SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S PUBLICATION FOR THE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL
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XECUTIVE
AGENT
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magazine
Sue LaPeter Executive Agent of the month
Special Features Inside: Centerfold Spotlight: Arlen Pantel Professional Profiles: George Barr Lily Campbell
Sue LaPeter A Different Kind of REALTOR®…….. EXECUTIVE AGENT magazine
by Lalaena Gonzalez-Figueroa•photography by Errol Higgins “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” -Pericles
COVER STORY
If Sue LaPeter was a lesser woman, she would not be where she is today. Facing challenges and overcoming obstacles with her head held high, she has charted her own path to success. The accomplished REALTOR® is now sharing her achievements with others- from her clients to her close-knit team of professionals – and helping people make positive changes in their own lives. Her enthusiasm is inspiring, and her attitude infectious: Life is good for Sue, and she openly shares her joy with those around her. Before she became a sales associate, Sue invested many years in industry-related businesses. She started her career in the escrow field, then moved on to become a title representative. Eventually she shared ownership in a group of several real estate offices, which provided great learning opportunities from a different perspective. Working with agents enabled her to understand the clients’ point of view during a transaction, and gave her an insider’s knowledge of what consumers are looking for in a real estate professional - competent, knowledgeable individuals who are empathetic to their clients’ needs, and who develop strong relationships based upon trust and ongoing communication. Sue’s decision to pursue her longtime interest in the sales aspect of the business came at a challenging time in her own life. The newly-single mother of two young children found herself in the unenviable position of starting over, both professionally and personally. Sizing up her situation, she realized that she was now responsible for making a better life for herself and her children, and she got to work with a mindset that was focused on one thing: success.
The LaPeter Team: Sue LaPeter, Lisa Spraker, Cindy Brickner, Cathy Hall and Patti Taricco
“I felt like I understood the business, and I believed that I could do this,” she recalls of her move. From day one, she invested in herself and her new business as a REALTOR®, hiring her sister-in-law to work as an assistant even before she had established a single client. Working diligently out of her Anaheim Hills apartment, she quickly gained a foothold and found her pace. “It just happened,” she offers modestly of her early success. But the truth is, there was a great deal of effort involved in the process.
lity and skills,” she states. “He has been very inspiring, and really helped me take my career to the next level.” It wasn’t long before Sue’s investments began to pay off handsomely. Her first year as a REALTOR® she earned the coveted “Rookie of the Year” award in her office. The year after that, she continued with her stellar success and was awarded the “Rising Star” award. Today she is ranked as one of the top agents in her Prudential California Realty office, and her success continues to grow. In an industry based upon the ability to create lasting and trusting client relationships, Sue’s personal touch has made all the difference.
Sue realized that, as a new associate, she would need more than drive and ambition to succeed in the competitive world of real estate. Early on, she acquired a professional coach to guide her through the complexities of starting her business. Years later, she recalls the impact that her coach had upon her career. “Chadi Bazzi has so much knowledge and insight, and was so motivating and in tune with my personal-
Sue represents a variety of transactions including residential, residential investment and commercial. She serves clients throughout southern California, specializing in the communities within Orange, Anaheim Hills, Villa Park and Yorba Linda. With a team of professionals supporting her throughout each transaction, she is well-equipped to meet the growing needs of her clientele. Her
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approach to business is hands-on and consultative; she employs a no-pressure attitude when it comes to working with her clients, and focuses on building long-term relationships defined by ongoing communication and personal attention. “One of my ongoing goals is to exceed my clients’ expectations,” she explains. “I’m in constant communication with them so that they understand exactly what is happening during any given point in a transaction.” Sue is highly proactive, and prides herself on her problem-solving abilities. “I’m always working to stay one step ahead during a transaction, so that neither my clients nor my fellow REALTORS® have to call me with questions or concerns,” she says. Maintaining this level of service for a growing client base would be quite a challenge for a single agent, so Sue has created the LaPeter Team, a talented group of professionals whose philosophy of business mirrors her own. The team represents a natural progression in Sue’s career, and seems inspired as much by fate as by her own hand. Cindy Brickner is Sue’s sister-in-law and executive assistant, who has been with her since the start of her career. “She makes me look good!” laughs Sue as she reflects on Brickner’s contributions to her practice. While Sue works with her clients throughout every transaction, she is supported by Brickner who, she says, “is always available, offering the same level of service that I do. Cindy can take the process from start to finish, and provides our clients with a personal touch.” The addition of Transaction Coordinator Cathy Hall was, says Sue, a serendipitous event. “One of my goals was to add the position to my team,” she recalls. “On the week that I had set out to interview candidates, Cathy approached me and asked if she could join me!” Though the women had known each other for some time – both were members of the Assistance League of Orange County, a charitable organization where Hall served as a chairperson – they had never talked business before. It didn’t take long, though, for Hall to become an integral addition to Sue’s business. “Cathy is experienced in the industry and is very organized,” Sue observes. “She’s a phenomenal transaction coordinator who works well with other agents. She has made a wonderful addition to The LaPeter Team!”
The team is rounded out by Patti Taricco and Lisa Spraker. Patti, a buyer’s agent with an entrepreneurial and management background, can usually be found manning the team’s open houses, where her exuberant smile and outgoing personality help her to connect with prospective buyers. She also handles leads and works with each client to find the home that best suits their needs. Lisa’s detail-oriented work and marketing background are evident in her quality of work. “She creates beautiful websites for a number of businesses,” says Sue, who adds that her own site is designed to ensure that listings are visible to a broad Internet audience. Sue counts local service providers such as handymen, a staging company and other home professionals, among her extended team. “I offer everything my clients need,” she states. “We provide all of the resources possible to help make the transaction as stress free as possible, and to facilitate an easy move after the purchase or sale of a home.” Ticor Title representative Eva Wysocki is one of Sue’s professional partners, whose dedication to customer service is nothing less than stellar. “I can’t rave enough about her,” asserts Sue. “Eva is always willing to help; if she doesn’t know the answer to a question, she doesn’t stop until she gets it. She really takes care of my team and our clients.” While her business is driven by Sue’s market knowledge, customer care and comprehensive services, there is also an internal factor that motivates her success. She believes wholeheartedly in the value of goal-setting, and makes time in her daily routine to inspire herself to continue to achieve new objectives. Following the Law of Attraction – the belief that individuals
EXECUTIVE AGENT magazine
Sue enjoys quality time with seventeen-year old Courtney and fourteen-year old TJ, who continue to serve as sources of inspiration for her ongoing success.
attract what they chose to give their attention to – has helped Sue focus on the positive aspects of her professional and personal life. “Every day I write down my intentions and delegations,” she explains. “By putting into words the things I am grateful for, what I want to attract and how I will achieve my goals, I am able to work towards what I want.” With a strong faith in God and a desire to make success happen, Sue has done just that. Time and again she has found a way to accomplish her goals, to the direct benefit of her teammates and clients. Consistently evaluating those goals and thoughtfully working towards them takes effort, organization and discipline, and Sue is blessed with these traits. She greets each day at 4:30a.m., taking time to exercise and focus on each day’s goals and tasks. Her morning workouts keep her energized and positive, and prepare her for the rigors of her work in the field. Personalized attention is the key to Sue’s service, and she notes that she treats each client equally. “I provide my clients with the level of service that I would want for myself,” she says. “They’re all important to me, and I want to ensure that they never forget that.” From providing moving boxes at close of escrow, to small treats to mark special occasions, she maintains constant contact with her clients to remind them just how grateful she is for their loyalty and support.
Client Amber Toombs appreciates Sue’s efforts, and raves about the service she received with the REALTOR® who is also a family friend. “I came to Sue after working unsuccessfully with another agent,” she says. “She was a gogetter from the start, and always kept the focus on selling our home. She knew how to market our property effectively, from advertising to pricing to hosting open houses.” While the process of selling a home is often stressful and overwhelming, Toombs notes that Sue made it a “pleasurable experience. She communicated with us, gave us a lot of attention and always let us know that we were important to her. Aggressive and professional, Sue was wonderful to work with and I would recommend her to anyone.” “Sue was very helpful throughout our transaction,” says Dana Courtney, another satisfied client. “She was a strong negotiator and maintained constant communication with me. She was also detail-oriented and thorough, with a great personality.” With a successful career in tow, Sue looks forward to continuing to spend quality time with her children, who continue to serve as sources of inspiration. 17 year-old Courtney and 14 year-old TJ are their mother’s pride and joy, and she proudly recognizes their own accomplishments. Courtney, a junior at Villa Park, displays a spirit of volunteerism.
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She is an Assisteen with Orange and is actively involved with her youth group at Kindred Church. An eighth - grader at Cerro Villa Middle School, TJ is a talented soccer player who recently made the All-Star team. “They are the biggest part of my life,” smiles Sue, adding that she has chosen to run her business from a home office so that she can be closer to her kids. Becoming an accomplished REALTOR® hasn’t always been easy, though Sue LaPeter often makes it look that way. The truth is, behind the bevy of awards and professional recognitions is a woman who is driven to make a difference in her own life and in the lives of others, and who is consistently reaching her goals through hard work, dedication and an unwavering desire to always do the right thing. “I always say that I want to be a contribution to every person I come into contact with,” says Sue. “In some way, I’d like to have a positive influence on their lives.” Time and again, that’s exactly what she does.
Sue LaPeter The LaPeter Team Prudential California Realty (714) 728-9018 www.LaPeterTeam.com email: sue@lapeterteam.com
EXECUTIVE AGENT magazine