TEXAS 8-29-22

TEXAS EDITION

MAKE SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING YOUR CALLING CARD

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WAYS TO GET YOUR CLIENT TO TRUST YOU COVER STORY

ROLAND CASTILLO

FEATURED AGENTS

TAMATHA MAYFIELD WALE LAWAL THALINA GARCIA

THINKING OF LISTING? NINE WAYS TO GET READY

TEXAS EDITION

WALE LAWAL

TAMATHA MAYFIELD

top-producing and multield is 7 aleal at aestate agent serving stings metropolitan markets of clients and Austin. Described in sFeature real article as “one of think and knowledgeable indin are uston ,” she Real Estate market,” dmakto providing an exceprience elieve for those looking to ems.

TAMATHA MAYFIELD st in Isingle-family homes eroperties with my clients volunteers across Texas.

and saved multi-million dollar transactions.

“I’m them money and time.

11 15 23 super stoked about that,” she says. “Along with all the things that I have inWale my pipestays in touch with clients via hosting line, referrals are more common.”

While face-to-face local events, virtual events, those high-end properties took Tamatha to CRM campaigns, and reaching out every Houston’s posh Galleria area, she serves other week. He notes how he makes it a most of her clients from her base in the point to touch base with past clients at least city’s northern and western suburbs.

once each month. His team markets current across EXP Realty platforms, social The Texas native is making anlistings impact in her local community. regularly ROLAND WALE LAWAL Tamatha ROLAND CASTILLO THALINA GARCIA media, and the Bigger Pockets Podcast, utiwith her church at SacrificeCASTILLO Ministries. lizing professional photography and an imevels to let them With a past as a social worker, the plight of at-risk mersive property write-up. Occasionally, d, I have a family children weighs heavily on her. “I still have a heart for hethat hasresonates a chemicalfoster engineering backWale willto also host open houses as needed. ink kids,” Tamatha says. She looks get involved and gas where he worked as or organizations that aid in pfront and industry, honest with children’s charities ct engineer majority of his ca- cases.

In CONTENTS just two years, Wale’s personal real estate portfolio have to offer.” for theChild Protective Services properties surrounding us entrepreneurial mindset led him to is astounding. He reported 66 transactions in 2021, at egan with a relaTamatha sees nothing but growth her promising fusue license wh of other fields, eventually gravitating in13) sales volume.SOCIAL This her year own he is projected 4) COOPERATION, NOT 12.6inmillion MAKE d her move from ture. She will expand by forging new relationships and state industry.

He says how buying his to more than double theMARKETING amount, 25 million.

COMPETITION, CREATES MEDIA and atenroll in aWhen property e to experience a deepening existing ones. Becoming a full-time real esrty motivated him to make the profesasked what he enjoys about the field, he says, “I love MUTUAL SUCCESS YOUR CALLING CARD ve. Understanding tate coach may be in the cards. “I really enjoy helping a local appraisal comp begin pursuing estate full-time in“andhelping create FOR real AGENTS ntive, professionother people,” she says, I feel like people that would be a wealth through real estate.” His trence overintwo the industry, dedication by a desire to people make a realyears es- in passion of mine toWale help new agents becauseiswedriven all start 21) THINKING OFhelprunning ground and de to9) pursomewhere.

It’s not easy if you don’t have the support. ed Tamatha his mark in 6the versatile real estate smart decisions.

He adds, “Buying real estate will WAYS TO GET LISTING? NINE WAYS with a family friend. wanted to be like I think me passing that on would be a be huge fulfillment His passion for investment and devoalways a win.”

YOUR CLIENT TO GET READY estate has allowed my life and in my career.” has resulted inTRUST anin education-forward herself seeking a new TO YOU hy skills, passions newfound career, “I enjoy teaching Wale’s expansive network of real estate investors and e solid career. She her outgoing personali uild wealth.” potential investors is quickly growing because he is an helping people, soBased out of Houston, mancial of seven serve ON-FIRE Real Estate Agent. ers, He hosts a forum and has her which inspired decision of the cities of Houston, 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 matha relishes Phone the as. been featured on the Bigger Pockets Podcast and cited full-time agent in 2018 ople while having Finance as “a massive influence on the real mag@topagentmagazine.comin| Yahoo! www.topagentmagazine.com aAgentnetwork nal strategy includes estate in the One ofMagazine Wale’s of No portion of prioritizing this issue may be qualireproduced in any mannerindustry whatsoever without priorHouston consent establish of theArea.” publisher. Top publishedseeking

by Feature investment Publications GA, Inc. Although takendevotion to ensure theto accuracy of published materials, focusing on isclients tokenprecautions traits isarehis educating new realTop estate that spans the region. al estate in Texas, Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. n,r and new construction.

He shares how and agents, frequently conducting face-toTo subscribe or change address, send inquiry toinvestors mag@topagentmagazine.com. first transaction Published in the U.S. nsultations face and virtual coaching meetings. xury condo of and the mentorship to all his on the listing after g them to navigate the ever-changing Today, Thalina is a R To learn more about Tamatha Mayfield, everal other expeent. His win-win mentalityvisit andtamathamayfield.com, client Wale shares that his plan for the future includes ensur2 a couTop Agent Magazine ld it within and Company Properti recedence in all negotiations, leaving ing that his team is running smoothly, with a personal email tam@tamathamayfield.com s already brought or call fied every time. As a top negotiator, he713.449.8995 goal for consistent sales volume each month.

He intends Estate, where she lead www.

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

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Cooperation, Not Competition, Creates

Mutual Success for Agents When people get along during a business transaction, everyone comes out happier. And in a service industry like real estate, agents have the power deliver that happiness. By working cooperatively, sharing advice and helping each other help clients, agents not only enhance their own reputations, but that of real estate in general.

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“Bring everyone together” Matt Kobelski, with Credentials Real Estate Group in Massachusetts, points out that providing good service involves more people than the party you’re representing. “I’m not afraid to bring together all the parties in a deal and say, ‘OK, let’s figure out a solution that works best

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Teaming up with an agent from a different brokerage on a transaction is not as uncommon or complicated as it might seem

for everyone,” he explains. “My goal is to avoid being adversarial.” Real estate, he believes, should always be a field in which each person can win. “It’s about working toward a mutual goal, shaking hands, and walking away happy that a seller sold, a buyer bought and everyone got what they wanted.”

But Is it that simple? Most agents have experienced the ways conflicting personalities and tension during a transaction can heat up even the most cordial relations. In reality, however, it’s more productive to let down your guard and work with others as a team than it is to allow stress and competition to preside. South Florida REALTOR® and broker associate, Risë V. Siegrist, for instance, has zero interest in competing with other agents. “It’s more important to be professional and associate with competent, caring people,” she says. By serving others with a cooperative spirit, experienced agents like Risë set an excellent example for emerging real estate stars. Risë hopes to be a model for the next generation of agents, training people who may one day become part of her team.

Risë’s position on cooperation inspires more reasons for nurturing relationships with other agents. Over the decades, many agents change brokerages several times. Who knows if that agent across the table will one day work at the Top Agent Magazine

same brokerage you do? Perhaps you’ll even have an opportunity to partner on an exciting, future transaction. Good relations keep doors open to endless possibilities.

Co-listing cooperation Teaming up with an agent from a different brokerage on a transaction is not as uncommon or complicated as it might seem. In fact, some agents cleverly capitalize on their collective attributes, rather than competing against one another. South Carolina REALTOR® Kimberly Pannit is a perfect example of the universal benefits of co-listings. Although she has always been an independent agent, Kimberly works hard to form professional alliances that give her business the feel of a cooperative network across brokerages.

This cooperative approach may be nontraditional, but it benefits clients in unique ways. By working closely with agents at other brokerages, she shows how agents can improve client service while helping one another.

Kimberly’s cooperative approach began in her own neighborhood, where an agent friend from a different brokerage also lives. “Several years ago, I approached her because both of us were friends with our neighbors. I asked, ‘Why don’t we give our neighbors superior service and

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co-list together? We both love our area and are passionate about our jobs, the location and schools.’” She also didn’t want to make their mutual friends choose between them when they could work together. “I said, ‘Let’s give them amazing service together!’” With their brokers’ permission, two weeks later the agents co-listed their first home and put extra energy into ensuring uninterrupted client service.

Networking and “Co-opertition” When the ultimate goal is to match a client with the perfect home or create optimal terms of sale for a listings, networking with other agents can facilitate that ideal buyer-seller match.

Nashville REALTOR® and broker/owner Lisa Land embraced every opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the real estate industry and to her local market, even before building her own team. “Agents would frequently ask me for help or advice,” she says, noting that she shares, rather than guarding, the methods she uses to get through difficult or confusing transactions. “I was fortunate to have great mentors when I started in real estate, so I’m always

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willing to offer help, even to agents outside of The Luxe Collective.”

Meanwhile, on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Janet Leigh Scott describes the climate between agents as relaxed and professional. “While the real estate market is highly competitive, we’re truly a ‘co-opertition’ market; agents work together and a have greater sense of community than you might experience in off-island brokerages,” Janet says. “If I have buyer coming into town, I’ll reach out to agents I’ve done transactions with to ask if they have anything coming up that might not be on the market yet.”

Even in hot, competitive L.A. real estate, independent agents such as Andrej Nagy of The Agency RE knows the importance of receiving and providing professional mentorship.

“My relationships with clients are extremely important,” he says. “But my relationships with agents on the other side of a deal are also important.” For REALTORS® like him, working smoothly with other agents is a privilege.

Doing so builds rewarding relationships while ensuring win-win transactions for everyone at the closing table.

Top Agent Magazine ®

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TAMATHA MAYFIELD Houston-area agent Tamatha Mayfield is building relationships one home deal at a time. Market fluctuations and hot listings will come and go. With Tamatha, clients get an agent who not only knows real estate but also understands people.” I think relationships and communication are extremely important in my business,” she says. “A lot of the agents are barely making it or struggling in this market. I believe they’re missing out on these key items. I build relationships and communicate with my clients on both personal and professional levels to let them know that I am human. I work hard, I have a family and I live a life just like they do. I think that resonates and helps connect us. I’m really upfront and honest about who I am and what it is that I have to offer.”

Tamatha’s journey into real estate began with a relationship with the agent who helped her move from Europe to Connecticut. She was able to experience a transaction from a client’s perspective. Understanding the difference between having an attentive, professional Realtor® can make a world of difference in a real estate transaction. The agent motivated Tamatha to pursue a career in real estate. “I kind of wanted to be like her in the business.” Practicing real estate has allowed Tamatha to integrate her photography skills, passions for travel and helping people into one solid career. She says, “One of my biggest passion is helping people, so why not do that with their biggest financial decision of all?” As a former social worker, Tamatha relishes the continuous chances to meet new people while having flexibility to spend time with family.

With less than one year of selling real estate in Texas, Tamatha is off to a roaring start. Her first transaction was a million-dollar deal with a luxury condo of the Waterway in the Woodlands. She won the listing after the client had already interviewed several other experienced agents in that market and sold it within a couple of weeks. Her early success has already brought additional success and referrals along with more Top Agent Magazine

multi-million dollar transactions. “I’m super stoked about that,” she says. “Along with all the things that I have in my pipeline, referrals are more common.” While those high-end properties took Tamatha to Houston’s posh Galleria area, she serves most of her clients from her base in the city’s northern and western suburbs.

The Texas native is making an impact in her local community. Tamatha regularly volunteers with her church at Sacrifice Ministries.

With a past as a social worker, the plight of at-risk children weighs heavily on her. “I still have a heart for foster kids,” Tamatha says. She looks to get involved with children’s charities or organizations that aid in Child Protective Services cases.

Tamatha sees nothing but growth in her promising future. She will expand by forging new relationships and deepening existing ones. Becoming a full-time real estate coach may be in the cards. “I really enjoy helping other people,” she says, “and I feel like that would be a passion of mine to help new agents because we all start somewhere. It’s not easy if you don’t have the support.

I think me passing that on would be a huge fulfillment in my life and in my career.”

To learn more about Tamatha Mayfield, visit tamathamayfield.com, email tam@tamathamayfield.com or call 713.449.8995 www.

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is proud to congratulate

Tamatha Mayfield

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

tammy@southerntitletx.com https://southerntitleagent.com https://southerntitleagent.com/app/

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Top Agent Magazine

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 Top Agent Magazine

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?

Top Agent Magazine ®

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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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4

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.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

WALE LAWAL Wale Lawal is a top-producing and multiaward-winning real estate agent serving the expansive metropolitan markets of Houston, Dallas, and Austin. Described in a Yahoo! Finance Feature article as “one of the most devoted and knowledgeable individuals in the Houston Real Estate market,” Wale is dedicated to providing an exceptional client experience for those looking to buy, sell, or invest in single-family homes or multi-family properties across Texas.

Wale shares how he has a chemical engineering background in the oil and gas industry, where he worked as a corporate project engineer for the majority of his career. His ambitious entrepreneurial mindset led him to explore a variety of other fields, eventually gravitating toward the real estate industry. He says how buying his first rental property motivated him to make the professional shift and begin pursuing real estate full-time in July 2021. At just over two years in the industry, Wale has already made his mark in the versatile real estate market of Texas. His passion for investment and devotion to teaching has resulted in an education-forward approach to his newfound career, “I enjoy teaching others how to build wealth.” Based out of Houston, Wale and his team of seven serve the cities of Houston, Austin, and Dallas.

Wale’s professional strategy includes prioritizing quality referrals, often focusing on clients seeking investment advice, relocation, and new construction. He shares how he offers free consultations and mentorship to all his clients, equipping them to navigate the ever-changing world of investment. His win-win mentality and client advocacy take precedence in all negotiations, leaving clients fully satisfied every time. As a top negotiator, he said “If it’s not a win-win for all parties, it’s not a deal for me.” Clients enjoy Wale’s responsiveness as he always answers calls, texts, and emails. Most clients that have left reviews for Wale say he’s a great negotiator

and saved them money and time.

Wale stays in touch with clients via hosting face-to-face local events, virtual events, CRM campaigns, and reaching out every other week. He notes how he makes it a point to touch base with past clients at least once each month. His team markets current listings across EXP Realty platforms, social media, and the Bigger Pockets Podcast, utilizing professional photography and an immersive property write-up. Occasionally, Wale will also host open houses as needed.

In just two years, Wale’s personal real estate portfolio is astounding. He reported 66 transactions in 2021, at 12.6 million in sales volume. This year he is projected to more than double the amount, at 25 million. When asked what he enjoys about the field, he says, “I love helping people create wealth through real estate.” His dedication is driven by a desire to help people make smart decisions. He adds, “Buying real estate will always be a win.”

Wale’s expansive network of real estate investors and potential investors is quickly growing because he is an ON-FIRE Real Estate Agent. He hosts a forum and has been featured on the Bigger Pockets Podcast and cited in Yahoo! Finance as “a massive influence on the real estate industry in the Houston Area.” One of Wale’s token traits is his devotion to educating new real estate investors and agents, frequently conducting face-toface and virtual coaching meetings.

Wale shares that his plan for the future includes ensuring that his team is running smoothly, with a personal goal for consistent sales volume each month. He intends to continue growing his investment portfolio, helping other agents as much as possible, and “continuing to add value to people.” He concludes, “If you give value, people will gravitate towards you.”

To connect with Wale, call 832-776-9582 or email Wale@NetworthBuilders.com, visit Liinks.co/WaleLawal or follow Wale on Instagram @Wale_Lawal www.

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www.

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Acacia Mortgage Finance Group is proud to congratulate

WALE LAWAL

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

Herbert English | Mortgage Broker henglish@acaciamtg.com Acacia Mortgage Finance Group (917) 617-2525 | www.acaciamtg.com Sugar Land, TX 77479

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Top Agent Magazine

Make Social Media Marketing Your Calling Card These days, it’s no secret that buyers begin their home search online. As the industry continues to take a digital turn, Realtors in the know must learn to utilize a whole new range of tools available to them—and for good reason. Social media is a dynamic hybrid of personal contact and targeted marketing. To make the most of this new medium, agents can’t settle for the occasional post and expect results.

Instead, let’s consider a few techniques that will make your social media presence Top Agent Magazine

interactive, unmissable, and effective in generating business.

Your Profile is a Portal Ideally, you’ll have profiles across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and otherwise—but no matter what portal you’re utilizing, make sure your profile page is up-todate, well-curated, and easily navigated.

Consider your profile a landing page.

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Your photo, location, contact information, homepage, and a brief bio should all be readily visible so that potential clients can get an immediate sense for who you are and what your voice is. If a client wants to connect with you, it should be obvious how to do so. You might also incorporate a few savvier tools that make your profile more engaging—like hashtags. These searchable tags can help you lure potential clientele and give your audience a chance to explore deeper. #DreamHome #JustListed and #HomeInspiration are popular, existing tags to choose from, but you can cultivate your own hashtag by consistently tagging posts, which gives clients an extensive thread to comb through.

Interacting with Your Audience Posting regularly is great way to appear in feeds, but engaging with your audience is just as important—and it helps you reach a new audience in the process. It’s a positive start to like your audience’s posts, pictures, and statuses, but commenting takes your engagement a step further and separates you from typical respondents. It’s also important that you diversify your engagements. In other words, don’t center every communication around your business, propositioning your services, or trying to sell. If applicable, present your value-add, but otherwise steer your engagement towards the personal. Let your clients know that you’re there, you’re human, and 14

ready to work at their pace. Which leads us to our next point...

Blending the Professional with the Personal Engaging with your audience is one thing, but what about generating original content?

How do you strike the right balance between a Call to Action, industry updates, and a personal touch? Think of it this way: any post you create should provide a point of connection for your audience.

Sometimes, you might be sharing a family photo, or commenting on some unifying current event—like the Super Bowl! Other times, you may be sharing a Coming Soon listing, or providing tips to spruce up a home for spring. Regardless, you should focus on quality. Is your copywriting engaging? Does it express your unique voice and personality, while maintaining clarity? Are you giving your audience something to connect with, even if you are sharing property photos or advertising an open house? Instill some fun and some personalization to every piece of content you make, so that clients can picture the voice and person behind the post.

Things are always changing on the social media frontier, but some rules never shift.

Adding clarity, consistency, and personality to your online presence are three surefire ways to grow your business and make social media second nature.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

ROLAND CASTILLO Top Agent Magazine

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ROLAND CASTILLO

“I’m really big on education, my clients and prospects always have questions. It’s my job to educate them.

That’s what helps me to get successful sales.”

Award-winning real estate agent Roland Castillo didn’t take a traditional route to real estate success. When he started with Keller Williams Realty International in 2000, he worked in the tech department, building company emails. Eventually he worked his way up, into the Research & Development Department where he was mentored by the late Dave Jenks, a Keller Williams icon who co- authored several bestselling books, including The Millionaire Real Estate Agent.

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While in the R&D department, Roland attended a lot of the Keller Williams’ mastermind, Family Reunions, and mega agent events, alongside some of the company’s top producing agents.

“I absorbed it all by osmosis,” jokes Roland.

“It gave me a lot of training,” Eventually he decided he wanted to explore his own self employment path. Encouraged by Jenks Top Agent Magazine

and other award-winning KW team members, he applied the learnings he picked up and started his own real estate business in 2005.

Today education continues to be paramount to his success, and he strives to stay on top of new information and to share his learnings with his clients.

“To be the best agent that you can be, you need to learn as much as you can and then have the ability to apply that knowledge,” he says. “So many things are changing. The way we do business, the economy, and technology, there are so many things to learn.”

His specialty, he says, is applying what he has learned and sharing them with his clients and Top Agent Magazine

his prospective clients.

“I’m really big on education, My clients and prospects always have questions. It’s my job to educate them. That’s what helps me to get successful sales.”

In addition to educating clients, Roland attributes his success-to asking open ended questions while clarifying and listening actively and taking the time to really get to know his clients. His goal is to build lifelong relationships with them.

In order to do that, Roland gets to the heart of what’s motivating them to buy or sell.

“I really want to know what they want to accomplish. What is my client’s “big why?” What value do they get out of buying or selling their 17

What is my client’s “big why?” What value do they get out of buying or selling their home? How will it affect their dreams?” home? How will it affect their dreams?”

He always asks them if the sale doesn’t happen, how will that affect them? In this market, they may not get as much money as they hoped for, so he asks the hard questions. That is especially important in today’s shifting market.

“If you are able to sell your home for a lower price, can we still accomplish what you were looking to do?”

Roland has seen his clients reach all sorts of goals and accomplishments over his 15+ year career as a real estate agent. He says he’s worked with all types of buyers during that time and he’s closed nearly every kind of deal.

“I’ve sold farms, land, homes, and I’ve sold multi-million-dollar homes,” during that time.

And to him, all his clients are the same. They all have dreams they are looking to pursue.

In addition to serving as the Operating Principal of Keller Williams Cedar Park-Leander, Roland is also the owner of Hot Real Estate Properties Group. He also represents an innovative new project in Texas Hill Country, The Vineyard – an award-winning boutique winery and Tuscan-style, gated community with a resort 18

Top Agent Magazine

and custom-built homes. The first vines were planted there in 2007.

especially those from California, who are considering a move to Texas.

The community brings together wine enthusiasts from around the state–and beyond–who are looking to be part of an exclusive lifestyle. Here, residents are just steps away from the innovative Farmers Commons, a new restaurant concept directed by executive chef Soraya Spencer, formerly of Gather Kitchen in Dallas. The restaurant celebrates Texas Hall Country and brings together products from the region’s growers, producers, and food artisans.

Roland has worked with a lot of clients who are looking to move into the great state of Texas.. In his early days of his real estate career, he would fly to California to meet with potential clients.

“This is a special place and it has been so inspiring to see how clients are responding to the opportunity to live within the energizing culture of a great winery.”

When he first started his business, he partnered with a local Texas builder, and together they presented seminars showing the economic opportunities available to people interested in buying investment properties in the area. The seminars were a big hit in California. By the end of his first year in business, Roland had made the top 1% cut for apprentice awards. He was one of three agents chosen to compete out of a pool of more than 3,500.

Although clients from around the state are interested in moving to the community, Roland is also getting inquiries from out-of-state residents,

Roland continues to meet people one on one as often as possible. Getting out and meeting people really helped build his business.

Top Agent Magazine

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“It was easier for them to trust me because they’d met me in person. I wasn’t just a name and a face.”

Keller Williams Cultural Icon Award, and the Presidents’ Excellence Award. And he’s been featured multiple times in Real Estate Magazine.

Today, Roland manages six members of his leadership team and has a full staff of agents who actively sell the custom home options at the Vineyard at Florence.. And he remains active in real estate training, coaching and masterminding. All the training has paid off and it has won him numerous awards. Roland is one of Keller Williams’ consistent Top Performers.

He earned the 2021 Top Agent Award, the 2019

When not helping clients build their dreams, Roland supports ARK Christian Ministries and Gateway Church of Austin. He is a committed Melophile (music lover), plays basketball regularly and enjoys traveling to different countries.

He and his loving wife Cherry love to travel around the world and while stateside take their motorhome and dog Hapi on coastal getaways for fishing and relaxation.

For more information about Roland Castillo, visit HotRealEstateProperties.com, email rolandc@kw.com or call 512-616-4420 www.

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Top Agent Magazine

Thinking of Listing?

Nine Ways to Get Ready The less time a home spends on the market, the more likely it is to sell at or above list price. That’s why our Top Agents recommend getting a property ready for marketing well before listing. Anyone who is even just starting to think about listing will benefit from some basic upkeep and pre-staging work. Even if you decide now is not the time to list, you’ll enjoy these simple improvements around the home.

With the right local resources, most pre-listing preparations take less than a week and will make the formal staging process simpler for all involved.

Ask Top Agents in your area for referrals of local pros to hire. Once you’ve selected your Top Agent, keep yourself open to his or her opinion on other TLC to help decrease your home’s market time.

1. Inspection: The last thing a seller or buyer wants is a surprise at

inspection. That’s why a complete inspection before listing is so valuable.

Many necessary fixes, such as minor roof or appliance repairs, can be discovered and repaired in less than a week. If inspection uncovers a major issue, any Top Agent will tell you that this knowledge is power; disclosing and expecting to take responsibility will increase buyers’ trust without affecting market time.

2. De-Clutter: Take a little time to pack away surplus furniture items and

extra knick-knacks, papers, books or occasional-use items throughout your house. Remember this may require boxing away video game supplies or packing up comfy throw pillows and blankets. Move these items temporarily into closets, the garage or attic with the assumption of possibly renting a storage unit just before listing.

3. Paint: Whole-house painting is likely not necessary, but consider touching

up baseboard moldings and doorways and open wall spaces in high-use areas Top Agent Magazine

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such as bathrooms, the office, family room and indoor recreation spaces.

Also consider a little varnish on the front door or banister.

4. Artwork and Decor: Take a neutral look at your décor. Better yet, ask a

Top Agent to do so. Buyers should be able to picture themselves living in your home. While your Top Agent may not advise you to appear generic, you’ll likely need to thin out any shrine-like displays to family, hobbies or cultural interests.

5. Deep-Clean Housekeeping: After you’ve de-cluttered and touched up

the paint, request a deep cleaning from your housekeeping service and weekly cleanings thereafter. Make sure they pay attention to details like dusting or vacuuming window treatments and lampshades or wiping smudges off door jams and baseboard moldings.

6. Carpets and Rugs: Bring in the pros, but don’t just clean the carpets.

Because the cleaners will be moving furniture anyway, ask them stretch and tighten any buckled areas of carpeting. Doing so now saves the trouble of having to credit your buyer for this following final walk-through. Also consider removing small area rugs to let the beauty of your hardwood floors shine.

7. Look at the Loo: Buyers may not notice a brand-new toilet seat, but they

will turn up their noses at the one with the broken hinges. Freshly replaced toilet seats, faucets or doorknobs in heavily trafficked bathrooms can go a long way in first impressions.

8. “Mow & Blow”: Consider buyers as guests you want to feel welcome

as they ascend the front walk. If you don’t already have one, hire a weekly gardening service to keep up with the mowing, weeding, pruning and basic maintenance outside so you can focus on other things.

9. Staging: Once you’ve selected a staging professional for the finishing

touches, ask them and your Top Agent for final recommendations on day-today upkeep, storage options and what-to-do (or what not to do) while your house is on the market.

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THALINA GARCIA Throughout her life, Thalina Garcia has always been drawn to real estate. Raised in a family of investors, she had an opportunity to learn the business from the ground up as she toured various homes and properties surrounding Houston. Later, she would pursue her own license while attending Baylor University and enroll in a property tax consulting internship with a local appraisal company. After college, she hit the ground running and delved into investment properties with a family friend. Over time, though, she found herself seeking a new opportunity that better spoke to her outgoing personality and passion for helping others, which inspired her to switch tracks and become a full-time agent in 2018. Since then, she has gone on to establish a network of satisfied clients and colleagues that spans the region.

Today, Thalina is a REALTOR® Associate with Nan and Company Properties, Christie’s International Real Estate, where she leads an elite team to assist clients throughout Houston and the surrounding areas. As a Christie’s International Real Estate Luxury Specialist, she has cultivated a boutique process to meet the needs of any buyer or seller.

When listing a property, Thalina prefers a comprehensive approach. Utilizing her in-house marketing team, she helps her clients fully prepare their home to sell, providing them with a suite of professional photography and video production services. From there, she shares her listings through a highly targeted blend of print, digital, and social media campaigns. For her luxury listings, she further leverages the extensive resources available through the Christie’s International brand to give her clients a nationwide reach, ensuring a seamless transaction.

Elsewhere, Thalina is just as attentive when assisting her buyers, drawing from her acute knowledge of the region to uncover the right investment for their best interests. More than anything, she enjoys welcoming newcomers to the Houston community, from its outstanding school system and family-friendly suburbs to its thriving business sector.

Over the years, Thalina has earned a fantastic reputation throughout Texas, with the vast majority of her volume coming from repeat clients and referrals.

Having completed nearly $20 million in volume in 2021, she remains focused on the lasting standards that set her apart. “My team and I always strive to provide top-notch customer service,” she says.

“I transitioned from investments to residential real estate because I was drawn to the human side of a transaction. Because of that, I encourage my team to get to know our clients as people and adjust our approach to their feedback.”

Outside of real estate, Thalina is dedicated to her community. On top of volunteering with the Houston Humane Society, she is also deeply involved with the HAR Young Professionals Network, where she contributes to area causes and organizations throughout the year. When she’s not with clients or giving back, she can be found exploring the diverse small businesses surrounding Houston—even hosting team meetings at local hotspots like La La Land Kind Cafe.

Going forward, Thalina has an exciting vision for her business. As her volume maintains its exponential growth, she intends on scaling her referral program, adding to her team, and expanding her mentorship role within the industry. In the meantime, though, she is more than satisfied with the fulfilling life and career she has cultivated in the community she loves.

To learn more about Thalina Garcia, email thalina.garcia@nanproperties.com, visit thalinagarcia.com or call (713) 444-9046. www.

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