IF IT’S GOOD FOR

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 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

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

AUTUMN RACHELLE MAST

Top Agent Autumn Rachelle Mast is a Luxury Home and Residential Development REALTOR® with RealtyOne Group Signature, serving clients throughout Draper, Utah.

Autumn Rachelle Mast got her start in real estate when she was just a child. As the daughter of a general contractor, Autumn used to play in her dad’s model houses. Although her original aspirations were to go to law school, she eventually became her dad’s assistant and realized that she had a natural knack for talking to clients and selling houses, and thus her real estate career was born. She’s been in the business for 11 years now, and works as a Luxury Home and Residential Development REALTOR® with RealtyOne Group Signature, serving clients throughout Draper, Utah.

One of the skills that helps Autumn develop long lasting relationships with her clients, and continuously grow her network, is her open and honest communication. “I’ve always been good at communicating with people. And I’m a firm believer that if you know everything about your product, no matter what it is, you can always sell it if you just know how to communicate,” she says. Clients know that by working with Autumn they’re getting an agent who knows the ins

and outs of real estate from every angle. “My development knowledge and being around construction my whole entire life really works in my favor in this business. My clients know that I get things done.”

As someone who’s passionate about the entire construction process, Autumn loves working with new homebuyers and building luxury custom homes. She currently has a subdivision of half-acre lots designed for luxury homebuilders as well as clients who have their own builders. She also loves the process of land acquisition knowing that it will help her community grow. “I really enjoy land acquisition and being able to create housing for more people is definitely a passion of mine.”

Besides her enthusiasm for real estate Autumn is also passionate about helping others in her community. She donates to various charities, and one cause that’s really close to her heart is helping women who have experienced domestic violence, and their children, find affordable housing. Her dream is to one day start a non-profit organization that would help them learn the necessary skills to be able to find a great career and make themselves financially independent.

Autumn is also concerned with other issues in her community, one of them being a shortage of graveyards. “There are not a lot of graveyards in Utah, and I think it’s important for people to be able to bury their loved ones. I just want to be able to help be part of the solution for any real estate related issue the community is facing,” she says.

When she has time off Autumn loves to leave town and travel around the world while getting to experience different cultures. Her goal for the future is to continue growing her business and helping out as many clients as possible. And one of the more unique things on her to-do list is to one day own a vineyard.

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AUTUMN RACHELLE MAST Professional Realtor 801.541.2102

autumnrachellehomes@gmail.com www.autumnrachellemast.com

CUSTOM LIVING ROOM THE VIEW

To learn more about Autumn Rachelle Mast email autumnrachellehomes@gmail.com, visit www.autumnrachellemast.com, or call 801–541–2102