GEORGIA EDITION
How to Make Your Commute PRODUCTIVE SMALL YARD? BIG STATEMENT: How to Make the Most Out of Micro Outdoor Spaces How to Incorporate Current Events to Your Email Blasts and STAY RELEVANT Why Millennials are Now the HOTTEST SEGMENT OF THE BUYERS MARKET
FEATURED AGENT
KARA LYNESS
COVER STORY
JULIA THOMAS
GEORGIA EDITION
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JULIA THOMAS
KARA LYNESS
CONTENTS 4) SMALL YARD? BIG STATEMENT: HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF MICRO OUTDOOR SPACES
19) HOW TO INCORPORATE CURRENT EVENTS TO YOUR EMAIL BLASTS AND STAY RELEVANT
13) WHY MILLENNIALS ARE NOW THE HOTTEST SEGMENT OF THE BUYERS MARKET
22) HOW TO MAKE YOUR COMMUTE PRODUCTIVE
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Small Yard? Big Statement: How to Make the Most Out of Micro Outdoor Spaces When house-hunters compile their lists of musthave home items, a dreamy backyard space is often near the top. After all, who doesn’t want an outdoor oasis of their very own? From summer barbecues to open space for your dog to frolic— everyone has their own aspirations when it comes to creating the perfect backyard paradise. But as homebuyers seek properties deeper within city limits, and Millennials opt for properties with 4
urban amenities and access, home-connected outdoor spaces are becoming a bit smaller in stature. Of course, size isn’t everything when it comes to outdoor space. Even balconies, rear patios, and ultra-tiny yards can provide homebuyers with the outdoor reprieve they crave—even on a smaller scale. For a few ideas that can help you envision all the possibilities of a micro outdoor space, read on for inspiration.
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Think vertically. When space is at a premium, think up instead of out. In other words, make the most of small spaces by capitalizing on your backyard, balcony, or patio’s overhead height. Mood-setting string lights, hanging pocket or wall gardens, floating shelves, and modern overhead hangings can create a sense of privacy and luxury without cluttering the square footage on the ground.
Soothing sounds set the mood.
Upgrade the look of structural components. Not in love with your patio pavers? Don’t have the sweetest view off your balcony? Whatever your small backyard living space gripe may be, there’s always a solution if you go back to the basics. Consider the structural components of your outdoor space that you aren’t in love with and there’s likely an affordable, eye-pleasing solution. For instance, plenty of home goods Top Agent Magazine
retailers make a variety of punchy or luxe outdoor rugs that can disguise stained or lackluster outdoor flooring. Power-washing is another great solution for old grime and dirt that’s an eyesore. Don’t have a great view? Planting ivy on bare walls, installing adjustable mood lighting, or hanging planters can create a more inviting ambiance.
While there may not be room for a swimming pool or pond in a micro yard or balcony, you can still bring the calming presence of water to your outdoor oasis. Fountains run the gamut in sizing and price, making this amenity an easy acquisition. What’s more, a running fountain not only adds a soothing sound to your space, but it also helps drown out noise from the street or the neighbors—making your space entirely your own and stress-free.
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Don’t compromise on your culinary dreams. If you love to entertain in outdoor spaces or relish the chance to man the grill—small outdoor spaces don’t have to trip you up. Grill options (both propane and charcoal) come in a range of sizes, many of which can be outfitted securely to balcony posts or be tucked away and out of sight when out of use. Consider nesting tables or those with a removable leaf to adjust your seating and dining options depending on company.
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Another trick? A small, oscillating fan can keep air flow moving in a small space during grill season—and can be easily affixed to walls or posts, as well. Don’t let yourself or clients be discouraged by spaces with more limited square footage in outdoor areas. Furniture and design trends have already begun shifting toward providing better small-space options, and at the end of the day, a backyard space is all about providing an area for relaxation. With a few well-placed, strategic choices, you can still have it all.
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JULIA THOMAS 7
JULIA THOMAS Multi-million dollar producer and Top Agent/ Broker Julia Thomas has spent nearly two decades honing her craft and establishing herself as a real estate professional who can be counted on in every situation to put her client’s needs front and center. Working under the umbrella of Coldwell Banker SSK Realtors in Milledgeville, Georgia, her wealth of industry 8Copyright Top Agent Magazine
knowledge assures that each and every transaction proceeds as smoothly as possible. A graduate of Georgia Military College, Julia began her journey in the real estate world back in 2001, upon the suggestion of her mother, who herself had been an agent for twenty-two years. “She brought me into the Top Agent Magazine
business and was my mentor,” says Julia, “and I started off working for a builder in new construction. I’ve been doing this now for seventeen years.” Selling primarily lake property and land in central Georgia, Julia offers each and every one of her grateful clients what she calls The Thomas Promise. “That stands for honesty, loyalty and hard work in buying and selling,” explains Julia. Julia’s husband, a graduate of Georgia Tech, is also a licensed agent, and the two work Top Agent Magazine
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people don’t stay in this industry as long as it takes to be successful,” she muses. “It takes a lot of hard work, and I think a lot of people are mistaken when they think that they’re going to go into real estate and be automatically successful. I also hold my broker’s license, which is another thing that sets me apart, as far as industry education is concerned.” diligently together, not only as a family but as a dynamic real estate team. Nearly seventy-five percent of Julia’s business is based on repeat and referred clients, a clear testament to the level of loyalty she engenders. When asked to account for this level of customer satisfaction among her buyers and sellers, Julia points to her longevity in the business as a possible explanation. “A lot of Copyright Top Agent Magazine Copyright 10
Julia is a savvy marketer who leverages a robust online presence to help promote her listings, including promotion on websites that include lakehouse.com and realtor.com “Our listings end up on over three hundred websites,” she explains. “We primarily market using the internet.” She also utilizes social media platforms like Facebook for both marketing and to maintain contact with all her clients, past and present. Top Agent Magazine
When asked what she likes most about what she does, Julia points to the flexibility of schedule that real estate has provided, though she readily admits it can be a double-edged sword. “The flexibility is a plus, but there’s a negative about being able to create your own hours, because it means you are on-call twenty-four-seven.” Top Agent Magazine
Julia is passionate about giving back to her community, and to that end she is a member of her local Chamber of Commerce. During those rare moments when she gets some free time, Julia loves spending time outdoors enjoying the scenic beauty of the region she calls home. “I’ve lived on Lake Sinclair for thirteen years, Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11
and I love lake activities,” she says, “like boating and paddle boarding.” Yoga is another passion she tries to find time for. Above all, however, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Jackson. As for the future, Julia’s plan is what it’s always been: to continue growing her business while sacrificing none of the exceptional client service that has become her calling card. She is also interested in delving deeper into land sales. “I’ve been in this business seventeen years,” says Julia, “and I’ve always provided great service. I don’t ever want to have a disappointed client.”
For more information about Julia Thomas, please call 770 - 301 - 4383 or email thomaspromiserealestate@gmail.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 12
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Why Millennials Are Now the Hottest Segment of the Buyers Market
and How You Can Attract Them to Your Home There are many factors when it comes to knowing how to sell your home to the Millennial generation. Millennials are becoming an important part of the buyer market, and to fail to cater to their needs will cut you off from a large and important segment. But, why have Millennials all of a sudden become interested in buying houses when they were perfectly content to rent for the rest of their lives? Top Agent Magazine
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A number of factors contribute to what has recently made Millennials the hottest segment of the Buyers market. One factor is the improved job outlook for Millennials. Millennials took a serious blow during the recession. Unemployment in this group soared to 14 percent, compared to the 9.6 percent for the population as a whole. But, in recent years that number has been decreasing, with unemployment for Millennials being 9.3 percent this past year. Rising rents are also contributing to making Millennials more interested in purchasing homes now. Rents have risen so much that buying a home now just makes more sense. Half of all renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Millennials are becoming increasingly stressed over the constantly increasing financial obligation to something that isn’t even theirs to own. The near-historic low mortgage rates are luring Millennials towards purchasing a home with their promise of affordability. When compared with the skyrocketing rental rates, buying a house looks even more enticing. Another factor helping Millennials get over the hump of purchasing a house is the lower down payment requirements. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now offering new loan programs that require as little as a 3 percent down payment. This may just be the last push the Millennials needed to turn toward buying a home rather than rent. So, now that we’ve established that Millennials are finally joining the Buyers market, the next thing that it is important to understand is what exactly Millennials are looking for in a home. What kind of floorplans do they prefer? What locations are they interested in? Here are some of the essentials that Millennials are looking for in a home: • Updated Kitchens and Baths: Almost everyone wants to buy a
home with new kitchen and bath fixtures, but this is especially true for Millennials Buyers. Millennials are going to spend most of their savings on the down payment and furnishings, leaving little room to update the Kitchen and Bath, which are also the most expensive parts of a home to
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update. Millennials who are on a budget simply won’t have the money to sink into those areas. An updated Kitchen and Bath is sure to bring in a younger crowd. • Big Kitchen with Open Floor Plan: For Millennials, the kitchen has
become the room where they hangout in addition to the family room. This is why having an open space that can transition easily from the kitchen to the TV room is high on the list of things Millennials are looking for in a home. Along a similar vein, Millennials are attracted to an open floor plan rather than one that compartmentalizes the home. This has to do with how Millennials entertain. Millennials want their guests to flow through the rooms and mingle together, rather than be sectioned off in different rooms.
• Home Office: More than 13 million Americans now work from home,
and if you look at the trend, that number is only going to increase as the time goes on. With technology steadily increasing, more Millennials than ever have the flexibility to work from home. But, the home office isn’t just for someone working from home full time. Having a separate space dedicated to work helps people concentrate and focus on work while they are at home. They can separate themselves from the activities going on around the house and have a quiet space where they can set up their workday, plan a presentation, hold a meeting on Skype, or even pay bills.
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• Less Maintenance: Many Millennials work different schedules that
don’t conform to the 9 to 5 workday, as well as full social calendars. This doesn’t leave them much time to clean a big house. Lawn services and low-maintenance front yards are particularly appealing, as they take less responsibility to still keep the curb appeal high.
• Energy-Efficient Appliances: Millennials have been educated on
keeping the Earth clean from the time they were born. They want to do their part to help the environment and appreciate the long-term cost savings that come with it. Energy-efficient appliances and greener ways to heat and cool the home might end up being the tipping point that makes them choose one house over another.
• Hardwood Floors: Millennials don’t have the time or patience to clean
dirty carpets, especially those that own pets. Hardwood and laminate flooring is easy to mop up if there’s been a mess. The more time they can conserve, the better.
• Good Location: Millennial buyers are looking for homes that are in
proximity to public transportation and have a good walking score. Young Millennial buyers without children are more likely to want a location closer to the action of the city, while Millennials with children would prefer more residential areas.
• Technology: Technology rules the Millennial’s life. They do work on
their computers through an Internet connection and solely use cellphones for communication. They are going to ask about how strong the cell service is and about the Internet service provider. While these amenities are out of the seller’s hands, Millennials are still going to ask these questions, and you will need to know how to answer them.
Knowing what Millennials are looking for in a home will ultimately help you make the necessary changes that will attract these buyers to your home. Since they are the a serious segment of the market now, updating your home to fit their needs will lead to more buyers and better offers. So, get with the times and embrace the Millennial buyer. 16
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KARA LYNESS For twelve years, Kara worked for her family’s interior design business, mastering the ins and outs of styling, construction, and real estate trends. After starting a family, she was on the hunt for her next professional challenge. She’d always had a knack for sales and entrepreneurship, while her background as a Junior Olympics figure skater had instilled in her a competitive work ethic and deep sense of discipline. Four years ago, she turned her sights on real estate and earned her license, yielding immediate results. In her first year, she closed $5.3 million in volume and earned the rank of Rookie of the Year. By year two, she’d nearly doubled that figure by achieving $10 million in volume. By year three, she’d added a buyer agent to her ranks and closed on $20 million. This year, she launched her own imprint in The Blue Grace Group—titled for her two daughters’ middle names.
in the midst of planning biannual client appreciation events that will draw familiar faces together and demonstrate her gratitude. To extend her spirit of service to the community at large, Kara is active in her church, participates in volunteer work at area non-profits, and contributes to efforts to feed the community’s homeless. In her remaining free hours, Kara most enjoys time spent with her husband and their two daughters. She also enjoys travel, glamping, and shopping for vintage and antique items in the mid-century and Victorian sensibilities. Looking ahead, Kara has plans to continue growing her business mindfully, with hopes to add likeminded team members in the months to come. She also has ambitions to open a series of boutique brokerages in the years to come. “It’s my goal to continue providing the best service I can and grow my business year after year,” she says. Now, with four sterling years of service behind her and an ambitious eye on the road ahead, the future is bound to yield continued promise for Kara Lyness and the team at The Blue Grace Group.
Now, Kara has carved out a reputation as an agent swiftly on the rise. Under the banner of PalmerHouse Properties, she heads a tightknit group that serves the thriving Atlanta metro region. What’s more, the vast majority of her business is driven by repeat and referral clientele—the highest praise an agent can receive. For her part, Kara serves her real estate group as a leader and listing agent. Considering her professional philosophy, Kara cites diligence, follow-through, and attention to detail as the foremost tenets of her working style. “I’m a go-getter and I like to cover all the bases,” Kara says. “I put my heart into everything I do and I’m very straightforward and transparent with my clients. I give a lot and I go above and beyond—it’s in my nature, and that’ll never change.” Kara’s background in design—in combination with her degree in fashion—set her apart for her creative eye. She applies this visionary skillset through her recently launched endeavor, Staging Grace, a staging company designed as an added service for her clients. “I love the creativity of my work,” she says. “Every day is different, and I love spending my time in the field and in the community— from rehabbing properties to giving historic properties new life through restoration.” When it comes to listing properties, Kara’s marketing efforts are comprehensive. She promotes forthcoming listings with a telltale Coming Soon status on her website, complete with high-quality photographs, compelling written descriptions, and exposure across the leading digital listing platforms. Additionally, she leverages the power of social media and word-of-mouth to elicit additional buzz amidst Atlanta’s surging marketplace.
To learn more about Kara Lyness visit bluegrace.group, email kara@bluegrace.group, call (404) 542 – 3790, or visit her Facebook page here. www.
While Kara has established an impressive track record in just a few years’ time, she also prioritizes the connection forged with each client she serves. To stay in touch beyond the closing table, she routinely checks in through emails, follows up via phone, and is Top Agent Magazine
https://www.facebook.com/KaraAtlantaRealty/
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How to Incorporate Current Events to Your Email Blasts and Stay Relevant Email marketing is a cost effective and straightforward method of getting your name and services in front of clients with just a few keystrokes. This tried-and-true approach to digital marketing is a favorite of many, and there are countless ways to customize (and maximize) your email blasts to reap superior results. Despite this, many real estate profesTop Agent Magazine
sionals are content to standardize their email advertising and take a broad, one-size-fits-all approach to capturing interest and leads. While an up-front sales pitch certainly has its uses and benefits, it doesn’t hurt to shake up your routine and refresh your email marketing approach by adding specifics that draw renewed interest from your audience.
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One way to accomplish this is by tying in current events and local happenings to your email blasts. After all, your sphere of influence likely receives countless marketing emails per day. To cut through the noise, sharpen your message with a few specifics that separate your communications from the pack. Not every email should be focused on closing a sale, or else your audience will learn to stop listening. How do you build your brand, stay top of mind, and keep the lines of communication open with your clientele? Here are a few ideas to get you started.
against an old rival? Do they host themed fan days honoring veterans or catering to families? Tailoring your communications to a local sports franchise’s big news or next event can draw intrigue and provide added value for your clients. Remember, not every communication you send should be focused on pitching and closing a sale, otherwise your audience will tune out your emails altogether. Instead, incorporate fun, community-oriented content that lets readers know you’re a resource for much more than real estate.
Sports news makes a splash
Become a one-stop-shop for holiday fun and seasonal ideas.
People love to rally behind the home team. Is a regional, local university, or professional sports team in your area headed to the playoffs or the championship? Are they facing off
From Mother’s Day to Thanksgiving, anyone can send an email wishing clients a happy holiday. While the sentiment is a good one, you’ll be one of dozens flooding inboxes with
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your well-wishes. Instead, go beyond the traditional greetings and good tidings and become a hyper-specific resource for clients. Create a gift guide for Mother’s Day, outline family-friendly local events occurring in your area around the holidays, or engage in a promotional partnership with a local business who’s offering a holiday special of their own. In other words, don’t settle for just saying hello during certain times of the year. Instead, up the value of your email blast by offering clients curated information that relates to their interests and area. Doing so makes your emails a must-read, while demonstrating your ability to go the extra mile.
Pop culture serves as a fun and timely tie-in. Is a new gaming app sweeping the nation? Have your social media feeds been flooded with the same viral video? Is everyone gossiping about the same TV show premiere? Pop culture tie-ins in your email marketing campaigns can be extremely effective, but in order to for
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them to work, you’ll need to move quickly and keep your focus on the phenomenon, rather than your service pitch. The goal behind pop culture marketing tie-ins is communicating the progressiveness and hip factor of your brand, while capturing timely, topical interest that’s at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be in on a running joke or trend, and if you leverage trending pop culture moments in your email marketing, you’ll be able to draw views and clicks from a wide audience.
Plenty of services offer standardized email marketing templates and content for today’s real estate professionals, and while the motivation behind marketing is transactional, your communications don’t have to be. The surest way to make an impact in your clients’ inboxes is to add original value and break apart from the pack. Consider updating some of your routines with these current events oriented techniques and your email audience is sure to take a second look.
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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. 22
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
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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.
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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.
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