TEXAS 6-14-21

TEXAS EDITION

FEATURED AGENTS

VALERY SMITH-BLANK MAGGIE DIETER PAM BOYD PATRICK EASTER MARIBEL RAMOS ELISABETH HAY JENNIFER DONS JORDAN DAVIS KATHY MASSEY LORI JONES MATT GRUETZNER PATTY MONTEZA TRICIA TURNER

COVER STORY

ROGERS HEALY

TEXAS EDITION

t Title Champions would like to congratulate

Valery Blank 9

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MARIBEL R VALERY SMITH-BLANK

ROGERS HEALY

JENNIFER ELISABETH HAY

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

PAM PAM BOYD PATRICK PATRICK EASTER EASTER DONS BOYD DAVIS JORDAN KATHY MASSEY

MAGGIE DIETER

a teacher for 23onhold goal really is to justJordan make Davis wishesreceived tailors her Kathy Real Estate worked open houses Frida to listing mythe house the market.

Shefrom was durin ade of“My experience in the her Massey campaigns toasmeet unique years before deciding on a career change. she sa 40 45 46 49 50 license in 2013 and now leads a team of 17 weekend.

“We have two in-h come true,” Jennifer Dons explains, while professional but personable and made me Elisabeth Hay brings an needs of her clients and their properties.

“Ever I can remember I’ve always so we include a teaser for ava agents known as The Davis Team withsince Keller career in real estate.

With feel ease from to herdiscussing real estate her practice, “For luxury homes that at include land, the our moment I met her. Outsi had a passion Williams Realty, serving the entire Dallas- for working with people. financing, and are generally a a passion for helpingMANAGER others and a love Shetechnical was always reachable and returned the to break complex marketing has a more aspect to LYNN RIDDLE |down BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT And although Fort Worth Metroplex from their main office I enjoyed my teaching average savings of around $50 Office: | Cell: 346-225-7993 er clients and empower Elisabeth says.

“For listings, we’llphone of 281-374-8700 homes, Jennifer decidedin Arlington, to enter this all those my texts calls almost years, I had several friends in theand real Texas. “Ourit,” mission is helping loan.” The Davis Team Assoc regu lynn.riddle@stewart.com | stewart.com/houston estate business copy who would frequently serve on. Before she entered realyears ago. include educational along with beautiindustry about six “I saw itwealth as through immediately.

I had lots of questions about others build buying, selling, market reports to past clients 19450 State Hwy 249, Suite 250, Houston, TX 77070 tell me that I’d make a good agent,” Shethe a tartedanher own company fulI images.”

Alove notable in her she firm, opportunity to serve, which is sometheproducer selling/buying process andhome felt at ease or investing in real estate. personally to recent sales near explains.

Kathy decided to take their tions my love partners andElisabeth clients grow and asking homeownershi ealth-management completes around ‘silly’ $30 million insend relevant thing I really firms. enjoy doing, helping and I just questions.

Jennifer Dons advice and 40 obtained her license in 2008. once she’s MARIBEL RAMOS ELISABETH HAY JENNIFER DONS JORDAN DAVIS KATHY MASSEY enrich their lives.”

Jordan works with a month, along with reco ndividuals would want to and hospitality.” sales per year across fifty transactions. the concept of home By will be there through thick and think to she MATT GRUETZNER She currently works at NextHome BCS select clients annually, as wellPATTY as mentoring for fun things to do in the melo MONTEZA LORIfirstJONES TRICIA TURNER nto real estate,” putting herElisabeth clients and working hard to help in all ways possible.

I would highly outdo brokerage and serves clients throughout the agents on her team. In 2020, The Davis first full year as a Realtor® in Central Matt puts a great deal of effort into ore about the industry to An active philanthropist, Elisabeth donates Brazos ter fiw achieve in their goals, JenniferTeam has flourished as an Jordan agentthe if you want toand “We have service everyherself dayother and love gan dabbling to her work, Lori completes an beyond average of recommend 40 anyone as her closed 210 transactions for aValley. salesanything he Patty Monteza began real estate career well as the socialviews media of agen s, and I ended up falling to both national organizations, such as St. ,or Matt Gruetzner has leveraged his presentation of his listings, and his strategy spends the rest of else does,” says Tricia Turner, CEO of the anyone to have to st in the Dallas-Fort Worth buy new or sell your existing property.” fun.asShean wasagent a transactions per year.

53 54 57 58 volume of $60 million, and her are on pace in integral part That’s of the incommu at the urging of a friend who had gotten in the office,” Patty says. additi With 13 years in the business, Kathy’s knowledge and have a son gradu on, the real for estate aspect Jude’s, and more local organizations Tricia Turner Group with eXp Realty inas most of and love helping others.” ience working in area. the oil field and hastoproven effective hishard ranches time looking metropolitan vast majority herdeals business 2021 to close for $80 million. to support local busines ownThe license and told Pattyof270 she was made for to marketing on platforms such as Zillow, experience are invaluable tools for her clients.

“I’m son getting marr Texas.

“We have people who tell us all the ew and grew.

I made the sports teams in the small communities she ng upderives onfor a swath land to build an referrals, sell before they isn’t even well hit as theword market.

He beneficial her When she’s not busy, Lori likes to give promoting with them, givingactive back to cl fromofrepeat clients and a testament When Jennifer working, she’s staying real estate.

“I never thought about doing real of Imouth. time that nobody else offers what we do.

When she isn’t work very passionate about helping my clients, and think a very busy but f eal estate to so but When she iscustomer not working on ve the stringent back tosomething her community through volunteer ssive career as a land agent from the takes photos andbusy videos throughout theand The team’s attention to serves. detail, an unrivaled quarterly giveaways, hosting in regular to herappealed superior communication skills and dedication estate, my friend saw in to me incan the Chamber Commerce, participating We want our clients tosense belocal here with for ofdevelop and team, Tricia is d they that.

Weusalways a friendship ons and behalf ofto her clients, you can find eer.

She quickly work.

She involved with PTA at her son’s ethic,recalls. andisatheir commitment solving justElisabeth to stay connected.

Sheis misses o d up.

Heskills.” got licensed as Iandidn’t agentservice in Patty property, then posts them social media that see,” “It was the Community lifetime.

We’ve got ourcustomer’s own cleaning Shenoser and stay in touch long after the transaction isinvolvement over.

On community.

In theimportant future K providing a stress-free journey. bible study, traveling, or on spending quality time with needs in this highly competitive market keeps clients help them increase the equity of their inve tofshe could have school and volunteers at her church.

She and her family enjoying the outdoors, fishing, or racing crew, person. our own moving trucks, and our aown theclients Child Advo 2020, and since joining where they reach wide audience of people.the SheMock said, ‘You’re a people Patty.

She is anTexas active of with Impa a more basic level—and this may sound simple but formember her her family. coming back.

“One thing that sets us apart is our inside try to empower people to achieve the fina and continue to is also a part of the Keller Williams Agent staging company.

We’re a one-stop shop, Additionally, she isth a with Austin Portfolio Real Estate in horses.

She is the mother of four-year-old twins, who You love people.

Everywhere you go, you San Antonio, women’s it’s important—one thing my clients always tella me is themnonprofit throughou hes group within Keller Williams, residents.

“I think people continue coming back to me because sales agent, Valencia, who takes incoming sign calls by making sound real estate and financial y and have the Leadership Council.

Although she doesn’t much like Amazon.”

River Rotary Club a sabeth iswas a fierce advocate behalf ofThis keep busy. that Ihappy listen toand them and I answer the phone when they in feel confident in knowason somebody. is so her rightand forhusband you!” helps other nonprofits the community up that recognized the 2018 MATT PATTY MONTEZA TRICIA TURNER I their try to itLORI an JONES experience for them,” Jennifer Jennifer has also planning toJordan build explains. a outcome. team or buyer inquiries and helpsin us situate them in thebeentheir legacy,” “I’m cra the Texanaand ualize realmake have aDual-Career lotGRUETZNER of free time, the event of a few call,” she explains. b Patty stated “I started as a agent, and having awarding grants.

Patty also participates in Advisory the“My annu g metro Austin as well as large swaths nal Land Broker of the Year, he’s In his free time, Matt spends most of his Tricia first got started in real estate in tive member of Lake best way possible.

If a buyer is interested in a certain about that.” says.

“That’s been a big part of my process.

I make it branching out to different areas.

In the meantime, The Lori Jones days off she likes to spend it traveling to myself having m thewith rightasupport fromElisabeth not only myAfter family, butforalso Keller Williams Red Day,company and shehosts volunteers or donat untry, works diverse has big plans the future, including 1992. spending aprospect couple ofofyears inoutdoors college,opening she a variety of com hard a Elisabeth at workexperience helping buyers andone time exploring the with his son. neighborhood, shememorable callsher andfamily. sets up a that Keller Williams new places with dream for them, that is she’s soaking up every minute of herinChildSafe, current prioraand experience asinorganizations aateacher has instilled keep path, upthe with the my job that Iinhad my real estate Her license, to local including Helot gaccomplish urban down-sizers and those therespected an office in Johnson City, community part ofHer Texas her current pathto wasn’t a good fit. neighborhood to tryrealized and findthat someone looking sell.”

Inorganization 2020, Theshows Davis Team partnered witho sago, goals with land and His schedule is hectic, and he a with her their husband and Kathy a natural penchant for and the clients the type and that they would want to brag about to their friends and is truly loving it all.

“Seeing the process from always helped me get thewith worda out aboutwho me.was We all and needhospitality Humane industry.

Society, the Boerne Coalition, and f father, involved in commercial real estate, Outside of work,PLACE you Habitat cantousual et.

With her versatile skill set, financial burgeoning wine When & Chris Suarez, who bet Together they serve clients Going forward Lori wants continue fulfilling her ng a and client base in One the Austin area.

As this someone lotsotoofwe appreciation forHumanity. his wife for standing byto and ability to communicate with ease.

“You have be own they deserve.” to surround ourselves with support can make it, family.” way she does is by getting to start to finish, and witnessing the joy that comes with suggested that the real estate industry might be a family on Lake Livingston, on on education, Elisabeth offers she considers her impressive she credits her Additionally, the team specializes inthrough houses, customers with theI’ve best technology and re organized toopen besuccess, successful aleasing teacher, and passion of helping buyers and sellers make their real e focus familiarity with on working land goes back tocan his supporting him all ofthat’s it.asasMatt isI do also heavily good fit. able As Tricia had previously worked awhy pool.

They love kicking back, r and I am grateful that after 1 year, I was to go down know them a deeper level, so she understand homeownership, what I do.” with each work agent doing two topositive three open houses onbelieve any skills industry.

Equally, PLACE gives abundant e than the average Realtor. Along with ethic and attitude.

“I it’s importdefinitely transferred those over into my real estate dreams a reality.

She is focused on the growth agent in an apartment complex, she decided to attend quality time together.

Phone |heart Fax 310-734-1440 ood, exactly Matt is the perfect choice for someone struginvolved withlater, hisAssociation – Patty hepartners, donates to310-734-1440 part-time at my full-time job, then 8 the months Ilocal In community the of near future, says,like “Ito want tobenefits, grow my tea what they need.

“I get to the of what their given week.

“According to National to agent health coac professional support staff, of Elisabeth ant toisstay humble, to more show up every day working withon current estate work.

You alsoliked need stay up to date oviding her clients with the herdealing business and looking toschool add members real estate and see if she it.to“It definitely went allwhen in to Real Estate and have been since.”

In the so I have the right support to help everybody I want o make an informed decision in land. several local organizations, sponsors golf tournaments Realtors 2018, only percent ofI agent buyers they leads, investments, andTricia more.i ismag@topagentmagazine.com and then I offer solutions.”

Throughout the realas estate market trends so deal, thattechnology, you your | add www.topagentmagazine.com tionbutdesire not for her clients, but forto take same enthusiasm had on my first andcantoprovide do ce, alsoonly educating them the team.

“Iinthe would like tosix another to said our stuck!” she says, laughing.

Looking to the future, end, Pattytodecided the leap and got her real estate help without spreading myself too thin, so I can ke and clay shoots, and helps organize livestock shows found theireverything home when went to an open clients with the best information set them up forher business. They are transaction, practices gratitude andby thinks growing ocess, Lori“One always remains group so that we can continue to grow and provide as well. of Jennifer the central values on Ithey canof to help the client gettime the for bestand result,” license in December 2014 and August 2016, she was some my family life.

I also plan to contin house, Realtors tell that has aneach affinity forasthe natural world andso ismany wellas awill way toa seller give back to In theJanuary people who keep him in$100 million in sales i success,” she says.

Tricia started out as solo agent.

2017, she complete insight. a high rate oftime with the highest quality of service.” client afull long-term connection.

This includes ation.

WeWith want to attract andclients foster aEstate Elisabeth says.

“Deals ofaevery size are important to me. into Real and has been there since. building my portfolio on the investment side.” looki open houses don’t sell a home.

However, her broker’s andan opened her ownfirst bro-year, Turner Group d, it’s in providing what’s required to and provide upkeep for step, a earned business.

Matt license has had incredible and he is currently dedication, knowlguidance support at every leaving roup her of people who can support clients Fostering strong client relationships brings about way we know thatand fifteen percent ofexpand ouryear listings kerage.

In to October 2018, she switched that placeyears tofor host their growing team Last Kathy closedeven overbrokerage 50 transactions land the hehow knows what the hopes his business further in the mmunication skills thatunanswered. make no inquestions Forfrom hersoil sellers, she goes llofsituations, noregion, matter complex.” more success than focusing only on the Patty serves San Antonio and the surrounding areas.

Above all, Patty says, love helping people over to her of She isbottom currently hard difference.

We’re not goingrea to sell open houses, so wecurrent have branch invested $15,000,000 in eXp. sales volume.

Sheline.” was alsoa“Ihonored ed to work herlike again. ation should look on a piece of land in the to come.

If you’re looking for an agent who truly cares 2 with Top Agent Magazine “I’vewith livedmarketing, here my whole sowork Iwhich know San Antonio their goals, whatever goals are. whr at expanding her team help as many clients as those “We want be Especially the real estate above and beyond making sure each substantially inlife, them, has resulted in toPresidents to receive The Circle Award from her to ts become friends, and I pulsePatty and helisting hasmy his finger on of people local market about the land he deals ingrateful and the people he works possible. says, growing like is crazy.” and their families for years to co verythe says.

Patty’s family is Tricia from Peru “We’re and somebody buying first house, it feels so good brokerage.

“I’m very for all oftheir my success, netting our sellers more money.” ch owner and a resident ofmany Austin, is going out towell,” as as possible.

“We ould treat my family during www.

CONTENTS 5) 3 EASY AT-HOME DIY PROJECTS TO INCREASE PROPERTY VALUE

38) 6 WAYS TO GET YOUR CLIENT TO TRUST YOU

13) 5 LESSONS FROM SILICON VALLEY TO MODERNIZE AND MONETIZE YOUR BUSINESS

42) HOW TO INCORPORATE CURRENT EVENTS TO YOUR EMAIL BLASTS AND STAY RELEVANT

22) CREATIVE WAYS TO SAY THANK YOU

47) 3 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR WORKSPACE WORK FOR YOU

26) 5 WAYS TO TRANSFORM RENTERS INTO OWNERS 32) CONNECT BEYOND REAL ESTATE TO ATTRACT FUTURE CLIENTS

51) 5 TIPS TO MAKE NEW HIRES A LONGLASTING SUCCESS 55) 4 QUALITIES OF EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES

No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher.

Top Agent Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. Published in the U.S.

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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 Top Agent Magazine

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 6

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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 Top Agent Magazine

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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VALERY SMITH-BLANK Top Agent Magazine

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VALERY SMITH-BLANK

After a successful career as a Healthcare Executive, Valery is a REALTOR® who understands what it means to care for her clients. “I love helping people find their dream home, while trying to make sure they don’t overpay,” Valery says.

Valery retired from her work that kept her traveling five days a week, when her children started high school. But retirement didn’t fit an energetic professional like Valery. “About sixty days into my ‘retirement,’ we had a family meeting,” Valery remembers, “And my family told me I’m not retirement material.”

Valery reaches out often, with quarterly pop-bys, helpful monthly mailers, and to celebrate birthdays, wedding anniversaries, holidays, and the anniversary of each client finding their dream home. She also offers clients a Homebot app subscription to track their home equity, get updates on home values, and connect quickly with Valery and her preferred lenders.

As a Broker with a depth of credibility and industry knowledge, Valery’s clients can trust her to help them “Fill in the Blanks,” as her slogan says.

Today, Valery has been at her second career as a REALTOR® since 2006 and is a Broker Associate with RE/MAX serving clients in the greater area of Houston, Texas. Valery works as a solo agent, foregoing a team to work directly with each of her clients.

Her strong emphasis on continuing to foster relationships and care for her clients well after closing a sale has helped Valery’s business reach over eighty percent derived from repeat and referral clients.

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Valery routinely ranks in the top ten percent of REALTOR®s in the Houston MLS, and in the top five hundred RE/MAX agents in the State of Texas. In 2015, she placed in the top one percent of REALTOR®s in the nation. “My RE/MAX office dubbed me a DGR – a damn good REALTOR®!” Valery says.

Despite the furious pace of today’s market, Valery takes care with presentation and detail in marketing her properties. Her listing posts include professional photos, video walkthroughs with voiceovers and virtual staging posted to social media and proliferated across email blasts to other agents. Through the HAR multiple listing service, Valery’s buyers are alerted to listings that meet their criteria; with a reverse prospect search, she identifies agents whose clients’ searches mirror her own inventory, and connects those agents with matches from her listings.

Annually, Valery consistently closes between forty and fifty transactions. As a REALTOR® who gives back, after every closing, Valery donates to her clients’ choice of charity. She also supports charitable functions through weekly involvement with a local BNI group, and sponsors activities for clients’ children like school plays and cheerleading programs.

When she’s not working, Valery enjoys a relaxing glass of wine and spending time with friends, as well as opportunities to travel.

Looking to the future, Valery plans to maintain the excellence she brings to each transaction, growing her business only as much as serving each client to her own high standards allows.

“I like working with clients directly, and not passing them along to a team,” Valery says.

“I’m pretty happy with where I’m at, and being able to keep up with clients after closing. If business gets a whole lot bigger, I’d lose some of that.”

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Find out more at valsthekey.com.

Connect with Valery at (713) 515-2135, or email valery@valsthekey.com www.

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Stewart Title Champions would like to congratulate

Valery Blank

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

LYNN RIDDLE | BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Office: 281-374-8700 | Cell: 346-225-7993 lynn.riddle@stewart.com | stewart.com/houston www.

19450 State Hwy 249, Suite 250, Houston, TX 77070

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5 Lessons from Silicon Valley to Modernize and Monetize Your Business Silicon Valley may be the region for disruptors, tech entrepreneurs, and futurists, but even the most forward-thinking, abstract companies are still businesses that have to keep tabs on their bottom line. There’s much to learn from America’s fastest-growing sector, and even if Silicon Top Agent Magazine

Valley seems like a world unto its own, there are key lessons prime for adaption in your own endeavors. Below, consider a few ways to translate the trends and teachings of Silicon Valley for your own business, and reap the rewards in the process.

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1. Diversify your value Real estate is a business built on relationships, but your relationships will go stale if the only thing you communicate is you interest in making a sale. In order to sustain relationships for the long term, you’ve got to remain valuable to your clients beyond the transaction. Serve as a local resource, not just a salesperson or real estate expert. Ensure your marketing materials, social media presence, and communications offer useful, relevant, and original content your clients will benefit from. What’s more, vary your communications so that every time you reach out it’s not just about new business or a referral.

2. Company culture matters Silicon Valley tech giants always emphasize the importance of company culture—not just as a way of drawing and retaining talent, but also as a way to appeal to clientele. What are your company’s values? What do you stand for? How you’re positioned in the marketplace is becoming just as important as what you do and how well you do it. Your company culture is part of your branding, and your brand should feel clear and composed to clients eyeing your services.

3.Think big picture More and more, clients want to have an experience, not just a transaction. When it comes to buying a home, this means they care more about a property’s bedroom and bathroom count. As an agent, consider showcasing properties in terms of lifestyle. What neighborhood amenities are nearby? What opportunities are there for community involvement? How does public 14

transportation stack up in the area? Before making the purchase of a lifetime, clients want to envision a complete lifestyle.

4. Leverage multiple platforms By now, you probably recognize that social media is not afterthought. Your social media presence should fit your brand and voice, interact across platforms, and actively engage with your audience. In other words, if you want to reap the benefits of social media, it’s not enough to post a few times a month and walk away. Active engagement means responding to comments, interacting with your followers’ profiles, and posting original content beyond a sales pitch.

Likewise, you’ll want to be active across multiple social media platforms and ensure that your profiles are interconnected. That way, you’ll be working from a unified voice and brand.

5. Reputations rule the roost Never underestimate the power of word-ofmouth marketing and testimonials. If you haven’t asked for feedback from past clients, and you aren’t sharing positive testimonials and reviews—you’re missing out on one of the most powerful tools at an agent’s disposal. You can pitch the virtues of your working style all day long, but those courting your business want to hear about positive experiences from the client’s perspective.

If you want to take your business to the next level and maximize the twenty-first century values of a company on the rise, look to the lessons of Silicon Valley to get your start. There are always opportunities to innovate, and doing so will help you break from your routine and stand apart from the pack.

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ROGERS HEALY Top Agent Magazine

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Born and raised in Texas, Top Agent Rogers Healy is the CEO and owner of The Rogers Healy Companies in Dallas, where he and other like-minded agents help people achieve their real estate goals.

After deciding to enter the real estate industry around 20 years ago, Rogers Healy quickly fell in love with it. “I was in college and wanted to make some extra money, so I started helping my friends find apartment leases,” Rogers explains. Born and raised in Texas, he’s passionate about his home state, and loved showing students everything it has to offer. After graduating, he hit the ground running, learning as much as he could from some of the top agents in his area. Today he is the CEO and owner of The Rogers Healy Companies in Dallas, where he and other like-minded agents help people achieve their real estate goals. The vast majority of their business consists of repeat clients and referrals, a testament to their exceptional service and communication skills.

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“I think what sets us apart from our competition is a combination of things, one of which is confidence,” he says.

“I outwork everyone, and I’m not afraid to be ambitious with marketing.” Much of Rogers’ growth is attributed to their presence on social media, which has allowed them to become a recognized brand in the area.

This prominence helps them find the best people for their team. “We recruit from the inside out, and we’re not necessarily going after agents, we’re going after people that are well-connected,” Rogers explains. Rogers’ Top Agent Magazine

number one priority is setting his agents up for success, which means stress-free transactions and hands-on support for clients. For buyers, this includes guidance throughout the transaction and a relentless commitment to getting them what they want. Meanwhile, sellers enjoy thorough marketing which touches all aspects of the advertising landscape, including social media, postcards and magazine ads.

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Rogers’ number one priority is setting his agents up for success, which means stress-free transactions and hands-on support for clients.

After the transaction, clients leave glowing reviews about their time together. One recently said, “This was easily the best experience I’ve had purchasing a home. Rogers and his team made sure the entire process went smoothly.

Rogers was readily available for questions and Copyright Top Agent Magazine 18

genuinely cared about how we were doing. We have no hesitations in recommending Rogers and his team to anyone we know. Thanks so much for all your help Rogers! You’ve definitely made this one of the best experiences of our lives!”

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When Rogers and his team aren’t working, they’re staying active in the community, particularly through associations and charities that help those with special needs. “We also do a monthly charitable outreach where we will go to soup kitchens, animal shelters, and elderly Top Agent Magazine

assisted living facilities.” During any free time, Rogers can be found listening to music or relaxing with his wife and dogs.

Looking ahead, Rogers’ sights are set on continuous growth. “We want to focus on making Copyright Top Agent Magazine 19

sure we have the best people and that the right people are joining us.” For Rogers and the team, real estate is all about making others

happy. “My job as a broker is to make others feel good and give them the confidence they need to achieve their goals.”

For more information about Rogers Healy, call (214) 368-4663 or email Rogers@RogersHealy.com

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Creative Ways to Say Thank You

Most top real estate agents find ways to welcome their clients to their new home. A common theme is a bottle of wine and some wine glasses for that first post-threshold toast, or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up that empty living space until the furniture arrives.

But are you truly being as creative as you can with your appreciation? Here are some innovative gift ideas that will truly keep you front of mind with your valued customers and assure their gratitude and repeat business, not to mention a slew of referrals.

1. How about a streaming video device, like a Roku

or Amazon Fire Stick? There’s a good chance your clients will not have their cable service up and running for a few days, and this is an excellent way for them to enjoy their television before they get that connection going. Bundle it up in a basket with some DVD’s for the kids, and don’t forget all necessary cables.

2. Matching bathrobes and Bath kits: Fleece or ter-

rycloth bathrobes and a basket filled with highend his and her body scrubs, bubble bath and other luxurious pampering items can make the first night in a new home feel like a check-in at a fabulous resort and make the memory of that first night one to cherish. Again, don’t forget the kids!

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3. Arrange a catered meal from a local vendor. As-

certain in advance dietary preferences and restrictions, and have a wonderful, healthy meal delivered on move-in night. To complete the magic, provide brand new plates, silverware and glassware to serve it all on.

4. For homes with swimming pools or Jacuzzis, a

stack of fluffy pool towels is always appreciated and will be used by family and friends for years to come. Additionally, acrylic stemware for celebrating safely can be provided alongside them.

5. If it’s winter time and the home has a fireplace, make sure there’s plenty of wood to burn. Some fireplace accessories and a log holder will certainly make your clients appreciate you on every chilly night to come.

So when it comes to gifting your buyers, the trick is to be creative. A bottle of wine lasts one night, and the flowers wilt in a few days. Try coming up with something a little more creative that will remain with your clients in their day-to-day lives and remind them of you consistently. The little bit extra you spend to show your gratitude can reap huge dividends when it comes time for your client to purchase a second home or refer a friend.

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MAGGIE DIETER

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MAGGIE DIETER

Before she became a Realtor, Maggie Dieter was a schoolteacher. “Real estate was always in the plans as soon as we were close to being ready to start a family. I have the natural inclination to teach and although I’m not in the classroom anymore, I still get to educate people, just in a different way.”

Maggie got her license and has been a top-producing agent for a year and a half now, representing and educating clients all over the Dallas-Fort Worth area as an individual agent at Keller Williams. Over that time, she has either closed or has pending over $10 million in sales volume, the vast majority of those transactions coming through referrals or repeat clients. “People come to me for a variety of reasons,” Maggie explains. “My experience as a teacher has helped me become a great communicator of information, so that my clients understand 24

exactly what’s happening at every point in the process, and can feel comfortable and certain about the decisions they’re making. I also get back to them very quickly when they call me for anything.”

She markets her listings through a combination of social media exposure, direct target marketing, and traditional real estate websites, creating a strategic plan for each property designed to

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get her sellers the highest price for their home in the least amount of time. “I’m a strong negotiator on my clients’ behalf. It’s another area where good communication skills are essential, as I interact with other agents representing their buyers or sellers. I’m calm, professional, and relatable, which puts people at ease and builds trust.”

Those qualities no doubt contribute to Maggie’s high referral rate, but she also stays in touch with clients beyond the closing. “That’s something that comes natural too. I love being around people, and when I’m working with them I focus on building a relationship. I’m not thinking just in terms of a transaction. So, we’ve become friends, and I stay in touch with them on social media, or through texts and emails, as I would with anyone.”

Clients gush when they describe their experience with Maggie, praising her availability, her professionalism, her knowledge, and most importantly the results she obtained for them.

One of her clients expressed it both simply and emphatically: “Maggie made my dreams come true!”

When she’s not working, Maggie is an active member of Lake Highlands Jr. Women’s League, helping raise money for improvement projects in her local community. She enjoys spending her free time with her family and friends, doing Pilates and taking walks with her husband and Labrador Retriever, Bella.

As for the future of her business, Maggie plans to build a team at some point soon. “A few other agents have asked me about it, and I will definitely do that as my family grows. I have a true passion for real estate, and I want to continue growing my business and doing it well.”

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If you would like Maggie’s help with buying or selling a home, call 214-543-9781 or email MaggieDieter@kw.com.

Be sure to check out her website at maggiedieter.com and follow her on Instagram at maggiedieter.realestate www.

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5 Ways to Transform

Renters into Owners Perhaps the largest demographic of untapped business lies in the rental market. From major cities and suburbs to rural communities—renters across generations are opting to rent rather than own. The question is: why? For starters, many Americans are undereducated about the inventory and financing options available that might suit their budget and lifestyle. Secondly, many would-be homeowners have difficulty 26

visualizing the potential investment of purchasing property, and how homeownership can build wealth and security in the long-term.

As an agent, you’re always on the lookout for potential clientele. Now, to guide renters toward the real estate market, keep a few of these strategies in mind as you meet and greet this untapped demographic.

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1

Show renters that purchasing a home isn’t impossible

Possibly the biggest hurdle for renters is believing homeownership is possible. Beyond saving for a down payment and boosting credit scores, there are dozen more factors to consider: affording utilities, homeowner’s insurance, renovations, property taxes, and more. Besides that, assembling pay stubs, finding an agent, arranging house tours, negotiating a price, and timing the transition are all major considerations to surmount.

One way to combat this thinking is to make the process transparent and demystified. Find examples of past clients who made the leap successfully, or profile the average buyer in your marketplace and see how that renter compares. Provide evidence that it’s been done before and can be done again, then build a game plan from there.

into play. Consider making a checklist, or step-by-step road-map, that guides clients through the process from start to finish. This way, you’ll manage expectations and create a path to ownership that’s specific, instead of abstract. They won’t have to wonder what goes into buying a home when they can look at an interactive site or read a document and see the steps outlined before them, with you there to guide the way.

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Collaborate with mortgage professionals to find the right financing opportunities

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Help would-be homebuyers create a road-map to ownership

It’s no secret that buying a home can feel overwhelming. Compared to signing a yearlong lease on an apartment, taking on the house-hunting process is a daunting affair.

That’s where your expertise as an agent comes Top Agent Magazine

Many renters aren’t aware of the variety of mortgage financing options out there that cater to first-timers, offer low down payments, or down payment assistance. Most buyers believe that the standard 20% down is a hard and fast rule, when in reality, there’s far more flexibility out there to cater to renters where they are. There are even loan options catering to freelance workers, renovation options, and other unconventional routes to ownership.

Work with a mortgage pro and find the route that suits your renter best.

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pay monthly in a mortgage—while building a lasting asset.

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Compare and contrast rental rates with monthly mortgage payments One way to convince renters to make the shift is to demonstrate the savings potential of paying into a monthly mortgage, rather than throwing away rent on a property they don’t own. To do this, draw up the average rental rates in your area, then find some potential listings that would demand a similar amount in monthly mortgage payments. Sometimes placing these numbers and images sideby-side can prove to renters that what they manage to pay monthly in rent, they can

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Paint the big picture

For most, renting isn’t the most sustainable financial option when it comes to housing.

Rents rise, families grow, and retirement looms.

Building a financial future and homeownership go hand-in-hand. When planned appropriately, buying a home can create a path toward retirement and position homeowners in a better place for further investment in the future. A rental has little security or investment returns to offer, while owning a home makes a renter king or queen of the castle.

Prospecting renters as potential homebuyers may seem like a time-intensive way to cultivate new clients, but logic is on your side.

Keep these tips in mind as you broach the conversation with renters in your hometown.

All it takes is clear-cut value proposition and a listening ear.

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PAM BOYD Top Agent Magazine

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PAM BOYD

Pam Boyd always knew what she wanted from her work. “I enjoy meeting and helping people, which is one of the reasons I chose to become a Realtor®. I love the camaraderie with others and the satisfaction that comes from helping clients reach their dream of homeownership.”

She practiced that ethic of service in her 21 years working in the golf industry, 14 of that as the general manager for a golf club. After the club’s owners sold their interests in 2011, Pam decided she was ready to try something new. She got her license and worked with a team for only a year before going solo, when it became clear that she was quite good as a Realtor®. “I realized that I should have been doing this my whole life,” she laughs.

Her clients no doubt would agree. In their reviews, they consistently praise her professionalism, industry knowledge, communication skills, and the attention to detail she brings to 30

the transaction. After 8 years serving clients all around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with RE/MAX, she’s grown her repeat client and referral rate to an impressive 80 percent. Pam purposely limits her number of transactions to between 20 and 30 a year. “That allows me to give my full attention to every client. People who choose me as their Realtor® enjoy the oneon-one communication with me, and the fact that they don’t have to go through a transaction coordinator. I never want to be in a position where I can’t offer a very personal service.

Client satisfaction is my life’s blood.” In 2015 Pam won the Top Client Satisfaction Award for an office of 85 agents. Those accolades didn’t stop, in 2020 “America’s Top 100 Agents for Exceptional Client Satisfaction – Texas Dallas Metro” and “Top 10 Best of the Best Real Estate Agents” – Texas. In the years 2019, 2020 & 2021 Pam was named “Top 10 Agents in Texas” for Exceptional Client Satisfaction.

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Pam helps her clients stage their home to get top dollar, even providing an inventory of decorative items at no additional charge. She uses professional photography – including drone footage, if needed – to showcase the property’s best features. She then utilizes a third-party company to market her listings to potential buyers wherever they go online. “I also do a lot of open houses too, not so much to pick up clients, but to generate lots of interest so as to bring the best price for the seller.”

When not helping clients, Pam volunteers as a member of the Grapevine Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, an organization dedicated to helping police with things like bag checking at events, or providing meals for officers when they’re working on a holiday. She also loves taking good care of her two Toy Schnauzers – Cash and Candi – spending 2 to 3 hours a week batch cooking homemade food for them. The recipe saved Candi’s life when she wouldn’t eat or drink anything else during an illness, and Pam has continued feeding it to both her dogs to keep them healthy. She’s passionate about sharing her knowledge with other owners who may also have dogs suffering from an illness.

Going forward, Pam plans to continue working full time for several more years, at which point she will scale back her business to allow for some traveling.

“You can stay in real estate forever and work as many hours as you like, but losing my 56-year old husband very suddenly a few years ago taught me that life is short, and it’s important to do some of the other things you’ve dreamed of while you still can.”

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Contact Pam Boyd at 817-368-2073 or email Pamboydtx@gmail.com 31

CONNECT BEYOND

REAL ESTATE

to Attract Future Clients What kind of content are you sharing on your blog, website, and social media? Does most of it have something to do with buying or selling a home? While sharing the latest market information or tips on how to qualify for a mortgage, or when someone should buy or sell is important and demonstrates your value as a REALTOR®, it shouldn’t be the only subject you cover. If you only focus on real estate, you’ll be missing the chance to connect with future clients that might not be ready to move just yet. By sharing a lot

of industry-heavy content, you are only going to appeal to those who are currently in the market rather than a broad base of potential clients.

To pull in those other future clients you want to provide fresh, interesting content that will appeal to those possible future clients that aren’t quite ready to move yet. However, you also want to still tie this content back into your business goals.

So, how do you share content that will speak to a wider audience, but also still be relevant to your business?

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Talk About Your Philanthropic Activities

The philanthropic work you do to support your community says a great deal about who you are as a person. Many people will be attracted to working with you because of the charitable works you are involved with. While you may be hesitant to share these efforts because you feel it may come across as bragging, you also need to remember that sharing information about the charitable organizations you support will actually help those organizations. Many of them have small marketing budgets, so any free exposure you can give them helps to promote their cause.

In fact, they want and need you to promote them.

And you can promote them without coming across as a braggart. Focus your content entirely on the organization. Talk about why you support them, how they help the community, and how others can also get involved. This turns what could have been bragging into something that benefits everyone. n

Your Local Community

We humans are connected to each other through our community – our local sports teams, parks, churches, schools, and much more. What better way is there to connect with people in your community than to talk about your community? Demonstrate that you are an expert on your community, and bring that community to your followers. Share information about a local event; perhaps even share the actual event through live-stream video. Interview city officials to get the low-down on the latest development project. Share information with your followers about things they didn’t know about their community. Consult with local historians or the historical society to share interesting information about your community that your followers will want to read. You could even turn it into a series of podcasts or videos. n

Use Your Creativity to Connect

Find creative ways to engage your followers on the topic of real estate. Try engaging your followers in an interactive project such as posting photos of interesting front doors. Doors are the entry point into our homes as well as our private lives. The way we adorn our front door can give someone a sense of our style and personality. Ask followers to submit photos and choose one to post each Friday. Make sure to watermark each photo with your logo at the bottom and include an inspirational quote that ties back to the importance of home. You could also ask your followers to provide a little story or caption to go along with the photo that tells something about them and their home. These kinds of projects are interesting and unique, and clearly connect back to your business. n

Share Your Hobbies

Are you an adrenalin junkie who has bungee jumped from some of the tallest bridges in the world? Are you a foodie that grows your own organic vegetables and fruit? Do you have a Top Agent Magazine

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secret passion for photography? Everyone has hobbies that they enjoy outside of work. When you look past the surface people become quite interesting. People also happen to find interesting people interesting, and tend to remember people based on their distinctive traits. We humans love discovering a person’s behind the scenes story, the mind behind the face. While you don’t want to talk too much about yourself, sharing pieces of your personal life and things that interest you can be a great way to connect with followers. By sharing interesting facts about your life, you will find that many followers will feel a strong, personal connection to you based on your hobbies and personal interests. n

Divulge Interesting Experiences

This is somewhat similar to the idea of sharing your hobbies. Sharing some of your more interesting personal experiences such as a fateful conversation with a stranger or an exciting adventure you had while in another country can be a great way to connect with followers as long as it also relates to some kind of life or business lesson. Talk about experiences you’ve had with clients or purchasing your own home. Experiences that relate to your business are great ways to connect with future clients in a manner that goes beyond the world of business. n

What and Who Inspires You

No matter what you’ve chosen to spend your life doing, you didn’t get there alone. You may have had a mentor that made a special impact on your life or someone already in the business that you looked up to and who perhaps inspired you to get into real estate. You may have found inspiration through a love of architecture or design. People want to know why others do the things they do. Sharing who or what influences you in your personal and business life is a great way to connect with followers. Recognizing that you didn’t get to where you are now by yourself shows humility, and talking about those people that had an influence on you shows others that you stay connected to the world and people around you.

Connecting with potential clients is something that is essential to any REALTOR’S® business. If you’re doing the work to create interesting blog posts and make those connections, you want to make sure that you’re sharing the right kind of content to draw in those future clients. It takes a lot more than simply providing the latest market news. To get the most out of what you share, you need to provide a wide array of interesting content

that will draw in a broad range of followers.

Providing the right kind of content can make all the difference when it comes to connecting with future clients and building the right kind of relationship with them right from the start. Connecting through your website or social media and sharing more than just real estate advice will help you build confidence and trust with future clients before you even meet them.

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PATRICK EASTER Top Agent Magazine

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PATRICK EASTER

Born and raised in Austin, Patrick Easter has always been drawn to real estate. His father was a leading Broker in the Austin area, and is credited with creating the very first seller disclosure in Texas. Growing up in the business, Patrick was driven to follow in his footsteps. After earning his license, he served as an assistant for a top producing agent in Austin, who would later teach him the industry from the ground up.

Since then, Patrick has gone on to author an accomplished career in real estate, from owning his own mortgage company to attaining his Brokers License in 2003. Most recently, though, his career has come full circle, as he now owns and operates the brokerage his father founded all the way back in 1982. Today, Patrick is the Owner and Broker of Easter and Easter Realtors® where he supervises a seasoned staff across three brokerages to assist 36

clients throughout Travis County, Williamson County, and the surrounding areas.

When listing a home, Patrick takes a hands-on approach. After helping his clients fully prepare their property for the market and providing them with elite professional photography, he amplifies their home via a blend of targeted digital marketing campaigns – all while broadcasting his listings to his own professional sphere. But whether he is suggesting subtle property improvements or connecting his clients to a robust network of contractors, he is there to generate buzz and build a diversified buyers’ pool around their listing.

But Patrick is just as helpful when assisting his buyers. Leaning on his decades of experience and in-depth knowledge of the region, he carefully guides each client to the right investments for Top Agent Magazine

their best interests. Moreover, he offers a suite of boutique services to ensure they are fully satisfied with their new homes, from fully furnished temporary rentals to a comprehensive buyer protection plan. “When I’m working with a client, I’m not just looking for a house,” he says. “Instead, I’m looking to find them a property strategy they can live by for years to come.”

Over the years, Patrick has earned a fantastic reputation throughout Texas, with the entirety of his volume coming from repeat clients or referrals.

And the secret to his success? “This business boils down to one word: relationships. Because I focus on building relationships with my clients, I never have to go looking for business, and I don’t need to sell them twice.”

Outside his career, Patrick is deeply involved with his community, with his team volunteering for a variety of local nonprofit organizations. In fact, they recently helped the Ronald McDonald House host a lively Easter celebration for children and families impacted by cancer. When he’s not with clients or giving back, he enjoys spending quality time at home with his family. He also enjoys riding bicycles and completed a ride from Kanab Utah back to Austin in 2020, and has plans for many more cross country rides. Patrick also has a passion for cars. He currently has his pride and joy, a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback that took him 5 years to build, and several other cars. One of his vehicles is a 1989 K5 Blazer that has been featured in a national commercial.

Looking ahead, Patrick also has strong plans for the future of his business. Most of all, though, he is focused on refining the standard of service that has set Easter and Easter Realtors® apart in his beloved hometown. “I get my energy from helping others,” he says. “There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the look of joy on a client’s face. For that reason, I will continue providing the highest level of service for my clients for as long as I can.”

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To learn more about Patrick Easter, please call (512) 633-9500, email patrick@patrickeaster.com, or visit mlsaustinhomes.info www.

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6 Ways to Get Your Client to Trust You The word “REALTOR®” can leave a sour taste in some people’s mouths. Many of today’s home buyers and sellers grew up during the 2009 recession. They are wary of anything 38

or anyone who comes off as too salesy, and they want to work with individuals who they can trust.

But how do you prove to someone you’ve likely never met that you can be trusted?

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1

Put Testimonials or Case Studies on Your Website

When something goes wrong, own up to your mistakes. Don’t hide bad news from your clients. Be upfront and responsive.

Testimonials and case studies are social proof that you have both the experience and the skills to do the job your clients are hiring you for. People often leave testimonials when they are either incredibly disappointed or extremely happy with the service they were provided, so they’re a good indication to prospective clients of the treatment they’ll receive.

Case studies, which you can post on your blog or website, have much of the same effect, but even more than testimonials, case studies demonstrate your real estate and finance expertise because they explain how you achieved a specific set of results.

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Be Responsive and Accessible

Can your clients reach you easily? That doesn’t mean you need to be available 24/7, but you should respond to your clients within a few hours of receiving their message. When agents don’t respond to their clients’ calls or emails for days on end or fail to provide them with a direct line of contact, their clients’ experience can quickly become frustrating.

Agents are busy but so are their clients. If you constantly show up late to or reschedule meetings, your clients won’t feel like their time is respected or their business is valued. Make sure you set a realistic schedule for yourself rather than spreading yourself too thin.

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Be Honest and Transparent

Sometimes you don’t have the answer to a client’s question. Be honest about your strengths, weaknesses, and the limits of your knowledge. A good response might be, “I don’t know, but I can find out.” Be transparent with your clients, and they’ll respect you for it.

You should always act in their best interest.

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Go the Extra Mile

If you do the bare minimum, that’s what your clients will remember. Their experience won’t be memorable, and they won’t gush about you in online testimonials or in real life to people they know who could use your services. It’s that simple.

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Put Yourself in Your Client’s Shoes

Clients understand that you need to earn money, but that doesn’t mean they want to feel like they’re just a dollar sign to you. Be empathetic to your client’s concerns, even if you’ve heard it all before. Your clients should know that you are there for them.

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Be Consistent

Being responsive, friendly, and knowledgeable shouldn’t be an act. If you “turn on” your personality for clients and then suddenly become a different person when they leave the room, it’s likely that the cracks in your mask will eventually become apparent.

But “faking it till you make it” is so common it’s become a cliché. When we are starting out, we don’t always have the systems or resources in place to create a smooth client journey, from onboarding to closing, so instead we constantly try to reinvent the wheel. Give yourself time to pause, slow down, and reevaluate your workflow. Creating systems creates

consistency, and those systems can and should be constantly updated.

Developing trust between you and your clients will take time, but doing these things can give you a running start.

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MARIBEL RAMOS

“I truly love helping my clients,” says Maribel Ramos, a top agent with Century 21 Mike Bowman, Inc. and working out of Dallas- Fort Worth in Texas. “I’m not as great as the listings I’ve sold, I’m as great as the people I’ve helped. It feels great being number one, but I rather put my ego aside and focus on making a difference in people’s lives by helping them achieve their real estate needs and goals. I think my clients see that I truly care about their interest and that’s the reason they repeatedly work with me.”

all about having someone come back to you to tell you how much they appreciate what you did for them.”

Servicing the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Maribel works with everyone who’s seriously interested in acquiring or liquidating assets; such as homebuilders, residential and commercial investors and first-time homebuyers. She has worked particularly with the Hispanic community;

Maribel first got started in real estate in 2016.

“I kind of started upside down,” she says. After several family medical crises and a lay-off from her previous career, Maribel found herself within sixty days of foreclosure. When she could not find help, she decided to get into real estate to save her own house. Along the way, she found a true passion for the industry, saying, “I wanted to help other people who were in the same situation.”

While she has gone on to be a top performer at Century 21, Maribel has not lost sight of what got her into the business in the first place. She always puts her clients first. While she has been the recipient of many notable awards and recognitions, Maribel is more interested in the impact she makes on her clients’ lives. “I look more at where I’ve made a difference,” she says. “It’s 40

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with Spanish as her first language, Maribel is uniquely positioned to help and educate this demographic with exploring their real estate options and making a difference in the community.

“A lot of them have the money for a house,” she explains, “but they don’t have the education about the market to do it. They haven’t worked on their credit, and so they don’t qualify as much as other people. It’s a little more work, but I’m making a difference to help them be able to sell, upgrade, or buy their first home.”

Her clients appreciate her dedication and attention to detail. Nearly all of Maribel’s business comes from repeat and referral clients. She stays in touch through notes, text messages, social media, and other ways. Laughing, Maribel says, “They don’t get rid of me after we close! I make sure they all hear from me often.”

When she isn’t working hard for her buyers and sellers, Maribel is a certified boxer. While she hasn’t entered an official fight, she loves the sport and can often be found at her local gym.

Looking to the future, Maribel is excited to continue expanding her business. She is particularly interested in moving into the commercial industry. Many of her contacts from her previous career are looking to invest, and she sees herself moving in that direction over the next 3-5 years. More than anything, Maribel looks forward to continuing to provide her clients with high-quality, genuine service.

“Real Estate is not just a business, it’s my life and my job is to make sure that all my clients receive the same treatment no matter how big or small the deal is,” Maribel says. “One of the best compliments I can receive from my past clients, friends, and family is a referral, because it shows me how appreciative they are about the work I’ve done for them. My past experiences have equipped me with the knowledge, experience and skills needed to find creative solutions to everyday challenges my clients face. I’m a very passionate gal, I’m with my clients every step of the way, and I genuinely love helping families achieve their goals. I’m here for the long run and ready to help one family at a time!”

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For more about Maribel Ramos, call 469-487-9393, email myrealestatezone1@gmail.com, or visit myrealestatezone.com www.

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How to Incorporate Current Events to Your Email Blasts and Stay Relevant Email marketing is a cost effective and straightforward method of getting your name and services in front of clients with just a few keystrokes. This tried-and-true approach to digital marketing is a favorite of many, and there are countless ways to customize (and maximize) your email blasts to reap superior results. Despite this, many real estate profes42

sionals are content to standardize their email advertising and take a broad, one-size-fits-all approach to capturing interest and leads. While an up-front sales pitch certainly has its uses and benefits, it doesn’t hurt to shake up your routine and refresh your email marketing approach by adding specifics that draw renewed interest from your audience.

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One way to accomplish this is by tying in current events and local happenings to your email blasts. After all, your sphere of influence likely receives countless marketing emails per day. To cut through the noise, sharpen your message with a few specifics that separate your communications from the pack. Not every email should be focused on closing a sale, or else your audience will learn to stop listening.

How do you build your brand, stay top of mind, and keep the lines of communication open with your clientele? Here are a few ideas to get you started.

against an old rival? Do they host themed fan days honoring veterans or catering to families? Tailoring your communications to a local sports franchise’s big news or next event can draw intrigue and provide added value for your clients. Remember, not every communication you send should be focused on pitching and closing a sale, otherwise your audience will tune out your emails altogether. Instead, incorporate fun, community-oriented content that lets readers know you’re a resource for much more than real estate.

Sports news makes a splash

Become a one-stop-shop for holiday fun and seasonal ideas.

People love to rally behind the home team.

Is a regional, local university, or professional sports team in your area headed to the playoffs or the championship? Are they facing off

From Mother’s Day to Thanksgiving, anyone can send an email wishing clients a happy holiday. While the sentiment is a good one, you’ll be one of dozens flooding inboxes with

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your well-wishes. Instead, go beyond the traditional greetings and good tidings and become a hyper-specific resource for clients. Create a gift guide for Mother’s Day, outline family-friendly local events occurring in your area around the holidays, or engage in a promotional partnership with a local business who’s offering a holiday special of their own. In other words, don’t settle for just saying hello during certain times of the year. Instead, up the value of your email blast by offering clients curated information that relates to their interests and area.

Doing so makes your emails a must-read, while demonstrating your ability to go the extra mile.

Pop culture serves as a fun and timely tie-in.

Is a new gaming app sweeping the nation? Have your social media feeds been flooded with the same viral video? Is everyone gossiping about the same TV show premiere? Pop culture tie-ins in your email marketing campaigns can be extremely effective, but in order to for

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them to work, you’ll need to move quickly and keep your focus on the phenomenon, rather than your service pitch. The goal behind pop culture marketing tie-ins is communicating the progressiveness and hip factor of your brand, while capturing timely, topical interest that’s at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be in on a running joke or trend, and if you leverage trending pop culture moments in your email marketing, you’ll be able to draw views and clicks from a wide audience.

Plenty of services offer standardized email marketing templates and content for today’s real estate professionals, and while the motivation behind marketing is transactional, your communications don’t have to be. The surest way to make an impact in your clients’ inboxes is to add original value and break apart from the pack. Consider updating some of your routines with these current events oriented techniques and your email audience is sure to take a second look.

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ELISABETH HAY With over a decade of experience in the financial world, Elisabeth Hay brings an extensive skill set to her real estate practice, where she is able to break down complex transactions for her clients and empower them with education. Before she entered real estate, Elisabeth started her own company that supported wealth-management firms.

“High-net-worth individuals would want to put their money into real estate,” Elisabeth says. “I learned more about the industry to support my clients, and I ended up falling in love with it. Soon, the real estate aspect of my business grew and grew. I made the switch because real estate appealed to so many of my passions and skills.”

Now a Realtor with Austin Portfolio Real Estate in Austin, Texas, Elisabeth is a fierce advocate on behalf of her clients. Serving metro Austin as well as large swaths of Texas Hill Country, Elisabeth works with a diverse clientele, including urban down-sizers and those in the luxury ranch market. With her versatile skill set, financial expertise, and her focus on education, Elisabeth offers her clients far more than the average Realtor. Along with her dedicated and professional support staff, Elisabeth emphasizes education not only for her clients, but for her administrators as well. “One of the central values on our team is education. We want to attract and foster a highly-educated group of people who can support clients through any and all situations, no matter how complex.”

tailors her campaigns to meet the unique needs of her clients and their properties.

“For luxury homes that include land, our marketing has a more technical aspect to it,” Elisabeth says. “For those listings, we’ll include educational copy along with beautiful images.” A notable producer in her firm, Elisabeth completes around $30 million in sales per year across fifty transactions.

An active philanthropist, Elisabeth donates to both national organizations, such as St. Jude’s, and to more local organizations and sports teams in the small communities she serves. When she is not busy working on behalf of her clients, you can find Elisabeth and her family enjoying the outdoors, fishing, or racing horses. She is the mother of four-year-old twins, who keep her and husband happy and busy.

Elisabeth has big plans for the future, including opening an office in Johnson City, a community in a part of Texas with a burgeoning wine and hospitality industry. When she considers her impressive success, she credits her work ethic and positive attitude. “I believe it’s important to stay humble, to show up every day working with the same enthusiasm as I had on my first deal, and to do everything I can to help the client get the best result,” Elisabeth says. “Deals of every size are important to me.

Fostering strong client relationships brings about way more success than focusing only on the bottom line.”

As a luxury ranch owner and a resident of Austin, Elisabeth understands the needs of her clientele, offering creative solutions and a low-stress experience. With her capable team, she works alongside a real estate attorney, a title professional, and an array of marketing partners, making Elisabeth ready to take on any real estate dilemma and to help her clients achieve their goals.

To market her listings, Elisabeth uses every tool at her disposal to provide her clients with broad visibility and targeted advertising. Elisabeth understands that a onesize-fits-all model for marketing is ineffective, and she Top Agent Magazine

To find out more about Elisabeth Hay, call 512-658-1873, email e.hay@kw.com, or visit ElisabethHay.com www.

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JENNIFER DONS “My goal really is to just make wishes come true,” Jennifer Dons explains, while discussing her career in real estate. With a passion for helping others and a love of homes, Jennifer decided to enter this industry about six years ago. “I saw it as an opportunity to serve, which is something I really enjoy doing, and I just love the concept of home and hospitality.” By putting her clients first and working hard to achieve their goals, Jennifer has flourished as an agent in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. The vast majority of her business derives from repeat clients and referrals, a testament to her superior communication skills and dedication to providing a stress-free journey.

“I think people continue coming back to me because I try to make it an experience for them,” Jennifer says. “That’s been a big part of my process. I make it a dream experience for them, one that is memorable and that they would want to brag about to their friends and family.” One way she does this is by getting to know them on a deeper level, so she can understand exactly what they need. “I get to the heart of what their desire is and then I offer solutions.” Throughout the transaction, Jennifer practices gratitude and thinks of each client as a long-term connection. This includes providing guidance and support at every step, leaving no questions unanswered. For her sellers, she goes above and beyond with marketing, making sure each listing is going out to as many people as possible. “We use professional photography, 3D tours, virtual open houses, and more. I also network with the community, advertise my listings on social media and create custom landing pages for every property.”

After the transaction is complete, Jennifer’s buyers and sellers don’t hesitate to spread the word about her work. One recently said, “Jennifer Dons’ knowledge of the real estate world is vast. She was straight forward with her concerns and helpful when it came 46

to listing my house on the market. She was professional but personable and made me feel at ease from the moment I met her.

She was always reachable and returned all my texts and phone calls almost immediately. I had lots of questions about the selling/buying process and felt at ease asking ‘silly’ questions. Jennifer Dons will be there through thick and think to help in all ways possible. I would highly recommend her as an agent if you want to buy new or sell your existing property.”

When Jennifer isn’t working, she’s staying active in the local Chamber of Commerce, participating in bible study, traveling, or spending quality time with her family.

Jennifer has also been planning to build a team and branching out to different areas. In the meantime, she’s soaking up every minute of her current path, and is truly loving it all. “Seeing the process from start to finish, and witnessing the joy that comes with homeownership, that’s why I do what I do.”

For more information about Jennifer Dons, please call 817-705-6725 or email aggiejend@kw.com Top Agent Magazine

3 Ways to Make Your Workspace Work for You Productivity experts agree that a curated workspace positively impacts productivity and mood, but oftentimes we settle for bland desks and cubicles that lack personalized details or considerations for workflow. Why miss out on the opportunity to optimize your surroundings when it could brighten your day—and boost your performance? Keep in mind some of these tactics to make your workspace your own and reap the benefits along the way.

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DETERMINE YOUR WORKING STYLE AND DECORATE ACCORDINGLY For the creative set, a colorful and art-filled workspace can inspire fresh ideas and reduce stress. Likewise, casual yet aesthetically pleasing furniture, accessories, and décor set an inviting yet functional mood. A pop of color from an office tool—even something as basic as a stapler—can inject a sense of fun and modernism into your daily tasks. For the more analytical, right-brained worker, clean

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lines and zero clutter go a long way. A few well-chosen personal photos in tasteful, unassuming frames can provide a motivating connection to the world beyond the office, while accessories and supplies that are sleek, monochrome, and contemporary inspire a sense of calm efficiency.

BUILD A WORKSPACE WITH YOUR DAILY ROUTINE IN MIND If you find yourself spending hours on the phone per day, or assembling stacks of documents and brochures, or even coming and going from the office with frequency—there are simple adjustments you can make to your workspace that will save you time and energy. If you sit for long hours—responding to e-mails or making calls—try incorporating an ergonomic chair or keyboard wrist-pad to maximize comfort. If you spend a long time assembling presentation materials, then file organizers, trays, and easy-to-pull labels can shave valuable time off your efforts. Lastly, those who step out for frequent meetings can reduce the hassle of being on-the-go by making your space mindfully organized—a coatrack and a dish for your keys by the door, an auto-brew coffeemaker, or an easily edited whiteboard calendar can make jet-setting simpler.

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ADD EASY DETAILS THAT ENRICH YOUR WORKING EXPERIENCE While organization and décor can rally productivity and mood, there are also a few extra details you can introduce to your workspace to improve the quality of your working life.

Healthy, easy to grab-and-go snacks—think nuts, homemade trail mix, and fresh fruit— can keep your energy up without the sugar crush or guilt. If there’s a window nearby, a hard-to-kill plant like a philodendron or a fern not only cleanse the air around you, but also provide a welcome connection to the natural world. Being prepared in a pinch is another great way to make your workspace work for you: a spare tie, a tube of lip balm, hand sanitizer, or a box of Band-Aids can save you a trip to the store when an unexpected need arises.

While we take great pains to make our homes our sanctuaries—complete with the decorations, furniture, and food we favor—we often overlook our work areas, even though we spend a sizable portion of our week sitting at the same desk. Challenge yourself to add a few of these personalizing, productivity-boosting details to your work area and bring the comfort of home to your working life.

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JORDAN DAVIS Jordan Davis received her Real Estate license in 2013 and now leads a team of 17 agents known as The Davis Team with Keller Williams Realty, serving the entire DallasFort Worth Metroplex from their main office in Arlington, Texas. “Our mission is helping others build wealth through buying, selling, or investing in real estate. I personally love helping my partners and clients grow and enrich their lives.” Jordan works with 40 select clients annually, as well as mentoring the agents on her team. In 2020, The Davis Team closed 210 transactions for a sales volume of $60 million, and are on pace in 2021 to close 270 deals for $80 million.

The team’s attention to detail, an unrivaled customer service ethic, and a commitment to solving customer’s needs in this highly competitive market keeps clients coming back. “One thing that sets us apart is our inside sales agent, Valencia, who takes incoming sign calls or buyer inquiries and helps us situate them in the best way possible. If a buyer is interested in a certain neighborhood, she calls and sets up a prospect of that neighborhood to try and find someone looking to sell.”

Additionally, the team specializes in open houses, with each agent doing two to three open houses on any given week. “According to the National Association of Realtors in 2018, only six percent of buyers said they found their home when they went to an open house, so many Realtors will tell a seller that open houses don’t sell a home. However, we know that fifteen percent of our listings sell from open houses, so we have invested substantially in them, which has resulted in netting our sellers more money.”

Jordan’s team utilizes a strategic marketing plan that begins with professional staging, followed by professional photography of each property, which goes out to the MLS, social media, and hundreds of other websites.

They list properties on Thursday in order to Top Agent Magazine

hold open houses from Friday through the weekend. “We have two in-house lenders, so we include a teaser for available special financing, and are generally able to offer an average savings of around $5000 on a home loan.” The Davis Team regularly provides market reports to past clients alerting them to recent home sales near them. They also send relevant homeownership information once a month, along with recommendations for fun things to do in the metroplex.

Jordan views herself and her team as an integral part of the community, working hard to support local businesses by crosspromoting with them, giving back to clients through quarterly giveaways, and hosting regular client events just to stay connected. She misses no opportunity to help them increase the equity of their investments. “We try to empower people to achieve the financial freedom by making sound real estate and financial decisions for their legacy,” Jordan explains. “I’m crazy passionate about that.”

In 2020, The Davis Team partnered with Ben Kinney & Chris Suarez, who own PLACE to better serve their customers with the best technology and resources in the industry. Equally, PLACE gives abundant opportunities to agent partners, like health benefits, coaching, training, technology, leads, investments, and more.

Contact The Davis Team at 817-755-0504 www.realtor.ca/agent/1671979/stacey-campbell-15-scurfield-boulevard-winnipeg-manitoba-r3y1g3 or email move@yourdavisteam.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 49

KATHY MASSEY Kathy Massey worked as a teacher for 23 years before deciding on a career change.

“Ever since I can remember I’ve always had a passion for working with people.

And although I enjoyed my teaching years, I had several friends in the real estate business who would frequently tell me that I’d make a good agent,” she explains. Kathy decided to take their advice and obtained her license in 2008.

She currently works at NextHome BCS brokerage and serves clients throughout Brazos Valley.

With 13 years in the business, Kathy’s knowledge and experience are invaluable tools for her clients. “I’m very passionate about helping my clients, and I think they can sense that. We always develop a friendship and stay in touch long after the transaction is over. On a more basic level—and this may sound simple but it’s important—one thing my clients always tell me is that I listen to them and I answer the phone when they call,” she explains.

Her prior experience as a teacher has instilled in Kathy a natural penchant for organization and the ability to communicate with ease. “You have to be organized to be successful as a teacher, and I’ve definitely transferred those skills over into my real estate work. You also need to stay up to date on current real estate market trends so that you can provide your clients with the best information and set them up for success,” she says.

Last year Kathy closed over 50 transactions for $15,000,000 in sales volume. She was also honored to receive The Presidents Circle Award from her brokerage. “I’m very grateful for all of my success, but my favorite part of my job isn’t the money or the accolades, it’s getting to meet new people, building long-term relationships, and being able to help them 50

during this important time of their life,” she says.

Outside of work Kathy is involved in the Bryan-College Station Regional Association of REALTORS® and has served as the 2020 Association President.

She also volunteers in various organizations throughout her community. When she’s not working or giving back her time, she loves to enjoy nature and spend time outdoors fishing. “I do a bit of saltwater fishing as well as lake fishing.” She spends the rest of her time with family and friends. “I have a son graduating from high school, and another son getting married in November, so it’s going to be a very busy but fun year,” she says.

In the future Kathy wants to continue providing her clients with high-quality service and educating them throughout the real estate process so they feel confident in their decisions and happy with the outcome. “My business is growing fast so I can see myself having my own team very soon in order to keep up with the demand and still be able to give my clients the type of premium white glove service that they deserve.”

To learn more about Kathy Massey email kathymassey.realtor@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/Kathy-Massey-Realtor-NextHome-Reality-Solutions-BCS-872631963069123/ www.realtor.ca/agent/1671979/stacey-campbell-15-scurfield-boulevard-winnipeg-manitoba-r3y1g3 call (979) 777–3399 or visit her website here Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

5 Tips to Make New Hires

a Long-lasting Success Bringing a new employee into the mix is process commonly known as onboarding. The idea behind onboarding is to make the transition from new hire to team member as efficient and pain-free as possible. However, polling shows that some 31% of entry-level and intermediate level hires leave their new posts within just six months of starting. The question is: why?

The hiring and training process is time-intensive and doesn’t come cheap. This means that makTop Agent Magazine

ing a good match for the long haul requires more than just assessments of skill and personality. To ensure a talented new hire sticks around and is truly positioned for success, the onboarding process must be executed with the same care applied during hiring. For a few ideas on how to make the most of the onboarding process, consider the tenets below as you guide your new hire toward long-lasting success within your company.

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1. Be honest about the scope of the role Let’s say you’re looking to add a new buyers agent or loan processor to your team. You write up the position’s responsibilities, but neglect to mention that you want the new hire to handle a host of administrative tasks, as well. Maybe it doesn’t seem important enough to outline in detail, as it’s the sort of thing the rest of your does. Miscommunications like these are a leading reason why new hires leave their roles.

If there isn’t clarity and transparency about a position’s true responsibilities, then new hires may become quickly disillusioned and seek out greener pastures.

2. Build in some perks While stocking the breakroom with bagels every Friday may seem like a small gesture, it’s often those little morale-boosting moves that build loyalty and comradery among the team. Bike-to-work incentives, subsidized gym memberships, and benefits that match the needs of your employees—all are ways to demonstrate appreciation and investment in your team.

Likewise, the right candidate will return the favor and invest his or her energies into their new role.

3. Get a sense of big-picture career plans Another reason new hires move on may have nothing to do with you or your office. In fact, many hires in entry-level or even intermediate roles have doubts about their long-term vision.

That’s why it’s important to be upfront from the beginning regarding a candidate’s five-year plan and ultimate dream job. Maintain realistic 52

expectations when asking these questions, but use it as an opportunity to gage a candidate’s seriousness about the real estate or mortgage industry. Why this line of work over another?

Emphasizing industry longevity and career growth during the interview process can save you drama down the road.

4. Keep the lines of communication open Take a proactive approach in communicating with your new hire. Take time to check in regularly during the first six months of his or her addition. If you can, make time to train new hires yourself—if only for a part of the onboarding process. You’ll forge a deeper professional bond and create an avenue for further questions. All in all, make it clear that you’re personally invested in their presence and talents, and that you care what they have to say. That way, if any issues or doubts arise, you can stay on top of it and work out a solution, rather than lose a new employee.

5. Give new hires meaningful work to do It’s natural to keep the kid-gloves on with new hires, but don’t let that stop you from giving them a chance to shine. New team members will feel empowered and motivated if given meaningful projects to focus on. Don’t relegate their daily duties to busy work as they build experience. Instead, task new teammates with something challenging, or that draws on a specific skill you hired them for. You’ll instill confidence, demonstrate your commitment to their growth, and with any luck—keep them around for the long haul.

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LORI JONES When Lori Jones first began dabbling in real estate, it was mostly for fun. She was a stay-at-home mom at the time looking for something that would be beneficial for her family but also didn’t have the stringent restraints of a 9 to 5 career. She quickly discovered that as an agent she could have control over her schedule and continue to be present for her family and have the ability to help people actualize their real estate goals. She started The Lori Jones Team – brokered by Keller Williams Realty – about 10 years ago, with her husband and a transaction coordinator. Together they serve clients throughout Texas.

Committed not only to providing her clients with the best transaction experience, but also educating them throughout the entire process, Lori always remains up to date on new market insight. With a high rate of repeat and referral clients, it’s her dedication, knowledge, experience, and communication skills that make buyers and sellers inclined to work with her again.

“The majority of my clients become my friends, and I always treat them like I would treat my family during the transaction process,” she explains. Clients can also count on her personal touches. “If I’m in their neighborhood, I’ll often drop by and leave a little gift. I like to make it more personal than just sending out an email whenever possible. I think it’s that type of attention, paired with excellent results, that earns your clients’ trust,” she says.

Although Lori has plenty of marketing techniques she likes to utilize when necessary, for the most part, the hot Texas market tends to do the job for her. “We like to go above and beyond for our clients, and that includes elite marketing with professional photography and videography. But to be honest, in Texas, especially right now, everything is selling really quickly and above the asking price. So, there is no need for open houses or intricate marketing plans most of the time,” she says.

Thanks to the busy market and her diligent approach Top Agent Magazine

to work, Lori completes an average of 40 transactions per year.

When she’s not busy, Lori likes to give back to her community through volunteer work. She is involved with PTA at her son’s school and volunteers at her church. She is also a part of the Keller Williams Agent Leadership Council. Although she doesn’t have a lot of free time, in the event of a few days off she likes to spend it traveling to new places with her family.

Going forward Lori wants to continue fulfilling her passion of helping buyers and sellers make their real estate dreams a reality. She is focused on the growth of her business and is looking to add more members to the team. “I would like to add another agent to our group so that we can continue to grow and provide clients with the highest quality of service.”

To learn more about Lori Jones, email lorijonesrealtor@gmail.com, visit LoriJonesTeam.com, or call (214) 601–6639. www.

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MATT GRUETZNER In his first full year as a Realtor® in Central Texas, Matt Gruetzner has leveraged his experience working in the oil field and growing up on a swath of land to build an impressive career as a land agent from the ground up. He got licensed as an agent in April of 2020, and since joining the Mock Ranches group within Keller Williams, a group that was recognized as the 2018 National Land Broker of the Year, he’s been hard at work helping buyers and sellers accomplish their goals with land and building a client base in the Austin area. As someone whose familiarity with working land goes back to his childhood, Matt is the perfect choice for someone struggling to make an informed decision when dealing in land.

Matt has an affinity for the natural world and is wellversed in what’s required to provide upkeep for a piece of land in the region, he knows what the soil and vegetation should look like on a piece of land in the area, and he has his finger on the pulse of local market trends. “I love being out on the properties and really getting hands-on with the land,” Matt says. “Being in the office is part of what I do, sure, but I really find a lot of joy in driving out and checking out these pieces of land firsthand.” Matt loves touring properties with clients and showing them the lifestyle, and his enthusiasm is infectious. “My favorite part of my job is making a dream come true for my buyers.”

While working with buyers, Matt likes to keep his clients informed. He is forthright in the way he delivers information to his clients and transparent in the advice he gives to his buyers. Matt doesn’t ever want to lead a client astray, and is quick to point out both the risks and benefits associated with a piece of land. He is able to teach clients how to upkeep the land properly, and make the investment profitable in the long run. “I know that initial cost can be expensive, but I try to make clients feel confident that they can make it happen, and it will be worth it in the end,” Matt says.

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Matt puts a great deal of effort into the presentation of his listings, and his strategy has proven effective as most of his ranches sell before they even hit the market. He takes photos and videos throughout the property, then posts them on social media where they reach a wide audience of Texas residents.

In his free time, Matt spends most of his time exploring the outdoors with his son.

His schedule is hectic, and he shows a lot of appreciation for his wife for standing by and supporting him through all of it. Matt is also heavily involved with his local community – he donates to several local organizations, sponsors golf tournaments and clay shoots, and helps organize livestock shows as a way to give back to the people who keep him in business. Matt has had an incredible first year, and he hopes to expand his business even further in the years to come. If you’re looking for an agent who truly cares about the land he deals in and the people he works with, look no further than Matt Gruetzner.

For more about Matt Gruetzner, please call (512) 581-2042, email matt.g@kw.com or visit mockranches.com www.

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4 Qualities of Exceptional Employees Hiring a new employee is one of the more stressful parts of being a business owner. After all, you’re taking someone on and trusting that they’ll not only be a valuable addition to the team, but won’t do anything to hurt your business’s hard earned reputation.

Sometimes a person comes in and you click right away, and other times you might be blown away by an impressive resume. But there are things you should look for that might not be as obvious at first. Employees that have the following qualities are ones you should seek out, because they will definitely be well worth the time and energy you invest in them.

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1. They have the confidence to be innovative There’s a reason people are drawn to those who think outside the box. Not only do innovations often lead to an extremely profitable business, even when that thinking doesn’t pan out, creative thinking is something that will energize your business and will motivate more employees to start taking chances.

Innovative thinkers also usually have great leadership skills. Ironically, you want an employee who isn’t afraid to speak up to authority and is someone who knows how to bend the rules without breaking them. They know that

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the success of the team and business is what’s most important, as long as it’s done ethically and with respect for everyone involved.

2. They are constantly reviewing their past performance A good employee looks forward, but they also look back. They are always evaluating what worked and what didn’t work in past performances and then adjusting their plans going forward accordingly. If they are coming off a big win, they know how to capitalize on that by using the momentum and cementing in everyone’s minds the value that they add to the team.

If things didn’t go as planned, they assess what they can do better next time, and they don’t get bogged down in insecurity. They take responsibility and they have confidence that they won’t repeat past mistakes. They know that failure is a temporary state, and are able to learn lessons from their mistakes, that will make them a better employee going forward.

While no one wants to fail, having the confidence to try something and fail will one day let you strike gold. Someone who lets failure shut them down, leads to a dead end and will soon make them a dead weight on your team.

3. They value teamwork Even though an exceptional employee might be a rising star, they realize that success is 56

not an individual endeavor, it relies strongly on who you’re working with. Exceptional employees make sure that everyone is contributing and valued for their input. They put the interests of the company above their own, and thrive in an environment where ideas and information are shared freely.

Shared success is the ultimate goal for every project. Exceptional employees have the confidence to know that even when they’re not singled out for praise, they’re an irreplaceable component of a larger machine.

4. They are self-motivated learners A key thing to remember is that while experience is a valuable commodity, intelligence and intellectual curiosity is usually something that can’t be taught. Yes, you might request employees get additional training or attend seminars, but exceptional employees will be seeking out educational opportunities constantly. Even if they don’t have a lot of money for weekend retreats, they will be getting books from the library, downloading audiobooks, and most importantly, taking advantage of one their greatest resources, YOU. Exceptional employees know that the way to stay ahead is to always be at the forefront of new technology and systems. They don’t see educating themselves as a burden, they actually enjoy it. They realize that everything they take in, will one day make them not only an exceptional employee, but an exceptional boss as well.

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PATTY MONTEZA Patty Monteza began her real estate career at the urging of a friend who had gotten her own license and told Patty she was made for real estate. “I never thought about doing real estate, but my friend saw something in me that I didn’t see,” Patty recalls. “It was the people. She said, ‘You’re a people person.

You love people. Everywhere you go, you know somebody. This is so right for you!”

Patty stated “I started as a Dual-Career agent, and having the right support from not only my family, but also my job that I had respected my real estate license, and always helped me get the word out about me. We all need to surround ourselves with support so we can make it, and I am grateful that after 1 year, I was able to go down to part-time at my full-time job, then 8 months later, I went all in to Real Estate and have been since.” In the end, Patty decided to take the leap and got her real estate license in December 2014 and by August 2016, she was full time into Real Estate and has been there since.

Patty serves San Antonio and the surrounding areas.

“I’ve lived here my whole life, so I know San Antonio very well,” Patty says. Patty’s family is from Peru and she is bilingual, speaking business Spanish, which allows her to serve the local Hispanic community.

About 95% of Patty’s business comes from repeat and referral clients, an impressive feat that speaks to the trust and confidence she inspires. “Clients keep coming back because I care,” Patty explains. “After the transaction is done, I keep in touch with everybody. People know that they can call me to ask about anything, whether or not they end up working with me. I will always call them back and talk to them just to help, without any expectations.”

When it comes to marketing her listings, Patty makes extensive use of social media to ensure maximum exposure. Through Keller Williams, she has a profile on Circlepix, a real estate marketing network. “All of my listings automatically go on that platform, which then automatically posts those listings onto my social media, Top Agent Magazine

as well as the social media of other agents in the office,” Patty says. That’s in addition to marketing on platforms such as Zillow, as well as word of mouth.

Community involvement is important to Patty. She is an active member of Impact San Antonio, a women’s nonprofit that helps other nonprofits in the community by awarding grants. Patty also participates in the annual Keller Williams Red Day, and she volunteers or donates to local organizations including ChildSafe, the Helotes Humane Society, the Boerne Coalition, and Habitat for Humanity.

In the near future, Patty says, “I want to grow my team so I have the right support to help everybody I want to help without spreading myself too thin, so I can keep some time for my family life. I also plan to continue building my portfolio on the investment side.”

Above all, Patty says, “I love helping people reach their goals, whatever those goals are. Especially when somebody is buying their first house, it feels so good to be part of that at the very end. I look at the big picture.

Everybody needs a place to live, and everybody has a goal. I love helping people on their journey, and knowing that I helped them get to the next stage of their life feels amazing.”

For more about Patty Monteza, call 210-865-4442, visit montezarealestate.com or email ap_monteza@kw.com www.

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TRICIA TURNER “We have service beyond anything anyone else does,” says Tricia Turner, CEO of the Tricia Turner Group with eXp Realty in Texas. “We have people who tell us all the time that nobody else offers what we do.

We want our clients to be here with us for their lifetime. We’ve got our own cleaning crew, our own moving trucks, and our own staging company. We’re a one-stop shop, much like Amazon.”

Tricia first got started in real estate in 1992. After spending a couple of years in college, she realized that her current path wasn’t a good fit. Her father, who was involved in commercial real estate, suggested that the real estate industry might be a good fit. As Tricia had previously worked as a leasing agent in an apartment complex, she decided to attend real estate school and see if she liked it. “It definitely stuck!” she says, laughing.

Tricia started out as a solo agent. In January 2017, she earned her broker’s license and opened her own brokerage. In October 2018, she switched that brokerage over to her current branch of eXp. She is currently hard at work expanding her team to help as many clients as possible. Tricia says, “We’re growing like crazy.”

every day and love what I do. I don’t want anyone to have to struggle the way I did. I love helping others.”

When she isn’t working hard for her clients and team, Tricia is deeply involved in her community. She serves as an ambassador for the Child Advocates of Fort Bend.

Additionally, she is a member of the Brazos River Rotary Club and sits on the board of the Texana Advisory Board. Tricia is an active member of Lakewood Church, and her company hosts a variety of community events.

Outside of work, you can usually find Tricia with her family on Lake Livingston, on the beach, or at the pool. They love kicking back, relaxing, and spending quality time together.

Looking to the future, Tricia is excited to continue growing her business. They are currently on track to complete $100 million in sales in 2021, and the Tricia Turner Group is currently looking for a building or a place to host their growing team. “We’re here to make a difference. We’re not going to go away,” Tricia says.

“We want to be the real estate resource for our clients and their families for years to come.”

Tricia Turner’s group is based out of West Houston.

They cover the entire greater Houston area and beyond.

But with so many agents on her team, Tricia can go wherever her clients want to be. She has completed deals and has agents working in communities as far as Magnolia, Sugarland, Galveston, and even Austin.

Mentoring up-and-coming agents is Tricia’s favorite part of her chosen profession. “The real estate industry is a hard career path, but you can be super successful,” she says. Like most agents, Tricia struggled to get her footing as a new agent working solo. She didn’t have someone who reached out to help her. She explains, “That was years ago now. I’ve hustled and worked hard for years to achieve what I have. I get to get up 58

To learn more about Tricia Turner, call 832-563-0916, email tricia@triciaturnerproperties.com or visit triciaturner.work www.

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