March 2018

March 2018

Ready to buy a home?

Get your credit ready first

The benefits of joining

a professional organization

How to remain calm

when things don’t go as planned

Rick Raanes also featured:

Phil Dyson Gail Higley Aaron Luttrell

contents

professionals

buyers&sellers

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Make your business boom — The benefits of joining a professional organization

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Ready to buy a home?

Get your credit ready first

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Keeping your cool — How to remain calm when things don’t go as planned

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Identifying wants vs. needs — A step-by-step guide

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Tricks of the trade — Improve your time management skills

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q featured cover agent

q featured agent

Rick Raanes

Phil Dyson 11

q featured agent

q featured agent

Gail Higley

Aaron Luttrell 16

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Make your business boom —

The benefits of joining a professional organization In the real estate industry, relationships are everything.

While building a strong connection to your immediate colleagues and your client base is step one, there’s more you can do to cultivate positive professional relationships in your sphere. Consider the professional organization, a prevalent institution in the world of real estate. Whether you join a local chamber of commerce, a young professionals club, or a well-known entity like the National Association of REALTORS,® there are plenty of avenues to explore that can boost your business as you forge new bonds. Take a look at some of the following advantages that detail just how game-changing a professional organization can be for an agent or broker.

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Networking made easy — This may seem obvious, but joining a professional organization populated by others excelling in your field is a one-stop-shop for endless networking opportunities. However, this goes far beyond the simple act of adding names to your contact sheet. A local or even statewide real estate scene can be surprisingly small. If you’ve made pleasantries with another agent or lender through a professional organization, you’ve already built a baseline of understanding should you cross paths while doing business. On the other hand, if you need to reach out to a fellow agent or lender in the course of a deal who you don’t know, your professional organization could provide a common connection that will make your introduction easier.

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Working in real estate is a roundthe-clock job, but make time for the things that matter. If you want your business to enjoy longevity in this industry, don’t go it alone. want to update your resume. Aside from the skillbuilding and networking opportunities inherent in joining a professional organization, it’ll also round out your experience and engagement in your field.

Besides, you never know who will be the person reviewing your resume. Perhaps he or she also has a connection to your professional organization. Either way, you’ll showcase the fact that you’re willing to go above and beyond office hours to grow in and support your industry.

Build your skills — Professional organizations are often built, at least in part, to unite and uplift entrepreneurs on a common path. With that in mind, professional organizations will often offer — free of charge, subsidized, or discounted — access to continuing education opportunities, seminars, speaker series, and more. In the real estate world, staying ahead of the industry’s constant evolutions is a key ingredient to long-term success.

This means that taking advantage of skill-building courses and activities can give you the boost you need to grow as a professional and business owner.

Boost your resume — Perhaps you’re moving offices or making a shift in your career path — you’ll Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

Lean on a support system — Yes, professional advancement is a great reason to get involved in a local, state, or national real estate or lending organization. But have you have ever considered the emotional benefits of communing with your fellow agents or loan officers, or with others working hard as business owners in your community? Don’t bring your gripes and anxieties home with you. If you’re feeling frustrated, vexed by a problem, or simply want to talk shop with a fellow industry insider, a professional organization can give you a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on.

Working in real estate is a round-the-clock job, but make time for the things that matter. If you want your business to enjoy longevity in this industry, don’t go it alone. Reach out to a professional organization that interests you — whether its focus is charitable volunteer work, skill-building, or otherwise. From there, you’ll meet others working hard on the hustle, just like you. Come for the comradery and stay for the endless professional advantages that will be a boon to your business.

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Keeping your cool —

How to remain calm when things don’t go as planned Change is inherent in the real estate industry, which means that learning to roll with changes as a real estate agent is an occupational hazard that simply can’t be avoided. Although the ever-changing and unpredictable nature of work as a professional REALTOR® is exciting, stimulating and incredibly rewarding, it can also be an incredibly stressful career.

There are dozens of variables at play in every transaction, whether you’re selling a distressed property, 6

working with nervous first-time homebuyers, or even working with seasoned investors. No matter how organized, how diligent, or how long you’ve been in the field, there are going to be days when things go a little haywire, and there’s nothing you can do to control it.

Fortunately, there are ways to control how you react to stressful situations. Indeed, there are tried-and-true tactics for keeping your cool, even when blindsided by an unexpected challenge in a purchase or sale.

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can do about it, let your clients, or others involved know about the setback as soon as possible. That way, making a phone call you don’t want to make isn’t hanging over your head for any longer than necessary. Addressing the situation as soon as possible will help you to feel less stressed.

Keep Away from the Caffeine — When stressful situations arise, steering clear of additional stimulants is a good idea. Caffeine can trigger additional adrenaline production which may give you a quick extra burst of energy, but will soon likely be followed by a “crash” period, where fatigue, if not outright exhaustion can set in. Reach for a glass of water, or a healthy juice in lieu of a caffeinated beverage when things feel chaotic.

Tap into the Power of Positivity — Catastrophizing when things go wrong only serves to induce additional stress. Try taking a few moments to identify the positive things happening in other transactions, in your life, or with a new promising client, to keep your chin up. Positive thinking during challenging times will do wonders in terms of keeping you focused on the next task at hand, rather than letting an obstacle or setback throw off your whole day.

Here are five tips that will help you to stay calm, when things don’t go as planned.

Remember to Breathe — When you get word that an unforeseen delay, or other obstacle has arisen, the first thing to remember is that taking a few deep breaths will help to calm you down immediately. Try closing your eyes for a few minutes and put the problem on pause, to focus on breathing. This helps to calm your mind and can help slow down your body’s physical response to stress.

Seek a Solution — When a curveball is thrown your way, it’s helpful to look at the problem and identify whether there is anything you can do to correct it, or whether it’s out of your control. If there is a possible solution, determine your strategy, and take the next steps towards resolution. If there is nothing you Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

Talk it Out — There is great benefit to discussing the challenge you’re facing with someone you trust.

Perhaps it is time to call your mentor, or your coach.

Maybe you need to just touch base with a confidante or close colleague. Not only will talking through the challenge likely feel like a weight off your shoulders, but there’s always the chance that whomever you call may have a solution you haven’t thought of. Either way, sharing your feelings with someone else can help take some of the sting out of a stressful experience.

As real estate agents, the personal satisfaction earned through helping others, succeeding in negotiations, or selling a home that clients are desperate to sell is limitless. Yet, all REALTORS® will have to work their way through stressful situations to get those rewards at some point in their career. It’s important to remember that staying calm, when times become stressful will only help you to better serve your clients, your referral partners, and your own well-being.

Learning to accept that obstacles will come up, and employing these best practices to stay as relaxed as possible when unexpected obstacles arise, will be an invaluable tool for the rest of your career.

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featuredagent Phil Dyson magazine

Phil Dyson got his start in real estate 15 years ago, after a successful turn working in Information Technology. He’d been exposed to the industry while providing IT support to a home loan company and instantly became intrigued by the limitless possibilities of the real estate world.

After earning his license in 2003, Phil launched his own business, Lighthouse Real Estate Brokerage, just five years later. Today, he has carved out a steadfast reputation for professionalism, follow-through and utmost integrity.

Licensed throughout the State of Maryland, Phil primarily serves the Baltimore metro area, and has made inroads into Prince George’s County, as well. He leads a capable, tight-knit team at his office based in Lutherville, and cultivates a robust 40% of his business from repeat and referral clientele. At the heart of his success, Phil cites honesty and high-quality service as the primary drivers of his professional philosophy.

“I’m an honest and true professional. People know if you care and are focused on their needs. It’s important to always do the right thing,” he says. “In some situations, it may not be popular or benefit you monetarily, but you can’t be shortsighted. If you do the right thing, it’ll pay off in the long run.”

What’s more, Phil and his team at Lighthouse Real Estate Brokerage offer a range of services to meet all his clients’ unique market needs. From full-service property management to experience in commercial resale and leasing options, clients of all kinds turn to Phil as a one-stopshop for his real estate expertise. “I don’t pigeonhole myself into just one area,” he says. “People choose to work with us because they want to feel they’re working with professionals. They’re confident we’ll be able to help them with their needs.”

When it comes to growing his business, Phil’s service

creates a lasting connection with clients, while empowering his sphere of influence. This not only accounts for his healthy rate of repeat and referral clientele, but also speaks to his ability to deliver hard results when it counts. “I recently closed a deal for a husband and wife, and less than two months later, I helped the wife’s father buy a house, as well. Then, that led to working with his son and daughter-in-law,” Phil explains. “If you’re able to help people, your business will grow.”

To market his business and garner new opportunities to serve others, Phil often partners with area mortgage professionals to host informational seminars and home buying events. Likewise, his natural affinity for his work and passion for people keeps business on an upswing. “I love seeing people get excited about finally doing what they thought they couldn’t do, when they weren’t sure they’d be able to get in the right position to buy or sell a home,” Phil says. “When they realize it’s possible, I love seeing their excitement and being the one to help guide them through that process.

It reminds me of a verse from the Bible: ‘All things are possible to them that believe.’”

To give back to his community, Phil is strongly bonded with his church family and supports his church’s missionary efforts in Jamaica. He also mentors middle and high school students, sharing his experience and opportunities in STEM fields. In his remaining free hours, Phil most enjoys spending quality time with his wife and kids, traveling, and fellowshipping with his church family.

Looking ahead, Phil has plans to continue to grow his business and mindfully add to his team over time. His foremost goal is to maintain the high caliber service his clients have come to expect, while expanding his reach and ability to serve his community through the pursuit of homeownership. “I really have a driving motivation to help people,” Phil reflects. “It’s what keeps me going. I appreciate God every day for what He provides for me and what I’m able to share with others.”

Phil Dyson Lighthouse Real Estate Brokerage | Lutherville, MD 443.901.1038 | phildyson@lighthousereb.com | www.lighthousereb.com 8

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Tricks of the trade —

Improve your time management skills

One of the greatest gifts that being a real estate agent provides, lies in the fact that no two days are ever the same. It keeps you on your toes, keeps your mind active, and your days often seem to pass in the blink of an eye.

With amazing opportunities for personal success — all the while being able to genuinely help others — there’s frankly no other career quite like it.

However, a real estate career is certainly not known for being a particularly predictable profession. Appraisals can come in low. Basements flood. Multiple offers come in all at once. Financing gets delayed.

And sometimes that’s just a Tuesday! Sometimes it can seem downright impossible to not only plan your days, but actually stick to your plan.

That’s not to say you can’t make the most of each day, even when the not-so-uncommon curveball is thrown your way. While you can’t control potential challenges that may arise, nor make the day any longer, there are ways you can be sure to make the most of your time.

Here are seven tips for best managing your time as a professional real estate agent.

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Acknowledge Your Business Goals — Remind yourself of your short-term and long-term business goals each day. That way, you’ll be able to look at the big picture when scheduling your days, and your weeks. By reminding yourself of your immediate goals, and where you would like your business to be next quarter, next year, or five years from now, you’ll keep your sights firmly focused on working towards those overarching goals, even when things get hectic.

Put Effort into Prioritizing — There are many methods of prioritizing your tasks, but one of the simplest ways to do so is to sort your various responsibilities into categories so you can take a clear look at what is most time sensitive, what can be put off if necessary, and what items can be postponed easily.

By prioritizing your tasks, you’re less likely to stray from your plan, and avoid feeling like you’re busy, yet unproductive.

Use Technology to Track Your Time — Time tracking and time management apps can be incredibly useful for real estate agents on the go. By logging how

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you spend your time, you’re likely to see patterns, thereby being able to identify your most productive days, or pinpointing tasks that wind up taking more time than they should. When you can look at how you planned to spend your day, and compare it with how you actually spend your time, you’ll be in a better position to see where adjustments need to be made.

Learn to Live with Saying No — As real estate agents, it’s hard not to say yes to every request, invitation, or opportunity that comes your way. After all, you’re in the business of customer service. But you’re also in the business of being honest, which means that sometimes you’re going to have to say no to a request when you simply don’t have the time, and that’s ok. Your clients may see you as a super hero, but you must remember you’re only human and can only take on so much.

Minimize Distractions — Multi-tasking is a way of life for most real estate agents, but there can be too much of a good thing. Try reducing the number of notifications you receive from various apps, or social media during times when you need to focus. Or, consider silencing your phone while you’re working on a new 10

listing. Little distractions can lead to big delays, and wasted time.

Decide to Delegate — Learning to delegate can be a challenge, but committing to do so can significantly lighten your load, and free up extra time. To get started, it may be beneficial to delegate the least time sensitive items until you become comfortable with entrusting others to help you meet your goals.

Sleep, Eat, Exercise, Repeat — Getting plenty of rest ensures that your mind is poised to function at its peak level. Likewise, a balanced diet, will help you to maintain your energy level throughout the day. Exercise is also a powerful tool for learning to manage your time, through relieving stress and providing a boost of endorphins to feel good during the day and sleep well at night.

Learning to manage your time as a busy real estate agent can take effort and dedication. But it can also feel like a life-saver in terms of keeping you calm, cool, and collected in a career synonymous with unpredictability and unmeasurable rewards.

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Rick Raanes

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Rick Raanes

Rick Raanes cut his teeth in the real estate business working in the construction and home rehab sector.

There, he honed his knowledge of building and the market as a whole, before venturing into house-flipping on the investment side of the industry. Becoming an agent proved to be a natural transition for Rick, who set to work by combining his first-hand insight with a passion for serving others. That was back in 2004, and nearly 14 years later, he’s crafted a firstrate professional reputation, as well as an all-star team in the Texas Rockstar Group.

Primarily serving The Woodlands and North Houston area, Rick and his team serve clients of all kinds, though they have a particular affinity for working alongside growing families moving up in the market.

Rick heads a team of 15, including seven buyer’s agents and two listing specialists, as well as an administrative support staff. Together, Rick and his team have built a substantial base of business, with 70% of their work stemming from repeat and referral clientele.

At the root of their success is an abiding commitment to people-centric service that doesn’t skimp on the

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details. From steadfast communication customized for the client, to incisive online marketing campaigns, Rick and his team ensure that buyers and sellers are in capable hands from start to finish. “In helping our buyers, our background in construction allows us to take into account the structure of a property, how well-built it is, and what the potential appreciation of the area may be. There’s much more to a home than its paint colors and finishes. We make sure buyers are aware of all the little details.”

As for helping sellers navigate the market, Rick applies similar insight from his construction days. Not only does he and the team prep homes for market through staging and magazine-quality photographs, but they also launch targeted social media and digital marketing campaigns to source the ideal buyer. “As far as our sellers go, it’s all about protecting value,” Rick explains. “We use one of the best photographers in the area, so that our first images online are our best images. This helps us attract the right buyer and do a great job for our sellers.” Likewise, careful attention is paid to funneling online interest to the Texas Rockstar Group’s well-curated site, ensuring would-be buyers land in the right spot. Rick and his Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

“In helping our buyers, our background in construction allows us to take into account the structure of a property, how well-built it is, and what the potential appreciation of the area may be. There’s much more to a home than its paint colors and finishes. We make sure buyers are aware of all the little details.” team are also active in their community, creating natural opportunities to bolster their brand and listings. In fact, 2017 brought about a big change. Rick and his wife, Vanessa, and their son, Holton, started their own non-profit organization, the BackStage Foundation, to support causes close to their clients’ hearts. “Much of what we do is about supporting our community,” Rick explains. “Different clients support different causes — from the Montgomery County Animal Shelter, Montgomery County Food Bank, Green Zone Housing for Disabled Veterans to Hurricane Harvey Relief efforts, and more.”

While Rick and his team’s track record is wellproven, they’ve also earned various accolades along the way that highlight their abilities and accomplishments. They made the transition to eXp Realty in Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

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“Everybody has different processes and goals when it comes to their housing needs, and the majority of our clients become good friends of ours. That’s a tribute to our team, and we really enjoy the process.” passion for serving others. “What we enjoy most are the people,” he says. “Everybody has different processes and goals when it comes to their housing needs, and the majority of our clients become good friends of ours. That’s a tribute to our team, and we really enjoy the process.”

June of 2017 as their banner company, and in five short months, they earned the ICON Agent status for their annual sales volume and giving back to the company. During this transition, Rick and Vanessa also merged teams with Brian and Holly Mathieson and their Forest Home Team. This partnership has been a blessing to team growth, and has created a super team that supports and compliments each other.

By closing in on community relationship-building targets, and annual sales goals, Rick and the Texas RockStar Group have hit the ground running.

In considering the inspiration behind their hard work and prosperity thus far, Rick cites a genuine

As for the future of his enterprise, Rick and his team hope to increase their brand of success by expanding into new metro areas across the state, including Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas — to name a few.

In the next five years, they hope to grow their team to 50 agents, with a positive presence rooted around the Lone Star State. Rick is also eager to keep learning and evolving with the fluctuations of the industry, with new buyers entering the market and established buyers beginning their next chapters. In the meantime, Rick most enjoys spending time with his wife and children, a family that’s full of talent. His eldest child is set to graduate from Texas A&M in the spring, his middle daughter travels the country showcasing her art, and his third-grade youngest is an awarded Irish dancer who performs at festivals around the state. Now, with almost 14 years of sterling experience behind him, and a determined eye toward the road ahead, the future is sure to be bright for Rick Raanes and his team, the Texas Rockstar Group.

Rick Raanes eXp Realty | Magnolia, TX 281.960.1900 | Rick@TexasRockstarGroup.com | TexasRockstarGroup.com 14

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Ready to buy a home?

Get your credit ready first If you are thinking of purchasing a home in the coming year, there are several things you should do before you ever step foot into a potential house. One of them is to review and improve your credit to help ensure you receive the most favorable home loan terms. Of course, everyone has their own unique set of circumstances when it comes to finances, but there are some basic guidelines all borrowers can benefit from. Here they are:

Start with Your Score — The first thing you want to do is get a copy of your credit report, which includes your FICO credit score. You can get your report for free at annualcreditreport.com. Review it thoroughly for any errors or inaccuracies. If you find any, get to work having them corrected; you want lenders making decisions based on your information, not someone else’s. Traditional lenders typically require a credit score of 620 or higher to consider applicants for a loan; FHA loans require a minimum score of 580. However, your score will also affect the interest rate on your mortgage — the higher the score, the lower the rate.

So it’s worth it to work on improving your score before you apply.

Pay On Time, Every Time — This is the single most important thing you can do to ensure a good credit score. Having a strong record of on-time payments is essential when applying for a home loan. Even one recent late payment can greatly influence the decision.

If you’ve had any issues paying on time in the past, make it impossible to pay late by setting up all your bills up for automatic payments.

Hold Steady with Credit Cards — When you apply for a mortgage, lenders will be looking for consistency and responsibility. So now isn’t the time to open a lot of new credit cards. But it’s also not the time to close the ones you have. It’s a great idea to pay down high balances, but even if you pay off one or more cards, don’t close the accounts. Doing so can have a negative effect on your credit utilization ratio Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

(amount of total debt divided by total available credit), which has the potential to lower your credit score — exactly what you don’t want.

Even if you’ve made financial mistakes in the past, you can still work toward improving your score. It takes time, patience and discipline, but it will be well worth it.

Beware of Quick Fix Credit Repair — If you’re credit score is lower than you’d like, you might be tempted to go for one of the quick fix credit repair solutions. Don’t do it. There is no way to immediately “fix” bad credit. What these companies do is initiate disputes on all negative entries on your credit report.

While the creditors look into it, those line items will disappear from the report, which gives the temporary appearance of a cleaner credit record. But, once the creditor determines the entry is valid, it will show back up on your report. You are better off taking the money you’d spend on credit repair and using it to pay down high balances.

Have a Talk with Your Boss — While this won’t directly influence your credit, it can help as you prepare a plan to buy your home. Talk with your manager about what you can expect in the coming year. Are you on track for any bonuses? Will the company be giving salary increases? If so, are you in good standing to get a raise? Having an idea of what is to come financially can help you make better decisions and formulate a solid plan to help you reach your goal of home ownership.

Getting a handle on your credit situation is an important step when considering buying a home. Even if you’ve made financial mistakes in the past, you can still work toward improving your score. It takes time, patience and discipline, but it will be well worth it.

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featuredagent Gail Higley magazine

As one of the Top 100 REALTORS® in Orlando, RE/MAX Hall of Fame Award recipient Gail Higley knows how to succeed for her buyers and sellers. This is largely due to the fact that she has always gone the extra mile to ensure she is at the forefront of real estate education and trends in her market. Gail has earned the designations of Luxury Home Specialist, Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer Representative, Real Estate Owned/Foreclosure Specialist, and is a Board Certified Depressed Property Expert. By electing to earn these designations, Gail demonstrates just how committed she is to delivering a premium client experience.

As a native Floridian, Gail uses her trove of education, 20+ years of experience, and gold-standard customer service to create enjoyable, exciting, and stress-free real estate experiences for her clients. “My parents taught me to choose one thing and be the best at it that I could possibly be,” Gail says. To that end, she credits her early career and decade of experience working in IT customer service at Lockheed Martin, for the tremendous groundwork upon which to build her real estate career. “I always knew I wanted to go into real estate,” she explains. “I was able to use that great foundation of customer service experience to finally go for it in 1994, and I’ve never looked back.”

However, she says that while the customer service background helped her in the early days of her career, the fact that she has worked with a professional business coach, has truly cemented her position as a top Orlando REALTOR.® “Coaching keeps me focused on my clients’ goals, and how to meet those goals,” Gail says.

“Professionalism and perseverance in the moment prevents outside influences from making me lose that laser focus. I am completely results driven for my clients.”

Whether she is working with a buyer, seller or investor, Gail’s experience along with the support of a full team at her RE/MAX office, certainly resonates with her

clients, with a full 90% of her business stemming from referrals or repeat clients. The reason so many come back to Gail, time and again? “No one knows Central Florida better than me,” she says. “I went to school here, my children have gone to school here, and my experience for more than 20 years allows me to facilitate real estate transactions with utmost confidence and competence.”

In addition, Gail is ever mindful of the fact that she is helping her clients with one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. “I am helping to facilitate wealth for clients, which I take very seriously,” says Gail. As such, she says that her role in helping buyers find the best home for their needs, and designing specific marketing plans for her sellers, is not only an honor, but something she enjoys tremendously. “It sounds cliché, but I really do love helping people. I love the face-to-face dynamic of working together to achieve their goals.”

Gail also loves the Central Florida community where she lives, works, and has raised her own family. She’s been actively involved in the Central Florida Women’s League for more than 15 years, and currently, she is a member of the Scholarship Committee and takes great pride in the role. “We fundraise locally and donate locally,” says Gail. “Our scholarship committee awards financial assistance to young men and women in high school as they prepare for college.” In addition, Gail is a strong supporter of Canine Companions for Independence (CCI).

With over two decades of success behind her, Gail still has big plans ahead. Although she’s already ranked in the Top 1% of REALTORS® nationwide and earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from RE/MAX, she laughs when saying, “I feel like I’m just hitting my stride.” Continuing she says, “I do the same thing I would advise new agents to do: I stick to the fundamentals, keep my head down, and work hard. If you do that, and you put the focus on your clients’ needs before your own, it’s hard to fail. I have no plans to slow down, and I’m looking forward to continuing to elevate the client experience for buyers and sellers.”

Gail Higley

RE/MAX Properties SW | Orlando, FL 407.352.5800 ext. 626 | OrlandoRealtorGail@Gmail.com | www.GailHigley.com 16

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Identifying wants vs. needs— A step-by-step guide

When you’re ready to look for your next home, it is smart to provide your REALTOR® with a comprehensive overview of what you want, along with what you need. The things you want in a home will be the easier list to make. You may want granite countertops, a fireplace, or you may want to live at the end of a cul-de-sac. You may want a finished basement, or a huge yard. It’s good to know what you want.

However, the more important traits to consider are those you really need. Needs are essentially dealbreakers and include things like number of bedrooms or bathrooms, or a certain school district. A garage or storage space may also be a need. And of course, your budget is a need that is paramount to all else. That is, Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

$X is the highest amount you can pay monthly, so you need to purchase a home within that limit. In sum, your needs list is basically the bare minimum that a home must have in order to even be considered.

Of course, no one wants to buy the bare minimum, so here is a look at ways to identify your wants from your needs to come up with a perfect wish list for your buyer’s agent.

Start with a Dream Home List — It doesn’t hurt to list all the things you’d ideally have in a home, and then begin whittling down from there. Consider that you really want hardwood floors. Are you willing to even consider a home with an alternate hard surface 17

such as laminate, Pergo, or tile? Perhaps your list can be modified to hard surfaces, rather than being focused exclusively on hardwood.

Decide if You’re Willing to Compromise — Consider that you really want your children to attend specific schools. And you also don’t want to commute more than 10 miles. Are you willing to be a bit flexible with the commute, in order to get the location you desire? Identifying give-and-take scenarios will be helpful for your REALTOR® in finding the right home for you.

Determine if Certain Characteristics Can Wait — If you have “upgraded appliances” on your needs list, but you find a home that meets all the rest of your requirements, determine whether you’re willing to postpone the purchase of those items to get most of the things you really want in a home now. The same may be said for dated carpet. If you really want hard surfaces, are you willing to live with what is in a home now, and replace it later?

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There are many printable house hunting forms available online which can help you to begin identifying your unique wants and needs. If you’ve retained a buyer’s agent first, it’s likely that they will be able to provide you with a similar checklist.

It is in your best practice to spend as much time as necessary on this list, to ensure that you really do wind up with the best home to meet your needs, rather than having to adapt to the traits of the home after you’ve moved in. You’ll also ensure that you won’t waste valuable time viewing homes that simply won’t work for you. It may be helpful for you to consider what you love about your home now, and the things that are inconvenient so you can continue to be as specific as possible.

When in doubt, about whether a trait you want in a home is a need, or just something you really want, reach out to your agent. Real estate agents are in the business of helping people, and there’s no doubt they’ll be glad to offer advice, suggestions, or a perspective you haven’t considered.

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featuredagent Aaron Luttrell magazine

As a fourth-generation born and raised Coloradan, Aaron Luttrell is better equipped than most to lead prospective buyers and sellers through the fast-paced Denver real estate market.

A degree in philosophy from the University of Colorado and years of excelling in the service industry prepared him for a career requiring critical thinking and people skills. When a friend who worked as a managing broker at a local real estate firm suggested he try his hand at the business, Aaron rose to the occasion and earned his license. In the past six years, he’s earned multiple accolades, including Coldwell Banker’s Sterling Society designation and the Five-Star Professional Award from Denver’s 5280 magazine. All the while, Aaron has cemented himself as an agent on the rise, guiding clients with a patented interpersonal approach that focuses on relationships, communication, and results.

Serving the greater Denver metro area, Aaron goes where clients lead. Today, he’s based at Coldwell Banker Devonshire, the same brokerage where he got his start. With 85% of his business driven by repeat and referral clientele, Aaron has already commanded a robust sphere of influence that relies on him during one of life’s most significant milestones.

“When you work with me, you get all of me,” he explains.

“I am your point of contact and I always answer my phone.

Especially in Denver’s fast-paced market, decisions have to be made quickly but expertly — that’s why you have to have an agent that’s willing to communicate with you. I pride myself in staying connected with my clients and they know they can come to me for answers.” Likewise, Aaron cites his calm, patient, and positive demeanor as a confidence booster for those he serves. “It’s very possible to remain calm and collected, even in an incredibly hot market like Denver’s,” he says. “All you need is an expert who will be there every step of the way, guide you, and provide the tools necessary to empower your decision-making.”

Thus far in his career, Aaron’s experience has run the gamut. He’s worked with clients from all walks of life, sourcing property ranging from the mid-$150,000 range to seven-figure estates. From VA-backed purchases to cash buys, Aaron’s abiding philosophy is steeped in the Golden Rule — regardless of price point. “I’m a warm guy and no one wants to be hassled or pressured into a situation,” he says. “I try to be a voice of reason but also empower my clients so they feel they are making the best decisions

for themselves. It’s my job as an agent to be there for them and help guide them through that process. The warmest and most inviting way I can do that, the better,” Aaron continues. “I tell my clients up front that it’s a quick market and you have to be prepared. Even if it may be stressful, the more we communicate and the more information my clients have, the more empowered they’re going to feel when making a decision.”

When it comes to marketing listings, Aaron leverages Coldwell Banker’s marketing platform to ensure maximum visibility for properties. “We have a lot of exceptional resources at our disposal,” he says. This includes custom mailers, access to the leading digital listing platforms, and international exposure that secures optimal publicity for each property headed to market. Though his rate of repeat and referral clientele already serves as a testament to his ability to deliver, Aaron’s focus remains squarely on the person at the heart of every transaction. Considering his background in customer service, it’s little wonder that he is naturally attuned to making buying or selling property a positive, minimal-stress process for those involved. “I’m all about applying that exceptional, expertly-driven customer service,” he recounts. “Even stressful situations can suddenly become great opportunities to learn and find a resolution. I always apply the principle of how I would want to be talked to and dealt with, and I keep that principle in mind in everything I do.”

When it comes to giving back to his Denver community, Aaron and his partner give regularly to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, supporting Colorado’s most beloved gem: Rocky Mountain National Park. They also give to the area’s Children’s Hospital — a cause close to Aaron’s heart — and to the local Humane Society where they adopted a loving member of the family, their cat, Kora. In his free hours, Aaron most enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, hiking and biking the natural beauty of his home state. He and his partner are also in the process of renovating a ranch home, and spend plenty of free time fixing up the yard and planning their remodel.

Looking ahead, Aaron has plans to continue growing his business, building upon the flourishing years already behind him and making a positive impact on the growing Denver community. “I plan to continue doing what I’m doing for a long time, with hopes of getting better and better every year.”

Now with over a half-decade of esteemed service behind him and an optimistic outlook toward the years to come, the future is sure to bring continued success for Aaron Luttrell.

Aaron Luttrell

Coldwell Banker Devonshire | Denver, CO 303.748.3200 | Aaron@AaronLuttrell.com | www.AaronLuttrell.com Copyright Featured Agent Magazine

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