August 2022 East Coast by Featured Agent

August 2022

Make the most of

Tap into your REALTOR’S®

small space living

rolodex

8 Tips to generate

more referrals

Shaun PARKER also featured:

Cole Carros Jason Williamson

contents

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professionals 6

Are you ready to build a team? Ask yourself these 5 questions

8 Tips to generate more referrals

t featured cover agent

Shaun Parker

q featured agent

Cole Carros

q featured agent

Jason Williamson

buyers &sellers 4

Make the most of small space living

New in town? Tap into your REALTOR’S® rolodex

Make the most of

small space living

The Tiny House Movement is one of the fastest-growing housing trends in recent memory. Tiny houses are fully functional mobile living spaces that measure from 100400 square feet. Obviously, fitting all of life’s necessities in such a tiny space poses many challenges. But you don’t have to live in a tiny house to face the realities of small space living. Studio apartments, loft spaces, cottages and many other small spaces all present similar issues. Here are seven ways you can maximize small space living to create a comfortable, well-organized and stylish home.

Take Care with Color — Adding color to walls is one of the fastest, easiest, most affordable ways to add character and personality to a room. But be careful when you’re working in small spaces, because the wrong color can make your room seem smaller than it 4

actually is. Avoid dark colors and stick with lighter hues to make the space feel more open.

Embrace Light & Reflection — Keep window coverings light, both in color and materials. Heavy window coverings will make rooms look and feel dark and claustrophobic. Stick to lighter colors and airy fabrics that allow light to filter through, even when closed. Another trick is to let curtain rods extend past the ends of windows on either side to create the illusion of width. Mirrors are another great way to visually trick the eye into thinking a room is larger than it is. Bonus points if you can hang a mirror across from a window to capture and reflect even more light. Make Furniture Multi-Task — When you live in a small space, everything should have more than

You don’t have to live in a tiny house to face the realities of small space living. Studio apartments, loft spaces, cottages and many other small spaces all present similar issues. Get Control of Clutter — Clutter is the enemy of small space living. When every available surface is covered with mail, magazines, clothing and other everyday odds and ends, the space looks messy and unfinished. One way to keep clutter under control is to practice the rule all minimalists live by: one in, one out. That simply means every time you bring something new into your space, an equivalent item has to go. If you buy a new pair of shoes, for example, you have to get rid of a pair you already have, and so on. It’s definitely challenging, but it will make you think twice when tempted to purchase something on impulse, knowing that something you already have will get the axe.

one purpose. Think ottomans that double as storage space, tray tables that pinch hit as end tables, and dressers that serve as nightstands. If you live in a studio space, it’s practically illegal to have a sofa that doesn’t fold-out into a bed. And remember seeing Murphy beds (also called wall beds) in old black and white movies and TV shows? They’re making a comeback and can solve a multitude of small space furniture and storage issues.

Keep Floors Clear — Crowding the floor with baskets or bins for storage may seem practical, but it will make the room look and feel smaller. Open things up by keeping floor space clear and moving storage up to the walls (or even the ceiling, in some cases). Shelves, hanging baskets, peg boards and other storage solutions will keep floor space free. Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

Utilize Hidden Spaces — The space under, in between or behind furniture is no longer just a place for dust bunnies to collect. When you live in a small space, it can be used for valuable storage. You can get specialized storage bins made to slip under the bed or simply use your imagination to decide what goes where, like slipping a folding tray table under the couch or hanging an ironing board or shoe rack behind a door. Keep it Extra Clean — Speaking of dust bunnies, small spaces need to be cleaned more frequently and thoroughly than their larger counterparts. It’s easy to ignore dusty corners or a too-full trash can in a large space, but everyday messes add up quickly when there’s not a lot of room. Take some time at the end of every day to do a quick cleaning and you’ll keep your small space feeling tidy and inviting. 5

Are you ready to build a team? Ask yourself these 5 questions There comes a point in every real estate agent’s career when they realize they could greatly grow their business by forming a team. For some, this realization comes and goes without much thought; they are committed to being solo agents and have no intention of being anything but. For others though, the thought of forming a team is extremely appealing. There are, of course, the obvious potential financial benefits, but there’s also the chance of having more time to spend working directly with clients and possibly even taking more time off to pursue other passions. Forming a real estate team is a big step that requires a lot of thought, planning and commitment. Whether you want to start building a team today, next year, or five years from now, asking yourself the following questions will help you prepare for the complexities involved in building and managing a team.

Can You Afford It? — This is the first, and most important, question you have to ask yourself. Are you ready to be financially responsible for one (or more) other people? Are you willing to give up pocketing some of the money you earn to free up more of your time? Ideally, hiring an assistant and eventually, other licensed agents, will increase your bottom line, but that might not happen right away. You have to be OK with initially taking a hit to your net compensation to allow you to pay others.

Can You Give Up Control? — If you find yourself saying, “The only way to do something right is to do it yourself,” you might have a hard time letting go of control and delegating tasks to team members. When you have a team, you have to be willing to let go and empower your employees to make decisions and find the best way to get things done. You should certainly offer guidance, but if you think you would find yourself re-doing everyone else’s work because it wasn’t up to your standards, it would defeat the purpose of having a team.

Can You Offer (and Take) Constructive Criticism? — A big part of being a boss is giving feedback to your employees about their performance. Are you comfortable having honest, candid conversations and prepared to receive such feedback in return? If you’re someone who goes to great lengths to avoid confrontation, or conversely, have a reputation for unfiltered bluntness, you’ll need to work on delivering constructive criticism in a firm, yet positive way. You’ll also need to be open to hearing from your team about ways you can improve as a leader. Have You Experienced Great Leadership? Those who have been fortunate enough to experience outstanding leadership during their careers often make great leaders themselves. That’s because they have experienced having someone make them feel supported and motivated. If you’ve had a great leader, ask that person if they would be willing to mentor you as you make the transition to leading your own team. Do You Have Clear Short- and Long-Term Goals? — Before you bring on an assistant to help you get through that mountain of paperwork, it’s important to have a plan. If all you really need is someone to help you get organized and catch up, maybe you just need to bring someone on as a short-term contractor, rather than starting to build a team. If, on the other hand, you have a solid five-year plan in place that requires assistance to reach your milestones, you’re probably in the right place to put a team together. The important thing is to understand your motivations for starting a team and what you hope to accomplish.

Building a team is a huge milestone in any real estate professional’s career. When the time comes to build your team, remember what you’ve learned from good leaders along the way and treat your team members the way you’ve appreciated being treated.

Shaun PARKER

Shaun PARKER You may not think baseball and real estate have any common aspects as far as career choices go, but for Shaun Parker, of CENTURY 21 Alliance in Medford, New Jersey, the parallels are undeniable. The drive, determination, and competitive mindset that Shaun gained from coaching and playing baseball his whole life — from youth to professional-level — have proven to be the most valuable assets when guiding his clients on how to create wealth through real estate.

It wasn’t just the desire to create stability for his own young family that lead him down the path of real estate, but looking back at his parents’ divorce and his mother’s situation at the time that made Shaun want to help others create a source of income for themselves. “My mom wasn’t able to use the sale of our home as a stepping stone after my parents got divorced,” says Shaun. “That was my driving force behind getting into this business. Whether it’s helping someone sell their home for top dollar or assisting investors who are looking into building a rental portfolio, I look at real estate as a tool people can use to generate wealth.”

Assisting clients in Southern New Jersey and the Philadelphia Metro area, Shaun is relentless in getting them the best deal possible. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make a deal work out for my clients. If something seems impossible, I won’t give up, I’ll just tackle it from another angle because it’s the only thing I know how to do. I don’t cut corners,” says Shaun, who always puts integrity at the forefront of every deal. “I know it takes your entire life to build up your reputation and integrity, and only takes one slip-up for it to come toppling down. So, when I say something, I mean it. And I won’t avoid uncomfortable conversations just because it might be something that’s not easy to hear.”

This is a true example of strong leadership, which is something he also strives for. But for Shaun, that doesn’t mean he is always in charge. He’s comfortable 8

— and confident — enough to know when to let others take the reins. “Leadership is always going to take on a different role. Sometimes I will be at the forefront of the transaction because maybe the client doesn’t really know how to navigate the process and they’re relying on me to handle it all,” Shaun stated. “But there are times when you have clients who know exactly what they’re getting into and they know the process and want to take charge. I’m ok with that. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t always the person who is out in front.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to make a deal work out for my clients. If something seems impossible, I won’t give up, I’ll just tackle it from another angle because it’s the only thing I know how to do. I don’t cut corners.” As Shaun has seen his rate of referrals increase recently, partly because of his knowledge of current market trends and numbers, he also believes that growth has stemmed from the personal relationships he creates with his clients. “I’m still relatively new to real estate so I’m working on growing those relationships. Not only to help with referrals, but because I really miss the camaraderie of baseball. I genuinely like getting to know my clients and their families,” Shaun said. And, although he loves going through the numbers to see what makes the most sense for his clients, it’s their satisfaction that brings him the most joy. “Seeing my clients’ happiness at the end of the deal is what I enjoy most.” When Shaun isn’t in the office or making deals for clients, he enjoys playing sports and spending time with his family at home or at the beach. With two young boys at home, working hard to provide for them while setting a positive example is his priority. As

“I didn’t come from a whole lot growing up. I worked hard for everything I had and I want others to know that if you put in the time and effort and you’re driven enough, then you can dream big dreams and see them come to fruition.”

Shaun looks forward to becoming more involved in giving back to his community, he plans to get his children involved in any events he participates in. “I plan to be more involved with our church in helping out with food and clothing drives,” said Shaun. “Our kids are young, but I want them to grow up understanding how to help others.”

As for his business, Shaun’s penchant for coaching comes

into play once again as he plans to obtain a Broker’s license. “The desire to help others be successful comes naturally to me and I would really love to help others grow their own businesses and be successful,” stated Shaun. “I didn’t come from a whole lot growing up. I worked hard for everything I had and I want others to know that if you put in the time and effort and you’re driven enough, then you can dream big dreams and see them come to fruition.”

Shaun PARKER CENTURY 21 | Medford, New Jersey | 609.864.4825 | shaun.j.parker@gmail.com 10

New in town? Tap into your REALTOR’S® rolodex

There are few professionals who will know more about their community than real estate agents. Even if your agent doesn’t happen to live in the exact location where you’ve purchased a home, there is a good chance that you have an incredible resource at your fingertips, who will be more than happy to help you get acquainted with your new neighborhood.

REALTORS® are almost unanimously active in their communities, often involved in multiple community organizations. In addition, because their profession puts them in contact with countless people every year, real estate agents always know a lot of people in different industries. Moreover, because part of their job Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

is to be able to introduce and educate others on the various benefits afforded by each community, they tend to have their finger on the pulse of the regions where they live, work and play. As a newcomer to town, the vast knowledge that your agent possesses is an invaluable resource, right at your disposal. Here’s a look at some of the many resources most real estate agents can provide, when you’re moving to a new community.

Movers — Experienced real estate agents will be able to recommend you to a trustworthy, professional moving company to make your move as seamless as possible. 11

REALTORS® are often worth their weight in gold, not only when it comes to helping you secure a buyer, or helping you to get into a new home, but in helping you feel at home in your new community as well.

Pet Sitters/Boarding Facilities — Trying to move while your pets are running around, or stressed out, can make moving day a lot more cumbersome. Instead of trying to keep an eye on Fido or Fluffy while moving, ask your agent for a referral to a safe place to keep your pets until you’re able to pick them up. Cable/Satellite/Internet Providers — Your REALTOR® or the seller’s agent will be able to provide you with the options for internet service and/or cable options available in your new community so you can schedule installation ahead of time, and have all systems up and running when you need them.

Daycare Centers — If you’re moving with young children, you can certainly spend time online researching reputable daycare or childcare centers in your community. Or, you could save time and just ask your REALTOR® for a recommendation.

Carpenters/Handymen — Because real estate agents work with these professionals frequently, they will be able to refer you to a skilled professional to help you with repairs, or construction projects.

Painters, Carpet & Flooring Professionals You may wish to have your new home upgraded a bit before you move in, or after you’ve moved and if so, your REALTOR® definitely has the name and number of painting and flooring professionals who can help.

Electricians — If there are new lighting fixtures you’d like installed, or if you have specific electrical needs your new home isn’t properly wired for, contact your agent or the seller’s agent. They will be able to refer you to a trusted, experienced electrician in your area to make any necessary changes. HVAC Professionals — When you need your hot 12

water heater replaced, or your furnace serviced, a single phone call to a real estate agent can likely save you a lot of time researching HVAC professionals online.

Landscapers/Seasonal Professionals — If you’re looking for help with mowing your lawn, designing gardens, raking leaves, or even snow removal in the winter, ask your REALTOR® for a referral — they will have one.

Babysitters — Believe it or not, real estate agents may even be able to point you in the direction of a trusted, reliable babysitter, for times when you need to leave your children at home. Restaurants — If you’re looking for a nice evening out, or an amazing weekend brunch, your REALTOR® likely has suggestions in spades. To boot, they may know of specials, coupons, or weekly events at various restaurants in town.

Fitness Facilities or Classes — From yoga, to local gyms, to great walking, running, or hiking trails, your real estate agent will know where residents go to exercise.

Community Events — From getting in touch with your local chamber, rotary, or neighborhood association, to discovering a weekly farmer’s market, or story time at the library, your REALTOR® is a valuable community resource for you to utilize.

Real estate agents are in the business of helping others. Their success is also contingent upon knowing the ins-and-outs of the communities where they work. As the result, REALTORS® are often worth their weight in gold, not only when it comes to helping you secure a buyer, or helping you to get into a new home, but in helping you feel at home in your new community as well.

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Going the extra mile and serving others with compassion are essential parts of Southern hospitality. With generational roots deep in North Carolina, his courteous manner is far more than a stereotype for real estate broker Cole Carros of College Corner Properties in WinstonSalem. As a broker with strong financial skills, a history of family entrepreneurship, and a high focus on referral-worthy service, Cole strives to serve his clients with both friendliness and competence.

“I cut my teeth with real estate at an early age,” says Cole. “I graduated from Elon University in 2016, and moved to Atlanta to join UBS, working in finance. Combining finance with debt structure experience led into brokering sales in commercial real estate, with a specialization in multi-family properties.” After his career in Atlanta, Cole returned to Winston-Salem and joined the family firm to lead both informational and operational development of CCP and further sales growth.

Cole brokers primarily multi-family property deals, though he has also worked in the single family and investment residential markets. “CCP is a small, yet fullfledged development, property management and brokerage firm,” he explains. “We have our own portfolio with predominantly college student housing, as well as marketrate residential rentals in Winston-Salem.”

Cole’s mother founded CCP after 30 years in the residential and commercial design industry, bringing her real estate and design background together to offer a more specialized scope of client services. “When our team works with clients for residential homes, whether they’re investment-grade or not, we do design consultations for any upgrades or improvements the client requires,”

Cole Carros Cole explains. “We have our own contractors and property management team that includes code management, remodeling, inspections, and contract services. Additionally, Cole’s brother, Ethan Carros leads on-site development and project management resources. “We provide topto-bottom services that don’t end with just the real estate transaction. Our team’s skills and philosophy strengthen the property management relationship.” Unsurprisingly, Cole views family as the most important aspect of the firm. “We are a family business, and we take honesty, integrity, and relationships very seriously. Those are the pillars of our business.” This ideology didn’t start with the real estate firm; his family founded a national appliance and electronic marketing company that began as a local appliance store in downtown WinstonSalem. In addition, a local barbecue business, Mr. Barbecue is still serving the community since 1962. “We’re family entrepreneurs,” Cole says. Because of this, maintaining the family brand is crucial. “It’s important that we have a soft touch and continue to build closer relationships than a basic transactional firm in today’s market. Whether, serving food, selling electronics or real estate, the entrepreneurial spirit is truly deep rooted.”

Cole is optimistic about the future of CCP and its growth. Plans to grow the brokerage side with new incoming agents is an upcoming goal, as is future growth in land purchases and sub-development work. Cole doesn’t want to stop there, however. “We would like to continue to scale with development and property management. I love working in a family business and I want to continue to grow all aspects of it.” Cole will be finishing his MBA at Wake Forest University in August of 2022, and continues to enjoy his lifelong love of golf and hanging out with his dog, “Woodford.”

Cole Carros College Corner Properties LLC | Winston-Salem, North Carolina 336.782.1414 | necarros@gmail.com | www.collegecornerhousing.com Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

8 Tips to

generate more referrals

It is often said that a referral is the highest compliment a professional can receive. Therefore, it’s no surprise that many REALTORS® make it a priority to build a business that is overwhelmingly referral based. Countless REALTORS® have achieved this elite status through hard work, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to providing premium service.

If you’re already doing all of this, and you’re still eager to continue growing, it’s time to start focusing, and committing to generating more referrals. Here are 8 easy tips to generate additional referrals. Start Sharing — Share your knowledge, share your expertise, and share your time with others through speaking at networking or industry events, or even cohosting home buying or selling seminars. Speaking in front of audiences — whoever they may be — offers you a perfect platform to position yourself as a true expert. After all, home buyers and sellers aren’t the only source of referrals. Your fellow real estate professionals can prove to be an excellent source of referrals as well.

Keep Requests Casual — Asking for referrals doesn’t have to happen immediately after a transaction is complete. Try calling past clients when you’ve seen a particularly neat property come on the market, or before it comes on the market, and ask them if they know anyone looking for a great home. This is a casual call, there’s no need for formality, and in the process of the call, you also get to catch up with a cherished client or friend.

Give More Than You Receive — Statistics don’t lie. Those who give more referrals, tend to receive more referrals. When you find a vendor you like, refer them. When you work with mortgage professionals or CPAs who provide terrific service, refer them. Refer bakers, gardeners, lawyers, and doctors. Givers tend to get more in return.

Become Your Clients’ Cheerleader — When your clients succeed in a business or personal venture, congratulate them. A phone call, a text message, and even a social media shout-out when your client has been successful, go a long way in showing that you’re 14

rooting for them. This helps reinforce the relationship, and can help keep you top-of-mind. Create Quality Content That Others Can Share — Get clever with content on your blog or social media platforms. Provide useful information, funny stories, or educational material. All three types of content are likely to be shared, which will get your name in front of even more potential clients.

Thank Your Referral Sources Publicly — When someone refers a client to you, consider thanking them on Facebook or other social media platforms. This gives them recognition, and demonstrates you truly do appreciate them and the client they sent your way. Flowers, or a similar mailed gift also can’t hurt.

Tout Your Testimonials — Telling your clients that you’re excellent at your job, is one thing. Having them hear from others how great your service or negotiation skills were, is better. Use raving testimonials on your website, in your email marketing campaigns, on social media, and if appropriate in your direct mail marketing.

Offer Free Services to Clients, and Friends of Your Clients — Consider calling a client, and offering to give them a free estimate of their home’s value, out of the blue. Let them know that you’re happy to provide any of their friends or family members the same. After all, people enjoy knowing what their house is worth, and offering to do so, even if they have no plans to move, is a great way to educate your clients and ask if there is anyone else who may benefit from the same.

When it comes to increasing your referral business, there are opportunities to do so every day. In addition to these tips, try leaving extra business cards with your barista or favorite server at your local lunch spot. Ask your dry cleaner if you can put cards, or for sale postcards at their location. Be armed with cards, and an awesome elevator pitch when you attend events, entertainment venues, or even when you head to the dog park. Each new person you encounter has the potential to not only become a client, but to be an excellent resource for referrals, for years to come. Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

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Jason Williamson’s professional experience certainly gives him a unique perspective on the field of real estate. Before becoming a licensed agent, he worked as a vendor selling building supplies to construction companies. When the company he worked for closed, he was quickly contacted by one of his previous clients offering him a position and was soon working within the sales division of the company. It was a perfect fit. After a year in sales, Jason was named Rookie of the Year. His second year, he was Salesperson of the Year. By his fourth year, he was a manager in North Carolina and Florida.

His success hasn’t stopped there, either. When Jason launched Meritage Homes, it wasn’t expected to be profitable within the first year. By the end of the first financial year they had brought in $1.4 million and had one of the top sales teams in the country in terms of customer service. What’s Jason’s secret? “I treat each and every client like family, and how I would want to be treated.” Jason builds a candid relationship with his clients where he can share what he knows about the industry and also get their honest feedback about their needs and what he can do to meet them. Jason’s policy of transparency allows his clients to appreciate his experience and builds a relationship of trust.

When asked for his best piece of career advice, Jason can’t help but laugh as he tells of a mentor who once said, “You’re not as good as you think you are, but you’re not as bad as you think you are either.” It’s solid advice, as working well in any field requires the humility to listen and be teachable, but also the confidence to put your best into every day and tackle the challenges that come your way. Jason works primarily with customers in Raleigh but is licensed in Florida as well as North Carolina. He has

JASON WILLIAMSON

recently been working mostly with first-time homebuyers and move-up buyers, with a focus on education. “It’s good to have somebody that’s going to educate you on the process and the specifics of the particular area so you’re not flying blind.” That’s something Jason is happy to provide to his clients. He makes a concerted effort to make sure that he’s always letting clients know what to expect and what to do so that their home buying process moves smoothly. He extends this education even to those who he is not yet working with, teaching classes for firsttime homebuyers to educate them about the buying process and for move-up buyers to share information about how to prepare their homes for listing.

Jason and his wife Yvonne Williamson also run the Williamson Resource Foundation, a non-profit they created to address the many deficiencies they have seen in the market. The foundation offers people from all economic backgrounds the information they need to build their finances through real estate and to protect their assets with a will, trust, and insurance. It also offers budgeting, mindset, credit counseling and investment classes so that community members have the information they need to succeed with confidence. The foundation helps Jason’s clients, present and past, to make the most of their resources. Jason and Yvonne believe it is their duty as public servants to do more than collect commissions. They are dedicated to giving back long after the transaction is complete. It is their mission to help others; as Jason explains, “It brings a peace that is more fulfilling than any money we can make, by giving back in this capacity.”

Jason’s home life, like his work life, is centered around lifting others up. Along with his classes for potential homebuyers, he is also active on a local board for real estate professionals, where he works to bring more attention to the issues that impact all people. He also loves spending time with his wife of 34 years and his three adult children. He enjoys movies, reading and self-improvement. Jason’s dedication to progress and helping others makes him an exceptional agent who truly stands out from the crowd.

JASON WILLIAMSON

EXP REALTY | RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 984.833.9001 | JWILL@JMWFL.COM | WWW.JMWCLOSES.COM Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

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