GEORGIA 7-18-22

GEORGIA EDITION

SMALL YARD?

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THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO BE A GREAT MENTOR

BIG STATEMENT:

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF MICRO OUTDOOR SPACES

FEATURED AGENTS

MATTHEW THAXTON MARIA SOLESBEE

5 THINGS

YOU CAN DO TO

ACHIEVE YOUR BIGGEST GOALS

How to send

SMARTER EMAILS

COVER STORY

MONICA PHILLIPS

GEORGIA EDITION

MATTHEW THAXTON

MARIA SOLESBEE

those goals because she lis I have to tell her.”

With kindness and empathy as the 11 pilimag 7 21 lars of her business, Maria Solesbee has not th seen tremendous success as a real estate house agent. She always wanted to find a agenc career that allowed flexibility and indehapp pendence, and this industry turned out the p to be the perfect fit. “My husband is a and h civilian contractor,” she explains. “So live i he did a lot of traveling. And I needed date something that gave me freedom to be listin MATTHEW THAXTON MONICA PHILLIPS MARIA SOLESBEE able to spend time with my kids and take were care of things while he was away.” After video earning her license, she hit the ground with CONTENTS running and hasn’t looked back. As part in a of the Chelsea Phillips Group, she’s avail 4) 6 THINGS YOU 18) YARD? BIG made great strides and is continuing to SMALL grow. Serving immediately as wel NEED TO DO TO STATEMENT: HOW TO MAKE the greater Savannah area, Maria is bilingual in Spanish BE A GREAT MENTOR MOST OUT OFAMICRO and English, and serves all types ofTHE buyers and sellers. true animal love OUTDOOR SPACES No matter who she is assisting, she puts their needs first cue groups in the 9) HOW TO SEND and goes above and beyond to achieve their goals.

SMARTER EMAILS 22) 5 THINGS YOU five dogs,” she exp working out and sp CAN DO TO ACHIEVE Familiar with all the communities inYOUR this region, MariaGOALS BIGGEST is able to guide her clients and offer advice on the best When Maria envisi location for their needs. “I serve Savannah, Richmond tinuing to help peo Hill, Pooler, Port Wentworth, and the Islands, and I many years to come Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 know these areas well,” she explains. She also has solid reaching new level mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com relationships with other agents, as she always treats love my job. Being No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent Magazine them with respect. “Not only am I kind to my clients, rewarding and imp is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top ® Agent Magazine held responsible opinionsother expressed or facts supplied by its butcannot I’m bealso friendlyfor with REALTORS , authors. because To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. end up being teammates even if we are representing Published inwe the U.S. different sides of a transaction.” This helps the process run smoothly, as everyone is always aware of updates and next steps. It’s not uncommon for Maria to develop Top Agent Magazine lasting relationships with her clients, as they form a

o him in high stint in corpoo the industry. tthew wanted at nine-to-five 2

Matthew has recently partn couple fellow eXp colleag the first brick-and-mortar in north Forsyth, so his fo on building the brokerage seeable future. “Our goal … that brand and name her what eXp has to offer an can do for the agents, an set themselves apart from kerages,” he says. With th Matthew is looking for tale leaders to expand the New Forsyth office next phase in my career, I am going to wo ing the brokerage, and continuing to build my own personal sphere of influence a ships,” he says. “It’s not always about th

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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.

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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 6

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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MATTHEW THAXTON those goals because she listens to what I have to tell her.”

Matthew Thaxton started his career in real estate with one thing in mind – to build long-term relationships. You would instantly know when Matthew walked into a room because you can feel the magnetic energy that he brings. His desire to jump in and serve his clients at any capacity is truly how he succeeded so quickly in the industry, reaching the coveted rookie of the year his first year in real estate.

Matthew, a consistent top producer serving his native north Georgia area, has had an interest in real estate since his grandparents introduced the idea to him in high school. After graduation, he did a brief stint in corporate America before finding his way into the industry.

Looking to make more than a living, Matthew wanted to make a life. “When I was working that nine-to-five job, I was like this is not for me. I want to get out and enjoy life, I don’t want it always to just be about work,” says the solo agent. “And when I’m doing my real estate, I don’t feel like I’m actually working because I enjoy what I do so much.”

Matthew has recently partnered with a couple fellow eXp colleagues to open the first brick-and-mortar eXp office in north Forsyth, so his focus will be on building the brokerage for the foreseeable future. “Our goal … is to grow that brand and name here and share what eXp has to offer and what they can do for the agents, and how they set themselves apart from other brokerages,” he says. With that in mind, Matthew is looking for talented, driven leaders to expand the New Forsyth office. “So for the next phase in my career, I am going to work on growing the brokerage, and continuing to build and nurture my own personal sphere of influence and relationships,” he says. “It’s not always about the paycheck, though it’s an important part of each transaction, its more about building those relationships and friendships for the long term.” Remember I am here to help and serve Metro Atlanta & North Georgia!

His favorite thing is helping his clients reach their real estate goals, whether that is purchasing a dream home or building wealth through real estate. With most of his clients being repeat or referrals, Matthew has been there to advise them through different stages of homeownership. When he first started, many of his friends were buying their first home. Since then, they have upsized, downsized and started investing. “(One client) and I, we’ve done multiple transactions over the years now because every two years, I sell her a house. Her goal was to build wealth through real estate so that when she retired, she had a nice home that she could afford once she stopped working. And so that’s what we’ve been able to do,” he says. “And it’s been rewarding just seeing her continue to reach Top Agent Magazine

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For more about Matthew Thaxton, call 770.366.9506 visit thax.co, or email matt@thax.co www.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 7

Austin Clayton is proud to congratulate

Matthew Thaxton

on being featured in Top Agent Magazine for the state of Georgia!

Austin Clayton | NMLS # 1615299 Executive Loan Officer Email: Austin@RedTreeMTG.com Phone: 412-525-0215 Company NMLS # 1854590 44 Milton Ave, Alpharetta GA 30009

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How To Send

SMARTER EMAILS

Email is a great tool for agents to use when trying to stay in touch with their past clients, as well as for reaching out to prospective clients. However, used incorrectly it can make your attempts to reach out seem like spam. The secret to using email effectively is making sure that everything you send out does one thing: ensure that you remain relevant to your contacts. To do this you have to get personal. Personalization will go far to ensure that your contacts are actually clicking on your emails. This means that if you do reply on an automated drip email campaign to build business, you need to customize your content so that it delivers something meaningful to each individual recipient. Here are some steps that will help you do exactly that:

1. SEND A WELCOME EMAIL TO

NEW CLIENTS AND PROSPECTS Rather than simply add new contacts to your automated email drip campaign, make sure to send each new contact receives a warm welcome as well. Sending a welcome email along with adding new contacts to your drip campaign is proven to be 86 percent more effective at catching your contact’s attention. Let them know they are welcome and that you appreciate their interest.

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2. NURTURE YOUR RELATIONSHIP

THROUGH YOUR EMAIL To let your potential client know that you are thinking about them by sending them useful content that relates to the process of buying or selling a house. Some great topics include credit score information, ways to save money, regular market updates, what buying in your market is like, information about the neighborhood, tips on how they can prepare their home for sale, and other relevant information. A great way to

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add to these emails’ punch is to time them so that they coincide with what that individual is going through and dealing with at that time on their path through the buying or selling process.

3. CELEBRATE IMPORTANT DATES

Everyone loves to be noticed and appreciated.

Schedule emails to go to each client that celebrate their purchase anniversary or birthday.

Make sure you include a personal note and your own wishes that the year ahead goes well for them. If you’ve been a bit out of touch with your contacts, you might want to send them a friendly hello.

4.

MOBILE-FRIENDLY EMAILS With our phones being akin to mini computers, most people read their emails on their phone these days. So, it is particularly important to make sure that your emails are rendering well on the smaller screens. If you want to make any kind of impact, you have to run a mobile-friendly email campaign in today’s world. You are going to lose a lot of your audience if they can’t read your email on their phones.

5.

TRACK THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR EMAILS AND ALTER ACCORDINGLY The best way to make sure your emails are being read and making the kind of impact you desire is to consistently monitor the analytics,

and see what your readers are actually clicking on and what elements are most popular with your contacts. Going forward you can alter different elements of your email campaign such as content, images, graphics, and even smaller elements like your subject line to draw in more clicks from your readers, and cater to what grabs their attention.

You also want to follow a targeted email strategy. The best way to do this is segment your email list based on the data from your CRM and the demographics of your contacts. Different clients are going to be interested in different content. Long-time clients looking to buy a second home or possibly downsize are going to be interested in completely different content than your first-time buyers. A good way to filter your contacts is by looking at which ones are looking to buy or sell, how far along in the process they are, as well as other important information about them.

6.

DON’T SPAM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES You probably already know that flooding your clients’ emails is big no-no. However, different people have different ideas about what is too much contact. One great way to approach this problem is to ask your clients whether they would prefer weekly, monthly, or occasional emails from you. This way you can cater to each client’s preference.

The emails you send your clients can often be a double-edged sword when it comes to how well they work to bring in business. Following these simple rules will help your emails be as successful as they can possibly be, and will make your contacts much happier with you. So, don’t just send out emails without doing your homework about how to do it right. Your email campaigns can be a powerful tool if you know how to create and utilize them in the right manner.

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MONICA PHILLIPS Top Agent Magazine

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Monica is a solo agent serving the north Georgia corridor and Forsyth County. Located between Atlanta and the north Georgia mountains, Forsyth County is consistently ranked as the fastest-growing county in the state and is among the fastest growing counties nationwide.

With a genuine, friendly approach, personal knowledge of the community she serves and love for the work she does, it’s no wonder that Monica Philips is consistently among the top producers in her Cumming, Georgia Century 21 office. Monica says she always wanted to work in real estate. When her son was old enough to drive and her husband was working nights, it was the right time for her to pursue her real estate license. After two years selling real estate part time, she 12 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

was invited to join Century 21 full time. She saved up half a year’s salary, took the leap as a full-time real estate agent and never looked back. Five years later, she averages over 20 transactions annually and sold over $9 million last year.

Monica Georgia Located Georgia

is a solo agent serving the north corridor and Forsyth County. between Atlanta and the north mountains, Forsyth County is Top Agent Magazine

consistently ranked as the fastest-growing county in the state and is among the fastest growing counties nationwide. With nearly two decades of experience in this community, Monica is able to offer clients firsthand knowledge and local area expertise.

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After five years, Monica is beginning to see a growing repeat and referral business. She easily keeps in touch with past clients on a regular basis as they usually become friends through the process of working together.

She also uses a CRM to help keep track of 13 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

To market her listings, Monica employs professional photographers and uses drone video and 3D video tours created by her office Zillow team. She also does staging and virtual staging as needed to show the property to its best advantage. special dates like birthdays and anniversaries and reaches out with a call or note on holidays.

To market her listings, Monica employs professional photographers and also uses drone video and 3D video tours created by her office Zillow team. She does staging and virtual staging as needed to show the Copyright Top Agent Magazine 14

property to its best advantage and brings in handymen to complete necessary painting and repairs pre-market. Monica relies heavily on social media and property boosts on YouTube to spread the word about new listings and credits the support team in her office, as well as a feature-rich CRM with enhancing her marketing efforts. Depending on the property, she may also send out New Top Agent Magazine

Listing mailers or employ other marketing strategies.

When she’s not working, Monica enjoys spending time with her family and three dogs or taking Jeep rides with her husband.

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She’s active in the community through her membership in the Forsyth County Rotary Club and recently joined the Chamber of Commerce. An animal lover, Monica also volunteers at the Forsyth County Animal Shelter. In the future, Monica says she may Copyright Top Agent Magazine 15

want to expand her business to work with a team, one that preserves the individuality of each member. In the mean time, she’s focused on being an honest and trusted advisor for her

clients, looking out for their best interest and doing a good job for everyone she works with.

Building a solid reputation, one happy client at a time, is a solid strategy for success.

To learn more about Monica, call 678-234-4338, email mphillips@youneedresults.com or visit her website: monicaphillips.c21results.com www.

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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 18

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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MARIA SOLESBEE With kindness and empathy as the pillars of her business, Maria Solesbee has seen tremendous success as a real estate agent. She always wanted to find a career that allowed flexibility and independence, and this industry turned out to be the perfect fit. “My husband is a civilian contractor,” she explains. “So he did a lot of traveling. And I needed something that gave me freedom to be able to spend time with my kids and take care of things while he was away.” After earning her license, she hit the ground running and hasn’t looked back. As part of the Chelsea Phillips Group, she’s made great strides and is continuing to grow. Serving the greater Savannah area, Maria is bilingual in Spanish and English, and serves all types of buyers and sellers.

No matter who she is assisting, she puts their needs first and goes above and beyond to achieve their goals.

Familiar with all the communities in this region, Maria is able to guide her clients and offer advice on the best location for their needs. “I serve Savannah, Richmond Hill, Pooler, Port Wentworth, and the Islands, and I know these areas well,” she explains. She also has solid relationships with other agents, as she always treats them with respect. “Not only am I kind to my clients, but I’m also friendly with other REALTORS®, because we end up being teammates even if we are representing different sides of a transaction.” This helps the process run smoothly, as everyone is always aware of updates and next steps. It’s not uncommon for Maria to develop lasting relationships with her clients, as they form a deep bond during their time together. She keeps in touch through social media and sends small gifts to let them know she’s thinking about them throughout the year.

imaginable to help us out since we were not there on a daily basis to go see many houses in person. We were referred to her agency by a friend of ours and we are very happy with how it all worked out. During the process Maria was knowledgeable and helpful about the areas we desired to live in and made sure she kept us up to date with current inventory or upcoming listings that would meet our needs. As we were out of town she also took countless videos and did Facetime walkthroughs with us whenever we asked, and did so in a timely manner. Maria was always available and responded to any needs immediately as well as kept us on track.”

A true animal lover, Maria is involved with a few rescue groups in the area. “We just fostered a family of five dogs,” she explains. During her off hours, she loves working out and spending time with family.

When Maria envisions her future, she sees herself continuing to help people with their real estate dreams for many years to come. She hopes to continue growing and reaching new levels of success. “At the end of the day, I love my job. Being a part of the real estate world is very rewarding and important to me.”

After working together, buyers and sellers leave glowing reviews about their experience. One recently said, “Maria was absolutely incredible throughout our home buying experience in Savannah. My wife and I are moving to Savannah from Michigan and she did everything Top Agent Magazine

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For more about Maria Solesbee, please call 912-844-2571 or email maria@sixbricksrealty.com

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5 Things You Can Do To Achieve Your Biggest Goals If there’s one thing successful people can agree on, it’s that setting goals has been key to their success. Whether you’re creating a five year plan or just settling on what you want to achieve by the end of the day, setting goals gives you the focus and direction you need to complete even the biggest tasks.

But there is a method to setting them. It’s a process that takes careful thought and con22

sideration up front, which is then combined with the hard work necessary to implement your plan. Luckily there are proven methods to goal setting that you can start using immediately.

1. MAKE YOUR GOALS SPECIFIC

Yes, it’s fun to think in grand terms of where you want to end up in life and in your career, but it’s better to have a specific

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Your plan of action should include daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. goal like “Increase my sales by 25%”, than “Get rich.” When a goal is clear and specific, it allows you to figure out the exact steps you need to take to accomplish it. The more general it is, the more paralyzed you might be when it comes to figuring out what to do since, the choices may be overwhelming.

2. MAKE IT ATTAINABLE

Making attainable goals might seem boring, I mean afterall, you want to dream big! But you don’t want to suffer through the disappointment of not reaching your goal, something that may not even be possible at this stage in your life to begin with. One solution to that is creating goal levels. You can have the dream goal, but underneath that you have the realistic goals that are setting up a foundation for achieving the big one.

Things that are attainable still take work and effort to achieve. Those small victories will keep you motivated and encouraged to go for the bigger dreams. And don’t forget, those little goals may have been things you wouldn’t have gotten done if you didn’t set out to achieve them, so be proud!

3. PUT A PLAN OF ACTION IN WRITING

Your plan of action should include daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. There is something about seeing things in writing and crossing them off the list that is oddly satisfying.The daily goals are especially Top Agent Magazine

important in regards to building up those good habits. The first few weeks of your plan of action are critical when it comes to your long term success. Reaching a goal is something you are doing every day, all throughout the day, in numerous ways.

Achieving goals is all about creating good new habits.

4. MAKE IT MEASURABLE

This is key, since you definitely want to reward yourself for a job well done, and having a goal that is measurable in some way is a sure way to know. Maybe it’s to increase your lead generation or to cut expenses, whatever the case, have a measurable test you need to meet, as well as a time frame. Then calculate what you have to do to reach that goal. Not only should your goal be specific, but the plan and the measure of success should also be set in stone.

5. ADJUST AS YOU GO

You can have all the best laid plans, and you still might quickly realize that what you thought would help you reach your goal, might not be cutting it. Commitment to reaching your goals is good, but commitment to a plan you know isn’t going to work is not only a waste of time, but will be a devastating blow to your motivation.

Sticking to a plan everyday means adjusting it accordingly.

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