PROPERTY MANAGER 6-15-20

PROPERTY MANAGER EDITION

How to Create a Business-Winning Plan in One Hour

6 Things You Need to Do to BE A GREAT MENTOR

What the First Thing You Do After Work

FEATURED PROPERTY MANAGERS

CHARLENE MINOR KRISTI PATTERSON

SAYS ABOUT YOU

COVER STORY

KARI NEGRI

PROPERTY MANAGER EDITION

KRISTI PATTERSON CHARLENE MINOR

a sense of validation and Back in the late 1970s, CharleneProperty MinorManager/Office Manager Kristi again. Many of my tenants have been with Properties we’re recognized for our 9Patterson – of RE/MAX Prestige17 was a single parent cleaning apartments me for more than a decade.” in Kingman, Arizona – is a hardworking, and collecting rents in her complex.

What and forward-thinking real estate dedicated Another element of RE professional.

Truly committed to providing Properties’ success story began as a small property management What’s more, Charlene plays an integral every one of her clients with the best ability to harness new tec role soon bloomed into a full-fledged role in her local and professional commucustomer service available in the commubenefit of their clients. In career, as Charlene’s star continued nities. She joined the National Association nities ofto Kingman, , New-Kingman-Butler, 2019, the company made Valley Vista one contact back managemen rise. At her peak, she managed as many as and Golden Valley, Kristi’s of Residential Property Managers which allowed th 23 onanother, 1500 units across multiple states, excellent in addi-reputation as a trusted advocate in 2009 and has served their National for her owners and renters continues to grow a fully online payment tion to heading a sizable staff andwith earning Communication Committees, as the 2016 every passing day.

KRISTI PATTERSON tenants. “I believe we were KARI NEGRI CHARLENE MINOR her formal certification. Ultimately, she President of the Atlanta chapter, and company has to management began her journey in the served propertyasmanagement toryPresident to do this,” says Kristi.

It was a sligh relocated to Atlanta to be close to Kristi her grandchildren now Regional Vice of the Pacific arena of real estate in 2016.

“I met my (now) husband, but ultimately fortuitous decision and daughter, an agent in her own right. There, they and Pacific Islands for the last two years. She also that p Dwayne Patterson, who is the Broker for RE/MAX the company for the least disruption p paired together to field a host of investment clientele, serves on hyper local level, as part of the College Prestige Properties,” recalls Kristi, “and he asked me COVID 19 pandemic hit earlier this ye and today Charlene manages 350 units, the majority Park Main Street Advisory Board, Zoning Board,athe to come work for him.” Since then, Kristi – who holds poised to begin beta-testing new softw degrees in both Business and Marketing – has played a 3-D modeling thevolunteers homes they represe of which fall under Section 8 vouchers.

Beyond Atlanta Housing Advisory Board, and of she pivotal inCONTENTS the re-shaping and refinement proceher professional success, Charlene hasrole cultivated frequently with ofarea non-profits. “This is a people dures that has helped an already-successful business When she’s not busy making her cli a steadfast reputation for her superlative service, business, and I’m a peopleworking person,with so her thisdedicated works for thrive even further. staff, Kris proven track record, and personal touch. me,” Charlene says. “I like helping people, and and I her p involved with her community, 4) HOW TO SEND SMARTER 18) CREATIVE WAYS TO Kristi is justifiably proud treat of herthem association RE/ asshereal chooses to support include with with respect, people and not justthe Club SAY Prestige Properties, and of the vast array of services proudthem to be and a partbe of promoting s Today, EMAILS Charlene serves clients MAX across inner-city a number.

ITHANK like to getYOU tovery know able they are able to provide their clients. “We manage over community youth development agen Atlanta, where the majority of her 450 business When IAmong havethethat ‘doors’isordriven properties” to sayscommunicate.

Kristi, “and we handle manyrelationship, she supp 6) 6 THINGS YOU NEED TO DO 20) HOW TO CREATE A organizations by repeat and referral clientele whothe trust her integrity with vendors, and 4tenants, day-to-day maintenancewhether and upkeep.

We make homesor with MAXinvestors Prestige is Toys Tots and the Ki ready for new tenants them for sale for because IPLAN TO BE A GREATSheMENTOR BUSINESS-WINNING and decades of experience. pairs alongside nine andweprepare have that connection treated them like owners who have decided to list their homes.”

Looking to the future, Kristi’s plan different agencies and the local housing authority to a person IN first.”

ONE HOUR growing. “That includes bringing more 15) WHAT THE FIRST THING place and manage tenants with vouchers, and clients RE/MAX Prestige Properties’ considerable business erty management, and also expanding rely upon her high rate of satisfaction and low turnIn addition to her many service positions, Charlene is based solely upon referrals from satisfied clients.

In community,” says Kristi.

YOU DO AFTER WORK SAYS 2019, the company won the Kingman Daily Miner’s over. “I’m old school when it comes to service,” she most enjoys time spent with her family and loved ABOUT YOU prestigious Leaders Choice Award, which is desig“I love what we do,” says Kristi. “Th explains. “I meet people at the property to show them ones, catching up on the latest movie in theaters, or nated by a reader’s poll to determine the best property faction, excitement and thankfulness p around in person. I interview to make sure the unit in traveling.

Toare date, sheofhasfinding traveled to more than 78 is on management company the area. “We proud a home just right for them fits their needs in terms of schoolsthat andaward,” publicsays transforeign countries, and visited all Kristi. “We feel successful when thehas outcomes.

It’s 50 not U.S. just a states. house, it a pla endorses as alooks business.

It brings andCharlene memories are created .” portation. To me, it’s not just aboutcommunity money and creditwhat we Asdoshe ahead to thedreams, future, intends Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 scores, I try to match families to the right home. to keep progress going steady as she continues to For more information aboutresidential Kristi Patterson This helps investors because they don’t lose money support her daughter’s resale , outfit, mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com turningNoover units year over year, and it helps tenants provide concierge-level service to investors, and please callwithout 928-718-5800 orthe email RemaxPrestigeKristi@gm portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever prior consent of publisher.

Top Agent Magazine because they’re by happy with where GA, they and precautions they make each housetheaaccuracy home of forpublished tenants.

Accordingly, is published Feature Publications Inc.live Although are taken to ensure materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors.

To subscribe or Minor. change don’t have to worry about the expense of moving the future looks truly bright for Charlene

KARI NEGRI

address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. Published in the U.S.

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To learn more about Charlene Minor, email charlene@baileyandhunter.com, Top Agent Magazine visit baileyandhunter.com/management-services, or call (770) 912–6496 https://

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How To Send

SMARTER EMAILS

Email is a great tool for agents to use when trying to stay in touch with their past clients, as well as for reaching out to prospective clients. However, used incorrectly it can make your attempts to reach out seem like spam. The secret to using email effectively is making sure that everything you send out does one thing: ensure that you remain relevant to your contacts. To do this you have to get personal. Personalization will go far to ensure that your contacts are actually clicking on your emails. This means that if you do reply on an automated drip email campaign to build business, you need to customize your content so that it delivers something meaningful to each individual recipient. Here are some steps that will help you do exactly that:

1. SEND A WELCOME EMAIL TO

NEW CLIENTS AND PROSPECTS Rather than simply add new contacts to your automated email drip campaign, make sure to send each new contact receives a warm welcome as well. Sending a welcome email along with adding new contacts to your drip campaign is proven to be 86 percent more effective at catching your contact’s attention. Let them know they are welcome and that you appreciate their interest.

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2. NURTURE YOUR RELATIONSHIP

THROUGH YOUR EMAIL To let your potential client know that you are thinking about them by sending them useful content that relates to the process of buying or selling a house. Some great topics include credit score information, ways to save money, regular market updates, what buying in your market is like, information about the neighborhood, tips on how they can prepare their home for sale, and other relevant information. A great way to

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add to these emails’ punch is to time them so that they coincide with what that individual is going through and dealing with at that time on their path through the buying or selling process.

3. CELEBRATE IMPORTANT DATES

Everyone loves to be noticed and appreciated.

Schedule emails to go to each client that celebrate their purchase anniversary or birthday.

Make sure you include a personal note and your own wishes that the year ahead goes well for them. If you’ve been a bit out of touch with your contacts, you might want to send them a friendly hello.

4.

MOBILE-FRIENDLY EMAILS With our phones being akin to mini computers, most people read their emails on their phone these days. So, it is particularly important to make sure that your emails are rendering well on the smaller screens. If you want to make any kind of impact, you have to run a mobile-friendly email campaign in today’s world. You are going to lose a lot of your audience if they can’t read your email on their phones.

5.

TRACK THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR EMAILS AND ALTER ACCORDINGLY The best way to make sure your emails are being read and making the kind of impact you desire is to consistently monitor the analytics,

and see what your readers are actually clicking on and what elements are most popular with your contacts. Going forward you can alter different elements of your email campaign such as content, images, graphics, and even smaller elements like your subject line to draw in more clicks from your readers, and cater to what grabs their attention.

You also want to follow a targeted email strategy. The best way to do this is segment your email list based on the data from your CRM and the demographics of your contacts. Different clients are going to be interested in different content. Long-time clients looking to buy a second home or possibly downsize are going to be interested in completely different content than your first-time buyers. A good way to filter your contacts is by looking at which ones are looking to buy or sell, how far along in the process they are, as well as other important information about them.

6.

DON’T SPAM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES You probably already know that flooding your clients’ emails is big no-no. However, different people have different ideas about what is too much contact. One great way to approach this problem is to ask your clients whether they would prefer weekly, monthly, or occasional emails from you. This way you can cater to each client’s preference.

The emails you send your clients can often be a double-edged sword when it comes to how well they work to bring in business. Following these simple rules will help your emails be as successful as they can possibly be, and will make your contacts much happier with you. So, don’t just send out emails without doing your homework about how to do it right. Your email campaigns can be a powerful tool if you know how to create and utilize them in the right manner.

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6 Things You Need to Do to Be a Great Mentor

Everyone reaches the point in their career where they feel they have gained enough experience and wisdom about business and what it takes to succeed, to actually help someone else achieve the same. Although you may have trained or given advice over the years, taking on the official status as a mentor to someone is a whole new ball game.

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Although mentorship is an unpaid endeavor, you’ll be surprised to find out how much you’ll gain from the experience. You’ll also grow as a business person through the process of teaching someone else. It’s also an endeavor that many will pay forward one day, creating a business atmosphere that is based more on mutual success than competition, which is better for everyone.

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If you were mentored, you may already have an idea of what it entails, and what you liked or didn’t like in your mentor/mentee relationship. Although it is a personal relationship that will need an individual approach, there are certain things that are key when it comes to being a great mentor: 1. Be a good listener

est about your own failures. It can be a huge relief to find out someone they look up to has gone through similar experiences and still managed to come out on top. As we all know, oftentimes the greatest lessons come from failures, which can be times when our character is truly tested. Building trust through mutual respect and honesty will make every aspect of your mentorship more effective.

You’re basically a sounding board who needs to hear your mentee’s ideas, plans and goals in order to advise them. Strong, constant and clear communication is key to any successful mentoring relationship.

Sometimes just letting them talk things out with you, will lead to them to discovering the solution they were looking for.

2. Set expectations and goals at the start When listening to your mentee in your first meeting about the potential relationship, it’s important to establish the parameters of what that relationship will be: What can you give them? What do they need or expect from you? Once the terms are agreed upon, you may want to set specific goals you’ll be working on together so that there’s a defined plan of action, timeline and result you can both expect.

3. Be honest This is important when it comes to offering them constructive criticism or tough love, but more importantly, you need to be honTop Agent Magazine

4. Get them to think, don’t make decisions for them Sometimes being a mentor is being a bit like a psychologist. By asking certain ques-

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tions you can lead your mentee to their own conclusions about their business dilemmas and strategies to reach their goals. Being a mentor is all about guidance. Build confidence by drawing out the best in your mentee rather than just presenting them with solutions.

5. Look at the situation objectively One of the key strengths you offer your mentee is a complete emotional detachment to their business. You have no sentimental attachment to doing things a certain way or working with an incompetent vendor because you ‘go way back’. Your only motive is what’s best for your mentee and their business. Although emotions cans still get in the way sometimes, having a detached perspective on hand to guide you is invaluable.

6. Don’t just offer constructive criticism, be supportive Yes, being a mentor is sometimes advising your mentee that he’s doing something ineffectively, but your main purpose is to alway approach everything like cheerleader.

You need to let them know that through it 8

all, you are a reliable support to them and have a complete belief in their abilities.

Make sure to always praise their accomplishments.

Remember: your job as a mentor is more about guidance than constant feedback.

Your goal is to help someone become the best they can be, not someone who just does everything the way you do it. You’re helping them build confidence in their own intuition, which will hopefully lead to a lifetime of success, and one day, they too might be a valuable resource to another mentee down the road.

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KARI NEGRI Top Agent Magazine

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Kari Negri is the founder and CEO of Sky Properties Inc., a boutique property management firm that manages over 1000 units and several thousand square feet of commercial space within a 20-mile radius from their office in Burbank, California.

There are times when a chance encounter can lead life in an unexpected direction. In 1992, Kari Negri moved to Northridge, California from Sacramento when her husband got a new job in the Los Angeles area. After moving into a large multifamily apartment building with their baby daughter, they quickly encountered a number of frustrating maintenance issues.

According to Kari, the building’s management wasn’t particularly diligent about addressing 10Copyright Top Agent Magazine

their concerns. “One day the ceiling was leaking over my daughter’s crib, and that was the straw that broke the camels back. I drove over to the management company and handed a strongly-worded letter to the first person I ran into,” Kari recalls. “After the gentleman read the letter he told me that he was the owner of the company—then he offered me a job on the spot. I was surprised, but it was a great opportunity for me so I took it.”

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Over the course of her subsequent 28-year career in property management, Kari has developed a comprehensive understanding of the industry as she progressively worked her way up from working as an on-site manager for a 50-unit building to starting her own company. Today, Kari is the founder and CEO of Top Agent Magazine

Sky Properties Inc., a boutique property management firm that manages over 1000 units and several thousand square feet of commercial space within a 20-mile radius from their office in Burbank, California. “We typically manage buildings that are 20-150 units, so we are working with assets that the smaller Copyright Top Agent Magazine11

“We typically manage buildings that are 20-150 units, so we are working with assets that the smaller property management companies can’t handle and the larger ones aren’t interested in.” property management companies can’t handle and the larger ones aren’t interested in,” Kari explains. “Because we serve that middle-market we are able to fully customize our services.

So if an owner wants a specific thing, or wants their financial statements formatted in a particular way, we pride ourselves on being able to provide that for them.”

Much of Sky Property’s success can be traced back to Kari’s relentless focus on innovation and providing her clients with world-class 12Copyright Top Agent Magazine

service. “Right when the pandemic hit at the beginning of March I was in Washington DC at the National Apartment Association getting a feel for how the industry was reacting all across the country. On the plane ride back to LA I spent the whole five hours drafting out a plan for how I was going to deal with the crisis and keep everyone safe,” Kari tells Top Agent. “When I landed that Friday we hit the ground running and by Monday morning had a plan in place for each of the 45 buildings we manage. We’ve kept up a constant stream of Top Agent Magazine

communication with our clients and tenants and leveraged new technologies such as 3-D photo tours to showcase our units and maintain our operations with minimal disruption.�

Outside of work, Kari loves to hike, ride horses, spend time with her family, and give Top Agent Magazine

back to her community. She is a member of the Toluca Lake Beautification Partners Team, the president of the Volunteer Toluca Lake Homeowners Association, and the vice president of the North Hollywood Police Department Pals Committee Board.

As a board member of AAGLA (Apartment Copyright Top Agent Magazine13

Association of Greater Los Angeles) she advocates for LA apartment building owners and is the CA delegate to the National Apartment Association. In addition, she periodically writes “Ask Kari Articles” in which she responds to questions from the community about the industry.

Looking to the future, Kari is excited to continue growing her company while building in a greater degree of stability so that she can further increase her engagement with her community.

“I absolutely love my job. There are so many things going on and constantly changing—there really never is a dull moment.”

For more information about Kari Negri, please visit skypropertiesinc.com, call 323-882-6606 or email Kari@SKYprop.LA www.

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What the First Thing You Do After Work Says About You We all have our routines. From that morning cup of coffee to a jog at the gym, it’s common to establish touchstones for our daily lives.

But have you ever considered what these habits tell us about ourselves? Our actions reveal much about our motivations and emotional life, so taking a second look at your first move at the end of the day can be telling.

With that in mind, see how you fare when it comes to post-workday habits...

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Break a Sweat After a long day of work, is your first instinct to strap on your sneakers and take off on a run? Do you stop off at the local yoga studio for an extended stretch? Maybe you head to the weight room to pump some iron. Whatever your exercise pick, if you’re inclined to sweat it out at the end of a long day, you’re likely a routine-oriented profes-

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sional who internalizes work-related stress. Of course, you’ve chosen a healthy release for all that pent-up tension, and you’ve discovered the power of endorphins. Once work hours are over, not everyone finds the motivation to stay active. This means you’re driven by routine, conscious of your emotional and physical health, and prefer to leave your cares at the gym, rather than bring them into your home oasis. However, it’s important to give your body a rest now and again, as recuperation time is not only beneficial for physical health, but can help prevent burnout for the long haul.

Flexibility is a skill, and one just as important to cultivate as rigid commitment. If you find yourself out of sorts if you miss just one day of working out, you might want to pay some attention to your routines and motivations, and rebalance your commitments and fitness routine accordingly.

Round-the-Clock Hustle If you’re the type to bring work home with you, you aren’t alone. While your motivation to work nonstop is admirable, it’s also important to make the mental transition from workplace to home, establishing the time to hustle and the time to relax. Just like those that hit the gym without fail after a long day, sometimes you’ll need to practice saying no. If your work life is indistinguishable from your personal life, it’ll be hard to catch a break and recharge.

This means burnout, frayed nerves, and missed details will soon be on the horizon. Of course, round-the-clock hustle is a strength, too. You’re passionate about your work, care deeply about doing things right, and failure is not an option.

Just make sure that you establish some foundational boundaries so that you maintain an 16

appropriate, healthy balance between your time at work and your time at home with the loved ones and hobbies you cherish. If making way for downtime isn’t easy, try penciling it in the way you would a work engagement. Dinner with a friend, a date night with a significant other, or a solo movie fest can be readily added to your calendar, and thus built in to your regimented schedule.

Turn to Food If your first instinct after work is to eat, it can say a few different things about your routine.

Perhaps you’ve been so on-the-go all the day that you haven’t had time for lunch. In this case, you might need to regiment your schedule with more purpose aimed towards downtime and self-care; food is fuel, after all. If you head home and gorge after an average day, you may be turning to food as a way to relieve stress.

In this case, you may need to reassess some of your post-work habits and find a healthier balance and outlet for your tension. Taking a walk, grabbing fresh ingredients for dinner, hitting the gym, or decompressing by catching up with a friend or a good book—all are healthier, more balanced ways of executing the transition from the office to the home. Pay attention to your consumption post-work. Determine how hungry or satiated you really are before making a grab for the nearest sustenance.

People decompress in all different ways after getting home from the office, but always remember that routines are telling. Don’t take your daily actions and impulses for granted. Examine the root behind your well-worn practices, and you may detect nuances at play beneath the surface that can you help you recalibrate for the better.

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CHARLENE MINOR Back in the late 1970s, Charlene Minor was a single parent cleaning apartments and collecting rents in her complex. What began as a small property management role soon bloomed into a full-fledged career, as Charlene’s star continued to rise. At her peak, she managed as many as 1500 units across multiple states, in addition to heading a sizable staff and earning her formal certification. Ultimately, she relocated to Atlanta to be close to her grandchildren and daughter, an agent in her own right. There, they paired together to field a host of investment clientele, and today Charlene manages 350 units, the majority of which fall under Section 8 vouchers. Beyond her professional success, Charlene has cultivated a steadfast reputation for her superlative service, proven track record, and personal touch.

Today, Charlene serves clients across inner-city Atlanta, where the majority of her business is driven by repeat and referral clientele who trust her integrity and decades of experience. She pairs alongside nine different agencies and the local housing authority to place and manage tenants with vouchers, and clients rely upon her high rate of satisfaction and low turnover. “I’m old school when it comes to service,” she explains. “I meet people at the property to show them around in person. I interview to make sure the unit fits their needs in terms of schools and public transportation. To me, it’s not just about money and credit scores, I try to match families to the right home.

This helps investors because they don’t lose money turning over units year over year, and it helps tenants because they’re happy with where they live and they don’t have to worry about the expense of moving

again. Many of my tenants have been with me for more than a decade.”

What’s more, Charlene plays an integral role in her local and professional communities. She joined the National Association of Residential Property Managers back in 2009 and has served on their National Communication Committees, as the 2016 President of the Atlanta chapter, and has now served as Regional Vice President of the Pacific and Pacific Islands for the last two years. She also serves on hyper local level, as part of the College Park Main Street Advisory Board, Zoning Board, the Atlanta Housing Advisory Board, and she volunteers frequently with area non-profits. “This is a people business, and I’m a people person, so this works for me,” Charlene says. “I like helping people, and I treat them with respect, as real people and not just a number. I like to get to know them and be able to communicate. When I have that relationship, whether with vendors, or with investors and tenants, we have that connection because I treated them like a person first.”

In addition to her many service positions, Charlene most enjoys time spent with her family and loved ones, catching up on the latest movie in theaters, or traveling. To date, she has traveled to more than 78 foreign countries, and has visited all 50 U.S. states.

As she looks ahead to the future, Charlene intends to keep progress going steady as she continues to support her daughter’s residential resale outfit, provide concierge-level service to investors, and make each house a home for tenants. Accordingly, the future looks truly bright for Charlene Minor.

To learn more about Charlene Minor, email charlene@baileyandhunter.com, visit baileyandhunter.com/management-services, or call (770) 912–6496 https://

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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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How to Create a Business-Winning Plan in One Hour

by Bubba Mills

Baloney! That’s what I say to those who think building a business plan should take days, weeks, even months. And I say baloney again to those who think a plan has to have a bunch of pages with graphs and charts.

I know for a fact REALTORS® don’t have that kind of time. But I also know every serious REALTOR® needs a good plan. That means if you’re reading this, you’re in the right place. Stick with me and you’ll end up with a plan that can make your year much better.

A comprehensive business plan (two pages max) can help you: • Account for what you accomplish • Clarify your life • Keep track of each of your goals • Manage your time 20

• Determine if you’re heading in the right direction So let’s get right to it. Here are the steps to take to get your plan in place and your year (and rear) in gear: Create a mission statement. This gets right to the heart of your life and addresses why you’re in real estate. It answers why you’re here, what your purpose is and what your business is truly about. Use positive, present tense statements such as “I am,” “I provide,” “I strive” as you define who you are and what you provide your clients. Take 10 minutes now to brainstorm some possible mission statements.

Perform a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats).

For strengths, maybe you’re tech savvy. For weaknesses perhaps you’re unorganized. With opportunities, it could be that a large firm is relocating to your city. And for threats, maybe Top Agent Magazine

Every serious REALTOR® needs a good plan. the mid-term, one year; and the long-term, five years. Also, in this same section, write your personal objectives. We can’t be balanced in life if all we focus on is business.

So consider what your ideal sitWrite your business objectives. In uation would look like with your this section I’d like you to consider family, your spiritual life and your what you want your business to look social life. Spend 10 minutes now like in the short-term, six months; in on these topics. interest rates are rising. Take 10 minutes now and fill in a few items for each category. If you get stuck, ask a co-worker or friend, who knows you well enough, for suggestions.

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Create a mission statement. This gets right to the heart of your life and addresses why you’re in real estate. It answers why you’re here, what your purpose is and what your business is truly about.

Create your sales goals. Here’s where I don’t want you to be afraid to think bigger. Take 15 minutes for this section. As part of this segment here at Corcoran Consulting and Coaching Inc., we include what’s called a goal achievement system that helps you stay on track with your goals. So for each goal, we include a why, excuses for failure, resolve and action items. I believe this is a vital step because it allows you to examine why you might hesitate in completing parts of your business plan. Email me at Article@CorcoranCoaching.com, and I’ll send you a free worksheet on this system.

Develop action items. To wrap up your plan, you need to get specific about how you’ll achieve your goals.

So for each goal you should have action items, due dates, who will 22

complete the items and a step-by-step daily and hourly plan with what has to be done. Take 15 minutes and do it.

Tell me what you’re thinking. Do you have a plan? If not, why not? What’s preventing you from creating one?

What successes or failures have you had with plans in the past?

Bubba Mills is co-owner and executive vice president of Corcoran Consulting and Coaching Inc. (www.corcorancoaching. com/programs, 800-957-8353), an international consulting and coaching company that specializes in performance coaching and the implementation of sound business systems into Real Estate Companies, Mortgage Companies and Small Businesses. Bubba Mills is a nationally recognized inspirational and education speaker, coach and mentor to the top real estate agents and mortgage companies. To find out more about Corcoran Consulting & Coaching, call 1800-957-8353 or visit us at www.Corcoran Coaching.com.

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KRISTI PATTERSON Property Manager/Office Manager Kristi Patterson – of RE/MAX Prestige Properties in Kingman, Arizona – is a hardworking, dedicated and forward-thinking real estate professional. Truly committed to providing every one of her clients with the best customer service available in the communities of Kingman, , New-Kingman-Butler, Valley Vista and Golden Valley, Kristi’s excellent reputation as a trusted advocate for her owners and renters continues to grow with every passing day.

Kristi began her journey in the property management arena of real estate in 2016. “I met my (now) husband, Dwayne Patterson, who is the Broker for RE/MAX Prestige Properties,” recalls Kristi, “and he asked me to come work for him.” Since then, Kristi – who holds degrees in both Business and Marketing – has played a pivotal role in the re-shaping and refinement of procedures that has helped an already-successful business thrive even further.

Kristi is justifiably proud of her association with RE/ MAX Prestige Properties, and of the vast array of services they are able to provide their clients. “We manage over 450 ‘doors’ or properties” says Kristi, “and we handle the day-to-day maintenance and upkeep. We make homes ready for new tenants and prepare them for sale for owners who have decided to list their homes.”

RE/MAX Prestige Properties’ considerable business is based solely upon referrals from satisfied clients. In 2019, the company won the Kingman Daily Miner’s prestigious Leaders Choice Award, which is designated by a reader’s poll to determine the best property management company in the area. “We are proud of that award,” says Kristi. “We feel successful when the community endorses what we do as a business. It brings

a sense of validation and satisfaction that we’re recognized for our values .”

Another element of RE/MAX Prestige Properties’ success story is the company’s ability to harness new technologies to the benefit of their clients. In the beginning of 2019, the company made the switch from one contact management application to another, which allowed them to implement a fully online payment service for their tenants. “I believe we were the first property management company to make it mandatory to do this,” says Kristi. It was a slightly controversial but ultimately fortuitous decision that perfectly situated the company for the least disruption possible when the COVID 19 pandemic hit earlier this year. They are also poised to begin beta-testing a new software that provides 3-D modeling of the homes they represent.

When she’s not busy making her clients happy, and working with her dedicated staff, Kristi is very much involved with her community, and her personal charities she chooses to support include the Club for Youth. “I’m very proud to be a part of promoting such an important community youth development agency,” she says.

Among the many organizations she supports through RE/ MAX Prestige is Toys 4 Tots and the Kingman Rodeo.

Looking to the future, Kristi’s plan is to continue growing. “That includes bringing more homes into property management, and also expanding into the HOA community,” says Kristi.

“I love what we do,” says Kristi. “The sense of satisfaction, excitement and thankfulness people feel when finding a home just right for them is one of my favorite outcomes. It’s not just a house, it a place where hopes, dreams, and memories are created .”

For more information about Kristi Patterson, please call 928-718-5800 or email RemaxPrestigeKristi@gmail.com Top Agent Magazine

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