September 2022 Midwest by Featured Agent

JAKE McCLURE September 2022 Real estate designations — What you need to know The perks of mentoring young professionals Money saving moving tips

Featured Agent Magazine Phone 888.437.5707 Fax 888.849.3663 contact@featuredagentmagazine.com www.featuredagentmagazine.com contents 6 The perks of mentoring young professionals 12 Warm up Fall home staging tips 14 5 Tricks to throwing a memorable networking event professionals Copyright Featured Agent Magazine2

t7 featured cover agent Jake McClure 4 Real estate designations What you need to know 11 Get your move on — Money saving moving tips buyers &sellers Copyright Featured Agent Magazine Materials and content included in Featured Agent Magazine and on featuredagentmagazine.com are subject to copyright and may not be copied or re produced in any part without prior written consent. Featured Agent Magazine is published by Times 3 Publishing Group, LLC. Publisher shall not be liable for any inaccuracy, error, or omission and makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the information, content, or materials included. 3

What you need to know

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The real estate industry is laden with opportunities for professionals within the field to continue their education for a lifetime. In fact, any agent identifying as a professional REALTOR,® has committed to abide by a very strict Code of Ethics, as mandated by the National Association of REALTORS ® In addition to adhering to these standards of professionalism, many real estate agents choose to earn additional certifications in specialized fields within real estate. From a consumer ’s standpoint, these extra mile efforts signify a real estate professional’s dedication to educa tion and a true desire to serve as an advocate for buyers and sellers. Here is a look at some of the many desig nations that real estate agents opt to earn through the National Association of REALTORS,® and other real estate associations. Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) When an agent has the initials ABR after their name, this indicates they have earned the Accredited Buyer ’s Representative designation through the Real Estate Buyer ’s Agent Council. Agents with the ABR designation have completed the requirements which focus on working directly with buyers through all stages of buying a home Certified Commercial Investment Member ( C C I M ) R e a l e s t a t e p r o f e s s i o n a l s w h o b o a s t the initials CCIM after their name have earned this estate designations —

Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource (SFR) These initials indicate that a real estate professional has successfully completed a program designed to work with distressed sellers, in conjunction with finance tax and legal professionals to help them through a short sale. Agents who have earned this are also seasoned in negotiating with lenders, and protecting buyers It’s worth noting that individual state real estate as sociations often offer additional designations, which REALTORS® may also opt to earn. Although agents are not required to earn any of these specific desig nations, when you find an agent who has multiple ini tials after their name, you can rely on the fact that the agent has invested his or her own money to continue their education and sharpen their skills, all in effort to best serve you as a consumer.

Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) The SRS designation is earned through the Real Estate Business Institute, and is considered a premier creden tial for listing and selling agents Requirements to earn this designation include specific educational and prac tical experiences. Achieving the Seller Representative Specialist designation denotes that agents have dedicated themselves to elevating professional standards, and demonstrate that they maintain the knowledge and skills vital to professionally, and ethically represent home sellers.

Copyright Featured Agent Magazine 5 d esignation after 200 hours of classroom and professional experiential requirements. The Certified Commercial Investment Member designation is earned through the CCIM Institute REALTORS,® brokers, property managers, developers, asset managers, leas ing professionals and others choose to earn this degree as the education and training involved yields real world expertise in negotiation, along with financial, market and investment analysis

Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) The CRS designation is the highest credential a residential sales agent, manager, or broker can earn, and is offered through the Council of Residential Specialists Out of more than 1 million REALTORS,® less than 3% have earned the designation of Certified Residential Specialist. Agents who earn this designation, complete nearly twice as many transactions annually, compared to other agents. e-Pro The e Pro designation is earned through the National Association of REALTORS.® This program focuses on sophisticated technology and digital initia tives, and how to apply tech to real estate, as a means of better serving clients’ needs Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI) Offered through the National Association of REALTORS,® agents who have earned the GRI designation have gone through additional education and training in legal and regulatory issues, along with an emphasis on technology, sales processes, and professional standards.

Military Relocation Professional (MRP) Presented by the Real Estate Buyer ’s Agent Council, the Military Relocation Professional certification aims to educate real estate professionals on the unique needs that current and former military service members may have, and how to best serve military clients

Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) The fastest growing market in real estate continues to be clients over the age of 50 The SRES Designation program is an educational program which teaches real estate professionals how to ethically serve this specific market. The SRES designation is available

Although agents are not required to earn any of these specific designations, when you find an agent who has multiple initials after their name, you can rely on the fact that the agent has invested his or her own money to continue their education and sharpen their skills, all in effort to best serve you as a consumer.

Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) Agents who have earned the CIPS designation through the National Association of REALTORS® successfully attended and completed five full day courses which focus on vital and unique aspects of international real estate transactions.

M e n t o r s h i p h o n e s l e a d e r s h i p a b i l i t y Mentoring up-and-comers puts you in the driver ’s seat. It will be your responsibility to lead the way as the senior agent determining which topics to address, curating an agenda, and crystallizing the lessons you’ll want to impart. All these tasks are par for the course when it comes to leadership. Likewise, inhabiting a leadership role refines your ability to communicate clearly, empathize, teach, and give constructive feedback. Sharpen those desirable skills and you’ll enhance your practice, as well as your long term professional prospects. Working alongside young professionals can modernize your approach Another added benefit of mentoring young agents? This new crop of professionals is in touch with the needs of their generation a large pool of clientele in creasingly in need of homeownership assistance. Budding professionals have an alternate set of skills and insights, and veteran pros can glean value from their fresh eyes. For instance, if your social media repertoire could use an update, or you’d like to contemporize your services in some way, mentoring a developing agent can serve as a perfect two way street. If you’re still unsure whether it’s worth your time to take on a mentee or two, think about it this way: the benefits of mentorship are akin to taking a continuing education course, or investing in your professional de velopment It’s hard to argue that these endeavors are without merit In the same vein, mentorship has plenty of perks, from injecting new life into your practice to strengthening your professional offerings. All the while, you’ll be lending a hand to a colleague who is a beginner eager to learn just like you once were.

The perks of mentoring young professionals

In the world of real estate, most lessons are learned in a hands on capacity, and practices and tech niques are often developed over years of trial and error. When budding agents kick off their careers, they’re far less equipped to handle the inevitable challenges of the business. That’s one reason why mentorship is an essential institution. But, did you ever consider that mentors have just as much to gain from taking new talent under their wing?

Mentoring young professionals broadens your perspective After years in the business, it’s not uncommon for veteran agents to slow down or burn out. However, time spent mentoring rising agents can help you reconnect with your professional roots. You’ll remember the exhilaration, the hurdles, and impactful lessons learned along the way. Mentoring the newest generation of agents, while retreading the basics from the perspective of a beginner, will reinvigorate your approach to routines long set in stone.

Teaching newcomers can help fortify your processes By explaining to young agents how to execute each step of an established process, you’ll be forced to consider the efficiency and productivity of these processes Perhaps you’ve overlooked key ways to streamline systems, but verbalizing the ra tionale behind your routine helps you identify areas for improvement. Mentorship can also help you re assess and polish your broader working philosophies, or inspire you to try something new.

Oftentimes mentorship is viewed as a one way street solely benefitting the mentee, but keep in mind a few advantageous reasons below, how mentor ing young professionals can reenergize your routines and perspective, while ultimately making you better at your job

JAKE McCLURE

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Growing up in Michigan, Jake McClure dreamed of someday owning a castle. As he got older, he learned that the home a person owns is their castle, whether it has one room or one hundred He couldn’t wait to have a place of his own Then, having gotten a taste of the real estate field, Jake soon dedicated himself to the goal of helping others become homeowners as well After obtaining his MBA, Jake worked several positions before ultimately finding his way to a career in real es tate almost a decade ago. He started in the city as a leas ing agent and eventually transitioned into sales. While he loves working sales, the change wasn’t always an easy one. In fact, something Jake is particularly proud of is the Rookie of the Year Award he received in 2019 as he was transitioning from leasing to sales. “It was really difficult, especially in the beginning, but it really helped me build my business to where it is today.” Now, Jake thrives as a broker and loves every day on the job He founded his team, the Burling Square Group, in 2020 Currently consisting of three brokers and one leasing agent, and looking forward to adding more agents in the future, the group has flourished in northern Chicago and the North Shore Chicago suburbs. They specialize in residential sales and luxury rentals, focusing on new developments, and will likely transition further into the luxury and new development market in the next few years based on market shifts. Jake particularly enjoys working with buyers to help them find a home. As he puts it, “I love helping people,

“WHEN YOU SAY YES TO AN OPPORTUNITY, YOU’RE SAYING NO TO ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.” and I love helping them find the place they truly want to live in ” Jake also loves the variety that comes with working real estate in Chicago “One day I might be looking at a million dollar home in North Shore with a buyer client and the next day I’m walking new con struction in the city.” In a busy city like Chicago, there’s certainly no time to get bored! At least half of Jake’s business comes from satisfied customers who return and refer others. What’s the se cret to this high level of client satisfaction? “I respond lightning quick I’m brutally honest about everything We do the best work that we possibly can for our clients ” Jake isn’t one to pass the buck to his team, either “I’m really not afraid to roll up my sleeves I’m the one that’s working the open house, I’m the one that’s sending mailers, I’m the one that’s calling other brokers to spread the word.” Jake’s clients appreciate that he is always ready to put in the hard work when they need him. As he and his team have become more and more success ful, Jake has also discovered the value of not spreading

10 Copyright Featured Agent Magazine himself too thin As he learned, “When you say yes to an opportunity, you’re saying no to another opportunity ” He knows how important it is to prioritize time management and to think carefully about what projects he chooses to take on so he can give every client the attention and com mitment they deserve. Along with his time management, Jake prioritizes honesty and integrity. Without those, says Jake, “I don’t think any agent’s business will really last in the long term.” Those values don’t stop when he’s off the clock, either. Jake be lieves that success comes from conducting himself with the same honesty and integrity outside of real estate work that he strives for within it One way he shows his in tegrity at home is through his dedicated support of the Shriner ’s Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Jake has big expectations for the Burling Square Group; over the next year, he expects to add another four agents and expand further into luxury rentals and sales. With all this growth and success, time off is limited, but Jake always makes time for family. He and his wife and kids love visiting parks and beaches, and enjoying all the great food and entertainment Chicago has to offer. JAKE BELIEVES THAT SUCCESS COMES FROM CONDUCTING HIMSELF WITH THE SAME HONESTY AND INTEGRITY OUTSIDE OF REAL ESTATE WORK THAT HE STRIVES FOR WITHIN IT. JAKE McCLURE BURLING SQUARE GROUP, FULTON GRACE REALTY | EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 312.468.2669 | JMCCLURE@FULTONGRACE.COM | WWW.BURLINGSQUAREGROUP.COM

As exciting as it is to move into a new home, the process of moving out of the old one can be costly and time consuming. And waiting until the last minute and being unprepared will only make things worse With the right planning and preparation, you can take some of the stress out of moving and put that energy toward being excited about your new home. Here are several ways you can save your sanity and even some money when moving: Plan a schedule Moving is a huge job! But just like anything else, if you break it down into small, man ageable steps, it becomes much easier. Plan a schedule beginning at least four weeks out from your moving date to ensure you leave yourself plenty of time to get everything down and account for any unexpected oc currences Be sure to factor in time for sorting, packing, holding a yard sale, cleaning and making any necessary home repairs. Set daily goals and allow yourself rewards when you meet them, such as taking a break to have a glass of wine or stream an episode of your favorite show Sort and sell Moving is probably the only time to really take stock of everything you have and decide whether or not it’s still something you need or want. Go through every room in your home including the attic, basement and garage and take an inventory of what you find, then determine if each item is something you still need, use or love. If it doesn’t fall into any of those categories, it’s time to let it go Sell items that are in good condition by listing them on EBay, Craig’s List, or Let Go, or simply have a blowout moving sale to get rid of everything at once. For anything that doesn’t sell, call a local nonprofit and schedule a time for them to come and pick it up. Hoard boxes There’s no need to waste money buying brand new moving boxes. As soon as you know you’re moving, be on the lookout for boxes you can use Whether it’s at your office, the grocery store, or your weekly Target run, pick up as many clean, sturdy boxes as you can. Ask family and friends to save any good boxes they run across, too Learn to love labels It’s easy to toss everything into boxes, seal them up, and deal with it later. But doing so will cost you time and money once you reach your new home. You will end up spending hours look ing for things or just giving up and buying new versions because you can’t find what you need By taking time on the front end to carefully pack and label boxes systematically, room by room, you’ll be able to quickly unpack, find everything you need, and focus on turning your new house into a home. Use what you have Clear out your refrigerator, freezer and pantry by making meals out of the food you have. Try to get through as much as you can and if you have any non perishable items left by moving day, do nate them to a local food pantry You don’t want to spend precious time loading up boxes with canned food or have them take up valuable space on the moving truck.

Move mid-week Sure, moving on the weekend is easier, and you don’t have to take any time off from work to do it But, it’s also more expensive Because everyone else wants to move on the weekend, too, you will be paying the highest rates. Moving mid week can save you money, and give you a head start on getting settled You might even be unpacked and settled by the time the weekend rolls around.

Take a break from shopping The last thing you need to do when you’re in the process of packing to move is bring in more things you have to pack. Take a break from shopping to focus on going through what you already have. Even after you move, hold off before shopping for new furniture and household items until you’ve lived in the space for a while You’ll probably be sur prised by how your current furniture and décor looks completely different in its new surroundings. Planning for your move and taking the time to carefully pack and label your items will help moving day go smoothly and reduce your stress level so you can focus on the fun and enjoy setting up your new home

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As the days get shorter, the air gets cooler, and the leaves start crunching underfoot, there’s no mistaking it fall has arrived! That means it’s time to get back to creating cozy, inviting spaces when staging your listings so put away the nautical accents and sun bleached colors and break out the decorative pumpkins and spicy scented candles. Here are several ways you can stage a home for fall.

Start Outside Creating a fall feeling begins be fore you even open the front door Place a pumpkin on the porch, create a grouping of potted fall flowers such as mums, coneflowers and asters, and hang a beautiful fall wreath on the door to establish an autumn mood from the very start. Add a new welcome mat to catch moisture and mud and keep the yard looking neat and tidy by making sure leaves are raked and gutters are clear. Shift the Color Palette This fall’s color trends are a comforting mix of earth and sky Worldwide color authority Pantone points to medium blues, mid tone golds, and rustic reds, grounded by deep grays and warm taupe, as the colors of the season. Incorporate these hues into accent pieces, wall art, throw rugs, bed linens and towels to create an on trend look Add Touchable Textures While summer is all about keeping cool, fall is time to get cozy. Bring out the throw blankets and add extra decorative pillows Warm up — Fall home staging tips

• Add a special touch with fall home fragrance

• Don’t overdo Halloween or Thanksgiving decorations

Incorporate Seasonal Scents Pumpkin spice, warm vanilla, energizing cinnamon, juicy pomegranate fall is filled with delicious scents that create a warm and welcoming feeling Place candles or reed diffusers in strategic places throughout the home to subtly scent the air with these evocative aromas. For an extra luxurious touch, add similarly scented hand soaps to each bathroom.

Embrace the Harvest Decorative ceramic, wooden, or enameled metal bowls filled with apples, pears, gourds or ornamental pumpkins are an easy, inexpensive way to add a fall feeling to any room.

• Showcase arrangements of autumn leaves, fruits & vegetables

Copyright Featured Agent Magazine 13 in rich fabrics like corduroy, brocade, faux fur, and microfiber suede. Just like we layer clothing this time of year, layering textiles creates a feeling of stylish warmth.

Soaking pumpkins and gourds in a mix of warm water and dish soap for 10 minutes, then letting them dry thoroughly in a warm, sunny window before putting them on display will help them last longer

Make sure to turn on lights in every room and have warm light visible in the front windows to create an inviting glow Remember, fall isn’t just a season, it’s a state of mind.

Now you’re ready to stage a home for fall, even if you live a climate that still feels more like summer.

Rearrange the Room Shift the focus from the outside and bring it back into the heart of the home. Arrange clustered groupings of furniture to create areas that are conducive to conservation. If the room has a fireplace, make that the focal point by directing seating toward it and enhancing the mantle with a garland of fall foliage.

• Incorporate on trend colors including medium blue, gold, deep gray & taupe

• Bring back cozy textures like corduroy, tweed & faux fur

Light it Up Fall’s shorter days and softer light means you’ll want to make sure the home’s interior is well-lit for showings in the afternoon and evening.

Quick Fall Staging Tips

While networking connects you with fellow entrepreneurs and business owners, hosting a networking event can position you as a professional leader in your area. Of course, making your event memorable requires planning and execution, and if you haven’t tried to organize an event like this before, the prospect may seem overwhelming. With that in mind, consider these techniques as you curate a networking event that’s sure to impress. Minimize Hurdles For your networking event to memorable, it must be well-attended. Accordingly, consider fine tuning details that make it simpler for invitees to say yes and show up. For instance, e invites with an easy-to-follow link for event registration make signing up simple for guests, while also making it easy for you to count heads. Likewise, pick a well known, centrally located venue with ample parking Consider incorporating an automated e mail reminder close to your event date, that way guests are virtually ushered through the front door.

Incorporate Local or Holidays Events One way to attract area professionals to your networking event is to create a natural tie in with an already occur ring holiday or occasion. For instance, a viewing party for a major sporting event, a Labor Day barbecue, or a Christmas themed meet and greet are chances to 5 Tricks to throwing a memorable networking event

Creating a hub where professionals can network with others in and outside of their field is an excellent way to grow your business, brand, and position. Keep these tips in mind as you put together a memorable net working event in the future. If all goes well, you’ll have made new contacts, broadened your horizons, and created a welcome opportunity for others to do the same. Creating a hub where professionals can network with others in and outside of their field is an excellent way to grow your business, brand, and position.

Anchor Your Attendees Though you can’t be everywhere at once, you can enlist a few close col leagues to help you meet and greet your guests. At a networking event, the last thing you want is stale conversation and attendees who refuse to mingle. That’s why anchoring your guest list with a few friends who have outgoing social skills is a surefire way to keep energy high. Jumpstart your event by planting a few people who can keep conversation flowing and make introductions between guests.

capitalize on already spirited occasions. This will add a natural ambiance of comradery and celebration be tween attendees, giving a sense of theme and direction to your event

Connect Others To ensure that your network ing event delivers its aim bringing people together from across the business community it is your job to play host among your guests. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible and once you find com monality between different guests or groups, play matchmaker and provide an introduction. Connecting others will build energy in your event, and you’ll reap the rewards as host.

Keep in Touch The whole point of a networking event is to connect like minded professionals In the world of real estate, knowing the agents, brokers, and lenders around town can go a long way in streamlining a transaction. Of course, to capitalize on these connec tions, you’ll need to find ways to stay in touch long after the event is over Follow up the week after your event to thank guests for their attendance and offer to connect them with other attendees they might have hit it off with. You may consider touching base again a few months later in preparation for your next event, or choose a few new faces and invite them to meet up for coffee or lunch to keep the conversation going

featuredagent magazine f Featured Agent Magazine is a valuable resource for both real estate clients and professionals alike. Home buyers and sellers Let us introduce you to real estate professionals ready to assist with your next transaction Moving can be stressful! We hope to educate and inform y o u a b o u t t h e p r o c e s s a n d s h a r e t i p s a n d i n s i g h t o n h o w t o m a k e t h e e x perience smooth and enjoyable. Agents and real estate professionals Take advantage of the opportunity to share, network and be seen Along t h e w a y, p i c k u p t i p s a n d i d e a s t o h e l p g r o w y o u r b u s i n e s s , i n c r e a s e m o t i vation and achieve your goals. www.featuredagentmagazine.com contact@featuredagentmagazine.com 888.437.5707 tu tu Visit our website for more information and to find out how to recommend a professional to be featured, advertise or subscribe.

September 2022 Midwest

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Warm up Fall home staging tips