January 2019

January 2019

Clear the clutter —

Easy home organization tips

Fresh start —

Winter home staging

Josh Roy

Habits of successful real estate agents

Find your

motivation

contents

professionals 4

The great eight — Habits of successful real estate agents

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Find your motivation

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Fresh start— Winter home staging

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t featured cover agent

Josh Roy

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Get a jump start on organization — Top 10 Things to throw away today Clear the clutter — Easy home organization tips

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The great eight —

Habits of successful real estate agents Perhaps you are just getting your start in the real estate business. Or, maybe you’ve been an agent for a while but you’re not experiencing the success you envisioned.

And even if you are enjoying great success, there’s always room to take it to the next level, right? Whatever your current situation, take some time to review the following habits. They are the proven practices highly successful agents we talk to on a daily basis rely on to stay at the top of their game.

Establish a Morning Ritual — One thing we hear time and time again from the most successful agents is how they have an established set of practices they use to start their day. Whether it’s a pre-dawn cup

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of coffee combined with quiet meditation, or sweating it out at the gym (or some of both), starting each morning the same way helps set the stage for a more productive, less stressful day.

Ask for Help & Utilize Resources — Every individual agent is essentially the owner of their own small business. That doesn’t mean you have to go it alone, however. Turn to your managing broker, fellow agents and other professionals, such as mortgage lenders and title agents, to help you learn about the intricacies of different types of transactions. Additionally, start making an effort to utilize assistants and other resources to keep your workload manageable.

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agents make continuing education a priority. They see the value in learning everything they can about the many different aspects of real estate. And they understand that designations add credibility and help them present to clients as a trustworthy authority.

Establish Boundaries — Many agents pride themselves on being available to their clients 24/7.

While it’s certainly advisable to make clients a priority, you can do so without sacrificing every moment of your personal life. Setting up reasonable boundaries on your time, such as not taking calls during your family’s dinner hour, is healthy and allows you to create a more realistic work/life balance.

Schedule Your Days — Most agents we talk to tell us how important it is for them to schedule their time, even when they’re not seeing clients. Setting aside time for essentials tasks, such as lead generation and follow-up, will help ensure you have a steady stream of leads in the pipeline.

While it’s tempting to do everything yourself to retain control, keeping up that pace can lead to burnout.

Develop a Business Plan — Many agents get started in the business with no real road map for where they’re going to go. They get a running start by relying on friends and family for business, but once those transactions come and go, they’re at a loss for what to do next. Savvy agents get started with goals in place that go beyond their immediate sphere of influence.

Continue Education & Pursue Designations Earning your license may feel like the end of a process, but it’s really just the beginning. Successful Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

Make Work Enjoyable — Every job has its good days and bad days. But when you make a conscious effort to have a good time every day, the bad days will be few and far between. Successful agents we talk to all make it a point to mention how much they love being in real estate. Some agents love meeting new people, others love staging and marketing listings and we’ve even talked to some agents who are passionate about doing paperwork. Whatever it is you love most about being in real estate, be sure to do as much of it as possible.

Become a Force for Good — Getting involved in the community through volunteering and monetary support serves a number of worthwhile purposes. It creates outstanding networking opportunities and helps you to establish a reputation as someone who cares about the communities that support your business.

Plus, it just feels great to give back!

There is no magic formula for real estate success. But when you combine your own unique personality and skills with these best practices, you’ll find every day is just a little easier, more productive and more enjoyable.

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Find your

motivation

Any high-achieving agent will tell you that staying motivated plays a key role in their success.

But motivation is a tricky thing. Some days, your feet hit the floor and you feel ready to take on the world.

While other days the only thing you really feel like doing is reaching for the remote and binge-watching the latest season of House of Cards.

So what separates the highly motivated people? Do they have a secret? Do they always wake up feeling ready to have their best day ever? Not necessarily.

But, they do tend to share some common traits and strategies for staying motivated, even when that feeling doesn’t come naturally. Give some of their motivational tips a try:

Change it Up — Structure and routine can contribute to productivity, but they can also kill spontaneity and motivation. If you’re feeling less than inspired, take a break from your regular routine and shake things up.

Instead of sitting at your desk all day, take your laptop to a coffee shop, library or park and let the new faces and surroundings inspire you. Turn your schedule upside down and tackle your usual afternoon activities first thing in the morning. Try whatever you need to break out of your routine and make your day interesting again.

Get Back to Basics — It’s hard to feel motivated if you’re not taking care of yourself. If you’ve been getting by on too little sleep and too much fast food, give your body a break and give it what it needs.

Drink lots of water, make healthier food choices and catch your Z’s. Although some agents wear ‘no sleep’ 6

as a badge of honor, it’s actually doing damage to your health that you might not see now, but will down the road. Your motivation is guaranteed to go up when your body and mind are nourished and well-rested.

Look Back, Look Ahead — Spend some time reflecting on the different stages of your career — where you were, where you are, and where you hope to be. Think back to a time when you felt extra motivated.

If you were doing things differently, what were they and would it make sense to do them again? Take stock of where you are now, and formulate goals for the future.

Imagine your ideal scenario and determine what it’s going to take to get there. What was important to you even one year ago may be different than what’s important to you now. It’s very helpful to acknowledge and respond to those changes. When you know exactly what you’re shooting for, you’ll be more motivated to reach it.

Turn to the Experts — It never hurts to get a little help from those who have dedicated their lives to motivating others. Whether you prefer to read, watch, or listen to your favorite motivational speakers (or do all three), spend some time with your favorite expert each day. A quick YouTube search for ‘motivational speeches’ yields thousands of choices, from old-school favorites like Zig Ziglar to contemporary superstars like Tony Robbins. You can also seek out highly motivated agents within your own brokerage and ask them how they stay motivated. They will appreciate being asked, and you’ll get some great real-world advice from someone you know and trust.

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Fresh start —

Winter home staging

Listing a home for sale during the winter months comes with its own unique set of challenges, not the least of which is how to stage a home for the season once the holidays have past. It’s easy to make a home look beautiful and inviting when everything is merry and bright, but more challenging when all the decorations have been put away and the weather is still gloomy and gray. But with some creativity and the right tools, it’s possible to make winter home staging look easy. Here’s how:

Clear the Clutter — Just like we tend to lighten up our eating habits after the holidays, our visual diet can use a break, too. The holidays are all about sparkle, shine, glitter and glam. And while all those things are beautiful, they can become overwhelming over time.

That’s why January is the perfect time to stage homes to look clean, soothing and clutter free. It’s a welcome break after the visual feast of the holidays. And because Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

people tend to be spending most of their time indoors during the winter, clutter or anything overdone can contribute to feelings of claustrophobic cabin fever.

Shift the Color Palette — After a season of bright red, kelly green, and shiny metallics, a more muted color palette feels right this time of year. Try adding accents in rich, classic shades like slate blue, burgundy, ivory and sage green. You definitely want to incorporate color inside to counter the gray skies outside, but it should be muted and subtle, rather than bright and bold.

Add Layers and Texture — Potential homeowners want to walk into a home that looks and feels like a place conducive to snuggling in and relaxing. Adding texture and layers with decorative rugs, warm throws and extra pillows will create those feelings. Focus on cozy, touchable fabrics such as flannel, faux fur and 7

chunky cable knits that look like a favorite sweater.

Make sure bedroom comforters and bedspreads have the same seasonally appropriate look and feel.

Bring the Outdoors In — Rooms always feel more authentic when you bring a bit of the outside in.

Place seasonal citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit or pomegranates in a wooden or heavy ceramic bowl on the kitchen or dining room table. Pine cones offer the same earthy, organic ambiance. Even a small, indoor herb or succulent garden placed on a windowsill brings a dash of much-needed green life to a space and serves as a reminder that spring will eventually arrive.

Go Into the Light — When it’s dark and gloomy outside, it’s important for the home’s interior to look bright. Consider upping the wattage of the bulbs in lamps throughout the house and adding sleek torchiere lamps in dark corners to cast a warm glow throughout the room. Don’t forget to leave the porch 8

light and other exterior lights on so the home’s exterior appears inviting.

Show Other Seasons — Ask the homeowners for photos of the property during the spring and summer. Put them together in a photo album or in picture frames placed strategically throughout the house.

Those viewing the house will appreciate seeing the flowers blooming in the spring or the garden overflowing with vegetables during the summer.

Add Thoughtful Details — Little details can make a big difference to prospective homeowners who are viewing the house. Make sure there are clean doormats by all exterior doors so they can wipe their feet before coming in. No one wants to walk around inside all bundled up, so bring in a coat rack or place some removable Command hooks in the entry way so they can shed coats, scarves and hats and walk around unencumbered.

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Josh Roy

Josh Roy

Like many college students, Josh Roy was figuring out the direction he wanted his life to go following graduation. But unlike most, he actually found the answer long before he donned a cap and gown. “I took an introduction to real estate class. It seemed like there were a lot of cool opportunities and it really piqued my interest,” Josh recalls. Never one to waste time going after what he wanted, he became licensed while still a junior in college and before long, he had a successful business up and running.

“I found that I really enjoy it, especially the part where I get to help people fulfill their dreams.”

It’s been 10 years now, and Josh still gets a thrill from the feeling of helping clients throughout Colorado Springs and El Paso County. “I work with anyone who needs my help,” he says. “We have four military bases in the area so I work with many military families. My family moved a lot when I was a kid, 10

so I can relate to those aspects of relocating every few years. Plus it’s cool to get to know so many people from different parts of the country.”

After working at different points in his career for both RE/MAX and Century 21 — and being named Rookie of the Year at each — Josh recently opened his own brokerage, NextHome Pikes Peak Realty.

“I knew that when I opened my own business, I’d want to do it here in Colorado Springs, where I spent a lot of time growing up,” Josh explains. “Century 21 and RE/MAX are both great companies, and I wanted to take the best of what I learned and add to it to create something that both agents and clients would love.”

Honesty is the foundation on which Josh is building his business. “We believe in being straightforward and acting as a facilitator and coach for our clients’ Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

transactions,” he says. “We communicate honestly and share all the information — good and bad — because it’s always better for clients to have information sooner rather than later.” Josh has worked with several clients who have had unsuccessful experiences working with other agents, and his goal is to turn their negatives into positives. “We treat people how we’d want to be treated in a transaction,” he says. “If I hire someone to do something for me and they do a good job, I’m their biggest advocate. That’s how we want our business to be. If we bust our tails for a client, we hope they will tell their friends and family about us.”

One of the reasons Josh started his own brokerage was to have the opportunity to train and mentor new agents. “A lot of companies will just bring new agents in to hang their license and leave them on their own,” he says. “We tell them that it’s a great Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

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“By the end of the transaction, I’m not just a REALTOR®, we become friends — almost like family.” there’s no magic formula to ensure client loyalty, Josh believes he knows what keeps his clients coming back. “The process of buying or selling can be stressful, but many times we get to closing and people will say: ‘Wow that was a lot easier than I thought,’ and I think people remember that. By the end of the transaction, I’m not just a REALTOR®, we become friends — almost like family.

During the process I break down that barrier and clients know they can call me any time.”

job and very rewarding; but sometimes it’s not for everybody. You have to dive into it and go at it 100 miles an hour and things will start breaking through. The first few months you might feel like you’re on a treadmill not going anywhere but you really are.”

Josh has built up a client base that’s an ideal mix of repeat clients, referrals and new clients. “More than half my clients are people I’ve worked with before or who came to us after receiving a recommendation,” he says. “And being in a military town, we’ll always have a lot of new clients because there are always new people moving in.” While

It’s clear that Josh truly enjoys his chosen career and is excited to share what he has learned and help other agents be successful.

“I think what I enjoy the most about real estate is the opportunity it brings,” he says. “I talk to people in the corporate world and they know what they’re going to make every year.

In real estate, its unlimited potential. You’re not tied down. And I really like being my own boss; that doesn’t work for everyone, but it definitely works for me.”

Although his brokerage is still relatively new, Josh already has an eye on the future.

“Right now we’re fairly small, and I want to grow a bit more — not too fast; I’m planning for steady growth so we’re ready for it. I want to create a good culture with great agents and grow into being a high production office.”

Josh Roy NextHome Pikes Peak Realty | Colorado Springs, CO 719.322.7664 | joshroysellshomes@gmail.com | www.nexthomepikespeakrealty.com 12

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Get a jump-start on organization— Top 10 Things to throw away today

An easy way to get a jump-start on organizing your home is to take a few minutes to get rid of things you never use that are taking up valuable space. Here’s a list of things you can throw away (or recycle) right now.

It’s guaranteed you won’t miss them when they’re gone.

Anything Past Its Expiration Date — Expiration dates exist for a reason. If you’re hanging on to anything past its prime, time to get rid of it. That includes food, toiletries, cosmetics, vitamins and medications.

Worn Towels or Bedding — You know you never use them, which means they’re just taking up space in the linen closet. Get rid of any frayed, faded, torn or threadbare towels and linens right now to make room for new ones.

Old Keys — Everyone has that drawer filled with keys that have no purpose in your life. You’re never going to remember what they’re for, so quit trying and get rid of them.

Empty Boxes — Yes, they might come in handy. But when? If you really need a box, you’ll find one.

Break down the ones you have and put them out for recycling.

Old Magazines, Books and Newspapers — All that paper creates clutter and can be a home for insects (yuck!). Recycle old magazines and papers; donate books to local schools or senior centers.

Outdated Electronics, Cords and Chargers — Old phones, iPods, tablets, computers, and all their accessories have become a major clutter category. Recycle, donate or sell any electronics you’re not currently using. Only keep cords and chargers for your current devices.

Missing or Mismatched Pairs — This includes socks, shoes, boots and jewelry. If you can’t make a match, you’re never going to use it. Time to let it go.

Cracked Dishes and Glassware — Not only are these unsightly, they actually pose a safety hazard.

Paper and Plastic Bags — It’s nice to have a few around, but if you have an overflowing stash, send most of it to recycling. Make the switch to reusable cloth bags to eliminate this category altogether.

CDs and DVDs — Chances are you’ve made the switch to digital entertainment formats. But even if you haven’t yet, sort through your collections and only keep the ones you know you’re going to watch or listen to.

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Clear the clutter —

Easy home organization tips

Now that the holiday hustle and bustle has passed, it’s the perfect time for a fresh start. Wouldn’t you love to have a neat, clean and organized home in 2019? One in which you can always find what you need, without wasting time looking through what you don’t? Rooms that are organized and free of clutter not only look better, they feel better, too. Studies have shown that excessive clutter can create or worsen feelings of stress and anxiety, and even make it difficult to get the quality sleep that’s so important for maintaining good health. If you’re not sure how or where to start getting your home organized, these tips will help.

Make it Manageable — If you’ve undertaken organizing projects before, only to quit before you achieve the results you want, chances are you’ve taken on too much at once. Decluttering and organizing is best done one room, or even one area of one room at a time. To stay motivated, set aside time each day to work on a specific area of your home, rather than doing a little bit here and a little bit there. It will be easier to focus, and as you begin to see progress, you’ll be even more excited to continue.

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Sort and Purge — Remember the old saying, “a place for everything and everything in its place?”

That’s impossible to achieve when all your storage space is already filled with stuff. You’ll never be able to get organized if you don’t go through what you have and start getting rid of things you no longer need, use or enjoy. The easiest way to do this is to get three boxes, baskets or bins and label them “Keep,” “Donate/Sell” and “Toss.” Everything you touch needs to go in one of the categories (and they can’t all be “keep”). Set a time limit and move quickly; don’t give yourself time to ponder or reminisce. Make quick decisions and stick to them. Once you’ve cleared space, it will be much easier to assign a place to everything.

Get Off the Paper Trail — Nothing accumulates faster or looks messier than stacks of excess paper.

Unopened mail, magazines, catalogs and even books are some of the toughest opponents in the war against clutter. To get it under control, start by going through what you have. Open all unopened mail, recycle outdated magazines, and find a place for books that you want to keep; donate the ones you don’t. Once you have things in order, take steps to ensure it doesn’t

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happen again. Sign up to receive all your monthly bills and statements electronically, opt out of prescreened credit and insurance offers and switch to digital versions of your favorite magazines and books.

Rather than letting mail pile up, take a few minutes to sort through it daily.

Embrace the One In, One Out Rule — Once you’ve purged and organized, you’re going to want to keep things under control. A great way to do that is to practice the “one in, one out” rule. That simply means that every time you bring home something new in a particular category, you need to get rid of something you already have in the same category. For example, if you get a new pair of shoes, an existing pair of shoes has to go. Getting in the habit of doing this will help keep clutter under control. And in time, it might actually help you save money, too. At first, it will likely be easy, because you’re in the mood to get rid of things anyway. But once you reach a certain point, you’ll have to think twice about what you’re willing to give up to bring in something new, and Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

you’ll have a harder time letting go of things you use and enjoy regularly.

Get Creative with Storage Solutions and Space — Start looking at your space differently.

Closets, drawers and cabinets aren’t the only places to store things. Consider the usually unused spaces behind doors, under beds and in corners. Look for places to use hanging baskets, over-the-door shoe racks, or a series of hooks. Hang shelves and use them to group potential clutter, such as perfume bottles or framed photos, into decorative accents instead. Once you free your mind and look at your space with fresh eyes, you’ll see plenty of possibilities you didn’t realize existed.

Don’t let the sheer magnitude of organizing your home keep you from getting started. Remember to focus on one area at a time and celebrate your small successes as you go. Once you achieve a state of clutterfree organization, you’ll be glad you took the time and made the effort.

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