Real Estate Influencers, May 2022 by Real Estate And Friends Magazine

M AY 2 0 2 2

your complete life

IT’S ALL HERE AT LEXINGTON IN FRISCO With a focus on thoughtful land planning and high-end amenities in a fast-growing, highly-desirable area, Landon Development is proud to introduce Lexington – the next great luxury community in the heart of Frisco. With a wide range of home sizes and styles from exceptional builders Landon Homes, Toll Brothers, and John R. Landon Homes, as well as highly-acclaimed Frisco ISD schools, your complete life is here at Lexington in Frisco.

STATE-OF-THE-ART AMENITY CENTER From a dip in the resort-style swimming pool, complete with tanning ledges and shade cabanas, to a fun get together with family and friends, you’ll find it all at the luxurious Lexington Amenity Center. With a stunning, modern design by renowned architect Kyle Webb, the Amenity Center Clubhouse at Lexington encompasses approximately 12,000 square feet, including a Great Room for events, a fully- equipped fitness center, and HOA offices for on-site staff.

PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS Lexington offers endless opportunities to get

FRISCO SCHOOLS Consistently ranked as one of the best school districts in the state of Texas, the Frisco ISD has an outstanding reputation for academic excellence, innovative programs and a wealth of extracurricular opportunities and experiences. Lexington has dedicated over 30 acres for proposed Elementary,

outside and enjoy acres of open lawns, sports

Middle and High Schools

fields, orchards, lakes and state-of-the-art

in the Frisco ISD.

playgrounds. Just outside the community you’ll find many city parks and gardens as well as numerous public and private golf courses.

HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS The thoughtfully designed master-plan at Lexington connects neighborhoods with parks and amenities through a network of trails and greenbelts, providing endless ways for residents to interact and get the most out of life. Working closely with the City of Frisco, Lexington’s trails link into Frisco’s Hike and Bike Master Plan – a framework of hundreds of miles of trails in Collin County.

LEXINGTON AMENITY CENTER

luxury living in the heart of Frisco Revel in the excitement of The Star, home of

The builders at Lexingon in Frisco have been

the Dallas Cowboys. Take in the charming

carefully selected based on reputation, quality

shops, restaurants and event lawn at Frisco

and design. They offer a wide range of home

Square. Grab a bite to eat and dance the night

sizes and styles, and versatile floorplans perfect

away at Legacy West. Shop ‘til you drop at

for any stage of life. From a large family to a

Stonebriar Centré. Catch a professional soccer

retired couple, you’re sure to find the perfect

match or check out the minor league baseball,

home here, with an ideal layout and spaces

basketball and indoor football teams. There’s

and features that work just right for you.

never a shortage of things to see and do in the heart of Frisco and a Lexington address puts you right in the middle of it all!

Lexington homes are warm and inviting, with a contemporary flair. Designed with luxury home buyers in mind, our homes feature Just 25 minutes north of Dallas, Frisco is one

high-end finishes and fixtures, and luxurious

of the fastest growing cities in Texas – and the

features such as dramatic entries, soaring

United States. Lexington is ideally positioned

ceilings and outdoor living spaces. But these

to take advantage of the city’s world-class

homes aren’t just beautiful – they’re smart too,

shopping, dining and entertainment options,

utilizing the latest in home technology and

as well as numerous Fortune 500 headquarters

innovative energy-efficient solutions. Visit one

and employment centers in the area. It’s no

of our model homes to learn more and to start

wonder Frisco is routinely voted one of the

your Lexington home search today.

Best Places to live in America.

LEXINGTON BUILDERS LANDON HOMES

Our better built, affordable green new homes in Texas are featured in highly sought after neighborhoods where we have engineered eco-friendly homes on prime real estate in

sought after communities. LandonHomes.com TOLL BROTHERS

With its 50+ years of experience building luxury homes, its national presence, and its status as a publicly traded Fortune 500 company, Toll Brothers holds a prominent place in the industry with seasoned leadership and strong partners. TollBrothers.com JOHN R. LANDON HOMES

Our designs are created especially for the most discriminating home buyers. We are intentionally small enough to take personal pride in every home built and customer served, yet we draw upon a wealth of experience in markets across America. JohnRLandonHomes.com

The location is the lifestyle when you live in the heart of all that Frisco, Texas has to offer. Visit us online at LexingtonFrisco.com to learn more about our new homes from $500s – $1Million+

BHGRE Winans

"Bash" Good food, drinks, the best agents around — and awards!

WINANS

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

2 0 2 2

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MustangLakes.com *Promotion prizes will be paid via check and require a completed 1099 form. Sales period for entries into the promotion is January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022 (grand prize) 7 MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS and each quarter within 2022 ($1,500 prizes). Prize drawings will take place within 3-6 weeks of contest period, or at a planned REALTOR® event within the following quarter. Promotion applies ONLY to new homes purchased from and reported by a builder within Mustang Lakes and may not include contingency sales. Final discretion on sale inclusion for the promotion is reserved for Cambridge Communities. Must be a licensed real estate agent to win.

C O N TA C T U S FACEBOOK realestateinfluencersdfw INSTAGRAM realestateinfluencers_dfw WEBSITE dfwrealestateinfluencers.com EMAIL info @dfwrealestateinfluencers.com PHONE 214.533.8945 Any articles included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the view of Real Estate Influencers Magazine, but remain solely those of the author(s). The paid advertisements contained within the Real Estate Influencers Magazine are not endorsed or recommended by Real

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Estate Influencers Magazine or the Publisher. Therefore, neither Real Estate Influencers Magazine nor the Publisher may be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies. Portions of the articles in this magazine may be freely redistributed in other media and non-commercial publications as long as the following conditions are met: 1) The redistributed article should should be linked back to the original link on dfwrealestateinfluencers.com including the words “Read in full, visit dfwrealestateinfluencers.com” 2) The redistributed article may not be abridged, edited or altered in any way without the express consent of the Publisher. 3) The redistributed article may not be sold for a profit or included in another media or publication that is sold for a profit without the express consent of the author. 4) The articles in this magazine may be included in a commercial publication or other media only if prior consent for republication is received from the publisher. The publisher may request compensation for republication for commercial uses. ©Real Estate Influencers Magazine, 2022

Coldwell Banker Apex Garland/Richardson group and Cathy Capps-Warren

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

PA R T N E R S F E AT U R E D A R T I C L E S Capital Title 27

yourself as an Influencer

F R O N T C OV E R

do you see

Fair Texas Title 11

By Gina Waterfield-Jenks

Gina Waterfield-Jenks 13

Our riveting conversation began with a simple smile and friendly greeting. As Joe and I talked, his captivating homeless journey began to unwind. I sat down and Joe told me about the series of things that led to his homelessness. It all began with significant losses. The devastating loss that could happen to any of us, at any time.

Gonzalez Photography 36

Joe was bright, engaging, and wise. His knowledge base across multiple industries and professions was surprising. His awareness of neurobiology and physics was most compelling to me that day; we also discussed brainwave frequency, mindfulness, and meditation theory. He was educated, he was thoughtful, and he was articulate.

Hillwood 18

Still, Joe was homeless. We closed our conversation that day with a hug and agreed to stay connected. I did see him the next year, and he excitedly shared his successes he was working as an entrepreneurial landscaper, he bought a small truck, and had just leased his apartment. I was overjoyed to hear the positive update and witness his pride at his strides.

Home Serve Home Warranty 32

An influencer is defined as a person who can affect the character, development, or behavior of someone or something else. 12

Huffines Trip 15 Independence Title 23 Inspiration 21 K Hovnanian 17 Lexington in Frisco 1

We. Are. All. Influencers. Use it for good.

Discover Lexington in Frisco

What was truly remarkable about Joe was his winning attitude, his effervescent personality, and his contagious state of awe. He was a happy, engaging person, regardless of circumstances. When I watch the video of us chatting that day, it reminds me that genuine influence isn’t something you buy or even something we buy into. Real influence is a gift to be given and received, and it is something to be shared, with integrity. It is more about reciprocal trust.

Joe was an influencer. Joe is endearingly remembered and I doubt I was the only person he positively impacted. He reminded me of valuable lessons regarding influence. We might think of today’s influencers as celebrity movie stars, athletes, or media rockstars. And we have watched many rise and fall from social grace in epic missteps and tragic stories of human demise. There are influencers all around us — regardless of their social media numbers. Sadly, we live in a world that fosters and encourages fame and monetary fortune, through the lens of cloudy cultural mores and norms. It's eas to be 'that' type of influencer - just purchase likes and followers in calculated efforts to be seen as an influencer, creating an illusion that resembles a magical transformation. Joe reminded me of what an influencer really is, That is, each, and every one of us is an influencer. Whether we want to be or not, we affect people around us. Whether we are working within our teams or our families, or our clients and friendships. Every relationship is influenced by our facial cues and body gestures, our verbal tone, inflection, and intonation, and our communication style. The colors we wear, and the condition of our

environments influences others. The way we react or respond to outside influences matters. We all have an impact. It starts with each of us and ripples outward. One of the biggest influencers in my life was my beloved, late husband, Dave Jenks, shown at right. Dave was widely considered one of the most powerful influencers the real estate industry has seen in the last three decades. Much like Joe, Dave was full of awe at the possiblities the world offered. He, too, never met a stranger and lifted others up as he crossed paths. I learned such valuable life lessons with Dave that have shaped my work as a professional holistic coach. Want to tap into your team's social skills and empathy development? Consider Emotional Intelligence Training and Development which is a perfect pairing to the extensive technical and pragmatic training seen so often across the Real Estate industry.This applies to corporate or small business relationships. Building better social skills diminishes the interpersonal divide, and it benefits everyone. It’s a great time for EACH OF US to adopt, embrace the term INFLUENCER, and uphold it ethically. Gina Waterfield-Jenks is a transformational speaker, trauma sensitive holistic coach, and clinical hypnotist.She brings a global understanding of human interaction and behavior to her thriving speaking and coaching business. Her travel, through the military and independently, to different cultures around the world has given her a deep insight that profoundly and positively impacts her ability to help people transform their lives. Gina is a mom to five children, grandmother to 14, and currently lives in Dallas, Texas. She can be contacted at gina@ginawaterfield.com

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

Do you see yourself as an INFLUENCER? Pg 12 By Gina Waterfield-Jenks

Builders: Landon, Toll Brothers and John R. Landon $500s to $1 Mil+ Frisco ISD

Log Cabin Escape 35 Mattamy Homes 29 Mustang Lakes 7 The Design Quad 24

INSIDE

Windstorms, Hail and Contractors, oh my! Pg 30 By Kelly M. Davis

MAY 2022

“Clear the clutter of your mind and finally realize your true potential!” – Gina Waterfield-Jenks

Gina Waterfield-Jenks, one of the real estate industry’s most moving speakers, brings you a full day guaranteed to shift your perspective, elevate your wellbeing, and equip you to handle anything the world throws at you. Ever Feel: Insignificant “Less Than” Overloaded Riddled with “Imposter Syndrome”?

Gina Waterfield-Jenks is an accomplished educator, speaker, author, trauma-informed coach, and hypnotist. Her extensive work as a certified holistic practitioner has profoundly impacted her ability to help people regain control and thrive in their businesses and lives.

In this power-packed, full-day workshop, you’ll learn: How to merge your EQ and your IQ How to move from Stagnate to Fluid How to clear out Toxic Overload What dangerous thought habits are doing to you, and how to stop them What key Mind-Body integration techniques best serve you How to regain control of your mind, your life, and your business Full-day workshop includes: Two-hour morning session to identify, clarify, and take ownership of what’s happening to you, with you, and for you Working conversational lunch to dive deeper into the lessons and strategies from the morning session Two-hour afternoon session to apply practical coping skills and actionable steps that will bring you power, freedom, and long-term success

Contact Gina Waterfield-Jenks to inquire about rates and availability – email gina@ginawaterfield.com or call 512.536.0915 today!

e r

1. Sandra Burrus and Crystal Cunningham 2. Jamie Flynn and Ashley Olson are networking queens! 3. Ashley Olson and Jenny Kaiser celebrate Cinco de Mayo 4. Christy Zemaier and Crystal Cunningham 5. Britt Fair and his amazing team!

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

YOUR FAIR TEXAS TITLE 11

Sales Team

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

yourself as an Influencer do you see

We. Are. All. Influencers. Use it for good. By Gina Waterfield-Jenks

I once had a spontaneous chat with a guy named Joe. He and his friendly pup were sitting outside a local convenience store. Stopping in for a cool drink on that hot/humid typical North Carolina day, I was unknowingly about to have a dynamic conversation with someone who appeared to be homeless. Joe seemed to be a storefront “resident” accustomed to being perched on his upside-down bucket. And he was collectively embraced by the steady stream of locals who strolled past him. Our riveting conversation began with a simple smile and friendly greeting. As Joe and I talked, his captivating homeless journey began to unwind. I sat down and Joe told me about the series of things that led to his homelessness. It all began with significant losses. The devastating loss that could happen to any of us, at any time. Joe was bright, engaging, and wise. His knowledge base across multiple industries and professions was surprising. His awareness of neurobiology and physics was most compelling to me that day; we also discussed brainwave frequency, mindfulness, and meditation theory. He was educated, he was thoughtful, and he was articulate.

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

“Clear the clutter of your mind and finally realize your true potential!” – Gina Waterfield-Jenks

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

Contact Gina Waterfield-Jenks to inquire about rates and availability – email gina@ginawaterfield.com or call 512.536.0915 today!

Huffines' Heartland's New Model Home Park Grand Opening! All hands were on deck to make this a smashing success! Realtors enjoyed the Cinco de Mayo celebration complete with Mariachis, food trucks, margaritas, prizes and tours of the new models in Heartland!

Huffines Communities team spent an afternoon at Top Golf for the Junior Achievement of Dallas 2022 Stay Groovy Disco Swing.The team has worked tirelessly to raise money for JA. Huffines raised over $26,000, with one employee, Roxanne Cabrera, bringing in a total of $6,325 on her own! All contributions go directly towards preparing and inspiring Dallas students to succeed in a global economy.

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

2022 REALTOR REWARDS TRIP Presents

Alaskan Inter-Coastal Adventure

TRIP DETAILS: 7-Night Luxury Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise Trip will take place July 14 — 21, 2023 and includes round-trip air travel, luxury 600 passenger Oceania cruise with an ocean view stateroom, all meals and beverages, excursions, entertainment and MUCH more! QUALIFICATIONS: From January 01, 2022 to February 01, 2023 sell and close a combined total of 3 (three) new homes totaling $1.3 Million or more in any of our three master planned communities & win an all-expenses-paid luxury Alaskan Cruise for you & one guest!

Forney | $200s - $600s

Wylie/St. Paul | $400s - $1,000,000+

Royse City | $300s - $500s

* Trips may not be sold or traded and there is no financial exchange if unable to attend. All new home sales must close by March 01, 2023 in order to qualify & REALTOR® info must be documented on sales contract at time of execution. All travelers must be at least 21 years of age & hold a current passport.. Visit our website at www.HuffinesCommunities.com for updates.

www.HuffinesCommunities.com • CMeziere@HuffinesCommunities.com | 972-860-3133 www.Huffines

Greetings from Iceland! Terri Hayley (MHI) and Katie Andy (InterLinc Mortgage) went to Iceland as seeing the Aurora Borealis is a bucket list item. The first night they stayed at the Glass Cottages in Hella about 2 hours away to have the lights overhead. Instead, it snowed which was on the glass ceiling, and the lights weren't cooperative but was a beautiful, cozy place where as far as you can see is a winter wonderland. They got to enjoy the Blue Lagoon which was fabulous! Drove back to Reyjkavik and hit downtown - having high tea, visiting bars, shops, great meals, galleries, and the most famous church. They saw geysers, waterfalls, and the tectonic plates dividing Eurasia & North America. You can also snorkel between the continents in glacial runoff waters (brrr!) but they opted out. They also go to go snowmobiling on a glacier! And they enjoyed husky mushing on a frozen lake while the French couple on our sled got engaged out on the ice. And thank you for taking our Rogers Healy cover edition to Iceland! 16

She's been a magazine fan forever! Here's to the support of RE/MAX's Barbara Reeves!

Look at that form! Thomas Zepeda enjoyed the Republic Title golf event!

Subscribe to our digital magazine!

Jessica Colligan celebrates being recognized as a Top Producer for 2021 as a top producing solo agent, selling over 8 million

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

KENSINGTON PLACE in Carrollton, Texas

INTRODUCING

K. Hovnanian’s Looks Our designer Looks features a collections of interior styles thoughtfully assembled by our professional design team in order to provide your clients a simple and smarter way to choose on-trend interiors for their new home. Visit our newest community now to learn more about our four curated Looks for Kensington Place and, help your clients discover the one that best defines their style.

FOUR UNIQUE DESIGNER LOOKS

ELEMENTS | LOFT | FARMHOUSE | CLASSIC

KHOV.COM/DFW_KENSINGTON | 469-290-3322

Kim Tullos, Christy Trotter and Meredith Chapman at the Hilton Anatole KHov's Chris Hartley with fellow athlete, Ingrid Prince in Hawaii

Kensington Place is offered by K. Hovnanian DFW Kensington Place, LLC. See a Sales Consultant for full details. Equal Housing Opportunity.

D COMMU

2022 DEVELOPER of the YEAR L

ILD

S ERS AS

Hillwood Communities, the award-winning master-planned residential and mixed-use developer based in Dallas, was recently honored with 10 McSAM Awards by the Dallas Builders Association. Topping the list of awards, Hillwood Communities was selected as the Dallas-Fort Worth Developer of Year for the fourth time in seven years, and also achieved consecutive year wins in the categories of Master-Planned Community of the Year, People’s Choice Community of the Year, Best Community Amenity, Lifestyle Director of the Year, and Lifestyle Program of the Year.

Master-Planned Community of the Year • People’s Choice Community of the Year Best Lifestyle Program • Best Lifestyle Director • Best Website • Developer of the Year Best Use of Technology • Best Special Event • Best Purchasing Team • Amenity of the Year

HillwoodCommunities.com

2017 201 9 2022

2022

MASTER-PLANNED Community of the Year DALLAS BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

PEOPLE’S CHOICE Community of the Year DALLAS BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

Harvest in Argyle/Northlake won ﬁve awards – including Master-Planned Community of the Year for the third time in ﬁve years – for its unique agrihood concept, beautiful array of amenities, and year-round lifestyle program that helps connect neighbors.

BEST Lifestyle Program and Lifestyle Director

THE ARENA 2022

AMENITY AMENITY OF THE

YEAR

DALLAS BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

The Arena & Pioneer Park at Pecan Square is a 22,000 square foot indoor/outdoor space that has an event stage, sports courts, an exploration playground, picnic seating, a ﬁre pit, pizza oven, and more.

Heartland Model Home Row Grand Opening!

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

2019 9

So much to be inspired by!

INSPIRATION

v Club Inspiration - 9,000 sf event and amenity center with 4 pools, 350’ lazy river, 2-story fitness center, event lawn & more v Multiple parks, hammock park, disc golf, dog park & more v On-site elementary school v Children’s playgrounds v Catch & Release lakes v Hope Harbor pool v 19th Hole golf tee v Lake view lots

Quality builders v FirstTexas v Gehan v Highland v Mercury v Pulte v Shaddock

A Huffines Signature Community™

1715 Inspiration Blvd. St. Paul

InspirationTexas.com | 972.860.3133

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

The famous Nikki at her legendary Cinco de Mayo party!

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

People you may know: Nikki Watson, Clayton Bailey, Ashley Gentry, Christine Laboy, Travis-Lee Moore, Christina Dewbre, Kamry Nordyke, Sheila Phalen-Miller, Cathy Capps-Warren, Nancy Messiha, Paula Merriman, Jessica Spencer, Anita Barham, Angela Tucker, Stephanie Johnston

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

1. Lauren Pulido and Lisbeth Arias 2. Capital Title's Eve Balsey, Shelbie McDonald, Vika Good, Kelly Zagurski, Linda Cox and Lynsey Lyons 3. #Walk4Austin. A walk to raise money and awareness to help prevent suicide. They raised over 7k at the event/for the event and had 197 walkers!

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

Eve Balsley

Park Cities

Plano

Rachelle Sem Southlake

Plano North

Plano

Sandy Grayson Landon

Meredith Lucido

Darlene Clarke

Bon Casas

Collin County

Brandi Greene Cleburne

Shelbie McDonald Wylie

Caroline Shaddock DFW

Linda Cox

Taylor Collinsworth

Ashlynne Holscher Plano

Susan Holt Rockwall

Mary Anthony Murphy

Donna Moody Jones

Angie Sinn

Maggie Stone

Julia Ward

Arlington

Lakeside

Frisco

Tina Jacobsen

Tracey Monts Curtis

NE Tarrant County

Maricarmen Garvin

Plano

Park Cities

Dallas

www.ctot.com

Colleyville

Arlington

Mansfield

Debbie White Fort Worth

Frisco

Brianna Jones

Tracy Neeper Southlake

Vika Good

Burleson

Lauren Pulido DFW

KellyAnn Zagurski Plano

1. Justin Levitch and Joe Atkins in DC 2. HomeSmart Stars! Celebrating Top Producers! 3. Janet Kane and Bette Washington in DC 4. Independence Title's Glynn Mosier, Nina Chow and Christy Broussard put on a mean Cinco de Mayo party!

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

ANNA, TX

We put communities in the greatest

places

Mattamy Homes is now in the Dallas market, bringing our unparalleled customer focus to one of the most exciting metro areas in our nation. We’ve listened to our customers since 1978, and we specialize in designing stylish, spacious and practical homes in beautiful neighborhoods planned to complement each surrounding community. We want to elevate your lifestyle and put you right in the middle of adventure. Every town we build in offers unique local character, endless outdoor recreation and so many shopping and dining options for you to explore and enjoy. We look forward to providing you a tour of the homes and neighborhoods we’ve started around Dallas. Let’s make the most of your North Texas lifestyle!

Visit MattamyHomes.com for more information.

Villages of Hurricane Creek single-family homes

FARMERS BRANCH, TX Kensington Place 50’ single-family homes Kensington Place 40’ single-family homes Kensington Place Townhomes townhomes

FRISCO, TX Dove Creek 55’ rear-entry single-family homes Dove Creek 65’ front-entry single-family homes Wade Settlement townhomes Villages of Creekwood single-family homes

GUNTER, TX The Bridges at Preston Crossing single-family homes

LEWISVILLE, TX Windhaven Crossing townhomes

LUCAS, TX Lakeview Downs single-family homes

MESQUITE, TX Iron Horse Village urban homes

DALLAS, TX Tennison Village urban homes

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX All illustrations are artist’s concept. All dimensions are approximate. Prices, specifications, availability and terms and conditions subject to change without notice. For more information on available homes and incentives, see a Mattamy New Home Counselor for full details. ©2021 Mattamy Homes. MATDAL009

City Point urban homes

WINDSTORMS, HAIL AND CONTRACTORS, OH MY! By: Kelly M. Davis, Esq. : www.dallasconstructionlaw.com

here's so many horrible stories about contractors on the news, from your friends, on Facebook; there's even completely dedicated Facebook sites directed at warning consumers of sham contractors. So how can you really know that you've got a good contractor? Let me just first start by dispelling the myth that all contractors are builders are bad. That simply is not true however, like anything that you're going to spend a substantial amount of money on, doing your homework is key!

For the purposes of this discussion we're going to talk mainly about roofing contractors.

only to get negative feedback from your friend.

POINTERS: 1. Look for someone that is in your area. Don't pick someone that has just chased the storm.

2. When did they start their business? Beware of the people that start businesses every few years under different names.

3. Ask for references - but here's the kicker, ask for their most recent or last three jobs. Wait for the reaction. Don't let them cherry pick the reference that they give to you.

First off, internet reviews are very difficult. It's either the few that are, really mad about who knows what posting bad reviews; or it's particular jobs that happened to go really well or friends of the contractors willing to go on and say a few good words. Have you ever looked up a medical doctor and seen how all of the reviews are polar opposites of each other? Yes, the same for contractors (and even attorneys :D). So don't let your one and only source of referral be from online reviews. If you're going to consider the reviews, read them carefully, the detailed ones with specific examples are usually the most accurate. If somebody's complaining, consider whether this is a small complaint or whether it is a product of the post pandemic world that we live in.

4. Are you asking for a lot of free stuff to be thrown in? You can pretty much guarantee that the contractor that you get is going to be problematic. I'm not saying that they're bad contractors, but in this economy, if they are willing to include lots of free stuff, I would wonder why they don't have enough actual work to do the job that they get paid for.

Of course, you can always get reviews from friends. That being said, most of you have probably referred out someone you thought was really good

for a very small job to be done, be ready to pay premium rates. Again, every contractor I know is slammed. If you have a contractor willing to

5. Are you asking the going rate and do you have reasonable expectations about the time frame necessary to complete the project? For more information on this please visit our blogs which talk about the pandemic problems that are out there that everyone should be aware of. http:// www.dallasconstructionlaw.com/myprice-is-fixed-but-my-costs-are-not/

6. On a general note, if you're looking

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

come out for a small job at a small price you have to wonder about their capabilities or even if there's going to be an upsell at the very end. Understand the market when you want someone to do a job for you.

7. Ask them about their start date and how long it will take for them to complete the project. 8. GET IT IN WRITING. Most roofing contractors have a one-page authorization form. Those really are not sufficient to cover either the contractor or the homeowner. Make sure that every single item that you're relying on is contained within the document, even if you have to add an attachment continuing the contract.

9. Don't expect contractors to bend the rules for you. And if they do, again, if they're that desperate why do you want to hire them? The most recent example that I can think of on this involves somewhat recent regulations from the insurance industry that requires the homeowner to pay their own deductible. Contractors are no longer able to deduct the deductible from the back end. Homeowners certainly remember this being done in the past and often think a contractor is not being honest when they refuse to pay the deductible... Wrong

10. Have a "buyer beware" skepti-

cism during storm season when there are a multitude of different contrac tors knocking on your doors all ready to sell you a deal for a dime.

11. There may be a contractors with experience, but do they have experience in the exact job that you're trying to give them? Recently, I had a client who was adding a second floor. I'm pretty certain that the contractor was a tile man prior to this. Would you want a tile man ripping off your roof and trying to engineer a second story onto your house?

sense at the door. I swear, we've all done it but when those alarm bells are ringing take them seriously.

Kelly M. Davis & Associates is a full-service law firm involved in the general practice of law, providing cost-effective legal representation to individuals and business entities throughout Texas. Reach Kelly at: kelly@dallasconstructionlaw.com (972) 434-8009 www.dallasconstructionlaw.com

12. If it's a big job, ask them what kind of insurance they carry, get a copy of their declaration page, and call the insurance company to make sure that it is a valid policy.

13. Make sure you understand what

the contract says. Are you responsible for payment even if the insurance company has not paid the full total? There's many situations that this happens so you want to be aware.

14. If you really want to know how good the contractor is, ask your Realtor or a construction attorney. I have clients that come to me and I will do research on the name of the company, who owns them, and I'll be able to tell you if they've had lawsuits or if they change their names often or even if a lot of liens have been filed either on them from subs or if they are having to file a lot of liens (which can often times be an indicator that they get into disputes often). 15. If there is a dispute, don't wait

too long to get legal counsel. Many times, we're not able to do anything to help if the situation has been ongoing for a long time.

16. Are you looking at their Facebook or social photos? Do a reverse Google image search for the photo. You would be shocked how many of the images are stolen. If you only see the first part of the job but not the end result... Run. 17. Last but not least, don't get so desperate that you leave your common

1. Debi Leavitt in San Antonio!

2. Cami Hobbs Riley in Denton supporting Habitat for Humanity! 3. Tammy Flynn and Kristen Robinson Coldwell Banker Apex McKinney were among the Top 20 agents and teams listening to agents from all major metros speak about the market, marketing strategies, running a business, growth/expansion, structure, lead generating, and even stress management. MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

Brittany Ihezie | 817-538-8977

Tarrant, Parker, Hood, Johnson

Christine Crawley | 972-266-6829 Rockwall, Hunt, Ellis, Kaufman, Grayson

Jamie Flynn | 972-965-1885

Collin, Denton, Dallas, Wise

www.homeserve.com/realestate

BRITTANY Ihezie

CHRISTINE Crawley

JAMIE Flynn

Serving N. Texas Since 1996

Diane Davis and Jamie Flynn network.

At Junior League of Dallas Milestones Luncheon Celebrating JL Dallas 100years: Kate McCoy and Barbara Reeves

Before the bulldozer, former RE/MAX agents and other real estate pros say goodbye to their former office in Lake Highlands before the bulldozer takes it down

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

1. May the 4th Be With You! Jennifer Gerlich and team were in the spirit! 2. Keith Redelsperger with 'work wife' Stacie Gooch in Fredericsburg before the Coldwell Banker conference in San Antionio 3. Godwin Tsui, Diem-Trang Dang-Le, Michael Seeto, Jennifer Johnson and Shan Jackson welcomed Jacki Ueng to town!

MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

1. Marissa Benat, Shana Acquisto, Jamuna Thill and Sherry Smith have some fun while in DC 2. BIG things are happening at eXp Luxury. Ask Noe De Leon or Cindy Baglietto 3. Sherry Smith and Malinda Howell at NAR 4. Gabriel Ho and Noe De Leon - eXp

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MAY 2022 / REAL ESTATE INFLUENCERS

Log Cabin Vacation Rental in SE Okla - 1 Hour to McKinney!

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Jorge Gonzalez is a photographer known for his creativity, attention to detail and top-notch service. His wide range of experience highlights his extensive skill-set and his passion for quality. Jorge specializes in Headshots, Commercial, Advertising, Products, Portrait, Family, Kids and Editorial photography.

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