500 Doors Real Estate Magazine: Uncovering Success

05. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY

John Mayfield is a real estate guru who has been in the industry for over 44 years. John has achieved major success in the real estate world, having owned and operated multiple offices in Southeast Missouri, spoken to thousands of real estate professionals in over 25 countries, written eight books, and held the title of Missouri Realtor President.

12. 2023 REAL ESTATE SUMMIT

From building new clients through social media marketing strategies to using new technology tools, the 2023 Real Estate Summit has something for everyone looking to build thier business, grow their portfolio and reach new levels of success in 2023.

17. UNCOVERING SUCCESS WITH DEBBIE BIERY

With over 22 years of experience in real estate, Debbie Biery has played an active role in the expansion of EXP Realty, including living in an RV while traveling the country and promoting the company. She is a sought after speaker and serial entrepreneur, passionate about encouraging women to get out of their own way.

FEATURES 08. OPEN HOUSE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

20. THE FUTURE OF HOUSING IS FACTORY-BUILT

Douglas Hayden has over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry. He has worked in commercial and residential real estate and is involved in business development for small tech start-ups and large office solutions providers.

EDITOR'S LETTER

Finding success in the fiercely competitive world of real estate requires dedication, determination, and a strong work ethic. Gone are the days of multiple offers over asking on a days-old listing.

Seasoned agents know winters are typically flat for a myriad of reasons, but this year is different. The market has slowed to a snail’s pace as prospective buyers and sellers wait on the sidelines with bated breath to see what 2023 has in store. While none of us have a crystal ball, it’s all but certain that high-interest rates, recession worries and global unrest will continue to play a role in consumers’ decision-making next year.

Most agents are not prepared for the upcoming market cycle, that’s because more than half of all active real estate agents have never worked in a market when prices were decreasing. In fact, the median years of experience in real estate is eight years after nearly a dozen years of an up market.

The truth is, today’s market is an opportune time for real estate professionals and brokers to grow and thrive — if they grab opportunity and take action. In this issue, 500 Doors REM interviews John Mayfield and Debbie Biery, two powerhouse agants with great tips for personal growth and provides a sneak peek at the 2023 Real Estate Summit Program where agents can learn from 24 speakers, 6 panels of experts with the latest tips on how to grow your business as an agent or broker. Save the date!

Julie Haskill Chief Editor

Be

Guest Date Bio

Akbar Nimji Jan 10

Akbar has over 23 years of active Real Estate Experience in Calgary, and over $1B in successful transactions. Akbar is a builder consultant on condo conversion and a multi family specialist.

Denise Schroder Jan 17 Denise is a top-ranked realtor in Oklahoma and the CEO of Schroder Real Estate Group with her husband, Troy. Denise is a coach, speaker, marketing strategist, realtor and author of the new book, “Out of the Box”.

Michael Tich Jan 24 Michael Tich is the Co-founder of HomeRoom, a home-sharing app that connects users to roommates, social opportunities, and a host of tech-enabled property management tools. Special time: 3:30pm MST

Suprise Guest Jan 31

Chris Molenaar Feb 7

Don't miss this exciting speaker!

Chris Molenaar is a top agent in Saskatoon Canada. He’s a 2X icon award winner with eXp and was actually the 1st agent to join eXp Realty in Saskatoon. Chris teaches real estate lead generation and social media marketing to real estate agents across Canada and internationally.

Debbie Biery Jan 10 Debbie Biery is a SUCCESS Brand Ambassador and Certified SUCCESS Coach with a 22 year career in real estate. She offers practical, how-to steps in her ‘Dear Debbie’ column in SUCCESS Magazine and her vast experiences span from real estate to leadership development to business building and is woven together by the pursuit of making the world a better place for all.

Kurt Ulhir Jan 17 Kurt is a globally-recognized marketer, operator, and speaker. He’s built and run businesses from start-up to over $500M annual revenue, assembled teams across six continents, been part of the small team leading an IPO ($880M), and participated in dozens of acquisitions.

Jas Takhar Jan 24 Soon after deciding to try his hand in real estate, Jas founded REC Canada under Royal LePage, and for over 5 years has successfully kept his team in the top 3 in the country.

Serena Holmes Jan 31 Prior to becoming a REALTOR®, Serena ran her own multi-award winning brand experience agency called Tigris Events for close to 18 years. Under her leadership, she grew the agency to ten full-time staff at their head office in Pickering and over 2,200 part-time staff across the country.

Michael Bell Feb 7 Nationally ranked residential real estate broker with Sotheby's International Realty, #1 in the Greater Pasadena office in Los Angeles County. He wrote a Wall Street Journal #3 best-seller in 2021 called Seller Mistakes which is available on Amazon.

Glen Lundy

Feb 14

Glenn has been spotlighted on ABC, NBC, and CBS, is an expert in dealership culture development, and leadership training. With 20 years experience in the automotive industry, Glenn led a dealership from 120 cars a month to an 800% increase in sales in five years, becoming the second largest used car franchise in the USA.

Baljit Joshi

Feb 21 As the owner of Joshi & Co, she has put together a company whose primary mission is to educate and help clients to make them feel secure, supported and be confident with their decision. Combining her art and marketing background, she takes traditional and digital marketing techniques to turn the experience of selling a home into a science.

Dorian Lam

Feb 28 Dorian Lam is the Principal and EVP of Cornerstone Land Abstract, a boutique title insurance company in the heart of New York City. With over $10 billion in successfully closed transactions, Dorian has held a seat at some of the most iconic real estate deal tables.

It's All About the Journey

John Mayfield has been defying the odds since 1978 when he received his real estate license at the age of 18. Despite the odds, he has survived countless market changes and has become a Master Jedi in the Real Estate industry. John has spoken to thousands of Real Estate professionals in over 25 countries and has authored 8 books. He is now the Missouri Realtor president and has seen it all— the days of fax machines, the boom of the internet, and the modern technology of today.

John Mayfield had always wanted to pursue a career in real estate, so when he was offered a license at 18, he jumped at the opportunity. After working in real estate for many years and achieving success, John and his wife moved to their dream home on a blueberry farm. Everything was perfect until a late spring freeze caused their entire crop to be lost. With no crop and John unemployed, the couple had to start over.

John and his wife sold all of their possessions and moved into a two bedroom apartment. He started doing GoToWebinars and speaking more, and eventually was asked to speak in France. This led to speaking engagements in other countries, such as Cyprus and Russia.

John is a perfect example of true resilience and determination. Despite facing hardships and setbacks, John was able to stay motivated and work hard. Here are a few of John's secrets to success, growth, and resilience in real estate.

Adapt to Change: Be willing to adapt to changes in technology and the real estate market. Countless businesses and models have been disrupted by technology and the speed of these disruptions is growing exponentially. Awareness and forward-thinking will be vital in strategy and the approach to certain aspects of the ever-evolving real estate environment. John has seen many changes throughout his career. He has adapted to the changes in technology and the market by stay-

ing informed about the latest trends and by having a go-getter attitude.

From digital open houses to Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms to bitcoin cryptocurrency, new technologies are taking over the real estate industry by storm and accelerating the pace of business. With tech-savvy Millennials and Generation Y representing the largest group of homebuyers, it is important to power up your career by staying on top of these swiftly evolving trends and learning how new tech can work for you.

Over 70% of customers look for homes online and more than half of house tours are booked through a website. Now more than ever, keeping up with the latest tech can help you differentiate yourself from your competition. Learn how to leverage the real estate tech revolution with emerging trends like Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).

Artificial Intelligence can be an intimidating and even threatening idea to some. Science fiction has conditioned us to view it as something that will ultimately overpower human intelligence and bring about our demise. But, today’s AI solutions do not dream of electric sheep yet, and are used to meet a growing need for convenience and efficiency.

Real estate AI platforms can range from robots giving house tours to immersive virtual tours offered from the comfort of your client’s couch. Beyond its consumer-centric approach, AI can streamline processes for agents by automating repetitive tasks, like answering questions in real-time with chatbots, and use predictive analytics to sift through large amounts of data to target hot leads.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) offer a unique try-before-you-buy model in real estate. Thanks to aerial footage obtained from drones and 3D technology, your clients can now “step into” a space and have an immersive virtual experience while you assist another client. Agents may soon no longer need to spend time and money staging a space, because clients are able to personalize it with virtual furniture. Many international investors already use VR before considering a real estate purchase, and this trend will increase as the VR experience becomes more immersive and sophisticated. Allowing your

clients to evaluate a space will help speed up their decision-making process and is more likely to put you in touch with an interested buyer.

"It is important for real estate professionals to adjust to these technological advances and diversify their strategies, as new tech will continue to accelerate the pace of business," explained John.

Have a Positive Attitude: Have a positive attitude even when facing challenges and never give up. Having a positive mindset is important in any profession, but it’s critical as a real estate agent. You work for yourself and how much money you make depends on your work ethic and attitude. John offers these suggestions for staying positive:

Be around positive, can-do people. We truly are the company we keep, and nowhere is this truer than real estate. You can always find negative people in real estate and those people, nice as they may be, can be poison for your mind.

You should surround yourself with positive people in real estate. One of the best things to do is go to lunch and business meetings with successful real estate agents. Virtually all of them will be positive, can-do people and their optimism will rub off on you.

Get rid of negative self-talk. Everyone has a bad day from time to time, so don’t get down on yourself. After something negative happens, such as not getting a listing you thought you would, the way you talk to yourself matters. Tell yourself that you can do it and you will work hard enough to get the next listing, no matter what. Any time you have any sign of doubt in your mind, just give yourself a pep talk that you can do it, then take concrete, positive steps to make it happen.

Deal with problems and move on. Every agent will be confronted with problems. Deals don’t work out, a client fires you and goes with another agent.

What matters isn’t the problem as much as how you deal with it. Do you let that commission that slipped away affect your mindset for a week? That’s when a problem can snowball into other problems that affect your bottom line.

"Don't sit back and wait, figure things out and take action," John says. "Deal with the problem and correct what went wrong as best as you can. Then move on."

Think of solutions. One of the biggest things that can get people down is feeling like there is no way out of a problem or challenge. This is rarely true. The problem is when we feel defeated and down in real estate, it’s harder to think clearly. Any time you have a problem in your real estate business, take a deep breath, and maybe go for a walk to clear your head. Then, come back and focus on solutions. With a positive frame of mind, you are more likely to come up with ways to fix the issue.

John had to adapt to change when he was 57 years old. He had sold his company, bought a blueberry farm, and was working for a bank when the market crashed. He was unemployed with a non-compete clause, and no crop.

Despite all the setbacks, he kept his energy and attitude up, and did not give up on his dream. He kept going, doing what he knew best, which was to sell real estate. He began to do more speaking engagements and soon he was asked to speak in Europe. His positive attitude and never giving up led to an opportunity to move to the south of France and help with a real estate office. It can be difficult to stay positive when going through tough times, but if you stay motivated and work hard, you can turn any situation around.

"Having a positive attitude is essential when facing any challenge, and never giving up is the key to success," said John. "Keeping a positive attitude as a real estate agent will lead to more business and sales, so really try every day to keep a positive mindset."

By not giving up and believing that he could get back in the game, John was able to adapt to the changes in the market and find success. By staying informed and having a positive attitude, real estate agents can adapt to the ever-changing technology and market.

Connect with John

Website: GlobalRealEstateSchool.com

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/johndmayfield

YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC5g3VFdZGnjqmPhuhUpDvVA

open house chocolate chip cookies

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all purpose flour

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ tsp cinnamon

¾ unsalted butter / melted

1 cup packed brown sugar

½ cup white sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp almond extract

1 egg

2 egg yolks

1 cup milk chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F Grease cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.

Sift together the dry ingredients; set aside.

In medium bowl, cream together melted butter, brown and white sugar until light and creamy.

Beat in vanilla, almond,egg, egg yolks until light and creamy Mix in the dry ingredients until just blended.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop cookie dough large spoonfuls approx 2 inches apart.

Bake 15 to 17 minutes in preheated oven or until edges are golden.

Cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.

Kansas City: The City of BBQ, Jazz, and Fountains

Today about 2.2 million people call Kansas City Metro Area home. This vibrant and dynamic City that finds itself straddling two states, Missouri and Kansas, has a lot to offer those looking to relocate or visit. From its colourful history and cultural offerings, world-renowned BBQ and sports scene, roaring past in Prohibition, or the historic River Market, Kansas City is a great place to visit or call home.

Most of us know Kansas City for its BBQ or Prohibition Bootleggers. The City is home to some of the best BBQ joints and Bars in the country, and the locals take their BBQ and Speakeasies seriously. We'll dive into that in a bit, but what about those outlaws?

Kansas City has a long history of being a favourite holdout for outlaws. Jesse James was one of the most well-known of these outlaws to call Kansas City home. James, a member of the James-Younger Gang, lived in Kansas City for a time and used the City as a base for his nefarious activities.

A more recent outlaw who called Kansas City home was "Pretty Boy" Floyd. Floyd, known for his gang-

ster-style robberies, lived in Kansas City for a time and was rumoured to have hidden in the City's underground tunnels (Tours available). In addition to James and Floyd, Kansas City was also home to several western outlaws, including Tom Horn and Belle Starr. These outlaws helped shape the City's history and left a lasting legacy still evident today.

Kansas City BBQ has a long and storied history that dates back to the early 20th century. The City's BBQ tradition is characterized by slow-smoked meats and a variety of sauces, and it's become world-renowned for its easily recognizable delicious flavours. Kansas City is home to numerous BBQ joints, and the City hosts the annual American Royal BBQ Competition, the largest BBQ competition in the world.

In addition to its BBQ, Kansas City is known for its Lively Jazz scene. The City has a long history of Jazz music, and it was home to many famous Jazz musicians, including Charlie Parker and Count Basie. Kansas City has a thriving Jazz scene with numerous Jazz clubs and festivals.

Kansas City is home to various beautiful and historic neighbourhoods that offer something for everyone. From charm ing Victorian homes to modern apartment buildings, the City has a wide range of housing options.

One of the most historic neighbourhoods in Kansas City is the Westside. Located just west of downtown, the Westside is home to various Victorian and Craftsman-style homes. The neighbourhood is known for its charming streets lined with tree-canopied houses, and it is a popular destination for those looking to experience Kansas City's history.

Another beautiful neighbourhood in Kansas City is the Country Club Plaza. Located just south of downtown, the Country Club Plaza is home to various upscale retail stores and restaurants. The neighbourhood is known for its Spanish-style architecture and beautiful fountains and is a popular destination for shopping and dining.

If you're looking for that Hipster Vibe, there are a few more modern neighbourhoods; the Crossroads District is a great option, or the Power & Light District. Located just east of downtown, the Crossroads District is home to various trendy restaurants, bars, and art galleries. The Power & Light District is in the downtown core. These neighbourhoods are known for their vibrant arts scene, and hip atmosphere and are popular destinations for those looking to experience the City's more contemporary culture.

Kansas City is home to various beautiful and historic neighbourhoods that offer something for everyone. Kansas City has something to of-

fer whether you're looking for a charming historic district or a more modern and vibrant area.

Kansas City is home to over 200 of the most beautiful fountains in the United States, and many are a must-see for any visitor to the City. One of the most iconic fountains in Kansas City is the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain, located in the Country Club Plaza neighbourhood. The fountain was built in 1910 and featured a beautiful stone design with four giant statues of horses and four smaller statues of children.

Another popular feature is the Mayor's Christmas Tree and Fountain, located in the Crown Center neighbourhood. This fountain is a popular destination during the holiday season when it is lit with colourful lights and surrounded by a giant Christmas tree. In addition to these fountains, Kansas City is home to various other beautiful and ornate fountains, including the Union Station Fountain and the Liberty Memorial Fountain. These fountains are a testament to the city's rich history and make Kansas City an exceptional place to live or visit.

Of course, Kansas City's history is only complete if you discuss the bootlegging prohibition era. The City is best known as a significant hub for the bootlegging trade, with underground tunnels and speakeasies used to transport illegal alcohol. It is still a part of the City's history.

Photos (top to bottom)

J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain Northland's Children’s Fountain Union Station

This history is still evident in the City's many speakeasies and other cultural attractions. If you're a tourist visiting Kansas City, there are several ways to learn more about the city's gangster past and the impact of Prohibition.

One way to experience this history is by visiting the City's historic speakeasies. These underground bars were trendy during Prohibition and brought visitors from as far away as NY City. The speakeasies still in business today include the Green Lady Lounge in the city's historic Jazz District and The Underground in the Crossroads Arts District. These bars offer a unique atmosphere and a chance to experience a piece of the city's Prohibition-era history.

Another way to learn about Kansas City's gangster past is by visiting the City's many museums and cultural attractions. The National WWI Museum and Memorial have an exhibit on the history of Prohibition, including the role that Kansas City played in the illegal alcohol trade. The Kansas City Museum also has exhibits on the city's gangster history, including the story of notorious gangster "Pretty Boy" Floyd. If you're interested in learning more about Kansas City's Prohibition-era history, several guided tours are available. One popular tour is the "Gangsters and Prohibition" tour, which takes visitors to some of the city's historic speakeasies and other locations related to the illegal alcohol trade.

Sports fans will also find plenty to love about Kansas City. The City is home to two major league sports teams – the Kansas City Chiefs (football) and the Kansas City Royals (baseball). Both teams have a passionate fan base, and attending a game is a mustdo for any sports fan visiting the city.

Overall, Kansas City is a great place to move to or visit, and super easy to get to by air, road, or rail. And the best part is the hotels! Kansas City is known for

its hospitality and some of the most beautiful MidWestern United States hotels.

Finally, Kansas City has a high standard of living, is family-friendly, and is a great place to settle down. And of course, the best way to find that out is by visiting this great city.

Photos (top to bottom)

Arrowhead Stadium Power & Light District, Downtown Kansas City

Love your city? Email us at 500-doors.com/contact to have it featured.

l l t i m e s a r e M S T

Uncovering Success with Debbie Biery

From being one of the most successful real estate agents in Bellingham, Washington, to traveling the world expanding eXp Realty with extraordinary results, and helping to build the eXp Power Girls group as the National Education Director which supports women and their growth, Debbie Biery is an entrepreneur at heart, a wellness enthusiast, and has a passion for motivating women to evolve into who they’re meant to be.

Debbie is not only a Success 50 Women Of Influence Finalist, she has a regular column in Success Magazine - “Dear Debbie” – and is expanding her brand to focus on giving women the tools they need to unapologetically pursue their dreams in her “Evolving Women Podcast with Debbie Biery.”

There’s no one secret to succeeding in real estate and starting out as a new agent can be intimidating.

When Debbie Biery, the Success Brand Ambassador and certified Success Coach, defies the odds of the 87% failure rate of new real estate agents by embracing her strengths and pursuing her passions, she discovers the power of her voice and the potential to make the world a better place.

The new pressures of learning the industry while trying to establish clients and pay bills make it difficult to focus on getting your first deals. From defining success to embracing technology, here are five tactics that could put you on the right path.

Here’s a list of Debbie's top tips new agents should focus on for success in the industry:

Define what success means for you Success means different things to different real estate agents and brokers. It may be reaching monetary goals, completing a certain number of deals each year, creating connections with a variety of clients, or participating in community events. It also could be a combination of several of these goals.

Regardless of your end goal, define what a successful real estate career means to you by setting measurable and achievable goals to gauge your success over time.

Get clear on your strengths

Biery believes that the real estate world has something to offer everyone, but just like anything else, it’s all about finding your niche. As a real estate agent, there will be plenty of long days and off the clock hours that may not even result in a sale. However, determining what you’re good at can help you on the path to success. The key in this business is to be ready for all the curve balls that are going to get thrown at you, and making sure you’re ready to go above and beyond.

Getting clear on your strengths and focusing on one or two marketing strategies is the first step for any real estate agent looking to make their mark in the industry. The key to success is to focus on what makes you special and use that to your advantage.

One way to do this is to create a list of your skills, experiences, and passions, and think about how they can help you make your mark in the industry. For example, if you are a people person, you could use open house events to meet and network with potential clients. Once you have identified your unique strengths, pick one or two marketing strategies that best fit your skills and focus your efforts on those. If you are a creative person, you could use social media marketing or content creation to get your name out there. If you are tech-savvy, you could use digital marketing strategies to increase your presence online. No matter what marketing strategies you choose, the most important thing is to focus on those that you are most comfortable with and that best fit your strengths.

Create a marketing plan and focus on one or two marketing strategies

Once you have identified your strengths and chosen your marketing strategies, it is time to create a marketing plan. This can include a range of activities, from advertising, lead generation, and social media marketing to email marketing and search engine optimization (SEO). Your marketing plan should include a timeline of when you will implement each strategy, a budget for each strategy, and a list of expected outcomes. This will help you stay organized and on track as you work towards achieving your goals.

Choosing the right marketing channels to focus on is essential for any industry, but particularly real estate, where competition is stiff. You'll need to carefully consider which channel will best reach your desired target audience.

For example, if your agency is targeting younger, tech-savvy buyers, you might want to focus on social media and email marketing. But if you're targeting older, more traditional buyers, you'll need to double down on print and direct mail.

By carefully considering your target audience and the channels that are most likely to reach them, you can effectively allocate your marketing resources and maximize their return on investment.

Additionally, it is important to track your progress and measure the success of each marketing strategy. This will help you identify which strategies are working and which need to be improved or replaced. Finally, don’t forget to stay up-to-date on the ever-changing marketing landscape. Technology and trends are constantly shifting, and it is important to stay ahead of the curve. Research new marketing strategies, attend seminars and webinars, and follow industry influencers to stay on top of the latest marketing trends and techniques. With a solid marketing plan and a commitment to staying up-to-date, you can be sure to make your mark in the real estate industry.

Know your market and become an expert in it

Knowing your market and becoming an expert in it is essential for success in the real estate industry. It requires taking the time to understand the local market, the trends, the best practices, and the competition. This can be done by staying up to date on the local news and attending local real estate events. Additionally, having conversations with local real estate professionals and staying active on social media and other online platforms can help you stay informed and become an expert in your market.

Understand your target audience and what type of services you can provide them with. Knowing the needs of the people you are trying to serve and understanding the most effective way to meet those needs is essential for success. Staying informed about the latest trends and changes in the real estate industry will help you provide your clients with the best possible service. Additionally, having a strong network of professional contacts, including other real estate agents, lenders, and developers, can help you become an expert in your field.

It is also important to understand the local regulations and laws surrounding real estate transactions. Knowing the rules and regulations of the area you are operating in is essential for staying compliant with local ordinances. Additionally, it is important to understand the overall market conditions and how they may affect your business. This includes understanding the current economic conditions, the local housing market, and the inventory of homes in the area. Understanding all of these pieces of information can help you make the best decisions for your clients and

increase your success in the real estate industry.

Use apps & business tools to manage your operations Learning how to be successful in the real estate business is not just about closing deals, but also entails using technology to streamline efficiency, networking, and lead generation. Real estate software is an agent’s secret weapon to building a successful and prosperous career with efficiency. The right real estate tools can assist agents with everything from lead generation tools to video editing, expense tracking, and open house management software.

It is important to keep up with the latest technology and resources available to real estate professionals. Utilizing the latest technology and resources can help you stay organized, stay informed, and provide better service to your clients. This includes utilizing online databases, digital marketing tools, and other resources to stay ahead of the competition and maximize your success in the real estate industry.

Tools like CRM software not only organizes and prioritizes contacts in a database, but also has automation like task reminders, lead tracking, listing management, and marketing services. This allows agents to spend more time working with their clients—helping them be more successful overall. There are free and paid CRM options, so agents should evaluate their budget and business needs before deciding which platform works best for them.

The most successful real estate agents are those who never rest on their laurels. They aren’t afraid of change. They embrace it. Great agents work tirelessly to find novel ways to market their business, generate new leads and retain their previous clients. They learn about new technology and find ways to incorporate it into their daily business practices. Ultimately, it rests on your shoulders what you make your business into and even messy action can lead to success.

Connect with Debbie Website: debbiebiery.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/debbiebiery1 Facebook: fb.com/debbie.nelsonbiery Instagram: instagram.com/debbiebiery

THE FUTURE OF HOUSING IS FACTORY-BUILT

Douglas Hayden has over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry. He has worked in commercial and residential real estate and is involved in business development for small tech start-ups and large office solutions providers. Douglas is now focused on the future of the residential real estate market and is particularly interested in prefabricated housing solutions.

Connect with Douglas Linkedin: Linkedin.com/in/DougHayden-41382918

The housing industry in North America is in the midst of a revolution. As technology advances, so too does the construction industry. Prefabricated homes, or factory-built homes, have been around for a long time. Still, recently there’s been a surge in new start-ups producing the next generation of homes with automated volumetric factory construction and even 3D printing.

These technological advances have caught the attention of investors like Warren Buffet and Jeff Bezos, who have seen the potential of factory-built homes for solving the massive shortage of affordable housing. They invest heavily to ensure its success and long-term viability for new home construction.

For decades, building a home from the ground up has been slow, costly, and prone to delays such as weather. However, as technology advances, the construction industry has rapidly changed. Prefabricated or “factory-built” homes are critical solutions for affordable housing in North America.

Factory Built homes are not what they used to be, and they are certainly a significant improvement over the Mobile Homes of the past that so many of us think of when talking about Prefabrication. New

materials, fabrication techniques like BIM and CAD, and automated factory production methods have made it possible for start-up companies like Veev, Sumara, PlantPrefab, and many others to produce next-generation homes quickly and cost-effectively.

If companies like Amazon, Airbnb, and Microsoft see factory-built housing as viable, you can bet this is more than just a trend. To date, more than $4 Billion has been invested in start-ups that specialize in factory-built homes.

This new building method means that homeowners don’t have to worry about potential structural defects or damage caused by water or pests like they would with traditional stick-built houses. Furthermore, this type of housing can also be customized with features like solar panels or skylights depending on individual preferences while still being relatively quick to construct compared to other methods - often just a few days!

Additionally, these homes are far more energy efficient than traditionally built homes thanks to their airtight construction, which reduces heating costs throughout the year.

BIM and CAD are the Technologies that make Prefabrication Possible Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Computer Aided Design (CAD) are two technologies that reshape how houses are designed and constructed in North America. BIM is a process that uses 3D digital models to create a virtual representation of a building throughout its lifecycle—from design to construction to maintenance and operations. With BIM, architects can easily collaborate on designs and visualize their appearance before building them. CAD is similar to BIM but focuses on individual components rather than an entire building; it allows engineers to create detailed plans for each element without having to start from scratch every time.

Benefits of Factory-Built Homes

Compare six weeks vs. six months or longer. Once a design, and finishes, have been decided upon, factory-built volumetric homes can be built and onsite within six weeks or less compared to how homes are built today, and you’re lucky if you’re turning the key within six months.

The benefits of factory-built homes extend beyond cost savings and faster build times; they also provide homeowners with several advantages that traditional construction cannot match. One significant benefit is that factory-built homes are often made from superior materials compared to conventional methods; since all home components are produced inside a controlled environment, it’s easier to guarantee their quality over time.

As goes auto manufacturing, so goes automating the process of building a house. With this method, fundamental parts or sections of a home can be produced by robotics in a factory setting, reducing labour costs and speeding up construction times.

Automated factory production also makes it easier to use prefabricated materials like metal siding or drywall, which can be cut and assembled far more rapidly than traditional stick-frame construction methods. Even electrical and plumbing are installed in the factory setting. Plus, quality control is much easier since everything is completed inside a factory environment; any defects can be identified early on instead of after they’ve been installed on site.

FACTORY-BUILT VOLUMETRIC HOMES CAN BE BUILT AND ON-SITE WITHIN SIX WEEKS OR LESS COMPARED TO HOW HOMES ARE BUILT TODAY, AND YOU’RE LUCKY IF YOU’RE TURNING THE KEY WITHIN SIX MONTHS.

New Methods

New methods and materials such as (SIP) Structural Insulated panels and insulated concrete forms (ICF) are also being used in current homebuilding projects due to their superior insulation properties and strength compared to other traditional materials like drywall, wood or brick. SIP & ICF walls can help improve energy efficiency by providing better insulation from cold weather conditions outside and unwanted noise pollution inside the home itself.

Additionally, SIP & ICF walls can provide additional structural integrity, which helps protect against extreme weather events such as hurricanes or earthquakes more effectively than other building materials can offer alone. And, of course, SIP panels are factory built and can be robotically produced or have endless design options.

Automated volumetric factory construction (AVFC) is a revolutionary new method for building houses that combines traditional construction methods with robotics and 3D printing. This innovative approach enables contractors to construct modular units faster than ever while maintaining a high-quality control level. AVFC makes it possible to build entire buildings in days instead of weeks or months, as with traditional construction methods. This process saves time and money and helps reduce labour costs since fewer workers are needed to complete the job.

3D Printing

3D printing is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative method for constructing buildings and houses. This process uses special machines to print an entire house from start to finish using specially formulated concrete interlaced with plastic or metal filament material as the substrate. 3D printing has numerous advantages over traditional construction methods,

including reduced labour costs, high-quality control standards, faster completion times, and lower waste due to less material usage. In addition, 3D printing makes it easier for architects and builders to create custom designs tailored specifically to their client’s needs without sacrificing quality or strength.

Companies like Icon & Apis Cor have developed large-scale 3D printers that can print an entire house in just 24 hours—a fraction of the time it would take using traditional methods! 3D printing also eliminates much of the waste associated with conventional construction methods; since all components are printed precisely as needed, there’s no need for extra materials or labour costs due to human error. Additionally, 3D printing offers a very cost-competitive alternative to traditional construction in that the primary materials are readily available and in abundant supply.

The future of housing in North America promises exciting changes—from faster construction times to improved quality control—all thanks to new technologies like BIM, CAD, factory production and 3D printing.

As these technologies and others continue to advance at breakneck speed, so too does the housing industry in North America, thanks to innovations like automated volumetric factory construction (AVFC), 3D printing, and newer solutions like insulated concrete forms (ICF) and (SIP). These developments have enabled start-up companies to produce nextgeneration homes quickly and cost-effectively while maintaining a high-quality control level.

From realtors to developers, the housing industry should be prepared for increased interest from homebuyers who want quality without compromising price or timeline. In particular, when it comes to singlefamily dwellings located in rural settings where access is limited due to terrain or distance from major cities. In addition, Bankers and Mortgage brokers need to note that these types of houses may require different financing options than what’s typically available for stick-built properties - making them an attractive choice for borrowers looking for something unique yet cost-effective! In short, the future looks bright for factory-built housing!

DIY OPEN HOUSE ARRANGEMENT

BY ELLI JESPERSON

We likely all agree that a bouquet of fresh flowers makes a space more inviting. Whether a romantic bursting bundle or a simple low arrangement on a candlelit table, they add a touch of natural beauty. Taking the time to add a few bouquets of fresh flowers can make a big impact on how people feel when entering a room.

SUPPLIES

• A vase with a 4″-6″ opening

• A piece of chicken wire or floral tape.

• Garden greenery clipped from shrubs or plants

• 3 large roses or “focus flowers”

• 3 medium size roses or other flowers

• 6 – 8 accent or filler flowers

1. GETTING STARTED

• Start with a medium-sized vase and a ball of chicken wire.

• Using chicken wire inside the vase helps to keep the flower stems in place.

• You can also make a grid with floral tape across the top of the vase.

2. ADD GREENS

• Look around your garden for shrubs or greenery to create a base for your arrangement. There are many typical plants in most yards that look great mixed with garden flowers.

• Fill around the edge and center of the vase using greenery trimmed from garden shrubs and plants.

3. ADD FLORALS

• Once you have a base of greenery, add three large flowers to the arrangement. Put one in the center and two on the edge.

• Next, add the three mediumsize flowers to fill in open spaces in the greenery.

• Fill in any holes with smaller garden flowers in similar or complimentary colours.

• Add in any interesting accent flowers you might have in your yard.

PRO TIP!

One way to guide your arrangement is to decide on a colour scheme before shopping for flowers. Then, when you go to buy flowers, you know you're picking up colours that work well together. Monochromatic schemes, which show off the variety of different hues of the same colour, can be striking. For another high-impact floral design, try complementary colors that will pop against each other.

While you can be methodical about your colour scheme, there really isn't a way to go wrong when pairing flowers. I recommend selecting flowers based on what's currently blooming in your garden or what you can find at the local market. The key is to be open-minded and see what you are drawn to. Being too specific in a search can prevent you from looking at other beautiful candidates. Pick your favourites with different growth patterns, shapes, and sizes, and see how you can make them come together.

Take a look around, be creative and most of all, have fun bringing a little bit of the outdoors into your home!

Elli Jesperson is an acclaimed florist based out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She has been in the floral industry for over 30 years and owns Small Flower {floral studio}. Get your botanical wreath kit or check out her upcoming floral workshops by visiting smallflower.ca

Creating a Financial for 2023

BY ROB GAUDIO

In the last issue, we discussed creating a Business Money Mindset to manage your financials and an overview of the financial scorecards. In this issue, we will dig deeper into the Profit & Loss (economic scorecard) and take it further to create a Forecast (game plan). Since it's the beginning of the new year, it's perfect timing to close out last year's numbers and forecast for 2023.

Use these 3 steps to forecast for 2023:

1) Gather accounting records from 2022 (last year's data) into a Profit & Loss (same info that you would need to gather for your taxes).

2) Use last year's data as a benchmark to forecast this coming year.

3) Set an ongoing monthly plan to manage and monitor.

To best translate complex accounting topics, it's ideal to make it relatable to the sales professional. In this case, sports analogies are very helpful. So I like to refer to keeping score, managing stats, and creating game plans. After all, how do you measure success without actually measuring it? Sports uses quarters, innings, and periods and tracks essential performance indicators like hits, shots, percentages, etc. Data from each game helps to plan out the next. Realtors need to track your stats so you can set goals and plans for improvement.

So ask yourself, what data are you tracking? How often do you review this data? Do you understand these numbers? Do you even have accurate data? Speaking of precise data, let's also address the big elephant in the room: your business and personal financials. Tracking finances is a common challenge for sole proprietors and sales professionals, which is okay if you develop a plan to manage them and keep them organized.

So for Step 1, you want to collect your business and personal financials. After all, we want to assess the profitability of the Realtor business portion and the individual household. The net goal of all this data combined is Profits, which is also your Savings. So it is helpful to look at this wholistically.

Step 1: Profit & Loss for 2022

• Download all bank and credit card transactions for the past 12 months, including Venmo and PayPal

• Assign a Category for each line item, then Subtotal each Category. Use these Subtotals as your new baseline for next year's estimates.

Sales = Sales Commissions (fewer splits)

Business Expenses = Marketing, Dues, Insurance, Office, etc

Personal Expenses = Car, Rent, Groceries, Health, etc

Gross Profit = Sales – Business Expenses. Essentially this is your net income of the business portion. It's not about how much you sell, it's about how much profit you retain. You could quickly get a job elsewhere, so this calculation is your comparison ("opportunity cost"). For example, if your net sales are $100k and you have $40k in business expenses, that's $60k in business income. You could get a job elsewhere for $60k, and you would be at the same earnings and probably for much less work.

Net Profit = Gross Profit – Personal Expenses. Net Profit is your remaining profit or savings for your household and an essential calculation.

Step 2: Create the Forecast

Using last year's data as a starting point, let's create an estimated goal for the upcoming year. Add a column beside the previous year's numbers to estimate your best guess for this year's desired results. These numbers should be supported with reasonable assumptions that are achievable and conservative, especially

since the income is commission based and unpredictable. Because you spent these amounts last year, it may be different, as it could be more/less.

Sales Factors: How is the market performing? How is my performance? Any new opportunities or challenges? Expenses Factors: price increases, ability to increase/ decrease, fixed vs variable, discretionary vs essential Any new items this year? Anything to remove?

Go through each category to allocate and confirm the forecasted amount. Ultimately the total at the bottom (savings) is your desired target. This document becomes your budget: allocated spending per category based on your estimated income. This budget is now your financial game plan. This details exactly how you spend your funds to execute according to this plan.

Step 3: Monthly Management

We now use this budget/forecast as a management tool for the rest of the year. It's essential to monitor your performance MONTHLY so you can have timely and actionable data, and it becomes a valuable tool for upcoming purchase decisions. You should make purchases blindly, refer to your allocated spending game plan and keep to it. If you want to add something new, you should decrease or remove something else, so the totals still balance.

Each month you repeat the process of categorizing your expenses and compare these amounts versus your targets. If you are overspending, then decrease in upcoming months. If underspending, you know you have room to spend or can reallocate funds to another category. If sales are up, you could invest more. If sales are down, we need to assess where we can cut so the expenses are still proportional to the sales (percentages). These monthly adjustments are critical to maintaining as close as possible to your desired targets.

Remember that this process is not just for your business expenses. It is just as valuable for your costs and combined household income. Your savings goals are tied to income from all sources and spending from all household parties. It all nets to one number at the end of the year, net savings. By tracking accurate and timely data, you can make better decisions and keep very close to your end-of-year goals.

Real Estate Success with 500 Doors Behind every door is opportunity Accelerate your business growth through Community, Creativity and Collaboration.