for their annual spay-athon event—there are all sorts of ways to make a difference.

Unite your team for the common good.

One way to make charitable giving a staple is to do it in arm and arm with others. Supporting a local cause is a great way to bring your team together in a unifying capacity. Hosting coat drives in winter, blanket drives for local animal shelters, or backpack drives for needy students at the start of the new school year— all are straightforward and highly useful, direct ways to give to your community as a team. It’s also important to set collective goals as a way of keeping people motivated and accountable over time. Offices are productive, but often hectic spaces.

Injecting a collective goal with a positive, tangible result can create an ambiance of goodwill and generosity—both of which are worthwhile attributes to cultivate as

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the leader of your team. Lastly, consider timely giving as a way of connecting your team to their community. Natural disasters, local fundraising drives, and improvement funds are all direct ways your team can contribute, while they themselves reap the benefit in the community.

Include clients in the process.

You’ve likely heard of charitable donations made in the name of your client as an alternative to the classic closing gift, but there are a few ways you might update this method of giving. For starters, consider including your clients in the selection process. Do they have a special cause that’s close to their hearts? Likewise, you might

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consider making regular, consistent giving a part of your routine post-closing. Instead of following up with your yearly poinsettia plant or pumpkin, you might find a cause in their neighborhood or township that you can support in their name. It’s wise to choose something apolitical, but a cause that’s hyperlocal to their area demonstrates unique thoughtfulness.

There are plenty of ways in which society as a whole can benefit from charitable causes that build goodwill in the world, support those less fortunate, and bolster a positive future. Incorporating charitable giving in your business model is a generous way to make this mentality a central tenet of your team and a defining characteristic for your clients to remember.

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FONTINEESE GREEN Our blessings sometimes arrive well disguised. Fontineese Green had built a successful commercial cleaning business in Mercer County, Pennsylvania before an accident forced her life in a new direction.

“After I got hurt, I was no longer able to do that job,” Fontineese explains. “I decided to give real estate a try, and soon realized that it was my calling. I should have been doing this all along!”

Licensed almost five years now, Fontineese represents clients with Berkshire Hathaway Preferred Realty in both Mercer and Lawrence counties, an area with which she is quite familiar. “I grew up in Mercer County and have lived here all my life. This is home, and many of my clients are also long-time neighbors.

They know me, know my passion for helping people, so it didn’t take me long to build a strong repeat client and referral business.”

Serving the community where she grew up has given Fontineese an added sense of responsibility. Part of her long-term vision is to work with landlords to bring more stabilization to some of her county’s blighted neighborhoods. She also wants to be a voice for the area’s underrepresented population. As one of only 3 AfricanAmerican agents out of the 163 agents in her listing area, she understands the need for that all too well.

that too. It builds trust, and they will share your name with others.”

Fontineese markets her listings on her local MLS and all of the social media platforms, posting videos of the homes she’s showing. She also collaborates with other agents and lenders to educate the community on the process, making it easier for buyers to qualify for and purchase a home. “I always emphasize collaboration over competition, which is better for our community.” After the closing, she stays in touch with her new neighbors with handwritten notes or cards, letting them know she’s thinking about them, checking to see if there’s anything they need.

When she’s not working, Fontineese gives part of her time as President of the Greater Mercer County Association of Realtors. The rest is spent with family, and she takes particular joy in her young granddaughters. She also likes to travel when she can, preferably to a beach somewhere.

As for her business, Fontineese has recently formed The Fontineese Group and has begun to build a team.

She’s excited to bring on and teach new agents how to approach their business with integrity and proficiency so they can better serve their community.

“That starts with education. I teach people what they need to know to be smart buyers or sellers or investors.

The most rewarding moments for me are when I’m able to hand a set of door keys to someone who never believed they would ever own a home. Seeing the joy on their faces is why I’m doing this. It’s not about the money.”

Nor is it about the transaction. Fontineese is quick to point out that sometimes serving the client’s best interest means talking them out of a deal. “You have to help people make good decisions. A deal may be bad, a house might not be right for them, or the risk they’re assuming might be too much. People appreciate Top Agent Magazine

Contact Fontineese at 724-734-1720 or email Fgreen@tprsold.com 21 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

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Things the Best Leaders Never Say

As Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben said, “With great power, comes great responsibility.”

Being the boss is a great thing, but there’s a reason the ‘bad boss’ is common stereotype. Some people tend to use their power in destructive ways and that isn’t good for anyone. You might not even know you’re being a bad boss, it can be subtle sometimes.

There are common traits among great leaders, if you want to be a boss that operates with integrity and is respected by everyone

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you work with, make sure you don’t say any of the following things.

1

I’M THE BOSS

Stating a fact that should be obvious is always a sign of weakness, and when you are the boss, strength of leadership is THE key component.

It also may indicates a stubbornness that is the death knell of a healthy work environment.

Your job as a leader is to bring everyone to your level of success, not to create a larger rift.

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2

6

I’LL DO IT MYSELF

Being a good leader is all about delegation. If you are hiring people who are professional and trustworthy, then this should be a no brainer. It is your job as a leader to get the right people for the job and then lead them in away that means success for everyone.

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THAT WASN’T MY FAULT

There’s an old saying “The Buck Stops Here.” and that is still true today. Good leaders take responsibility for what happens. They don’t blame others or make excuses. They take the hit for the team and then find the solution to make it better. Not only does it show they have integrity, but it also fosters a warm team environment that makes all players feel like their boss has their back.

4

I’M SORRY TO ASK YOU TO DO THIS

Treating your employees with respect is mandatory, at the same time there is no reason to be sorry when you ask people to do their job. Leadership is strength and confidence. Expecting your employees to put in the same work ethic as you is your job.

5

I ALREADY KNOW THAT

Having a ‘know-it-all’ attitude isn’t pleasant coming from anyone, but the last thing you need to do as a boss is shut down the people working for you. If you give them the impression that you’ve thought of everything, why should they bother giving potentially valuable contributions?

Make people feel good about all input, even if you don’t think it will work or have already thought of it. Open flow of communication and ideas is key to a successful team.

Top Agent Magazine

THAT’S NOT THE WAY WE DO IT HERE

Well, why not? Being a successful leader means always being open to change and improvement.

No great leader is ever accepting of the status quo. It’s not only lazy, it’s uninspiring and usually leads to a work environment that is stagnate. Yes, keep things that work going, but nothing should ever be untouchable. Creative thinking should never be faced with constant roadblocks. A good option is to always ask for more information. Let your employee show you why they think their way might be better. This gets them energized and excited to approach you with more in the future.

7

I’M NOT HERE TO MAKE FRIENDS

This is a workplace, not a reality show competition.

Good leaders know that building strong workplace relationships, with employees, vendors and peers, is the foundation of a successful business

8

DON’T BRING ME BAD NEWS

No true leader avoids bad news. They confront everything head on because as we said above, they know that ultimately everything is their responsibility, and ignoring a potential problem will most likely end up being worse down the road. Good leaders want to know bad news right away, and the last thing you want is to foster a work environment where employees feel like they have to lie to you.

9

YOU JUST DON’T GET IT.

You’re the boss. If someone who works under you is having trouble understanding something, it’s on you to make it clear to them. Getting frustrated makes them less likely to ask for help in the future.

Sharing your expertise and experience is not only generous, but a necessary tool in the success of your business.

Top Agent Magazine

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Top Agent Magazine