SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 11-2-20

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION

Embracing Smart Homes: Does New Technology Really Increase Home Value?

FEATURED AGENTS

LILITH BERKO CINDY CARAVA JESSE GARCIA KINGS REALTY GROUP OCTAVIO MORENO ANNETTE & ANDREW WARBURTON

Turn Open Houses Into

DESTINATIONS 7 DEADLY SINS

OF PERSONAL BRANDING

COVER STORY

MIKE ARONSKI

COMPLETE RETROFITTING AND WATER CONSERVATION COMPLIANCE (PER SENATE BILL NO. 407)

LGS was founded in 1987 to assist Realtors in meeting mandatory requirements prior to the close of escrow. As the list of requirements grew, so did we! LGS has been committed to providing the professional service necessary to successfully meet our customer's needs. One hundred percent customer satisfaction is not only our goal, but it is our mantra.

R etrofitting Inspections and Noncompliant Plumbing Disclosures n Los Angeles DWP Certificate of Compliance n Seismic Earthquake Valves n Low Flush Toilets n Water Heater Straps n Smoke Detectors n Carbon Monoxide Detectors n Window Glazing n

License Number 900919

2

Call 1-800-771-5971 or visit us at www.lgscompliance.com email info@iusecompliance.com Top Agent Magazine

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION

KINGS REALTY GROUP CINDY CARAVA AND ASSOCIA 7

16

20

CINDY CARAVA MIKE ARONSKI KINGS REALTY GROUP LILITH BERKO JESSE GARCIA OCTAVIOANNETTE MORENO& ANDREW WARBURTON

in realGarcia estatewas still in collegeOctavia ethic Lilith still Andrew ongoals. track to make Jesse when heMoreno This is probably biggest transacand popular Annette alt 1983, Warburton relocatedthe from found hisInispassion as well as on Century 25 a 26 31 21’s began needed tion they will ever make in their lives and duringworking the in real estate. “Ifor $25 million in sales volume this year. to meet their cli England to the United States with little real estate when purchasing his platform. He also spreads the word knowledge and hardalong workthe thatway.

Cin Once her kids off to college, Carava part-time job, so I started working at an they chose meintoCindy facilitate this. her What an more than were $1000 dollars his pocket. ugh business second home. His real decided estate agent throughout his community ofherfellow made it to Top 10 Agents at office eve she was going to go back to work.

With team,” Andrew Through tenacity and determination, he realwhere I learned everything from honor it the is to be know the who advan Instead ofthere fleeing fromaspects industry, as journey.” many whoclients e agency time, Lilith Although are many ofa part of that was unprofessional, and aoften drunk, agents, often have buyers gle year since she started. background in healthcare she was on the path a public service ized the American Dream.

After years of the loved the and ground educateup,” he recalls. “I and Lilith’s that she enjoys, one of friend—who deal. tailor their did after the 2008 housing crash, Demarcoareand Octavio realized hiswork do aprofessional a match for They the property.

The m tocould rejoin theinmedical but her success sales with on the Lanier work so much, I moved into it full time.”

Jesse field, is very big giving back to his ving up. She the things she appreciates the most better job himself.

After also successfully is often a quick saleThe at Warburtons a very platforms, includ Marisa Fletcher to he“My run head-first into Corporation and others, spearheaded a result With hermedia medical background, Cindy happeneddecided to be her broker—persuaded was 23 years ago, and he’s never community. daughter her played soccer fThat information is home, the constant novelty of herCindy work. reputation arou ministry, Open Heart, and ran a successful purchasing thatreal he decided competitive price. stands the importance of clear commun to give real estate a try. obtained her real to send estateradio during this time and well-position looked back. for the AYSO,” he says.

“So I donate $1000gram, and love of their and television on obtained the “Realhimself, estate brings onhas new and focused as well as compassion formajority her clients and estate license beenshow thriving in the busito become an agent and heand alengthy year which goesshifted to29 those kids who can’ttheir clientsrepeat on holiday themselves for a career in the field. clients or assisting those in need.

He then focus thing they are dealing with during the ness for over six years now. operty Expert different experiences every single became since come true rea Jesse is now an Associate Broker at Jesselicensed in 2004. Ever to join the league.” He For also Octavio, donates it’s a dreamcherish any opp to real estate.afford increase their referral Having backgrounds in the mortgage business could assist so Masters & Associates time. There’s no possibility ever then, he’s to providing to make a good living while helping bu Garcia Realty outbeen committed funds to of the local schools for much-needed to our service m When clients work with Cindy, they LILITH BERKO JESSE GARCIA OCTAVIO MORENO ANNETTE & He loves top-notch, helped excellent service hethis had hoped toasisaafor his clients to reach their goals. to give atofwere going California. Withthe getting bored inthe line ofand work. spark inspiration these two to Montebello, a consissupplies of NAHREP “We ®member Andrew began his career broker in 1990 ANDREW WARBURTON hundreds of VA are working with a REALTOR who receive when he was a buyer.

Octavio now works back to the community that has given him so much.

Thanks to her Whether it’s meeting new people, love giving and the byin1994 was incharity Time magazine forhave sales low-income tent sales volume, Jesse continues to be hold events assist of b begin aknows path this field, and even Their hefty “Iamount San Gabriel Valley areathey liketo as a solo agent at Century 21 Yarrow & Associates He often hosts educational events in his office such so much into our country,” production with Coldwell Banker.

He would later rank kly started to enjoying stunning architecture, or recognized as a Top Producer in the area. Jesse recently reports theLatino families buy he notes. back of her hand.

“Ihomes,” believe one of theclients industry has led to started their own independent brokerliterally crying as we 29th in the world for closed sales for RE/MAX in 2004. infrom Lancaster where heCONTENTS serves the asback GED and English as a Second Language classes. base.

Shebusiness currentlyis works at Realtors working different sites instead ofofAntelope sitting atcome the that his 70% repeat and referral clientele. the reasons a lot clients from their past age Kings Realty Group and new home.

There’sclients. nothing mA Valley, Kern andsomething also hosts Jesse counsels from Latin American counents throughout office, there’s always exciting going on.He “I go out of my Los wayAngeles for my clients,” heparts says.of“A lot called of When working or giving ofand hisAssociates. time, enjoys toSan me,Bernardino ornot refer me counties, to their friends you’ve changed a life.”

At his first brokerage, Andrew met his future wife, Annette. and all of Los Angeles county. tothe issue passports for communityand members, “Demarco Marisa The two do isactive business Inland family, because I have a lot“We totries offer.

7 DEADLY SINS OF 22) EMBRACING SMART HOMES: agents only work 4) a few hours of the day.

I’m always histhroughout go off-roading, camping, mes.

And my ability to play abeing big part ofwith such akids. monuThe couple has since established Warburton Properties and donates to worthy causes such as Easter Seals.

I’ve lived here my entire life.

When the first in the office and the last to leave.

My days and I love to go fishing in Baja,” he says.

He’s also a PERSONALmental BRANDING DOES NEW TECHNOLOGY moment in people’s lives isthe truly a magical Empire servicing cities of clients Riverside, Outside of their career, Andr where they currently assist throughout Riverside people are looking at different Octavio is bilingual, serving clients in and club, Inareas hisand freeis time, Octavio to read. run 8 a.m.

10 p.m., and tokind phone member of aEnglish sports car which very activeVALUE? inloves REALLY INCREASE HOME usiness in a to competitive cityI always and respond one-of-a experience that makes everything mentors to their fellow agents County, San Bernardino County the surrounding Corona, Murrieta Valley, Temecula, and they’re always surprised that I know 13) TURN OPEN HOUSES Spanish, and is incredibly dedicated to helping his calls.

My clients tell me they really appreciate my supporting local businesses. training sessions for the up-a areas.

“I just knew Andrew and I needed to open our own difficult, but Lilith has been worthwhile,” she says.

27) Awhen STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TOclasses each one so well.

Butsays. beyond.

Strongly believing inyou’ve creating clients achieve their real estate hopes and dreams.

Octavio has recently taken for his broker’s INTO DESTINATIONS responsiveness and availability.

I always say customer brokerage, Andrew hosts a p brokerage,” Annette “Now our whole lives revolve munity thanks to prioritizing lived somewhere thisJesse long, you get CONVERTING INTERNET LEADS where around each other and the satisfaction of ourhe clients.”

“I treat them not just like clients, but like family license and plans tohis takeProperty the testAdvisor, soon. For thehe p service is key!”

As for the future, wants to to continue to expand a lasting business partnership with their loping long-lasting18) relationOutside of her work know in real estate Lilith enjoys everything.”

AndREAL it’s thanks to SALES 3 MIND–BENDING TO LIFE the state ofasthe market. asof well as promote home-buying education within members. I putvast them network first.team What’s most important future, he plans to continue learning much as he theyofstandby With a 90% rate of PHILOSOPHIES repeat and many different hobbies. One of supervising herreferrals, favoritea things While team over 40 people, the TO EXPAND It’s not surprising that Jesse receives stellar reviews for the Latino community.

He notes, “So many families for me is to provide great service so that my clients can about the KILLERS: industry. One day he also hopes to 30) PRODUCTIVITY ilith’s attentive approach to to do is to repurpose furniture.

And with her natural the motto, “It’s never about us, rather it’s Andrew andCopyright AnnetteTopalso pl Warburtons are fully tuned into their clients’ needs.than When Agent YOUR PROFESSIONAL his esteemed work ethic. Client Rios recently realize that there are resources out there can areAlbert totally satisfied,” he don’t says.

Octavio particuopen his own brokerage so that he can build a team, 4 WAYS TO MAKE BETTER USE family.

When they’re not servi listing a property, they provide a wealth of resources, coming to her.

“I genu-from eye designalways also considering opening her of that.” about the clients.” wrote: back “When wePERSPECTIVE moved Losfor Angeles toshe’s Sanwith help them.

I homebuyers want be a part larly enjoys working first-time mentor agents, and serve morechild spending timeeven with their including aintightly organized system oflike-minded open houses and OFtofuture.

YOUR WORKING HOURS lients and getting them the own staging company sometime the “Ipeople Diego, I needed to sell my condo. and the his time team to educate and Jesse he takes them throughout in his area.

Elsewhere, the Warburtons h virtual tours. Meanwhile, they are steadfast advocates elationship their needs,designer do my own staging my listings at about the moment worked withand a professional to state the placeforHis each step of the process. clients rave his portfolio of investment proper for their buyers from start to finish in a transaction.

“At As it, a team, Demarco and Marisa are ore transaction, because and really enjoy it’s something I’m thinking andthe negotiated a good price forhonesty, the Istaging.

I recomWarburton Properties, we have bought and sold literally expertise, andso sense of humor.

As a result Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 focused on delivering a his high-level of investors Looking ahead, Andrew and A smend priceless,” shework says. she approach, says.

Sheanalso has ofa homes few words of funds, private families with Jesse.”ofabout,” hundreds for managed his caring impressive 60% of mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com growth of their team. But abo andand owner occupants,” Andrew says.they “We esteem hard advice tocomes junior agents: “Real estate istoan amazing market knowledge each client business from repeat referral clients. making dreams come true all th work andAlthough honest dealing, listening attentively to the needs Jesse in the personal touch when reaching ng her believes listings sold quickly, and personally fulfilling career. working No portion of this issue be in reproduced in any manner whatsoever consent of the publisher.

Hemay stays touch long after theplace transaction iswithout over, prioron serve.

They an emphasis doing the course of a deal, we beco of our customers.” to his clients.

“I Magazine do electronic postcards, emails, e,out Lilith puts a Agent heavy focus with people can be hard at times, it’semails ultimately Top isstopping published Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of bybytoFeature visit and sending check-in to all the necessary research needed prior to lives of our buyers and seller and a lot that of published campaigns that gift from local materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot held forend opinions or facts supplied by its authors. ensuring neighbors getoffer very rewarding to help them reach their goal.expressed let pastcards clients know theybeare onresponsible his mind.

I’m mentoring my staff or as Once during the Warburtons’ anniversary vacation, an selling homes in order to ensure that their businesses,” says.despite “At Thanksgiving, Isend offer a pie Tohesubscribe or change address, inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com.

Published in the U.S. lose to them.

And The relationships I’ve formed clients over driven to help others realize th elderlywith clientmy needed help up in San Francisco. Andrew giveaway.” as a new comes Jesse hings down As andsoon making it listing my years in in, thetime business are the best part of what When it comes to market listings, Octavio immediately posts to social media and the MLS. “I’m is ready to Andrew and Annette Warburton, email andreww@warburton ses, dueTop to her tireless work helps I do.”his clients to ensure their home To learn more about Agent Magazine 3 C To find out more about Octavio Moreno, also on all of the top real estate affiliate sites, and I have show. He then creates a dedicated website for each annettew@warburton-properties.com or visit warburton-properties.com. Please feel a YouTube channel,” he says. please call 661-860-3983 To the learn more about Jesse Garcia, listing, and posts the listing on all existing real Andrew Warburton, at 310 270 1689 at any time to discuss your real est www.

and they don’t care for sudden changes in procedure or lifestyle. They also like activities they can start and finish.

Compliants are thinkers. They’re always wondering how things work.

They want practicality, logic, fairness and a systematic approach. When talking to thinkers give facts, documentation and data. They seek accuracy.

They’re motivated by standards of high quality, limited social interaction, detailed tasks and logical organization of information.

7 Deadly Sins of Personal Branding

some personality assessment tools can cost thousands of dollars, but at Corcoran Coaching, we’ve opted for a much more affordable offering: a free DIsC assessment. Just visit www.corcorancoaching.com/behavioralstyle. php and you’ll be guided through a quick questionnaire to learn your own What is a style ‘personal Just likeothers com- as sistently dominant andbrand’? how to read well. (across all marketing platforms), pany or product branding, it’s built around a well-defined brand can elevate agent recimaging and messaging that is designed to ognition and help to establish credibility Yes, understanding people, listening to their needs and wants and responding create a feeling. And in the case of personal and authority. However, when executed appropriately all takehow work But because realare estate is a people branding, it influences you and wantattention. others incorrectly, the effects lackluster at best, business, it’syou. simply a must. the and better at itatyou become, to feel about From your photosAnd to other harmful worst.

To help the you better avoid living as an or broker. brandyou’ll images,make elements andagent even content, theI promise. pitfalls of personal branding, we’ve there is a lot that goes into creating your compiled a list of what we feel are the 7 unique brand.to Displayed Best of luck you! correctly and con- deadliest sins.

Copyright©, 2015 BubbaNO Mills.

All rights reserved.

DIFFERENTIATION Branding about being known forvicereal estate agent who expressed to us that Bubba Mills isis not co-owner and executive president of Corcoran Consulting and Coaching Inc. (www.corcorancoaching.com/programs, 800-957-8353), an in international your profession.

It’s about being known she was already well branded her area. consulting and coaching company that specializes in performance coaching and for being different in your profession. If She stated, “When I walk into a restaurant theallimplementation sound systems Real Estate Companies, Mortgage agents were the of same, howbusiness would your in into my community, people already know Companies and Small Businesses. Bubba Mills is a nationally recognized inspirational customers know who to choose? Lack of I’m a real estate agent.” And while that and education speaker, coach and mentor to the top real estate agents and mortgage differentiation is out by more far the #1 personal is a great start, it’s nowhere close to succompanies.

To find about Corcoran Consulting & Coaching, call 1-800-957-8353 We love to tell the story of a cessful branding. Let’s assume I walked or branding visit us at sin. www.CorcoranCoaching.com.

4

Top Agent Magazine

into that restaurant and noticed her. But I also noticed two other agents in the same restaurant. Now, who do I choose? Which

‘brand’ stands out to me? What lets me know that one of them is uniquely positioned to serve my needs?

and they don’t care for sudden changes in procedure or lifestyle. They also NO FOCUS like activities they can start and finish.

In business, you can’t be all things to all side of your specific focus. That would be people. Many have and failed.

In or- always quite difficult.

It does mean over work. time Compliants are tried thinkers.

They’re wondering howthat, things der to have business and brand, doneacorrectly), you approach. will do moreWhen and They wanta successful practicality, logic, fairness(ifand systematic you must define yourfacts, ideal custommore ofand the data. exact They kind ofseek business you talking toclearly thinkers give documentation accuracy. er and how you will super-serve that cus- want, and conversely, even stop doing They’re motivated by standards of high quality, limited social interaction, tomer. In other words, declare and develop the kind of business you don’t want. And detailed tasks and focused, logical itorganization of information. a specialty.

By being does NOT that’s what a great brand is designed to mean that you stop doing all business outaccomplish.

some personality assessment tools can cost thousands of dollars, but at Corcoran Coaching, we’veNO opted for a much more affordable offering: a free AUTHENTICITY DIsC assessment. Just visit www.corcorancoaching.com/behavioralstyle.

Recognizable personal brands can be very You should be able to ‘breathe your brand’ php and you’ll be guided through a quick questionnaire to learn your own clever and memorable, but if your brand in everything that you do. This is importdominant andlast. how to read as well. isn’t ‘you’,style it won’t If you try toothers put ant not only for your customers, but perout a persona that is different from your haps most importantly for you. There is Yes, needs and wants responding ownunderstanding and the way you people, live yourlistening life, peo- to their a tremendous amount of and confidence that ple will take notice overwork time. and The attention. most comes knowing youisare who appropriately all take Butwith because realthat estate a people incredible it’s personal brands weaveAnd pro-theyou portray, that become, you have the business, simply a must. better at itandyou thehabits, better fessional and personal qualities into one. inspiration, knowledge and expertise to living you’ll make as an agent or broker. I promise.

Your brand becomes an extension of you. back it up.

Best of luck to you!

NO CONSISTENCY

You can have a2015 recognizable memocards, postcards, brochures, etc. Other peoCopyright©, Bubbaand Mills.

All rights reserved.

rable brand, but if you don’t display those ple don’t see them nearly as often, so don’t branding correctly consis- viceapply or compare your own habits and Bubba Millselements is co-owner andand executive president of Corcoran Consulting and Coaching Inc. all (www.corcorancoaching.com/programs, an international tently across of your marketing plat- exposure to 800-957-8353), theirs. Repetitiveness in marconsulting and coaching company that specializes in performance coaching and forms, it does you little good. In order to keting is not only a good thing, it’s essenthe implementation sound systems Real Estate Companies, Mortgage accomplish this taskofwell, youbusiness must step tialinto for retention.

Once you determine the Companies and Small Businesses. Bubba Mills is a nationally recognized inspirational back from your marketing and see it the overall messaging and look of your brand, and education speaker, coach and mentor to the top real estate agents and mortgage way others To do.find Youout seemore yourabout socialCorcoran media Consulting that look should continuecall across literally companies. & Coaching, 1-800-957-8353 every day. You see your business every marketing platform you touch. orchannels visit us at www.CorcoranCoaching.com.

Top Agent Magazine

5

NO CONTENT The ultimate goal of personal branding is comfortable producing is the key to keeping to become known as an authority in your it simple. No one wants to be bogged down andchosen they niche. don’t That caremeans for sudden or lifestyle.

They also withprocedure producing content.

But on the flip side, that youchanges must in likedemonstrate activitiesthe they can start and finish. knowledge, expertise and/ no one knows how much you know until or experience to back up your position. you share it. Great content demonstrates your knowledge and how helps your customers Content that are best expresses youThey’re and your always Compliants thinkers. wondering things work. at the same time.

In addition, it serves anbrand could be as simple as a series of They want practicality, logic, fairness and a systematic approach. When other purpose with search engine optimizaphotos, quotes, e-books, video shorts, etc. talking to thinkers give facts, documentation and data. They seek accuracy.

Choosing the type of content you’re most tion and attracting prospects online.

They’re motivated by standards of high quality, limited social interaction, detailed tasks and logicalNO organization of ACTION information.

CALL TO

You’re spending money to market across using other people’s money’. Your call some personality assessment tools can cost thousands of dollars, but at multiple platforms, so why not take the to action may change with different marCorcoran Coaching, opted for more affordable offering: keting channels or purposes, buta free you opportunity to extendwe’ve an invitation fora much DIsC Just with visityou? www.corcorancoaching.com/behavioralstyle. your assessment. prospects to engage It can should always, always have one. If you want people to do something, tell them a simple call be to action, such as ‘call me phpbeand you’ll guided through a quick questionnaire to learn your own you’d like them to do. That’s how you first’ or more ‘contact me others for a aswhat dominant stylespecific, and how to read well. free home staging assessment’ or ‘download my e-book and learn how to invest

move prospects one step closer to becoming customers.

Yes, understanding people, listening to their needs and wants and responding appropriately all take work attention. But because real estate is a people NOand FOLLOW-THROUGH business, it’s simply a must. And the better at it you become, the better with hundreds of agents, folWhyyou’ll is this included in branding, living make as an agentyou or may broker.munication I promise. ask? Because your brand is your bond. It’s low-through is at the top of the list when it comes to customer complaints. You don’t your handshake. When you say you’ll do Best of luck how to you! something, can people trust you if want to be that person. Putting an incredible you don’t follow through with your prom- message and image out there isn’t enough. must live up to those standards with ise? This is often elementMills. that people Copyright©, 2015theBubba All rightsYou reserved. forget altogether. And in fact, in our com- every customer, every transaction

Bubba Mills is co-owner and executive vice president of Corcoran Consulting and Coaching Inc. (www.corcorancoaching.com/programs, 800-957-8353), international ® Tonya Eberhart is the Branding Agent to Business Stars and founder ofan BrandFace , LLC. ® consulting andMichael coaching company that specializes in performance coaching Carr is America’s Top Selling Real Estate Auctioneer & BrandFace partner. and the implementation of they sound systems into Real Estatedesigned Companies, Mortgage Together, focusbusiness on personal branding and marketing to help real estate ® professionals become theBubba face of their & a star in their market. BrandFace Companies and Small Businesses.

Millsbusiness is a nationally recognized inspirational Real Estate Professionals is a book, speaking and and an exclusive and educationfor speaker, coach and mentor toprofessional the top real estateseries agents mortgage workshop for agents, and is currently active in 18 U.S. states, Canada and New Zealand. companies. To find out more about Corcoran Consulting & Coaching, call 1-800-957-8353 For more information, visit www.BrandFaceRealEstate.com. or visit us at www.CorcoranCoaching.com.

6

Top Agent Magazine

MIKE ARONSKI Top Agent Magazine

7

Top Agent Mike Aronski is a Partner at The Joseph Group of Christie’s International, Strand Hill Properties in Manhattan Beach, California.

The call came in after 11:00 PM PST in mid April, 2017. There were 14 offers on a property and after four rounds of counter negotiations lasting the better part of a week, Mike Aronski and his clients purchasing the home, were the winners.

Mike Aronski first approached real estate as just a part time gig that would provide him with an extra stream of income. But after 8 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

that mid april 2017 deal was closed, he fell in love with business and caught the real estate bug. Today, just a few short years after being a full time real estate agent, Mike is a Partner at The Joseph Group of Christie’s International, Strand Hill Properties in Manhattan Beach, California. A small independent brokerage toting more talent in one office and higher sales and transaction volume than many of their competitors in the Top Agent Magazine

Represented the seller

South Bay...combined. Mike specializes in the South Bay, primarily serving clients in Redondo Beach, Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and surrounding greater LA cities.

His diligence and commitment to fulfilling the needs of his clients at the highest level has earned Mike a steady stream of repeat and referral business. “I’ve put a heavy emphasis on creating systems that allow for the experience to be as smooth as possible. Between the high level of customer Top Agent Magazine

service and my strong relationships in the brokerage community I think my clients truly value everything that comes from working with me. And we’re also in a very competitive market where there might be anywhere between 5,10 to 25 and 36 offers on a purchase, (From experience) so you have to know how to write a winning offer and be able to deliver. I have a competitive drive that allows me to succeed under pressure and put my clients in a position to win homes, which I think sets me apart from many other agents,” he says.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 9

Represented the seller

“There is no greater feeling than making that phone call to a client and saying ‘Congratulations, you won the property.’”

And set him apart it has. Since 2019, Aronski has closed $40,000,000.00 in sales volume in buyer transactions alone. Per the California Regional Multiple Listing Services, no other agent in the South Bay closed more buyer deals in Redondo Beach (2019-Transactions). Top 5 buyers agent in the Beach Cities (2019-Transactions).

The others ahead of him? Some of the biggest names in South Bay real estate 10Copyright Top Agent Magazine

with monstrous teams that are also a part of Christies’ International Strand Hill Properties. Although the uncertainties of Covid-19 slowed 2020 down for many realtors, Aronski is on pace to eclipse his transaction numbers in 2019.

Working in real estate has provided Mike with a sense of purpose and satisfaction. “There is no greater feeling than making that phone Top Agent Magazine

Represented the buyer

call to a client and saying ‘Congratulations, you won the property.’ It’s similar to being done with a really hard workout and feeling those endorphins,” he says, and adds, “And in general, I love that there are no limitations to what I can do. Everyday you have to show up and prove yourself, and compete against yourself.”

Top Agent Magazine

Mike strives to be an active member in his community. He’s contributed to various charitable causes and has hosted events to raise funds for different projects. Last year he hosted a golf tournament with proceeds going to the South Bay Board Riders Association—an organization that provides mentorship and scholarships for youth.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine11

Represented the buyer

When he is not working Mike loves to play beach volleyball, practice his swing at the golf course, and travel. Going forward he wants to continue building his residential business in order to provide clients with

top-notch service. “I would love to be a one-stop-shop for clients and incorporate a program that helps them from start to finish.

Starting with the financial side and going all the way to construction and design.”

To learn more about Mike Aronski please email Mike@josephgrp.com, call 310–351–2483 or visit josephgrp.com www.

12Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

Turn Open Houses into Destinations People are busy. Even those who are actively looking to buy a house or want to learn about the market for a future purpose have busy schedules.

But with bit of added time, creativity and investment in making open house into destinations, you’ll see greater turnout. And we all know that greater turnout increases the likelihood of offers.

There are several creative ways to hold an open house with a mindset of hospitality and with the goal of providing something of value to each person who attends.

Top Agent Magazine

The neighbors-only open house Some agents embrace the “nosy neighbor” concept as a benefit, not an eye-rolling challenge.

With his client’s permission, Wesley Peters, a Keller Williams broker in the Baltimore Metro Area, often gets the neighbors together before a home hits the market. “We invite other brokers, too, but we include as many neighbors as we can,” he says, explaining that he schedules these events for a Thursday or Friday evening, happy hour-style, rather than midday on a Sunday. They get a better turnout at 5:00 pm than

Top Agent Magazine ®

13

midday on a weekend when the neighbors are busy with their lives. In a relaxed setting, conversations flow, neighbors can mingle and catch up, and the buzz begins before the home is listed.

In advance, prepare invitations and hand-deliver them to homes on the streets you and your client agree are best to include. The destination is the event; the value each attendee receives is the social interaction and the removal of any awkwardness over visiting their neighbor’s house.

Your client’s benefit is the buzz.

A turnkey block party any time of year Once a property is listed, some agents take on the role of party planners. Certain streets or neighborhoods, they find, are perfect for lowkey social occasions. In some place, such as neighborhoods with many young families, a bounce-house or games may even ramp up the fun factor. But the idea of a seemingly spontaneous block party during an open house can be easy to pull off, whether you’re serving lemonade and cookies or coffee and pastries. The chance to meet prospective neighbors turns the event into a destination for both buyers and the neighbors; the value comes in buyers’ ability to see how the neighbors interact. Your seller’s benefit is that the grapevine will be filled with happy stories about their home. Tips: By keeping basic supplies in storage, you’ll be ready for a pop-up block party any time. Promote this type of event with targeted social media marketing and fliers or postcards to communities within a short distance of your listing.

Invite other professionals It’s common mortgage lenders to attend open houses. But why not provide even more value to people who attend? Chances are, you have more than a handful of professional partners who welcome an opportunity to join you at your open house. Consider inviting an interior designer, a contractor, a gardener, even a gardener or a painter. Invite them to your broker’s open in advance or give them time to view the property 14

before the open house begins. Then encourage them to stroll the property during the open house or to sit with you. When visitors ask about needs or concerns they may have about the house – such as loan questions, the cost of improvements or upgrades or even remodeling – you’ll be able to introduce them to an expert on the spot. For that matter, your invited pros don’t even necessarily have to be in home-related businesses!

Prospective buyers always want to know about the community when visiting open houses.

Consider inviting representatives of community

organizations, like youth sports group or owners of mom-and-pop retailers to help your visitors get a feel for the neighborhood or town. For this type of open-house, prepare a flyer or card with your community contacts on it so visitors can leave with resources as well as information.

Open house should be about the buzz. They’re about creating a conversation about your listing and making the home memorable to visitors. By giving people a unique experience they won’t forget, you’ll show your sellers how creative you are in meeting their needs.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

15

CINDY CARAVA

Once her kids were off to college, Cindy Carava decided she was going to go back to work. With a background in healthcare she was on the path to rejoin the medical field, but her friend—who also happened to be her broker—persuaded her to give real estate a try. Cindy obtained her real estate license and has been thriving in the business for over six years now.

her knowledge and hard work that Cindy has made it to Top 10 Agents at her office every single year since she started.

With her medical background, Cindy understands the importance of clear communication, as well as compassion for her clients and everything they are dealing with during the real estate

When clients work with Cindy, they are working with a REALTOR® who knows the San Gabriel Valley area like the back of her hand. “I believe one of the reasons a lot of clients come back to me, or refer me to their friends and family, is because I have a lot to offer.

I’ve lived here my entire life. When people are looking at different areas they’re always surprised that I know each one so well. But when you’ve lived somewhere this long, you get to know everything.” And it’s thanks to 16

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

process. “Having previously worked in the ER as well as the OR, I’m accustomed to making quick decisions and thinking on my feet. And being compassionate and working with a team has definitely transferred into my real estate career,” she says.

In order to empower clients to make informed choices when going into a real estate transaction, Cindy provides them with an informative video guide. “I have a detailed first time homebuyer video that I send out to all my new homebuyers so that they feel more at ease about the process, because most people are very scared and overwhelmed when they’re thinking about buying a house. This helps them get an idea of all the different stages as well as what it’s like to work with me. My clients range from first time homebuyers, to business owners, to professional athletes and I love working with all of them,” she says.

Cindy has an all-encompassing marketing technique and believes in both old school and modern ways of marketing. She uses a lot of social media portals such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn in order to give her listings wide exposure. She’s also a huge fan of hosting open houses.

Community involvement is an important part of Cindy’s life, and she participates and helps out in various events put on by her city. And when she’s not busy working or volunteering, Cindy loves to cook, go to the racetrack, and spend time with family and friends. Going forward she is looking to hire an assistant so that she can dedicate more of her time to clients and helping them find their dream homes. “I love what I do and I’m very passionate about it. I truly love helping people. Even when I was in high school I volunteered at the local hospital because I wanted to help people. And now I get to do it through real estate.”

Top Agent Magazine

To learn more about Cindy Carava please email Cindyc.realtor@gmail.com, visit cindycarava.com, or call (626) 394–6400 www.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 17

3 Mind-Bending Philosophies to Expand Your Professional Perspective

Beyond the day-to-day duties that make your business tick, so much of success is derived from the principles you put in place to guide your business. The foundational tenets you subscribe to can make or break your business for the long-term; they not only influence how you complete routine 18

tasks, but also impact your growth, your ability to manage a team, and what the future might hold. With all that in mind, here are three philosophies to remember as you strategize your professional life—whether you’re mapping your monthly goals or creating an overarching plan for growth.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

1

Treat Your Business Like a Business

One of the perks of working in real estate is that you’re often able to create and manage your own schedule and volume, but that doesn’t mean you can skimp on the technical details of being your own boss.

No real estate professional worth his or her salt would forgo empowering tools like a business and marketing plan, or spreadsheets to track cash flow and expenses, or regular profit-and-loss statements, or fiscal year budgets and projections. Taking these measures may appear daunting at first— and completing them will certainly require discipline and a learning curve—but harnessing valuable data and information can intelligently inform your professional decisions, strategies, and long-term growth.

2

Achieve a Holistic Understanding

When schedules are busy, it sometimes feels like enough to reach the end of the week’s to-do list. But, if you’re planning on a lasting career built on year-to-year growth, it’s not enough to account for the short-term.

By creating daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly, and five-year goals, you’re outlining and quantifying your progress.

While your quarterly and yearly goals may be clear in your mind, what about five years from now? Perhaps you’d like to add to your designations, or incorporate a new team member, or add an additional branch.

No matter how you envision your profesTop Agent Magazine

sional future, the first order of business is to create a timeline. Once you have a clear deadline in mind, it’s far easier to build out the steps and calendar necessary to achieve your goals.

3 Specificity is Empowering While you may have a general sense of where you’d like to see your business go in the next few months or years, it’s hard to work toward or attain a goal that’s abstract.

To make the most of your time and efforts, you must identify and understand precisely what you’re aiming toward. For instance, instead of planning to add volume to your enterprise, outline a specific, attainable number to work toward. Or, if you’d like to add an administrative staff in the years to come, consider the details of this decision—the money it would take, the type of people you’d want to hire, how many hours per week they’d work, what tasks they would complete, etc. Adding hard details to your goals not only makes them more realistic, but progress is more easily made when you have specific items you can cross off your to-do list along the way.

While there are no 100% fool-proof or guaranteed routes to success, shifting your mindset from the present and the abstract, to the specific and the long-term can have a major impact on your chances of success.

Instead of dreaming of being more productive or successful, do yourself a favor and craft a gameplan you can bank on.

Top Agent Magazine

19

KINGS REALTY GROUP AND ASSOCIATES

Instead of fleeing from the industry, as many did after the 2008 housing crash, Demarco and Marisa Fletcher decided to run head-first into real estate during this time and well-position themselves for a lengthy career in the field.

Having backgrounds in the mortgage business helped spark the inspiration for these two to begin a path in this field, and they have even recently started their own independent brokerage called Kings Realty Group and Associates.

The two do business throughout the Inland Empire servicing the cities of Riverside, Corona, Murrieta Valley, Temecula, and beyond. Strongly believing in creating a lasting business partnership with their vast network of referrals, they standby the motto, “It’s never about us, rather it’s always about the clients.”

clients know the advantages gained from each deal. They tailor their marketing to digital social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, and love to send friendly gifts or cards to their clients on holidays and birthdays to help increase their referral business.

Their hefty amount of combined experience in the industry has led to extraordinary reviews from their past clients. As one past client stated, “Demarco and Marisa made the process so

As a team, Demarco and Marisa are focused on delivering a high-level of market knowledge to each client they serve. They place an emphasis on doing all the necessary research needed prior to selling homes in order to ensure that their 20

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

easy, nothing was left hidden or delayed to the last minute. They were always so transparent with us, always kept in touch, and relayed any new info.” Another satisfied client declared, “Not only did we get the home we wanted, but we were taken care of and educated along the way in this process. The professionalism and timely work from Demarco and Marissa were almost unreal,” showing just how welltreated their clients feel with this team on their side.

Demarco and Marisa have always strived to make a difference and positively impact people’s lives through the process of real estate. The team priority is to provide their buyers, sellers, or investors with a high level of service each and every day. They look to truly show others an efficient path to home ownership and demonstrate how to leverage real estate to build wealth for their families and future generations.

Outside of real estate, Demarco and Marisa are highly involved with their local communities through church and other programs. Marisa is involved in the local Real Estate Board and loves to educate new agents when they’ve just entered the business or received their licensing. When they aren’t working, you can find this team going out for a date-night to the movies or local restaurants in their spare time or simply enjoying a weekend getaway.

Looking ahead, they can’t wait to grow their business and continue providing superior service to each client. “We are a team of professionals that provide a quality of service coupled with honesty, loyalty, and an understanding that is second to none.”

Top Agent Magazine

For more about Demarco & Marisa, please call 951-870-5183 or email forsalebymarisa@gmail.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 21

Embracing Smart Homes:

Does New Technology Really Increase Home Value?

Technology and innovation move at a lightning-fast clip, so it can be hard to keep up with all the smart-home trends sweeping the market at a given time. From smart thermostats to security systems accessed through an app on your phone—there are endless options to customize and update your home for the modern era. But which, if any, of these smart home products add 22

value to property in a significant, worthwhile capacity? Especially with new generations of the same products released in quick succession, it can be hard to determine whether it’s worth it to take the plunge. With that in mind, we’ve conducted a deep-dive into the smart home options out there that make the most sense for your bottom line and real estate investments.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

Smart home amenities range in price and return.

There are certain smart home products that won’t break the bank while still adding lovely touches and time-saving features to your space. For instance, a smart thermostat may not run more than a few hundred dollars, but it can take so much of the guesswork and analog nuisance out of programming your home’s internal environment. That said, buyers selling properties with mid-range amenities like this can’t expect a windfall in return. While smart home features can certainly lure buyers and give the sense that a home is attractively modern (and thus move-in ready), it doesn’t mean that you’ll be reaping a sizable monetary reward for your foresight. Conversely, this reality doesn’t mean those smart options

Top Agent Magazine

are without value entirely; it just means that the value of smart home options may be apparent in a different capacity, like luring a particular buyer or creating a desirable, sleek image for a property headed to market.

On the other hand, larger scale smart home amenities that are being left behind for the buyer—like a smart refrigerator or wired sound throughout the property—may be able to lure particular buyers who value high-end details. While it can be difficult to state definitively the value of smart home options, the rule tends to be that the more you put in, the higher the likelihood you’ll reap the investment you sow. Focus your smart home options on home appliances first, then work your way toward security, thermostat, and entertainment options.

Top Agent Magazine ®

23

Smart home amenities capture the attention of buyers

Agents must know how to pitch the value of smart home options

Even if you have mostly opted for small or mid-range smart home options, you can still benefit from their presence in a property—even if they don’t inflate your bottom line as a result. Smart home amenities have the power to focus the attention of buyers, sending a clear signal that the previous owners were tech-forward and made an effort to upgrade the property for the contemporary era. Millennial or Gen Z buyers especially value these up-to-date modifications, and the presence of these desirable gadgets can create added interest and drive up value naturally. Likewise, featuring these options in listing photography can also drive interest from younger or high-end buyers looking for move-in ready spaces.

Remember that smart home features are relatively fresh to the market. While some new construction properties are equipped with these smart amenities, just as many homes on the market don’t offer these upgrades and modern flairs. This means that many buyers, of all ages even, aren’t familiar with the benefits and perks of these options, let alone how they’re operated. Before you can derive value from a smart home or smart home features, you’ll need to understand a product’s proper usage, cost, and benefits. Do your homework regarding what smart home features can offer in terms time or cost savings, and be able to show prospective buyers how easy these objects are to use, as well. Do both, and you’ll be in proper command of what smart home features can offer buyers and pitch them accordingly.

24

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

LILITH BERKO Lilith Berko’s journey in real estate started out in 2008, during the market crash. Although business was unfavorable at the time, Lilith decided to work hard and educate herself instead of giving up. She absorbed every piece of information about foreclosures and obtained the Certified Distressed Property Expert designation so that she could assist so many of the people that were going through difficult times. Thanks to her hard work Lilith quickly started to build an organic client base. She currently works at JohnHart and helps clients throughout Los Angeles County buy and sell homes.

Running a successful business in a competitive city like Los Angeles can be difficult, but Lilith has been able to thrive in her community thanks to prioritizing human bonds and developing long-lasting relationships with her clients. With a 90% rate of repeat and referral business it’s Lilith’s attentive approach to clients that keeps them coming back to her. “I genuinely care about my clients and getting them the best results. I put the relationship and their needs, wants, and dreams before the transaction, because to me our relationship is priceless,” she says.

When it comes to getting her listings sold quickly, and above market value, Lilith puts a heavy focus on pre-marketing and ensuring that neighbors get notified of a listing close to them. And despite COVID-19 slowing things down and making it difficult to do open houses, due to her tireless work

ethic Lilith is still on track to make $25 million in sales volume this year.

Although there are many aspects of Lilith’s work that she enjoys, one of the things she appreciates the most is the constant novelty of her work.

“Real estate brings on new and different experiences every single time. There’s no possibility of ever getting bored in this line of work.

Whether it’s meeting new people, enjoying stunning architecture, or working from different sites instead of sitting at the office, there’s always something exciting going on.

And my ability to play a big part of such a monumental moment in people’s lives is truly a magical and one-of-a kind experience that makes everything worthwhile,” she says.

Outside of her work in real estate Lilith enjoys many different hobbies. One of her favorite things to do is to repurpose furniture. And with her natural eye for design she’s also considering opening her own staging company sometime in the future. “I do my own staging for my listings at the moment and I really enjoy it, so it’s something I’m thinking about,” she says. She also has a few words of advice to junior agents: “Real estate is an amazing and personally fulfilling career. Although working with people can be hard at times, it’s ultimately very rewarding to help them reach their end goal.

The relationships I’ve formed with my clients over my years in the business are the best part of what I do.”

To learn more about Lilith Berko email lilitberko@gmail.com, visit soldbylilith.com, or call (818) 395–6101 www.

330 N. Brand Blvd # 130, Glendale CA, 91203 Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine ®

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 25

JESSE GARCIA Jesse Garcia was still in college when he began working in real estate. “I needed a part-time job, so I started working at an agency where I learned everything from the ground up,” he recalls. “I loved the work so much, I moved into it full time.”

That was 23 years ago, and he’s never looked back.

Jesse is now an Associate Broker at Jesse Garcia Realty Masters & Associates out of Montebello, California. With a consistent sales volume, Jesse continues to be recognized as a Top Producer in the area. Jesse reports that his business is 70% repeat and referral clientele.

“I go out of my way for my clients,” he says. “A lot of agents only work a few hours of the day. I’m always the first in the office and the last to leave. My days run 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and I always respond to phone calls. My clients tell me they really appreciate my responsiveness and availability. I always say customer service is key!”

It’s not surprising that Jesse receives stellar reviews for his esteemed work ethic. Client Albert Rios recently wrote: “When we moved from Los Angeles to San Diego, I needed to sell my condo. Jesse and his team worked with a professional designer to stage the place and negotiated a good price for the staging. I recommend families work with Jesse.”

Jesse believes in the personal touch when reaching out to his clients. “I do electronic postcards, emails, and a lot of campaigns that offer gift cards from local businesses,” he says. “At Thanksgiving, I offer a pie giveaway.” As soon as a new listing comes in, Jesse immediately posts to social media and the MLS. “I’m also on all of the top real estate affiliate sites, and I have a YouTube channel,” he says.

What Jesse loves most about his job are the relationships he forges. “This is more than just a job to me,” he says. “It’s about helping people reach their real estate 26

goals. This is probably the biggest transaction they will ever make in their lives and they chose me to facilitate this. What an honor it is to be a part of that journey.”

Jesse is very big on giving back to his community. “My daughter played soccer for the AYSO,” he says. “So I donate $1000 a year which goes to those kids who can’t afford to join the league.” He also donates funds to the local schools for much-needed supplies and is a member of NAHREP “We hold charity events to assist low-income Latino families buy homes,” he notes.

When not working or giving of his time, Jesse enjoys being active with his kids. “We go off-roading, camping, and I love to go fishing in Baja,” he says. He’s also a member of a sports car club, which is very active in supporting local businesses.

As for the future, Jesse wants to continue to expand his team as well as promote home-buying education within the Latino community. He notes, “So many families don’t realize that there are resources out there than can help them. I want to be a part of that.”

To learn more about Jesse Garcia, please call (323) 722-5514 email jessegarciahomes@gmail.com, or visit jessegarciahomes.com www.

Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

A Step-by-Step Guide to

Converting Internet Leads to Real Life Sales In the era of apps, instantaneous social platforms, and text messaging, it’s little surprise that the modern homebuyer begins his or her search for real estate representation online.

Even if you’ve got a top-notch website or an influential social media presence, how do you connect with web surfers who have yet to commit to the services you offer? Take a look below to learn a few key techniques to bridge the gap between digital interest and real-world sales.

Top Agent Magazine

RESPONSIVENESS IS KEY Like it or not, our digital culture relishes immediacy and instant gratification. With that in mind, be sure to stay on top of online interest forms, e-mails, or newsletter signups. Don’t let an online lead go to waste by taking too long to engage and follow-up.

Things move fast, and it’s easy for potential clientele to forget which websites they’ve visited. Even if your lead isn’t ready to commit then and there, you demonstrate your

Top Agent Magazine

27

Mastering the fundamentals of digital communication is the first step to converting digital interest into concrete business. accessibility and attentiveness by following up swiftly—a characteristic anyone would seek in an agent or lender.

ENGAGE WITH OPEN-ENDED CONVERSATION When online back-and-forth goes stale, communication drops off quickly. If you’re following up via e-mail, social media, or text, be sure to keep topics focused squarely on the potential client. Ask open-ended questions to give your lead the opportunity to loosen up and engage on a personal level. There’s no better way to cement a digital lead than to take a pointed interest in the specifics of their situation. Doing so transforms the impersonal invisibility of the internet into a true connection.

GIVE ADDED VALUE Plenty of businesses send impersonal, automated messages in response to an online inquiry, but establishing a true connection may mean providing your lead with something of value. Perhaps you’re forwarding a property for sale that fits the interests of your lead, or a relevant article, or maybe you take the time to send a personal message—demonstrable value and a personal touch separate your follow-up response from spam. Other ideas to consider when 28

adding value to your follow-up technique: incorporate area promotions and access to local events, make a date for coffee, or offer a brief consultation free of charge to make the first move.

DON’T STOP MAKING CONTACT If you don’t connect with your internet lead right off the bat—don’t be discouraged. It often takes multiple tries before a follow-up interaction sticks. Folks are busy and frequently flooded with e-mail blasts and junk mail. A lead may not engage without a little prodding that shows you’re committed to their business. Remember: it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.

Digital leads don’t have to be difficult to capture. The internet plays a powerful role in funneling modern clientele your way, but in order to take full advantage of the web’s reach, you’ll need to tailor your follow-up technique. Mastering the fundamentals of digital communication is the first step to converting digital interest into concrete business. Keep these tips top-of-mind as you build your online presence and mine the vast world wide web for an endless wealth of clientele. Earning a command of digital lead conversion is the surest way to bolster your business in the ever-evolving digital era.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

OCTAVIO MORENO Octavia Moreno found his passion for real estate when purchasing his second home. His real estate agent was unprofessional, and often drunk, and Octavio realized his could do a better job himself. After successfully purchasing that home, he decided to become an agent himself, and he became licensed in 2004. Ever since then, he’s been committed to providing the top-notch, excellent service he had hoped to receive when he was a buyer. Octavio now works as a solo agent at Century 21 Yarrow & Associates Realtors in Lancaster where he serves the Antelope Valley, parts of Kern and San Bernardino counties, and all of Los Angeles county.

Octavio is bilingual, serving clients in English and Spanish, and is incredibly dedicated to helping his clients achieve their real estate hopes and dreams.

“I treat them not just like clients, but like family members. I put them first. What’s most important for me is to provide great service so that my clients are totally satisfied,” he says. Octavio particularly enjoys working with first-time homebuyers and he takes the time to educate them throughout each step of the process. His clients rave about his honesty, expertise, and sense of humor. As a result of his caring approach, an impressive 60% of his business comes from repeat and referral clients.

He stays in touch long after the transaction is over, stopping by to visit and sending check-in emails to let past clients know they are on his mind.

When it comes time to market listings, Octavio helps his clients to ensure their home is ready to show. He then creates a dedicated website for each listing, and posts the listing on all the existing real estate websites such as Realtor.com and Zillow, Top Agent Magazine

as well as on Century 21’s popular platform. He also spreads the word throughout his community of fellow agents, who often have buyers who are a match for the property. The result is often a quick sale at a very competitive price.

For Octavio, it’s a dream come true to make a good living while helping his clients to reach their goals. He loves to give back to the community that has given him so much.

He often hosts educational events in his office such as GED and English as a Second Language classes.

He also hosts counsels from Latin American countries to issue passports for community members, and donates to worthy causes such as Easter Seals.

In his free time, Octavio loves to read.

Octavio has recently taken classes for his broker’s license and he plans to take the test soon. For the future, he plans to continue learning as much as he can about the industry. One day he also hopes to open his own brokerage so that he can build a team, mentor like-minded agents, and serve even more people in his area.

To find out more about Octavio Moreno, please call 661-860-3983 or email at octavioagent@ymail.com .

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 29

Productivity Killers: 4 Ways to Make Better Use of Your Working Hours 3.Create a goal-oriented reward system

Even on the busiest of days, it can be hard not to get distracted by social media, smartphones, chatty colleagues, or personal to-do list items. So how do you keep your professional blinders on and power through your tasks with efficiency? Practice these four tips and witness your productivity skyrocket—easing stress and bringing renewed energy to your daily duties.

Coffee breaks, coworker catch-up, and social media check-ins tend to break up our workflow on an hourly basis. Instead of trying to go cold turkey on these workplace routines, reframe them as rewards.

For every to-do list item you complete, allow yourself a fives minute treat, whether that’s a fresh cup of coffee or a walk around the block. Not only will creating a reward system help you stay motivated throughout the day, it will also provide you with much-needed mental breaks that actually boost long-term productivity.

1. Create a sense of peace and quiet The office may not be your idea of a tranquil oasis, but for most, focus requires quiet and calm to best lend attention to the task at hand. If you find yourself seated next to talkative coworkers or in the center of a bustling office atrium, consider noise canceling headphones, earplugs, or carving out an empty conference room for your work day.

Turning the volume down creates fewer chances for disruption, allowing you to make the best use of your time.

2. Organize your workspace A messy work area breeds anxiety and distraction, but a clean and organized desk inspires efficiency. If you’ve got a busy day ahead, take fifteen minutes and organize your workspace: gather miscellaneous papers into their proper place, dispose of out-of-date or unnecessary documents, or give your keyboard a dusting. Not only does cleaning and organizing your workspace prepare you for the work ahead, it also helps you transition to a productive, goal-oriented mindset.

30

4.Take your smartphone off the table The number one productivity killer in this day and age? Smartphones. With access to endless social media portals, web browsing, text conversations, and games, smartphones are one-stop shops for distractions. While you may not want to delete apps from your phone, try leaving your smartphone in a locked desk drawer until your next break, or safely in your car. By simply putting your smartphone out of your line of sight, the impulse to distract yourself is muted.

Even though technology and the modern office create ample opportunity for distraction, making these few small adjustments can go a long way in safeguarding your productivity. After all, a productive day allows you to enjoy your time at home and outside the office, without the worry of incomplete tasks and looming deadlines darkening your day. Keep these productivity tricks in mind as you mount your daily to-do list and you’ll be thanking yourself tomorrow.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

ANNETTE & ANDREW WARBURTON and Annette altered their plans and drove to meet their client—while still celebrating along the way. “That’s the mojo of our team,” Andrew says. “Real estate, to us, is a public service and a deep responsibility.”

In 1983, Andrew Warburton relocated from England to the United States with little more than $1000 dollars in his pocket.

Through tenacity and determination, he realized the American Dream. After years of success in professional sales with the Lanier Corporation and others, he spearheaded a ministry, Open Heart, and ran a successful radio and television show focused on assisting those in need. He then shifted focus to real estate.

Andrew began his career as a broker in 1990 and by 1994 was in Time magazine for sales production with Coldwell Banker. He would later rank 29th in the world for closed sales for RE/MAX in 2004.

At his first brokerage, Andrew met his future wife, Annette.

The couple has since established Warburton Properties where they currently assist clients throughout Riverside County, San Bernardino County and the surrounding areas. “I just knew Andrew and I needed to open our own brokerage,” Annette says. “Now our whole lives revolve around each other and the satisfaction of our clients.”

While supervising a team of over 40 people, the Warburtons are fully tuned into their clients’ needs. When listing a property, they provide a wealth of resources, including a tightly organized system of open houses and virtual tours. Meanwhile, they are steadfast advocates for their buyers from start to finish in a transaction. “At Warburton Properties, we have bought and sold literally hundreds of homes for managed funds, private investors and owner occupants,” Andrew says. “We esteem hard work and honest dealing, listening attentively to the needs of our customers.”

Once during the Warburtons’ anniversary vacation, an elderly client needed help up in San Francisco. Andrew

The Warburtons have won an outstanding reputation around California, with the majority of their volume coming from either repeat clients or referrals. In particular, they cherish any opportunity to pay it forward to our service members, having facilitated hundreds of VA deals through the years.

“I love giving back to those who have put so much into our country,” Andrew says. “We’ve had clients literally crying as we gave them the keys to their new home. There’s nothing more fulfilling than knowing you’ve changed a life.”

Outside of their career, Andrew and Annette are active mentors to their fellow agents. On top of leading weekly training sessions for the up-and-coming Realtors at his brokerage, Andrew hosts a popular Youtube series, The Property Advisor, where he provides practical advice on the state of the market.

Andrew and Annette also place a special emphasis on family. When they’re not serving clients, they can be found spending time with their children, Jonathan and Dominic.

Elsewhere, the Warburtons have begun expanding their portfolio of investment properties and flipping homes.

Looking ahead, Andrew and Annette envision the steady growth of their team. But above all, they look forward to making dreams come true all throughout California. “Over the course of a deal, we become deeply involved in the lives of our buyers and sellers,” Andrew says. “Whether I’m mentoring my staff or assisting a client, I’m always driven to help others realize their fullest potential.”

To learn more about Andrew and Annette Warburton, email andreww@warburton-properties.com or annettew@warburton-properties.com or visit warburton-properties.com. Please feel free to call the broker, Andrew Warburton, at 310 270 1689 at any time to discuss your real estate needs. www.

Andrew Warburton, Broker 01065333 Warburton Properties Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 31

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

32

Top Agent Magazine