FLORIDA 5-1-23

FLORIDA EDITION

MY CRYSTAL BALL:

INCORPORATING CHARITABLE GIVING IN YOUR REAL ESTATE PRACTICE

You CAN Predict You’ll Be Successful Selling Real Estate

FEATURED AGENTS

GOOGLE ADWORDS:

HOW TO MAKE GOOGLE DO THE WORK FOR YOU

MICHELLE SHURTLEFF ALLY RUSSELL ANNA GUARINO GEORGE QIAO JACOBS WILLIAMSON CHAVEZ TEAM KIMBERLY PYE MONICA VILLA

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO

CONVERTING INTERNET LEADS TO REAL LIFE SALES COVER STORY

ANGELA SWANCHAK

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

Top Agent Magazine

3

Incorporating Charitable Giving in Your Real Estate Practice

As real estate professionals, taking part in the community and serving others is central to a long-lasting practice. After all, agents are in the business of homeownership, building a financial future, and helping their clients begin new and fruitful chapters. With that in 4

mind, how might an agent deliver that spirit of service in a broader sphere?

The truth is, charitable giving offers nothing but upsides. Contributing to a worthy cause is a noble and meaningful endeavor, but it

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

Contributing to a worthy cause is a noble and meaningful endeavor, but it also presents positive byproducts for the giver: tax write-offs, name recognition in the community, and the ability to expand your network.

also presents positive byproducts for the giver: tax write-offs, name recognition in the community, and the ability to expand your network. If charitable giving is an idea you’ve toyed with, or a practice you’ve engaged in only now and again, here are a few ways to make it a foundational element of your business and a win-win for all.

Find causes that speak to you.

Donating funds or resources can feel anonymous if you’re divorced from the organization you’re working with. While national and international charitable organizations are certainly effective and worthwhile, you might consider partnering with local chapters of those organizations, or identifying hyper-local organizations that address need in your state, county, town, or even your own neighborhood. The first step to establishing a charitable relationship is to find a cause that you genuinely care about. For many, animal rescue is a tangible cause where resources and volunteership are always welcome. For others, children’s health and advocacy is a calling. Regardless Top Agent Magazine

of your personal passion, participation can be big or small. From sponsoring a local youth sports league to partnering with an area animal shelter for their annual spay-athon event—there are all sorts of ways to make a difference.

Unite your team for the common good.

One way to make charitable giving a staple is to do it in arm and arm with others. Supporting a local cause is a great way to bring your team together in a unifying capacity. Hosting coat drives in winter, blanket drives for local animal shelters, or backpack drives for needy students at the start of the new school year— all are straightforward and highly useful, direct ways to give to your community as a team. It’s also important to set collective goals as a way of keeping people motivated and accountable over time. Offices are productive, but often hectic spaces.

Injecting a collective goal with a positive, tangible result can create an ambiance of goodwill and generosity—both of which are worthwhile attributes to cultivate as

Top Agent Magazine ®

5

the leader of your team. Lastly, consider timely giving as a way of connecting your team to their community. Natural disasters, local fundraising drives, and improvement funds are all direct ways your team can contribute, while they themselves reap the benefit in the community.

Include clients in the process.

You’ve likely heard of charitable donations made in the name of your client as an alternative to the classic closing gift, but there are a few ways you might update this method of giving. For starters, consider including your clients in the selection process. Do they have a special cause that’s close to their hearts? Likewise, you might

6

consider making regular, consistent giving a part of your routine post-closing. Instead of following up with your yearly poinsettia plant or pumpkin, you might find a cause in their neighborhood or township that you can support in their name. It’s wise to choose something apolitical, but a cause that’s hyperlocal to their area demonstrates unique thoughtfulness.

There are plenty of ways in which society as a whole can benefit from charitable causes that build goodwill in the world, support those less fortunate, and bolster a positive future. Incorporating charitable giving in your business model is a generous way to make this mentality a central tenet of your team and a defining characteristic for your clients to remember.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

ANGELA SWANCHAK

7

Top Agent Angela Swanchak works on a team of three at The Torres Group at Coastal Home Real Estate, representing St. Lucie County, Indian River County and Palm Beach County.

REALTOR® Angela Swanchak is devoted to helping people in any way that she can.

For 15 years, she worked as a hospital pharmacy technician before the pandemic hit. Deciding she needed a change of pace, she began to work towards attaining her real estate license. This would allow her to continue helping people and families in a different way by working with them to achieve their dreams of purchasing a new home. In March of 2022, she successfully achieved her goal of getting licensed as a REALTOR® and now works on a team of three at The Torres Group at Coastal Home Real Estate. Having lived in Florida since 2004, she has a firsthand perspective of what her clients can expect coming from out-of-state and how to help them navigate their new life.

Representing St. Lucie County, Indian River County and Palm Beach County, it is Angela’s 8 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

mission to act as a guide to people moving into the area. “Every county, every town in Florida is different,” she says. She takes her time to figure out what her clients want and shares all the resources and neighborhood details they need to make an informed decision. “It’s not always an immediate

Top Agent Magazine

thing to find a home and being patient is so important. Sometimes we work together for months before they find a place they love.”

As it is her first year in real estate, Angela has a lot on her plate at the moment.

She spends a large chunk of her time on

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 9

What ultimately drives Angela is the passion she has for working with people. “I love hearing what makes people want to leave where they are and start a new life. There’s nothing more inspiring than hearing what makes other people tick.” outreach and marketing, attending networking events, and participating in community projects. To keep in touch with clients, Angela reaches out through phone calls, Facebook, and emails, naturally developing close relationships over time. “My clients become like family once they move here,” she explains.

10Copyright Top Agent Magazine

In her spare time, Angela and her family volunteer with the local charity, Treasure Coast Hope for the Homeless Foundation.

She has two kids, aged 15 and 12 who keep her busy with sporting events and school activities. Their family also foster animals — Angela is a self-proclaimed “foster failure” because she always ends Top Agent Magazine

up keeping them. They currently have four rescue dogs.

So far in her first year, Angela has completed over $3 million in sales. Placing an emphasis on meeting people in her community and using new marketing strategies, she plans to double that number

Top Agent Magazine

in 2023. While growth is a top priority for her as a new agent, what ultimately drives Angela is the passion she has for working with people. “I love hearing what makes people want to leave where they are and start a new life. There’s nothing more inspiring than hearing what makes other people tick.”

Copyright Top Agent Magazine11

To learn more about Angela Swanchak, call 772-579-0070, email angelalynnrealtor@gmail.com, and visit emmatorresgroup.com www.

12Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

A Step-by-Step Guide to

Converting Internet Leads to Real Life Sales In the era of apps, instantaneous social platforms, and text messaging, it’s little surprise that the modern homebuyer begins his or her search for real estate representation online.

Even if you’ve got a top-notch website or an influential social media presence, how do you connect with web surfers who have yet to commit to the services you offer? Take a look below to learn a few key techniques to bridge the gap between digital interest and real-world sales.

Top Agent Magazine

RESPONSIVENESS IS KEY Like it or not, our digital culture relishes immediacy and instant gratification. With that in mind, be sure to stay on top of online interest forms, e-mails, or newsletter signups. Don’t let an online lead go to waste by taking too long to engage and follow-up.

Things move fast, and it’s easy for potential clientele to forget which websites they’ve visited. Even if your lead isn’t ready to commit then and there, you demonstrate your

Top Agent Magazine

13

Mastering the fundamentals of digital communication is the first step to converting digital interest into concrete business. accessibility and attentiveness by following up swiftly—a characteristic anyone would seek in an agent or lender.

ENGAGE WITH OPEN-ENDED CONVERSATION When online back-and-forth goes stale, communication drops off quickly. If you’re following up via e-mail, social media, or text, be sure to keep topics focused squarely on the potential client. Ask open-ended questions to give your lead the opportunity to loosen up and engage on a personal level. There’s no better way to cement a digital lead than to take a pointed interest in the specifics of their situation. Doing so transforms the impersonal invisibility of the internet into a true connection.

GIVE ADDED VALUE Plenty of businesses send impersonal, automated messages in response to an online inquiry, but establishing a true connection may mean providing your lead with something of value. Perhaps you’re forwarding a property for sale that fits the interests of your lead, or a relevant article, or maybe you take the time to send a personal message—demonstrable value and a personal touch separate your follow-up response from spam. Other ideas to consider when 14

adding value to your follow-up technique: incorporate area promotions and access to local events, make a date for coffee, or offer a brief consultation free of charge to make the first move.

DON’T STOP MAKING CONTACT If you don’t connect with your internet lead right off the bat—don’t be discouraged. It often takes multiple tries before a follow-up interaction sticks. Folks are busy and frequently flooded with e-mail blasts and junk mail. A lead may not engage without a little prodding that shows you’re committed to their business. Remember: it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.

Digital leads don’t have to be difficult to capture. The internet plays a powerful role in funneling modern clientele your way, but in order to take full advantage of the web’s reach, you’ll need to tailor your follow-up technique. Mastering the fundamentals of digital communication is the first step to converting digital interest into concrete business. Keep these tips top-of-mind as you build your online presence and mine the vast world wide web for an endless wealth of clientele. Earning a command of digital lead conversion is the surest way to bolster your business in the ever-evolving digital era.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

MICHELLE SHURTLEFF Top Agent Magazine

15

MICHELLE SHURTLEFF

Originally from Costa Rica and a longtime Miami resident, Michelle Shurtleff has always been passionate about helping others. After gaining her education in public relations and marketing in Florida, she accepted a position as a transaction coordinator for one of the top-producing real estate companies in the region. While learning the industry from the ground up through expert mentorship, Michelle was inspired to pursue her license and set forth as a REALTOR®, quickly finding her distinct niche in Miami’s luxury neighborhoods. In the 23 years since, she has authored an award-winning career as an agent, completing over $780 million in sales and establishing a network of satisfied clients that spans the state.

When listing a property, Michelle prefers a comprehensive strategy. After helping her clients fully prepare their home for the market, she shares their listing through a highly targeted blend of digital and social media campaigns, utilizing a multi-platform approach to give them a global reach. She further amplifies their listing via geo-targeted campaigns, staging, artificial intelligence, personal global rolodex and print advertisements.

Elsewhere, Michelle is just as attentive when assisting her buyers, leveraging her acute knowledge of

Today, Michelle is a REALTOR® with The Nancy Batchelor Team, powered by Compass Real Estate, where she assists clients throughout Miami and the surrounding areas.

As the company’s top producer in MiamiDade County, she has cultivated a boutique process to meet the needs of any buyer, seller, or investor.

16

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

the local market and elite negotiation skills to uncover the right investment to best serve their interests. In particular, she loves welcoming newcomers to her thriving Miami community, from its booming local economy to its lovely weather and nationally recognized arts scene. Through the years, she has earned a fantastic reputation across Florida, with the majority of her volume coming from repeat clients and referrals.

Having personally recorded $50 million in sales in 2022 alone, Michelle remains focused on the core values that set her and The Nancy Batchelor Team apart. “At the end of the day, our business comes down to being genuine with our clients,” she says. “Starting with Nancy and extending through our entire team, we have always been dedicated to a customer-first mentality; and as our market continues to change, we will keep providing personalized assistance to every buyer or seller. The team is proud to have been named a Top 25 Team at Compass 2023.”

Alongside the rest of The Nancy Batchelor Team, Michelle is a regular contributor to organizations like The American Cancer Society and University of Miami Health System. When she’s not with clients or giving back, she can be found spending quality time with her family, traveling, or dining out at local hotspots like Los Fuegos—enjoying all the dynamic culture and cuisine Miami has to offer.

With The Nancy Batchelor Team now averaging over $200 million in annual volume, Michelle intends on scaling her penchant for client service throughout the region. In the meantime, though, she is excited for all the new opportunities that await. “My goal is to touch as many lives as I can,” she says. “Buying or selling a home is among the most important decisions we make, and it gives me so much joy to educate my clients, so that they can make well-informed choices on their financial future. For me, there could be nothing more rewarding than knowing I’ve made a difference in their lives.”

Top Agent Magazine

Contact me today!

Michelle Shurtleff: call (305) 299-2062 email michelle@nancybatchelor.com or visit MichelleShurtleff.com to read my client testimonials. www.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 17

Laughs!

We’re still here!

Making the workplace happy is what we do.

A Graham Harrop Cartoon can enhance office materials, training manuals and add zing to that worrying power point presentation.

Graham Harrop Cartoons

Companies large and small call on award-winning cartoonist Graham

the power Harrop to create unique, funPutting and of humour to work memorable cartoons especially for them…

for you!

Working with you to highlight aspects of your organization or celebrate that special someone, Graham is just an email away! gtoonist@shaw.ca

grahamharrop.com

18

Top Agent Magazine

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com http://www.topagentmagazine.com

Top Agent Magazine

19

ALLY RUSSELL Owner and REALTOR® of The KVA Group, Ally Russell grew up going to open houses with her mom, creating lasting memories that would stick with her into adulthood. While her first career was in the sports industry doing event planning and marketing for football games, it wasn’t long before Ally realized that she would rather be doing real estate. Fast forward four years and she is running a thriving brokerage with the highest producing real estate team in Tampa, Florida. With twenty passionate agents serving the Tampa Bay market, they have collectively completed over $200 million in sales in the past two years.

Primarily working with luxury residential and commercial properties on the waterfront, Ally’s business is focused on the most desirable areas in Tampa. To put it into perspective, she has sold a piece of land for $8 million. Her repeat and referral business is around 80% with the majority of her business coming from investors, although she does work with some families and couples looking for their perfect homes. Regardless, most of the properties Ally’s team works with are off-market and they specialize in brokering deals that no one else can get.

Known for her tenacity and transparency,

Ally is highly regarded as a leader in real estate in Tampa and beyond.

Clients can come to her directly for advice, but she also has an active social media presence where she lists properties and shares insights on the market. “Social media is so important right now in this industry.

My team has sold many properties through Instagram,” she explains.

For their higher-end listings, they host cocktail parties and pre-marketing events to generate interest and allow people to view the properties in a relaxed atmosphere.

Throughout the year, Ally’s team supports different non-profits. This summer, they will host a charity fashion show with the clothing brand, Alice + Olivia. “It will be a great way to give back to the community while having all our clients come out for a fun event,” she says.

Ally’s goal for the next year of The KVA Group is to continue to build out their digital strategies, reaching more people and making the process of buying and selling more efficient for clients. Every day brings something new to the table, but that is what motivates her to keep moving forward. “There is no time to get bored,” she says. “We like to call ourselves ‘investigators’ - we connect the dots and match the perfect property with the client.”

To learn more about Ally Russell, call 813-404-9351, email ally@kva-group.com, or visit kva-group.com www.

20

Top Agent Magazine

4 Ways Mentoring Up-and-Coming Employees Makes You a Better Agent In the world of real estate, there are always new agents joining the ranks. Even if you’ve been practicing for just a few short years, you’ve likely learned your fair share of lesson along the way. As an agent, much of your working philosophy is derived from first-hand experience and your work on the ground. This means that new agents are less prepared for the inevitable curveballs of the industry. That’s where you come in.

While mentorship is often pitched as a relationship that solely benefits the mentee, there is actually plenty to be gained from becoming a mentor. After all, personal growth goes hand-in-hand with professional growth, and becoming a mentor asks agents to thoughtTop Agent Magazine

fully explore and demonstrate their own ideologies, practices, and rationale. With that in mind, take a look at some of the benefits of mentorship below, and you’ll get a sense of why counseling new agents can be a boon to your own business.

Teaching lessons to others reinforces your own professional values.

Showing the ropes to young agents is a great way to brush-up on your foundational skills.

Verbalizing and demonstrating processes, or walking through the rationale behind negotiation tactics—all cause mentors to think through their established practices and outline in detail why they’ve chosen this route over an

Top Agent Magazine

21

alternative. This helps older agents fine-tune their routines, while getting back in touch with the critical thinking that went into constructing those habits.

Mentorships allows you to see the big picture.

surely sharpen your ability as the head of a team. What’s more, you’ll be building skills of empathy, understanding, teaching, and constructive criticism. Working on those skills will better your practice and your ability to lead in your office.

After a lengthy industry tenure, it’s not uncommon for battle-worn agents to lose some steam and begin to burn out. By devoting some time to mentoring up-and-coming agents, you’ll get back in touch with your early days, remembering the excitement, the trials, and the hard lessons gleaned. Spending time with the next generation of real estate professionals can reinvigorate your practice, as seeing the business from the eyes of an eager amateur can inject energy into your working life.

You’ll benefit from seeing things from a new perspective.

Just as working with young agents can help you remember your career’s big picture, you may also benefit from working alongside someone with a new perspective. Young agents bring a different set of skills and awareness to their work, and established agents can benefit from a fresh take. If technology isn’t your strong suit, or you’re interested in tapping the Millennial homebuyer market, working with a younger agent is an excellent way to see through fresh eyes.

Mentoring young agents makes you a better leader.

As a mentor, you’ll often direct the flow of your professional relationship—figuring out which issues to tackle, making an agenda, and imparting lessons in a clear way. These are all characteristics of a leader, and acting in a position of authority as mentor can 22

While some may balk at the time commitment or energy required to take on a mentee or two, you might consider it an act of ongoing education or professional development. While your mentee will undoubtedly benefit from access to your expertise, there’s certainly much to be gained from taking the time to cultivate tomorrow’s real estate leaders.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

ANNA GUARINO In the bustling real estate market of North/ Central Florida, Anna Guarino has made a name for herself as a dedicated, hardworking professional who goes above and beyond for her clients. In her quest to supplement her salary as a teacher, she discovered her talent for real estate. During her lunch breaks,she would schedule appointments and showings for clients, deftly navigating the complex world of property transactions. Remarkably, Anna managed to close18 transactions during her first two years in the industry, all while working part-time. Her broker recognized her potential and encouraged her to take the leap into a full-time real estate career.

In 2018, Anna embraced this challenge, becoming a shining example of determination and success in the real estate world. Anna’s expertise stretches across a broad and dynamic region,encompassing Gainesville, Ocala, and Orlando. With Gainesville as her home base, she has established a strong presence in the local market. Her connections to Orlando, as a University of Central Florida alumna and former resident, have allowed her to organically expand her reach in the area. While primarily focused on residential real estate, Anna has diversified her portfolio by successfully handling several commercial building transactions as well.

Her dedication to building and maintaining strong relationships with clients sets her apart in the world of real estate.

With a remarkable 90% of her business coming from repeat clients and referrals, she emphasizes the importance of staying connected. “I make it a point consistently reach out to current/past clients and host multiple yearly events to show my appreciation to people who have supported my business over the years”. Her hands-on approach and responsiveness are key factors in maintaining high client satisfaction. “I enjoy building and maintaining relationships,”she explains.

“I understand the importance of consistent communication with all parties during a transaction and I hold myself to that standard for every client”. she says. By staying in

close contact with lenders, title companies, and ensuring all deadlines are met, Anna demonstrates her commitment to providing a seamless transaction experience. Her clients know that they are always her top priority, and this personalized service is what truly makes her stand out as an exceptional real estate agent.

Anna’s innovative approach to marketing her listings ensures they receive maximum exposure. “I’ve implemented more video marketing in the past few years” she says, highlighting her use of content editing program to create engaging content for platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and LinkedIn. Her commitment to reaching a diverse audience is evident through her tailored marketing strategies, particularly for luxury properties. “I offer a detailed Luxury Marketing Program where the property is uniquely marketed on a global scale to potential buyers” she explains.

When not working tirelessly for her clients, Anna enjoys giving back to her community. She contributes to the Jonesville Tennis Center, the American Heart Association, Food4Kids, and Pace Center for Girls, a program that empowers young women facing difficult home lives.

Outside of her community involvement, Anna relishes spending time traveling with her son, Tyler, who will be attending UF as a 2023 Freshman majoring in Business/ Finance. Anna is a foodie at heart and loves immersing herself in new cultures and cuisines. She enjoys reading and participating in various dance fitness activities/core training classes at her local gym.

Looking to the future, Anna plans to grow her business in all three territories (including the Florida beaches). With her broker’s license already under her belt and ongoing professional development, including pursuing a Graduate Realtor® Institute designation, Anna is well-prepared for continued success in the ever-evolving world of real estate.

For more information about Anna Guarino, please call 352-870-8801 or email annagmyrealtor@gmail.com

Top Agent Magazine

23 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

My Crystal Ball:

You CAN Predict You’ll Be Successful Selling Real Estate ►Carla Cross, CRB, MA

You can predict if you’ll be successful in real estate. It’s not what you think, either.

24

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

Grab the best business start-up plan you can find and start the plan. Find someone to coach you to the plan.

What New Agents Expect From my survey of hundreds of agents under three months in the business, I found that more than 1/2 of them expected a sale the first month of the business.

What does that mean? When do they have to start looking for leads? That first week in the business! Yet, how many new agents start lead generating even in the first month? How long have you been in the business?

When did you start lead generating on purpose? Or, have you started? That’s why my book, Up and Running in 30 Days, now in its 6th edition, has you lead generating in week one. It’s your assurance plan you will get a sale fast and will stay in the business.

Expecting ‘Dumb Luck’ to Carry You to Success Inevitably, there is a new agent who has an Aunt Martha in his back pocket. That is, Aunt Martha wants to buy a home, and has told nephew Tommy she’ll wait until he gets his license to purchase from him. Ca-ching. Dumb luck. Tommy concludes that’s how the business goes. You just wait for someone to find you and Top Agent Magazine

sell them a home. We know that’s not the norm, though.

Unfortunately, Tommy’s going to wait a long time for that next transaction! The ‘dumb luck’ approach to the business results in low results. Since the ‘dumb luck’ agent isn’t doing a business start-up plan, we have no way of predicting results, because we can’t measure businessproducing activities. We can only measure other ‘dumb luck’ agent incomes. That’s way too late to actively coach–or to terminate with purpose.

Your Manager Could be a ‘Dumb Luck’ Manager– Pardon the Expression…

Dumb luck managers just look at results; sales and listings sold. So, they are not aware that agents may be failing for months. If new agents expect to make a sale in month one, how many months do you think it takes for them to get dis enheartened? 2-3? Not long. So, once new agents are mentally and emotionally out of the business, they will resist any help from managers. They’ve decided they can’t make it in the business. They’ll stay awhile, though, for ‘dumb luck’ transactions.

Top Agent Magazine ®

25

Are You Lead Generating on Purpose?

Are you working a specific, prioritized lead generating plan? Is it made up of prioritized lead generating activities? Does it have ratios of activities to results, so the new agent knows whether he is on track to his goals?

Here are my activity ratios from Up and Running that will result in 8-12 transactions the first year in the business: • 20 contacts to get one buyer or seller lead • 8 times of putting people in the car to sell someone a home • 3 listing appointments to gain one marketable listing

• 80% of listings sell • 80% of transactions close What are the ratios in your office? Do you know? Do you know the work it takes to consistently generate the income you want to generate? Or, are you counting on ‘dumb luck’?

Best Advice to Create your Assurance Plan Grab the best business start-up plan you can find and start the plan. Find someone to coach you to the plan. Analyze your numbers frequently. You’ll stay on track AND assure your success.

https://carla-cross.com In the real estate business for over 3 decades, Carla Cross is an international speaker, trainer, and coach for real estate. She specializes in career development, business planning, leadership, and instructor development.

She’s won numerous sales and leadership awards in each area, including being named as a National Realtor Educator of the Year. A popular international speaker, Carla has spoken on leadership and training topics for 16 years at national Realtor conventions.

Author of eight books on real estate sales, her wildly popular book, Up and Running in 30 Days, is used by hundreds of thousands of new agents internationally to start their careers right.

26

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

GEORGE QIAO George Qiao, President of AAA Global Ventures, PA, has built an international empire based on a tried-and-true approach to real estate. “Clients rely on me for my service, and agents come to me for education and support. We recruit only the top agents, we offer the best training every week, and we find the best deals for our customers. I’ve been doing this for twenty-one years, and now my clients are all repeat and referrals.”

After finishing MBA at the Wharton School in 2004, George took stock of every available opportunity, and landed on real estate as the ideal arena for business.

“The globe stays the same size, but we constantly have more and more people. Real estate is the easy choice.” As the President of AAA Global Ventures, PA, George serves as the current broker for seventy agents operating in California, Hawaii, and Florida.

Most recently, his team has been focusing on Orlando and the luxury vacation rental market. “We have a new product called Vacation Home Rental. Only Orlando Market has the best return in the world. We offer hotel style vacation homes, and we’ve built communities around this idea. We’re the first company to do this in Florida, and we plan to stay #1 in this area.”

In addition to offering luxury vacation properties, George plans to grow his enterprise by expanding into the world of construction and community development.

“I built one hundred homes per year as a developer in California,” he recalls. “We will do the same thing here in Florida. I moved out of California in 2016, and I see similar opportunities here. I am trying to obtain the approval from the government, and then we will begin construction. My agents have already secured the land and contracts ahead of time.” This penchant for understanding all facets of real estate have George poised to maintain his international presence, and Top Agent Magazine

continue to grow his impact for many years to come.

As a member of the Cornerstone Family Church in St. Cloud, Florida, George regularly supports his extended community by championing several organizations. “I have many global foundations. We have the AAA Dancing Club, AAA Singing Club, AAA Tea Club and AAA Drink Club – we have everything you need!” When he’s supporting his neighbors or growing his empire, George enjoys swimming each and every day, watching action movies, and helping other people as often as he can. His reviews and testimonials praise his unwavering dedication to honesty and candor; highlighted by the glowing praise of former St. Cloud Mayor Nathan Blackwell, who said: “Mr. Qiao sincerely loves the City of St. Cloud. He has made a positive difference in our city and community.

He is a man of authentic character—an honorable man of integrity whose word is his bond. He is a hard working leader with a servant spirit who is making a positive difference in our city.”

To learn more about George Qiao, please call 407-967-1999 or email huicun@gmail.com 27 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

JACOBS WILLIAMSON CHAVEZ TEAM The Jacobs Williamson Chavez Team, a dynamic group of four members, have a thriving real estate partnership that has only grown stronger over time. What started with JoAnn Jacobs joining her husband Tom in the real estate business after a change of heart about moving to New York to explore a career in marketing has now blossomed into a successful real estate team, consisting of Tom and JoAnn, as well as their partners Martin Chavez and Scott Williamson. Their combined talents and experience have enabled them to attract a wide range of clients. Based in Tallahassee, Florida, they serve everyone from firsttime homebuyers to those looking for vacation homes.

Their territory spans Leon County, Jefferson County, Gadsden County, Wakulla County, and Franklin County.

These regions offer everything from bustling college towns and state capitals to serene farmlands, burgeoning communities, and picturesque coastal properties. With their diverse expertise and unwavering commitment, the Jacobs Williamson Chavez Team continues to make waves in the real estate world.

The team sets themselves apart from their peers in the real estate industry through their unique approach to client relationships. A key aspect of their success lies in their consultative approach, which involves careful listening and understanding of their customers’ goals.

JoAnn explains, “We’re not pushy sales people. We listen, we meet with our customers, buyers, and sellers, find out what their goals are, and work to achieve those goals.” This genuine, client-centered approach has resulted in approximately 50% of their business coming from repeat clients and referrals. To maintain strong connections with past clients, they employ various methods, such as mailing out American Lifestyle and Good

to Be Home magazines, sending postcards about local events, and reaching out to inform customers of listings in their neighborhood.

They also make a point to follow up with personalized phone calls, which further solidifies their reputation as approachable, attentive real estate agents who truly care about their customers’ needs.

The group also goes above and beyond when it comes to marketing their listings, ensuring that they make the most significant impact possible from the moment they hit the market. “We want to attract as many buyers as possible,” JoAnn says. Tom, JoAnn, Martin, and Scott utilize a wide range of promotional strategies to maximize visibility, including local print advertising, online platforms such as Zillow, and over 300 other websites, guaranteeing that their listings are prominently featured wherever potential buyers search. Social media plays a critical role in their marketing efforts as well, with the team utilizing Facebook and Instagram for boosted posts and highlights.

“Our goal is to make the phone ring,” JoAnn explains, and they stop at nothing to ensure their clients receive the highest amount of exposure for their properties.

When they aren’t working, they’re staying involved in their community. Tom and JoAnn participate in their church, and are involved in a program called Adventures in Marriage, where they serve as marriage coaches. “Our goal is to help families stay together,” JoAnn says. They teach skills like communication and conflict resolution, helping marriages and families thrive.

As time goes on, the team continues to love what they do, and can’t wait to see where the future takes them.

“We love helping people get to where they want to be.

It’s so rewarding to make those dreams come true.”

For more about the JACOBS WILLIAMSON CHAVEZ TEAM, please call 850-556-2220, email jacobsjoann@gmail.com or visit tallyopenhouses.com r www.

28

Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

How to Make Your Commute Productive The highest caliber business owners and entrepreneurs utilize every minute of their day.

Though this may be a lofty goal, there are certainly ways to make our daily routines more efficient and productive. Consider the morning and evening commute—time blocks that are accounted for every day. For some of us, daily commutes may mean a lengthy drive through gridlock traffic, or perhaps just a quick fifteen-minute crosstown excursion. However short or long your commute may be, there are ways to maximize this component of your daily routine and reap the rewards.

With that in mind, take a look at some ideas below to inject some energy and productivity into your daily commute.

Top Agent Magazine

Listen to the latest industry-centric podcasts or audiobooks Whether you drive, bike, walk, or take public transportation, a commute is the perfect time to tune into an industry-oriented podcast or audiobook as a way of building your skills or getting into the zone for the day. Instead of letting your commute time be passive, you can process insights from leading industry professionals, or develop your skillset on a topic you haven’t yet made time for. Perhaps you’d like to develop your social media presence, or maybe you’d like to tap into the millennial homebuyer market—whatever the case may be, there is audio material out there suited to your interests. What’s more, podcasts are free and easy to incorporate on your smartphone or

Top Agent Magazine

29

tablet, and there are ample audiobook subscription services out there that make regular listenership cost effective.

Create a mental to-do list to get a head-start on your day, or to prepare for tomorrow Getting your thoughts in order with a straightforward to-do list can help you dive in once you make it to your desk, or serve as a conclusive mental routine to end your work day.

If you drive to and from work and don’t have your hands free, don’t fret. Speaking your to-do list aloud can help you detangle your thoughts and tasks by vocalizing them. You can also try breaking down your to-do list by verbalizing the day’s goals, the week’s goals, and the month’s goals as a way of structuring priorities. If your commute is hands-free, you can incorporate a variety of apps that serve as custom-made todo lists that’ll organizationally map your duties for the day. In either case, use your commute window to identify and name the tasks ahead of you, and you’ll be able to hit the ground running when the time comes to perform.

30

Tend to your personal commitments and planning A productive commute can boost your professional performance, but it can also serve your personal growth and out-of-the-office responsibilities, as well. Perhaps you can think out and plan your meals for the week so that you don’t come home burnt out and with nothing in mind for dinner. Maybe you check in with a relative or partner and catch up for a spare twenty minutes.

Not only does this eliminate a few items off of your personal to-do list, it can actually give you a more focused mind at the office. If your personal life is in good order, you’ll be able to devote your full attention to work tasks.

As the old saying goes, there are only so many hours in a day. If you added up all the minutes spent commuting around town, how many hours would amount? Though the trek to and from the office is an engrained part of professional life, it doesn’t have to be a drag. Account for those spare commute windows in productive ways, and in only a month you’ll have devoted a significant portion of your time to bettering yourself as a person and a professional.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

KIMBERLY PYE As a third-generation REALTOR®, you could say that Kimberly Pye was born into the real estate industry. For her 18th birthday, her father gifted her the real estate courses, setting her up for her future career. First, however, Kimberly became a marketing expert, earning a Bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of South Florida and working for 24 years in the field.

Today, she uses her knowledge and experience of marketing, coupled with her sales acumen and people skills to represent home buyers and sellers throughout the northern Tampa Bay, Florida area.

Serving the very fast-growing area of Hernando County and beyond, Kimberly counts around 90% of her business as coming from referrals. She’s built a reputation for providing a happy, seamless experience, whether clients are on the buying or selling side.

She often organizes staging, painting, and cleanings to get a home ready for sale. “I keep everything positive for my clients because this can be a really stressful process. Everyone I work with typically becomes a friend for life,” she says.

charities and events in her community.

For fun, she enjoys going to her beach condo, boating, and spending time with her husband and children.

Year after year, Kimberly continues to smash real estate records in her area.

She closed over $40 million in 2022, placing her as the top single-agent producer in the county for the third year in a row. Her impressive track record includes selling some of the highest priced properties in Hernando County in the past 8 years. She’s already closed over $12,600,000 in the first 90 days of 2023 and typically completes around 130-150 transactions annually on average. While her numbers are impressive, it is Kimberly’s drive to always work hard to help her clients find their perfect place that inspires those around her. “If you do the right thing for your clients and put them first, and you are ethical, honest and responsive, your business will naturally grow.”

With her strong business background, which includes owning a marketing and advertising company that was ranked by Inc. 500 for two years in a row, Kimberly uses all the most effective strategies to market her listings. “I’ve learned a lot about buyer behavior over the years, so I tailor my approach to target the right people,” she explains. She not only uses social media and digital marketing, but has been featured in numerous publications and HGTV’s “My Lottery Dream Home.”

In her spare time, Kimberly serves on the Education and Events Committee for the Board of REALTOR®s for Hernando County and frequently donates to Top Agent Magazine

Contact Kimberly at 352-279-1150, email kimberly.homeland@gmail.com, or visit her website: kimpye.com www.

31 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

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 someone’s search results, and you can set a budget for each campaign that will dictate it’s reach and how long the campaign will run. Here are some tips for how to put Google AdWords to work for you.

32

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

1

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.

2

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-

Top Agent Magazine

3

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.

4

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.

Top Agent Magazine

33

6

5

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 don’t want to simply go into the process blind or you’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.

34

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

MONICA VILLA A longtime Florida resident, Monica Villa has always been drawn to real estate. For 17 years, she would build a successful career in the finance arena, working data analytics for a leading healthcare provider. Along the way, she pursued her real estate license to facilitate transactions for her friends and family. In 2019, though, she decided the time was right to leave the corporate world and launch her career as a full-time agent. Sure enough, she would find quick success in the industry, with her volume jumping from $4 million in 2021 to over $8 million in 2022 as she established a network of satisfied clients that spans the state.

she says. “As much as I love my high-end clients, I particularly enjoy assisting first time home buyers. Educating them on the process and seeing them purchase their first home never gets old.”

Today, Monica is a REALTOR® with Realty Executives of Southwest Florida, where she assists clients throughout Fort Myers, Naples, Labelle, and the surrounding areas. Leveraging her financial background with her penchant for client service, she has cultivated a distinct process to meet the needs of any buyer or seller.

When listing a property, Monica takes a comprehensive strategy. After helping her clients fully prepare their home for the market, she shares it via a highly targeted blend of digital and social media campaigns. Along the way, she personalizes her approach to their needs, ensuring a seamless transaction throughout.

Elsewhere, Monica is just as attentive when assisting her buyers, carefully guiding them to the right investment for her best interests. In fact, she prefers to keep in touch long after the deals are done through regular check-ins and handwritten cards—all to make sure her clients are satisfied in their new homes. “There’s nothing more rewarding than helping people achieve their goals,”

Since delving into real estate, Monica has earned a fantastic reputation throughout Southwest Florida, with the majority of her volume coming from repeat clients and referrals. Having already recorded $3.5 million in volume in 2023, she remains committed to the core values that brought her to the industry in the first place. “I viewed going into real estate as a leap of faith. Fortunately, our Broker, Kelly Barnes, believed in me and showed me that it could be done. Because of her, I was able to sustain myself while pursuing my dream career— and I couldn’t be more thankful.”

When she’s not with clients, Monica can be found spending quality time with her family or traveling. She and the Realty Executives team are also dedicated to their community. Together, they helped prepare meals for the linemen who came to restore power to the Fort Myers area following a recent hurricane; and they are now getting certified to assist with a local animal rescue shelter.

As her volume maintains its rapid growth, Monica intends on expanding her mentorship work with rising agents with an eye towards building her team in the near future. In the meantime, though, she looks forward to all the opportunities that await. “I believe in building a genuine relationship with all of my clients,” she says. “That starts with being authentic, personable, and relatable.

Above all, my buyers and sellers know I’m always here for them—no matter what.”

For more about Monica Villa, email monicavilla@realtyexecutives.com, visit realtyexecutives.com/agent/monica-villa or call (863) 517-1234.

Find her on Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaVRealtor www.

www.

Top Agent Magazine

35 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

36

Top Agent Magazine