SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 9-20-21

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION

4 WAYS TO

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HABITS OF HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE AGENTS FEATURED AGENT

STEVE BATIZ

If it's Good for the Soul, IT'S GOOD FOR THE BUSINESS

WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST PROCRASTINATION

3 EASY AT-HOME DIY PROJECTS TO INCREASE PROPERTY VALUE COVER STORY

THOMAS PAULAUSKAS

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

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION

STEVE BATIZ

Batiz began his real estate 9 at this, le 18 in 2014, coming from a house!’ I round in marketing, communis, and sales. Previously he was The per ce president, COO, and comhis clien co-owner of Batiz Interactive, forging l b development business that want to m websites for theTHOMAS US PAULAUSKAS Navy, well tak STEVE BATIZ link, USDA, and the Library feel like ngress. The company appeared he says. trepreneur magazine’s Hot 100 CONTENTS friends, b fter his tenure with the comam, perio 4) 4 WAYS WIN was 16) IF IT'S GOOD FOR Steve says, “My TO mother THE BATTLE AGAINST THE SOUL, IT'S GOOD estate agent in South Carolina When it PROCRASTINATION FOR THE BUSINESS knew a lot of Realtors® in the listings, 6) 6 HABITS OF HIGHLY 20) 3 EASY AT-HOME DIY so I went and got my license. compreh PRODUCTIVE AGENTS PROJECTS TO INCREASE doing sales for Verizon at the time, and PROPERTY I was maximum exposure. So VALUE s in the top 10% nationwide. I decided it was Matterport virtual tours or a change, so I dropped everything and went online ads on social med 310-734-1440 Fax 310-734-1440 eal estate Phone full-time.”

The| rest is history, and for Marketplace, as well as h www.topagentmagazine.com st 7 years,mag@topagentmagazine.com Steve has excelled at |helping his cli- solid amount of traffic. S No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent Magazine chieve their realby Feature estate goals. within is published Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure thegroups accuracy of published materials,Coldwell Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. new listings and generat To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com.

Published in the U.S. is a REALTOR®/Broker Associate and head Batiz Group at Coldwell Banker. He serves Outside of real estate, gi Top Agent Magazine 3 ern California, with a focus on Orange, is important to Steve, an

4 Ways to Win the Battle Against Procrastination One of the most common professional afflictions is procrastination. The funny thing is, everyone knows that procrastination is negative—it’s a waste of time, a creator of stress, and is entirely a problem of our own making.

Still, knowing all of this doesn’t necessarily decrease our odds of procrastination. There are plenty of explanations we give when putting 4

work off until the last minute. Perhaps you convince yourself that you work best under pressure, but it’s truer that you’re used to working under pressure by necessity. Maybe you’re a perfectionist and the fear of getting it all wrong puts you off from the task. Whatever the justification may be, overcoming procrastination requires some willpower and technique. With

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that in mind, take a look at a few tricks below to jumpstart your motivation and nix the lastminute time crunch. After all, you owe it to yourself and your business to operate like a procrastination-free professional.

1. Make Your Intentions Known As realtors and mortgage professionals, you may serve as your own boss. So, when the time comes to complete a task and you put it off—perhaps you’re only disappointing yourself. This is easily remedied by making a new promise to try again tomorrow. On the other hand, it’s much harder to break promises and commitments to others. Try verbalizing your intent and commitment to your team, or to an assistant who can hold you accountable, or better yet—to a business partner or to a client.

Make a hard deadline public and you’re likely to perform for fear of embarrassment or losing face. In a way, this puts the pressure of expectation on you, instead of the pressure of the ticking clock.

2. Take a Baby Step When tasks pile up, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. If you’ve got a number of items on your to-do list, including some heavy hitters that require a lot of attention and time, begin by taking on something simple. Identify an easily completed job that needs attention and put it first in your queue. Duties that are straightforward and aren’t time-intensive can lead you to the rest of your to-do list, fueling you with the satisfaction of a task already complete. Even if it’s as small as returning e-mails, or dropping off your dry-cleaning, one simple thing off your Top Agent Magazine

list can inspire you to continue on to the next item in the spirit of productivity.

3. Work in Windows If work is the last thing you want to do and you can’t seem to self-motivate, make a compromise with yourself. Agree to work just fifteen minutes, and mean it. This tiny window of time is easy enough to complete, isn’t overwhelming, and you’ve already agreed to move on once time is up. The truth? Odds are that just fifteen minutes of active work will inspire you to keep going. After all, the most difficult part of procrastination is getting started. By putting in those fifteen minutes, you’ll trick yourself into diving into the action.

4. Switch Up Your Environment If you’re stuck in rut when it comes to procrastination and productivity, try changing your surroundings. If the office feels stale and stressful, take your work to the nearest coffee shop and try to tackle your tasks there. Perhaps the quiet, studious ambiance of a library can make you focus, or a picnic table outside the office can stimulate the senses. Sometimes changing your scenery can breathe new life into your routine and give you the extra push you need to get work done.

There’s no one way to overcome procrastination.

In fact, it’s likely a lifelong process of building discipline, finding techniques that work for you, and simply prioritizing your time more effectively. Don’t lose hope—remember these tricks and winning the war will be possible, even if you lose a few battles along the way.

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6 Habits of Highly Productive Agents In a business that can be constant chaos, you’re constantly on the go and dealing with things as they hit you. It can be difficult to take a second and regroup. But there is a better and smarter way to work. If you take the time to create some better habits, in the end, you may end up being more productive. If you want to make better use of your time, as well as have more focus, here’s some habits that you’re going to want to pick up - all common to top-producing agents.

1. Learn how to prioritize Although it might be your instinct to get some of the boring work out of the way first, things 6

that actually generate income (or are time-sensitive!) should be the first thing you focus on when you start your day.

Lists are your friend! Make a list of things you want to accomplish for the day, the week, and even the month. Always list them in the order of priority. If things get cut off when you run out of time at the end of the day, at least it’ll be the things that are not as important or time sensitive. As with anyone, your time is your most valuable commodity and should be used wisely. When you make your list, you can even schedule tasks as if they were a meeting, giving yourself a little time goal to beat, as Top Agent Magazine

well. Treat your time with the same respect you would a colleague’s or client’s and don’t ever waste it.

As with anyone, your time is your most valuable commodity and should be used wisely. When you make your list you can even schedule tasks as if they were a meeting, giving yourself a little time goal to beat, as well. Treat your time with the same respect you would a colleague’s or client’s, and don’t ever waste it.

to accomplish it? Write it out and then incorporate that into your prioritized ‘to do’ list.

You’ll be amazed at how driven you become to reach that goal when you actually write it out with clarity. And, the sense of accomplishment you get upon completing it will carry over to the next day. It’s important to remember to be specific. Once you get into the habit of meeting your goals, exceeding them won’t be far behind.

2. Remove distractions

when you need to focus This is especially hard when you’re a Realtor®. Most are constantly connected to their phones. But, unnecessary distractions can get you off schedule and make you lose your focus instantly. If you can, turn your phone off for the half hour it takes to do a task. Interruptions make everything take twice as long, especially when you take that text and then decide to check Facebook for a second.

We all do it!

Complete your task, then take ten minutes to respond to all texts and messages before you start up the next thing on your list. You can even schedule those ‘text backs’ into your schedule. A concentrated effort is always more effective than going back and forth between things.

3. Set daily goals This is so key. What do you want to accomplish for the day and what do you need to do

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4. Don’t make excuses There’s that old saying, “The buck stops here”. Well, take it to heart. This is your business and you are responsible for doing everything you can to make it successful.

Sure, there are reasons for why you didn’t get a listing or why your business is slow, but what are you doing to change things and make them better? Successful Realtors® work harder and come up with innova-

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tive ways to stand out when times are tough. They don’t look for excuses, they look for solutions.

5. Be deliberate

about everything you do When you’re making your list, it helps to have a goal in mind for even the smallest task. If you’re calling past clients to touch base, have a specific reason why you’re calling. Are you letting them know some market news?

Thanking them for a referral? When you’re meeting a referral partner for lunch, have a goal in mind for what the outcome of that meeting will be as well. Yes it’s good to socialize and build relationships, but if you have a reason, make sure it isn’t put off until the final moments, when things are wrapping up. Always having a purpose in mind will also help you prioritize your list better.

6. Always look for ways to

get out of your comfort zone Yes, you are prioritizing what is most important or urgent to your business, but it’s also important to make an effort to break out

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of your routine as much as you’re comfortable doing. Trying out new things or taking some time to learn about new and innovative real estate techniques and technology, can have an energizing effect on your business.

Not only might they lead to things that make you more productive, but it keeps you sharp and engaged. And, ultimately keeping yourself at the top of your game is what it’s all about.

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THOMAS PAULAUSKAS Top Agent Magazine

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Lead of Paulauskas Realty, Top Agent Thomas Paulauskas helps clients buy and sell throughout the Antelope Valley region.

“If you have a genuine heart, and really care about other people, it will help tremendously in becoming successful,” Thomas Paulauskas explains, while discussing his career in real estate. It’s clear he has that and more, as he’s flourished as an agent in the Antelope Valley region. He 10 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

remembers first considering real estate as a career when he was just nine years old.

“I grew up in a low income area, so I was hoping I could one day own a place and learn how to invest,” he says. “I knew that there were people called real estate agents who helped others buy and sell homes, Top Agent Magazine

so I wanted to become one.” Right after he graduated high school, Thomas earned his license and hit the ground running, working as an assistant for an agent. Soon he was ready to go out on his own, and today he leads Paulauskas Realty, with a Top Agent Magazine

growing portion of his business deriving from repeats and referrals.

“I think what sets us apart is how our team handles every situation,” Thomas says.

“Our vision is to be a breath of fresh air 11 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

to the marketplace, and to change the perspective of the average person, so they can see us as more than salespeople.” Thomas’ goal is to demonstrate that agents can be caring, professional people who are experts in their field, who will work with their clients’ best interests in mind. “We aim to give them better results than anyone else could,” he says. When working with his buyers and sellers, Thomas listens carefully to their needs and goes above and beyond to get them towards those goals. Understanding this is one of the largest transactions they will ever make, he communicates frequently, guiding Copyright Top Agent Magazine 12

them throughout the process. For his sellers, he implements high-tech marketing strategies to ensure they are receiving the highest offers possible. “We’re on all of the social media platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, and more,” he says. “Each listing has their own website and we host open houses. We will also do matterport tours, so people can get a feeling for the house before they see it in person.”

After working with Thomas, clients never hesitate to spread the word about his work. One recently said, “My wife Top Agent Magazine

“Our vision is to be a breath of fresh air to the marketplace, and to change the perspective of the average person, so they can see us as more than salespeople.” and I relocated from El Segundo due to a career advancement opportunity.

Thomas, Andy and Jessica made the transition so much easier despite huge errors made by the relocation company. Andy probably took us to 50 houses and was upbeat, knowledgeable and professional.

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Jessica was always available with technical advice, information and emotional support! Overall, this team did a great job in helping us find a beautiful home and begin the process of adapting to the community. I would highly recommend them to anyone.”

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When Thomas isn’t working, he’s giving back to the community. “Every year, my family and team will volunteer for Grace Resources, which is a local food drive,” he says. “We do a Fall Festival where everyone in the neighborhood brings their kids and dresses up in costumes.” Thomas also hosts food drives during the holidays.

During any free time, he’s hanging out with

family, dancing, writing poems and lyrics, or traveling.

Looking ahead, Thomas’ sights are set on continuous growth. He has plans to expand into Valencia and other nearby cities. Along the way, he will no doubt enjoy the journey.

“It’s so fulfilling to live up to our vision and see our clients appreciate what we do.”

For more about Thomas Paulauskas, call 661-480-6110 or email tompaul118@outlook.com

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If it’s good for the soul,

IT’S GOOD FOR THE BUSINESS

Visibility, name recognition and knowing you’re supporting the community that makes your success possible are good reasons to take part in community service. But how is it that some people seem to be able to give time to charities while running their own businesses, managing their own families and households, exercising regularly, attending sporting events and concerts, eating well and sleeping seven or eight hours a night?

The truth is, not all agents are able to do everything so easily. But more important is the fact that no one needs to do everything all of the time. The trick is to make sure that, whatever you do holds meaning.

REALTORS® and mortgage professionals who seem the most gregarious in their community outreach are those whose giving seems to fill their own souls. When their 16

volunteer efforts or donations directly impact causes they or their clients care deeply about, “giving back” becomes energizing.

Jason O’Quinn of Prime Lending in Dallas Texas, for instance, says that his family’s ongoing work building homes for some of the poorest families in Honduras fills him immeasurably. “It rejuvenates me,” he says.

“There’s quite a dichotomy between the houses we build there and the houses we finance here,” he says. “It refocuses me, going from financing $1 million homes in Dallas to physically laying cinderblock for $10,000 homes in Honduras. Everything has more meaning when we sacrificially give of our time, talent and treasure.”

The longtime “big picture” for Colorado REALTOR® and property manager, Linda

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Todd, for instance, has included giving back to the community, whether serving as a lead carpenter for Habitat for Humanity, making deliveries for Meals on Wheels, or pitching in for the sake of baseball. And through her lifelong passion for baseball, she harmoniously blended her personal interests, her work and her community service. For many years, she was so involved Little League the local league named a new field after her. “I cried for 3 days after they told me that!” She and her husband also started a scholarship fund for junior college baseball players and serve as a host family for the rookie league of the Colorado Rockies, putting up newly drafted players in their home.

For Florida REALTOR® and property manager, Mario Gonzalez, neither his business nor his primary community outreach would exist without the other. A retired U.S. Navy pilot, Mario formed his brokerage, Navy to Navy Homes, when he saw a need for military personnel to find affordable homes to purchase. “We got into it to help, but that led to a full-blown real estate business.” Besides providing opportunities for investment and homeownership, the company donates 35% of every commission to Homes for Heroes, veterans’ groups, or organizations benefiting fire, police, medical organizations, churches and homeless shelters. “We’re small, but we give so much back that we were the top Homes for Heroes company in Florida and

top-five nationwide.” But he does none of this for the attention. His friends may call him the “Humble Hero of Heroes,” but helping is Mario’s passion. “To be such a small business and be the top Homes for Heroes affiliate is mind boggling!”

Like Mario, for many, the best service takes place in simple and quiet ways. Illinois REALTOR®, Susie Scheuber, for example, takes a humble approach to giving back. Although she donates a portion of every commission check to the Children’s Miracle Network, she doesn’t discuss this with clients unless they happen to ask. “I do it because I want to and because, to me, giving back is the right thing to do when you’ve been fortunate in business and life,” says Susie.

We all know how inertia works; the more energized we get by certain behaviors, the more likely we are to continue those behaviors. For some top agents, community outreach has become such a natural routine of their daily lives that they never find it burdensome. A good way to add community service into your life, therefore, is through the causes that mean the most to you. For starters, consider giving a small donation after closing to the charity of your client’s choosing. Learning the different causes that they care about just might foster a new mission for you.

If you have a unique story to share about how your community outreach has impacted your life and your business or inspired others, click here for consideration in our magazines: www.topagentmagazine.com/nominate-a-real-estate-agent-to-be-featured Top Agent Magazine

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STEVE BATIZ Steve Batiz began his real estate career in 2014, coming from a background in marketing, communications, and sales. Previously he was the vice president, COO, and company co-owner of Batiz Interactive, a web development business that built websites for the US Navy, Metrolink, USDA, and the Library of Congress. The company appeared on Entrepreneur magazine’s Hot 100 list. After his tenure with the company, Steve says, “My mother was a real estate agent in South Carolina and I knew a lot of Realtors® in the area, so I went and got my license.

I was doing sales for Verizon at the time, and I was always in the top 10% nationwide. I decided it was time for a change, so I dropped everything and went into real estate full-time.” The rest is history, and for the past 7 years, Steve has excelled at helping his clients achieve their real estate goals.

Steve is a REALTOR®/Broker Associate and head of the Batiz Group at Coldwell Banker. He serves Southern California, with a focus on Orange, Riverside, and San Diego counties. About 60% of Steve’s business comes from repeat and referral clients, an impressive feat that speaks to the trust and confidence he inspires. “I show love to everybody, and I make sure they know that they’re taken care of,” Steve explains.

His clients see Steve’s honesty as a valuable asset.

“I was in the Navy for 13 years, and I can be deadly honest upfront,” he says. “If I see something wrong with a house, right away I’ll say to my clients, ‘Look

at this, let’s go. You’re not buying this house!’ I think they appreciate that.”

The personal attention Steve gives his clients goes a long way toward forging long-lasting relationships. “I want to make sure my clients are very well taken care of, and they never feel like they’re just a number to me,” he says. “A lot of my clients become friends, because that’s just the way I am, period. Not just in real estate.”

When it comes to marketing his listings, Steve uses a varied and comprehensive approach to ensure maximum exposure. Some of his methods include Matterport virtual tours, professional photography, online ads on social media and postings in Facebook Marketplace, as well as his own website, which gets a solid amount of traffic. Steve also has access to online groups within Coldwell Banker where he can drop new listings and generate interest from other agents.

Outside of real estate, giving back to his community is important to Steve, and he is a Past Master of the Temecula Freemason Lodge, where he does volunteer work including distributing food boxes to families in need during the holidays.

In the future, Steve says, “I would love to grow the team to produce more numbers, but I’m happy doing what I’m doing and helping my agents grow their business. I like to take care of my people, show people love, and make sure they feel taken care of. I know a lot of people appreciate that, and they always come back to me, so I can see it working.”

To find out more about Steve Batiz, please call 951-579-0481, email steve@stevebatiz.com, or visit SteveBatiz.com www.

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3 Easy At-Home DIY Projects to Increase Property Value Most homeowners have a lengthy list of chores and bit projects they intend to accomplish around the house. Oftentimes, those to-do items are completed piecemeal over a long stretch of time, or else sometimes not at all. However, when it comes time to prepare a home for market, all those tasks begin to pile-up and overwhelm. The 20

list of things to do before the photographer comes or the first open house is held might seem endless, but not if you tackle just a few things here and there as you go. These sorts of projects—easy, DIY, at-home tasks you can accomplish in a few hours or less, with tools you most likely have on hand— go a long way with marginal effort.

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Complete a quick rehab of closets and storage areas Many agents advise clients to declutter and depersonalize their spaces ahead of professional photography and home showings. The idea is to provide prospective buyers with a neutral palette. Not only does this allow them to imagine their own lives unfolding within those four walls, but it also helps make a home’s square footage stand out. One way to add visual space to your home without calling in the contractor is to declutter common storage areas and closets. When buyers can get a complete look at a closet’s capacity, or a pantry’s depth, or the garage’s full functional potential, they get a better sense of a home’s potential and thus, its value.

In that vein, consider decluttering and cleaning your high-traffic storage spaces: the garage, pantries, closets, attics, and basements. Besides, organizing and discarding unwanted items help you prep for a move anyway, while giving potential buyers a peak at how spacious your home really is.

Add easy curb appeal with a bit of sweat equity Sure, curb appeal can arrive in the form of a new mailbox, pathway lighting, or updated house numbers, but it can also come cheaper than that. Curb extends to the upkeep of your lawn, landscaping, and home’s façade, and there are plenty of ways Top Agent Magazine

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you can give these zones a refresh without spending anything but time. Keeping your front and back yard green and uniform adds a lux layer to exterior square footage.

Likewise, polishing the outside of your windows, trimming hedges, and sweeping the walkway can make a tidy and wellcared for first impression. There are other measures you can take too. Planting wildflower seeds in empty beds, or collecting some landscaping rocks to frame mulched areas can add a bit of character to your residence. Repainting the front door, ensuring trees are trimmed, and keeping back patios 22

neat and uncluttered also underscore a home at its finest, which is ripe for buyers to snatch up.

Transform tiled spaces into sparkling clean surfaces.

Bathrooms and kitchens are where sellers can stand to add plenty of value in the process of selling a home. While pricey renovations might be out of the question for some, there are still affordable and time-effective ways you can transform for these spaces for the better. Cleaning,

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bleaching, or redoing your tile grout—in either kitchens, bathrooms, or other tiled spaces—can give these high-trafficked areas a new lease on life. Ensuring windows, mirrors, stainless steel appliances and backsplashes are streak-free and polished also demonstrate to buyers that your home is well-cared for and practically move-in ready. Sometimes, the devil is in the details. You might consider relining drawers, changing out knobs and fixtures,

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or else decluttering cabinets and shelves for a fresher look.

No matter the challenges ahead as you prepare your home for sale, completing a few small tasks every weekend or so can put you miles ahead of the competition.

Without spending a dime, you can add serious value to your home’s bottom line, setting you up for success as you begin your own home-shopping adventure.

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