Canada 9-11-17 by Top Agent Magazine

CANADA EDITION

6 Things You Need to Do to BE A GREAT MENTOR KEEPING IN TOUCH â&#x20AC;&#x201C; How to Stay in Your Clients' Lives for the Long Haul GOOGLE ADWORDS: How to Make Google Do the Work For You

FEATURED AGENTS

TANYA EVOY ROSS J. HALLORAN CAROL RIZZETTO

COVER STORY

TED CAWKWELL

CANADA EDITION

19 TANYA EVOY

CAROL

Tanya Evoy was almost destined to the event Inraised 2007, over Carol eR to pursue enter real estate. Growing up in a looking toversity beat that this She already serv military family. Tanya was exposed in athletics She currently sits atonCat early on to the business, and saw was a single mot Estate Associations YPN the process of a transaction countHaving always fo less times as a kid. “I was always and new professionals estate and with ga drawn to it and I loved looking at and is devoted to develo the market, Caro intoindustry. her own han homes. When I was thinking about alism in the W TED CAWKWELL TANYA EVOY ROSS HALLORAN RIZZETTO andher ea what J.career I wanted toCAROL go into, spending necessary time with ately diving into real estate was a natural choice. on the water and practic business. Using the connections she’d long cu Helping people with what is oftentimes the largest purchase knit community, Carol was off to a promising they ever make, and getting them through thattoprocess Tanya be joined more shift intoas residential realcouldn’t estate, Carol seamlessly as possible is very rewarding.” forwa one of the leading career offices. and Afterlooks encouraging join forces with herbut and giving create their own back toteam, the mark, joined Viewpoint Realty, a company w Tanya got her license in 2009 and almost immediately found very dedicated to impro their province. Seven years after her first for CONTENTS success. Since 2010, she has achieved top sales awards conhigher standard and pro TED CAWKWELL Carol is now at the helm of a thriving enterpris secutively every year with the Executive Club Award and the ties, so we not only a decidedly positive outlook as can she helps them 100% Club Award. She now leads a small teamBreton, that serves industry as a whole. I lo Nova Scotia. 4) GOOGLE KEEPING IN areas in Lanark 21)County. 6 THINGS Carleton9) Place and the surrounding the same success I hav Today, Carolinheadshomes, capablebut team together Tanya excels at all types of transactions but specializes it’sandreally ab ADWORDS: TOUCH – HOW YOU NEED aTO DO primarily, Sydney, Sydney River, Coxheath, We Home Sales. Tanya is thrilled so wonderful.” area,BE where sizable portion of the island’s p HOW TO MAKE Residential TO Resale STAYandINNew YOUR TO Aa GREAT that her husband is currently in the process gettingapplies his license her in-depth knowledge of the region an GOOGLE DO CLIENTS' FOR MENTOR and will be joining theLIVES team soon. service all to her clients’ benefit. Likewise, ma

THE WORK FOR YOU

THE LONG HAUL

cating to the island and so she makes it a priori

welcoming committee. “I want my clients to fe Key to Tanya’s success is the unsurpassed level of customer community,” service she provides, that always puts people first. “I haveshe says. “I do my best to conne people, whether they have small children and a really strong work ethic, and I’m committedthe to local helping schools and the community program my clients achieve their goals. I make sure their needs them with are their neighbors so that they feel welc met at all times, by getting back to my clients expediently. views her work as an opportunity to be a positiv a business leader, she employs a noteworth Myself or someone from my team is consistentlyAsproviding encouraging clear, constant, and honest communication. I keep them inenvironment in her office. As an ag with a memorably bright experience as the loop even just to let them know everything clients is on track. through the often overwhelming waters of hom They count on me to be professional and rely onand mybeyond market Phone 888-461-3930 | Fax 310-751-7068 for my clients,” she says. “I make knowledge. I take pride in giving them my best.” sendBecause housewarming gifts, and I often touch ba mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com she always wants to give her best, Tanya is big on theeducation sale, when you live and work in a small co into your clients! I workMagazine hard and make sure th and staying up to date on all market changes and all new No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions areand takensystems. to ensureShe the accuracy of published innovative technology is a Certified New materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible forHome opinions expressed(CNHS), or facts supplied by its Specialist certified in authors. Residential ConstrucTo subscribe or change address, send inquiry mag@topagentmagazine.com. tion to Sales (RCC) and also has her ABR (Accredited Buyer Published in the U.S. Representation Designation). She recently became a Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) and obtained her Broker’s license in 2016. 2

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Tanya is very active in her community and this will be the second year that she helps to organize a charity 5k run that

To learn mo

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

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Google AdWords:

How To Make Google Do the Work for You There is no denying that the internet is the first place a buyer begins looking for a new home in this digital age. Knowing how to put the powerful tools available on the internet to work for you can give you a decided advantage when it comes to attracting prospective buyers to your listings, as well as you as an agent. Google is easily one of the major superpowers of the internet, and they have one of the most powerful advertising tools available. Knowing how to utilize Google AdWords in the correct manner can make your internet advertising immensely powerful and possibly your best way to reach prospective buyers. Google AdWords is also extremely cost-effective. This multifaceted tool gives you much more control over your advertising campaign than other more traditional methods. You can target specific audiences, choose the specific search terms, also known as keywords, that will bring up your ad in someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s search results, and you can set a budget for each campaign that will dictate itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reach and how long the campaign will run. Here are some tips for how to put Google AdWords to work for you. 4

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ent websites. You want to set yourself apart from every other real estate website users are viewing in their search for a house.

MAKE SURE YOUR ADS ARE GOING TO SEND USERS TO A SITE THAT WILL CAPTURE THEIR ATTENTION

You can spend an infinite amount of money on Google advertising campaigns, but if those ads don’t send users to a site that will capture and hold their interest, then you’ve just wasted all that money. Don’t put your cart before the horse. Make sure you are considering exactly where these ads are going to send users. To set up your website for success, at the very least you want to make sure users are greeted by clear call-to-action, such as a message that will encourage them to sign up for your newsletter or subscribe to your blog. You want to set up your website to maximize and capture the leads the ad campaign sends your way.

BUILD CUSTOMIZED OR CUSTOM-MADE WEBSITES RATHER THAN TEMPLATE WEBSITES It is easy and tempting to use template websites, or to offer your agents template websites if you are a real estate manager or broker. While this offers a cost-effective solution to providing every agent with a website, it does little to set you or your agents apart and capture the attention of users that are used to seeing a wealth of differ-

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MAKE SURE YOU ARE OFFERING VALUE ON YOUR WEBSITE

Don’t simply use your website as a kind of brag sheet. Let users know what makes your particular services valuable to them. Highlight your expertise in a certain location through tools such as blog posts, providing market updates, or giving pertinent information on a unique type of property. This will ensure that your online advertising campaigns are much more successful.

LOCATION IS EVERYTHING!

Location is everything in real estate, and the same holds true for Google AdWords. You can target specific locations in your ad campaign. While one approach is to focus on the area around your location, a more advanced approach would be to link AdWords campaigns to your Google My Business account. This is a Google service that includes your address in the ad, allowing people to then click on it and see exactly where you are located on a map.

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USE GOOGLE ADWORDS IN YOUR CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS IN GENERAL

Focus an AdWords campaign on expanding your business by incorporating specific zip codes and neighborhoods that will help you establish a presence in an area where you would like to increase your real estate business. Making sure that your ad appears in search results that are related to the real estate in a specific area will help shape the image and brand of your business as well as bring in new leads.

HARNESS THE POWER OF DATA

When you run a Google AdWords campaign Google Analytics captures a wealth of information about your target client demographic. You can gain real insight into your online visitors, such as when they visit, what they do and look at on your site once they get there, and what search terms they use. You can use all of this information to grow your business. Use Google Analytics to determine which users (location, gender, age) are utilizing specific aspects of your site, such as looking at multiple listings, reading your blog, etc. You can then use this information to target these specific demographics in your AdWord campaigns, Gmail ads, the Google Display Network, and other advertising.

Using the internet to help advertise your business and your listings is one of the smartest moves you can make as an agent in this modern age. However, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to simply go into the process blind or youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wasting a lot of potential resources and data that could make all the difference. To reap the benefits of Google AdWords, you must apply an intelligent strategy to using these campaigns. 6

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TED CAWKWELL Top Agent Magazine

TED CAWKWELL Ted Cawkwell of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is ranked among the top real estate agents in the world. Top Agent Ted Cawkwell of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan began selling farm and ranch real estate a mere five-and-a-half years ago, and is already ranked among the top real estate agents in the world. His passion for what he does, coupled with his commitment to going above and beyond, resulted in his company 8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; realty behemoth RE/MAX - naming him as the eighth most successful commercial realtor in the world in 2016. His journey as an agriculture specialist began in 2010, when his father passed away unexpectedly and he was asked to assist his family Top Agent Magazine

with selling their farm. “It was one of the larger farms in the province,” says Ted, “so I kind of had my hands full. I hired a farm real estate agent to assist us with the land portion of the sale, and they were a great benefit to our family. I thought it would be great if I could help make a positive impact in that way for another farm family like this agent did for us. So that’s what spurred me on to switch directions a bit and move into this line of work.” Top Agent Magazine

His own personal experience with farming informs the way he conducts his business. “These farm transactions are a lot different from a residential or commercial transaction,” says Ted. “There’s a lot more emotion involved, generally. When you’re selling a farm, it’s very commonly a multi-generational farm where they’ve spent hundreds of thousands of hours out on the land. There’s a real attachment, so it’s one of the nuances of my business that I have to be a different type of agent. I think it’s really beneficial that I’ve sold my own farm. Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

“I love interacting with my clients, being out on the land. I’m a fourth generation farmer, and I still hobby farm a bit. So I really just enjoy being out with both the farm families and the investors.” It allows me to really help them, because I’ve been there.” While empathy plays a part in his success, even more so does the exceptional customer service Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

that has become his hallmark. “Exemplary customer service is part of our mission statement,” says Ted. “We go above and beyond in every area that we possibly can. Our marketing is second to none, and we have a really unique Top Agent Magazine

marketing plan. We always try to be innovative and on the leading edge of technology.” The personal touch is also paramount. “We stay in touch with our clients, we’re in regular communication to let them know what’s going on. Just being a friendly voice on the end of the phone, and always being there to answer any questions they might have.” Results are the harvest of these efforts. “Our properties sell for more money and they sell faster than other farm agent’s properties in the province.” Despite his financial success – he recently negotiated one of the largest farm sales in Top Agent Magazine

Saskatchewan history - it’s less the dollar and more the people that motivates Ted. “I love interacting with my clients, being out on the land. I’m a fourth generation farmer, and I still hobby farm a bit. So I really just enjoy being out with both the farm families and the investors, and speaking to the things that are near and dear to my heart.” Giving back is important to Ted, and to that end he makes a per-transaction donation to a selection of charities. “I give my clients a list of organizations they can choose from,” he says. Among other endeavors, he also spearheads a Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

free children’s fishing event to help kids gain positive outdoor experiences. The last two years have seen over a thousand people attend the event. As for the future, Ted has no grandiose plans. Instead, he simply wishes to continue growing his

business while sacrificing none of the exceptional customer service that has become his calling card. “We just want to touch more people, help more people out who are in need of somebody to assist them, just keep on doing what we’re doing.”

For more information about TED CAWKWELL, please call 306-327-7661 or email ted@tedcawkwell.com View Drone Footage: https://

youtu.be/gzpGUhHLxq4 • youtu.be/Mtcyj7Gvg3E • youtu.be/LYoaRjIIoeM

https://

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g n i p Kee h c u in To

HOW TO STAY IN YOUR CLIENTS LIVES FOR THE LONG HAUL

One sign of a great real estate agent is there long list of loyal client following. Part of achieving a great referral base is being a great realtor during the transaction. But, that’s only half of the work. To truly be your client’s realtor for life and keep them coming back to you as well as referring others to you, you have to stay in their lives past the transaction. Keeping in touch with your past clients can be one of the most important parts of your business, and one that many realtors tend to push to the wayside. Do you stay in your client’s lives, or do you disappear? People refer people that they feel they know well and that they trust, people they consider friends. However, earning and keeping your client’s trust involves maintaining a delicate balance with how much you contact them. Experts recommend reaching out to your clients at least quarterly. But, it’s not just about how often you stay in touch. You also need to be mindful about how you are reaching out to them. Here are some tips on how to keep in touch with your clients for the long haul: Top Agent Magazine

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INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL CONTACT One of the best ways to keep in touch with your clients is to simply give them a call every once in a while. Follow up and see how your clients are doing. Offer them assistance if they need it. Personalized contact helps to ensure that you remain as important to your clients long after the sale as you were during the transaction. Giving your clients a call on special occasions such as birthdays or holidays also makes for a great personal touch. Of course, nothing beats face-to-face contact. Stopping by to say hello can be a great way to keep in contact. An even better way to catch up and maintain that friendship is to set up a lunch or coffee date with past clients. Giving individual clients your undivided attention goes a long way towards maintaining that bond you formed during the transaction and earning your client’s loyalty and trust. Interactions like this make a lasting impression on your clients. Of course, many busy REALTORS® may not have time to follow up with every client oneon-one. A great way to still give personal attention to your clients without meeting each and every one for lunch is to throw a client appreciation party. This allows you to get in some face-to-face time with each client and make sure they all get your undivided attention and quality time to catch up with you, even if it’s only for a short time. Now, if you have a lot of past clients, this can be difficult to manage during one party. One way to get around the numbers problem is to organize smaller events based on client’s interests. Instead of throwing one giant party, host a pool party for the families with kids or a wine and cheese get together for single clients. Hosting special events like these ones goes a long way towards keeping your contact with past clients more personalized and setting you apart from those businesses that simply send them a calendar once a year.

PROVIDE CLIENTS WITH USEFUL NEWS PROVIDE CLIENTS WITH USEFUL NEWS One way that many REALTORS® keep in touch with their clients is by sending them newsletters. This form of contact can be a double-edged sword. You want to make sure you provide them with useful information that reminds them of your value as a real estate professional. Otherwise your communication will amount to nothing more than spam, and clients will think of you less as a trusted friend and more as a nuisance salesperson. Clients react much more positively to communication containing information that is pertinent to their lives. Update your clients on what is going on in their local community and 14

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housing market. Demonstrate your knowledge about the community and the things that are important to your clients. Include information about local cultural events, community news, housing statistics, information on the mortgage market, home maintenance advice, home design tips, and anything else that your clients will find personally useful. Your clients will always be interested in value.

SEND CLIENTS MEMORABLE AND PERSONAL CARDS Sending your clients cards related to important events in their lives and letting them know that you remember those events and care will go a long way towards building and maintaining a close personal relationship with them. You want to make sure your cards stand out, though. Sending popular holiday cards can be a mistake, as they will most likely get lost amongst all of your clients other holiday cards and will be quickly forgotten. Instead send something more personal such as: HOME ANNIVERSARY CARDS: Send cards to each client on the anniversary of the closing of their home.

CONGRATULATORY CARDS: Remember important events such as wedding anniversaries, graduations, new babies, etc.

SPECIAL BIRTHDAY CARDS: Instead of just sending your typical birthday card, add something special to yours that will stand out. Include a $1 scratch off ticket or a $5 gift certificate to Starbucks. Make sure to include a handwritten personal note.

GIVE CLIENTS AN UNUSUAL GIFT Make sure the gifts you send your past clients stand out. Send your past clients an odd gift at the beginning of the year or on a holiday. Think outside the box and send things like funny magnets, customized mugs, a personalized piece of wall décor, and other fun and unusual items. A great way to make your gift stand out even more is to include a funny note with it that will catch their attention as well as make them think of you. For example, one cute idea is to send clients a bag of popcorn with the note, “Real estate is popping, give me a call.” You could send a bag of goldfish with a note attached that says, “I’m fishing for your referrals.” Get creative and have a little fun with it, your clients will notice and remember you for it. Top Agent Magazine

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TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS

Social networking sites make staying in contact with past clients in a more informal and friendly basis much easier. Connect with your past clients on Facebook. This will help you stay up to date on the important things happening in your pact clients’ lives. In return, it provides you a great platform for keeping those past clients up to date with what is going on in your business as well as keep in contact in a more informal manner. Use Facebook to remind past clients to check their basement after a heavy rain or that they can contact you for help during tax time. You can even organize your contacts on Facebook into customized lists such as “past clients,” “industry contacts,” etc. This will help you better manage your Facebook contacts. This will also allow you to view specific news feeds based on these lists and send messages to a particular list of contacts. Don’t forget about the many other social networking sites such as Twitter or LinkedIn either. Utilize this technology to drive personal contact with your clients.

STAY ORGANIZED No matter how you choose to keep in contact with past clients, make sure to be consistent. Consistency will help you stay organized and diligent about reaching out to your past clients regularly. A tool used by many real estate professionals to stay organized is a customer relationship management solution. Whether you use one that is online or a computer software program, this will help you stay organized when managing your contacts and allow you to set notifications to alert you when you need to contact certain clients, send out gifts, plan a client appreciation event, and many other things throughout the year. Staying organized and consistent in your contact with past clients will help you continue to build and manage your referral base, as well as open the door to repeat and referral business. 16

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TANYA EVOY Tanya Evoy was almost destined to enter real estate. Growing up in a military family. Tanya was exposed early on to the business, and saw the process of a transaction countless times as a kid. “I was always drawn to it and I loved looking at homes. When I was thinking about what career I wanted to go into, real estate was a natural choice. Helping people with what is oftentimes the largest purchase they ever make, and getting them through that process as seamlessly as possible is very rewarding.” Tanya got her license in 2009 and almost immediately found success. Since 2010, she has achieved top sales awards consecutively every year with the Executive Club Award and the 100% Club Award. She now leads a small team that serves Carleton Place and the surrounding areas in Lanark County. Tanya excels at all types of transactions but specializes in Residential Resale and New Home Sales. Tanya is thrilled that her husband is currently in the process getting his license and will be joining the team soon.

the event raised over eleven thousand dollars and Tanya is looking to beat that this year. She currently sits on the committee for the Ontario Real Estate Associations YPN and is committed to helping Young and new professionals get involved in Organized Real Estate and is devoted to developing higher standards of professionalism in the industry. When she isn’t working, Tanya enjoys spending time with her friends and family, and loves being on the water and practicing yoga. Tanya couldn’t be more thrilled with where she is at in her career and looks forward to not only growing her business, but giving back to the industry that she loves as well. “I’m very dedicated to improving this industry and implementing higher standard and providing more educational opportunities, so we can not only do better for our clients but for the industry as a whole. I love what I do and want others to find the same success I have. Yes, this business is about selling homes, but it’s really about relationships, and that’s why it’s so wonderful.”

Key to Tanya’s success is the unsurpassed level of customer service she provides, that always puts people first. “I have a really strong work ethic, and I’m committed to helping my clients achieve their goals. I make sure their needs are met at all times, by getting back to my clients expediently. Myself or someone from my team is consistently providing clear, constant, and honest communication. I keep them in the loop even just to let them know everything is on track. They count on me to be professional and rely on my market knowledge. I take pride in giving them my best.” Because she always wants to give her best, Tanya is big on education and staying up to date on all market changes and all new innovative technology and systems. She is a Certified New Home Specialist (CNHS), certified in Residential Construction Sales (RCC) and also has her ABR (Accredited Buyer Representation Designation). She recently became a Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) and obtained her Broker’s license in 2016. Tanya is very active in her community and this will be the second year that she helps to organize a charity 5k run that raises money and awareness for Interval House, a local battered women’s shelter that provides resources and support to women who need help getting back on their feet. Last year

To learn more about Tanya Evoy call 613-285-4214, email Tanyaevoy@remax.net or visit Tanyaevoy.ca www.

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ROSS J. HALLORAN

SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY CANADA- MUSKOKA & ONTARIO CENTRAL LAKES After living the life of a serial entrepreneur and contract professional, upon entering his forties Ross J. Halloran decided it was time to make a change. Once he consulted with his wife—a builder in the Toronto area—he saw the mutual benefit of going into business together, and so Ross became a real estate agent. A few years down the line after honing his craft, Ross’s experience revealed to him his distinct affinity for cottages and lakefront properties, and he decided to begin his own luxury cottage rental business. Today, Ross is at the helm of a thriving, passion-fueled career managing and selling lakefront properties, harnessing the power of the Sotheby’s platform to provide top-notch service for his clients. Ross primarily serves the Muskoka District in central lakes region of Ontario, where he specializes in lakefront properties and luxury cottages. Over the past few years at Lifestyle Property Advisors, he has developed a tightknit and capable team comprised of a senior broker, a buyer’s agent, two assistants, and an intern set to join the ranks next month. Together, Ross and his team offer their clients a unique and full-spectrum service, Test Drive Your Dream Home, which allows prequalified buyers to rent out homes for sale and credit a portion of the rental fee towards the purchase price if they ultimately decide to buy. Backed by Sotheby’s renowned reputation and reach, Ross has powerful tools at his fingertips and maximizes these resources to bring the best in real estate services to his clients. Likewise, Ross makes a personal investment in those he serves, counseling his clients toward a more holistic understanding of their equitable position. To accomplish this, Ross creates detailed reports of the total cost of ownership, including an income and expense pro forma. He also draws upon the in-depth insight gained from his years in rental cottages to lead buyers toward ways in which they can maintain a cash positive position in their investment. “I bring a commercial perspective to the residential market,” Ross says. “I help my clients get a full understanding of how to mitigate the cost of ownership through renting.” With a meaningful portion of his business originating from direct referrals, Ross moves through all transactions with a great deal of transparency, instilling in his clients a sense of security while engendering trust in their relationship. As for marketing his listings, Ross harnesses the full scope of the Sotheby’s network and platform to catapult listings to the top of the

marketplace. He equips listings with immersive virtual tours, aerial photography, and marketing brochures that amount to stunning presentations both online and in print. With an established presence in publications like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, print listings are distributed far and wide. Considering that Sotheby’s has 850 offices across the world, ensuring peak visibility among ideal buyers is not only easy and fast, but also effective. With house hunters seeking out homes across the globe, Ross provides sellers with detailed information on where their potential leads are coming from, keeping them in the loop on the status of their property at all times. To connect with past clients and those in the community, Ross once again makes considered use of Sotheby’s breadth to create and distribute unique and practical materials on safe practices and etiquette while on the water. In reflecting on his day to day, Ross says: “My work is born out of my love for cottages and lakefront properties. I’ve found the perfect role to blend my range of expertise, and I’ve never looked back.” To give back to the local community, Ross is active in the area’s outreach events. For the last three years, he’s been a volunteer, donor, and involved board member of Save Quiet Lakes, an organization seeking to educate people on safe boating etiquette on the water and when engaging in water sports. Participating in outreach not only gets him involved, but also allows him to meet new members from the community. He’s sponsored events such as the Antique Boat Show and the Cranberry Festival, strongholds of Muskoka history and culture. In his free hours, Ross enjoys spending time with his wife and children, passing along his passion as a catch and release fisherman to his two daughters. He also enjoys traveling, martial arts, and music—particularly relishing the history of music through recent trips to Memphis and Nashville. As for the future, Ross has plans to step-up his business’s steady expansion and build on emerging markets. He’d also like to tap new agents with niche specialties to round out his team and continue applying Sotheby’s seasoned influence as he branches out into additional lakefront areas. Now, with a market specialty wisely carved out and well-served, the years to come are bound to as bright as ever for Ross J. Halloran and his team.

To learn more about Ross J. Halloran,

visit sothebysrealty.ca/en/ross-halloran, e-mail rhalloran@sothebysrealty.ca or call (416) 856-6666 or 800-615-2537 www.

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6 Things You Need to Do to Be a Great Mentor

Everyone reaches the point in their career where they feel they have gained enough experience and wisdom about business and what it takes to succeed, to actually help someone else achieve the same. Although you may have trained or given advice over the years, taking on the official status as a mentor to someone is a whole new ball game. 20

Although mentorship is an unpaid endeavor, you’ll be surprised to find out how much you’ll gain from the experience. You’ll also grow as a business person through the process of teaching someone else. It’s also an endeavor that many will pay forward one day, creating a business atmosphere that is based more on mutual success than competition, which is better for everyone.

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If you were mentored, you may already have an idea of what it entails, and what you liked or didn’t like in your mentor/mentee relationship. Although it is a personal relationship that will need an individual approach, there are certain things that are key when it comes to being a great mentor: 1. Be a good listener

est about your own failures. It can be a huge relief to find out someone they look up to has gone through similar experiences and still managed to come out on top. As we all know, oftentimes the greatest lessons come from failures, which can be times when our character is truly tested. Building trust through mutual respect and honesty will make every aspect of your mentorship more effective.

You’re basically a sounding board who needs to hear your mentee’s ideas, plans and goals in order to advise them. Strong, constant and clear communication is key to any successful mentoring relationship. Sometimes just letting them talk things out with you, will lead to them to discovering the solution they were looking for. 2. Set expectations and goals at the start When listening to your mentee in your first meeting about the potential relationship, it’s important to establish the parameters of what that relationship will be: What can you give them? What do they need or expect from you? Once the terms are agreed upon, you may want to set specific goals you’ll be working on together so that there’s a defined plan of action, timeline and result you can both expect. 3. Be honest This is important when it comes to offering them constructive criticism or tough love, but more importantly, you need to be honTop Agent Magazine

4. Get them to think, don’t make decisions for them Sometimes being a mentor is being a bit like a psychologist. By asking certain ques-

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tions you can lead your mentee to their own conclusions about their business dilemmas and strategies to reach their goals. Being a mentor is all about guidance. Build confidence by drawing out the best in your mentee rather than just presenting them with solutions. 5. Look at the situation objectively One of the key strengths you offer your mentee is a complete emotional detachment to their business. You have no sentimental attachment to doing things a certain way or working with an incompetent vendor because you ‘go way back’. Your only motive is what’s best for your mentee and their business. Although emotions cans still get in the way sometimes, having a detached perspective on hand to guide you is invaluable. 6. Don’t just offer constructive criticism, be supportive Yes, being a mentor is sometimes advising your mentee that he’s doing something ineffectively, but your main purpose is to alway approach everything like cheerleader. You need to let them know that through it 22

all, you are a reliable support to them and have a complete belief in their abilities. Make sure to always praise their accomplishments. Remember: your job as a mentor is more about guidance than constant feedback. Your goal is to help someone become the best they can be, not someone who just does everything the way you do it. You’re helping them build confidence in their own intuition, which will hopefully lead to a lifetime of success, and one day, they too might be a valuable resource to another mentee down the road.

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CAROL RIZZETTO In 2007, Carol Rizzetto returned to university to pursue her studies in business. She already served sixteen years working in athletics at Cape Breton University and was a single mother of four with a dream. Having always fostered an interest in real estate and with a property of her own on the market, Carol decided to take matters into her own hands. She took the courses necessary and earned her license, immediately diving into the residential side of the business. Using the connections she’d long cultivated within her tight knit community, Carol was off to a promising start. When she decided to shift into residential real estate, Carol joined a local real estate firm, one of the leading offices. After encouraging her husband, Gilbert, to join forces with her and create their own team, they set out to make their mark, joined Viewpoint Realty, a company with a strong presence in their province. Seven years after her first foray into residential work, Carol is now at the helm of a thriving enterprise, inspiring in her clients a decidedly positive outlook as she helps them make a home in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Today, Carol heads a capable team and together they serve Cape Breton, primarily, Sydney, Sydney River, Coxheath, Westmount and surrounding area, where a sizable portion of the island’s population resides. Carol applies her in-depth knowledge of the region and devotion to high quality service all to her clients’ benefit. Likewise, many of her clients are relocating to the island and so she makes it a priority to act as a one-woman welcoming committee. “I want my clients to feel like they’re part of the community,” she says. “I do my best to connect them with likeminded people, whether they have small children and they need to know about the local schools and the community programs, or if I’m connecting them with their neighbors so that they feel welcome.” In that vein, Carol views her work as an opportunity to be a positive force in her community. As a business leader, she employs a noteworthy team and cultivates an encouraging environment in her office. As an agent, Carol strives to leave clients with a memorably bright experience as they navigate their way through the often overwhelming waters of homeownership. “I go above and beyond for my clients,” she says. “I make sure they’re settled in, I send housewarming gifts, and I often touch base with my clients after the sale, when you live and work in a small community, it’s easy to run into your clients! I work hard and make sure they have the best service.”

To market her listings, Carol incorporates professional photography and her own staging to ensure that properties make an ideal first impression online and in person. She also makes use of social media’s wide reach and cites ViewPoint’s extensive and powerful website as an invaluable tool to secure optimal visibility for listings. Of course, word of mouth goes a long way in her small community, and Carol’s longstanding presence in the area creates many opportunities to spread the news of a new listing coming to market. With the overwhelming majority of her business driven by referrals, community networking, and repeat clientele, Carol’s ability to deliver is proven. That said, she never forgets the heart of the matter: the individuals and families at the root of every transaction. “I’m a sociable person and I really enjoy meeting and helping people,” she reflects. “My favorite thing about this business is getting to talk to people. My release is real estate and making a positive impact on people really makes me happy.” Since her husband Gilbert’s passing in early 2017, Carol is determined to put her time and energy toward making a positive impact in the lives of those beginning their next chapter. She cites her husband’s unfailing support of her work as a main driver of her continued success and motivation today. “When you know you’re helping other people, you know that life goes on,” she says. To continue to give back to her community, Carol is involved in a variety of charitable and civic causes in the area. In addition to past posts, volunteering as the co-chair of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation and chairing Sport Nova Scotia, Carol also sponsors a range of causes: from the Two Rivers Wildlife Park and local hockey teams, to the Children’s Wish Foundation and other local organizations. In her free hours, Carol enjoys spending time with her four children, traveling, and enjoying the idyllic scenery of island life. As for the future, Carol’s current focus is on growing and developing a team of agents and her son, Tony, just successfully completed his real estate exam. Decidedly optimistic about the years to come, Carol hopes her success story can serve as encouragement for fellow single mothers and professionals making their way through life’s challenging ups and downs. “For people who have lost someone or are going through a hard time, I hope my story can be an inspiration,” she says. With years of insight and experience already established, Carol is equipped with an admirable outlook worth applauding. For Carol Rizzetto and her team, the future is bound to be bright.

To learn more about Carol Rizzetto e-mail crizzetto@eastlink.ca or call 902-574-2281 Top Agent Magazine

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