Georgia 7-23-18 by Top Agent Magazine

GEORGIA EDITION

How to Recognize TRUE LUXURY PROPERTIES Are You Doing Business As You on FACEBOOK? HOW TO BUILD A TEAM THAT WILL WIN BIG No Matter its Size Top Agent Tips and Questions for CHOOSING YOUR LISTING AGENT

FEATURED AGENTS

ELIZABETH HEAD JORGE MONTILLA

COVER STORY

JILL VAN NUIS

GEORGIA EDITION

Randy Bristol is proud to congratulate

Jill Van Nuis

JORGE MONTILLA

Top Agent Jorge Montilla, lead of Montilla Inter7 at Keller Williams First Atlanta 17 has national Realty made a name for himself as a Realtor with heart who can be consistently trusted to put his client’s needs front and center. His true passion for helping people achieve the American dream of homeownership has translated into a thriving and ever-growing business that shows no sign of slowing down.

sional photography, vi presence are just som great effect. They also non-English speaking communications betw with appointment sche

Jorge and his team’ service has endeared sellers, as evidenced Prior to entering the world of real estate, Jorge reviews they have rec already demonstrated a strong desire to help the raves for Montill people by serving as a police officer. “I’ve always one: “Jorge and his been into helping my community,” he says, “and JILL VAN NUISand inspiringELIZABETH JORGE MONTILLA responsive and und uplifting people.” JorgeHEAD eventually on being featured for thecontemplating state a career in real estate, extremely knowledgea found himself and way more! You’ when a friend suggested that his business acumen of Georgia in Top Agent Magazine! could be an asset in that field. “I did some research,” he explains, Montilla. He sold my house in one d “and saw how impactful it could be, and how much I could do and negotiated my new house. Awes for people, and inspire people. I was the first person in my family to buy a home, and to be able to help others do that was very Most of Jorge’s buyers and sellers h appealing to me.” In 2015, he jumped into real estate with both upbeat approach. “I’m always smil 1600 Kennesaw Due West Rd NW, Suite 610, Kennesaw, Georgia 30152 feet and found almost instant success. In the first year of his new how stressful a situation might be career, he was able to buy a home for his mother in the Domin- we truly care, and they like the fact RANDY BRISTOL ican Republic for her retirement. Jorge also achieved Rookie of regardless of what’s going on, and th C: (770) 500-5080 | the F: (678) 996that -7112 to any problem.” Year status first year.

CONTENTS

4) HOW TO BUILD A TEAM 19) TOP AGENT TIPS AND rb@directlendersllc.com | directlendersllc.com THAT WILL WIN BIG NO QUESTIONS FOR CHOOSING Primarily serving Gwinnett County, Jorge and his team of six When he’s not working, Jorge love NMLS: #306130 | Georgia: #29437 | Alabama: #21245 | Florida: #MDL504 his family, and is an avid motorcycle and three administrative employees have firmly established AGENT MATTER ITS agents SIZE YOUR LISTING http://

themselves as a company that will always go the extra mile for their grateful clients. With a business that is based more than a third upon repeat and referral clients, they are clearly engendering a high level of customer loyalty. “I think what keeps our clients coming back is that they always come first,” he explains. “We love helping people achieve their dreams. I think we have a level of selflessness within our team, and that is what keep them coming back. At the end of the day, it’s not about a paycheck, it’s about them.”

14) HOW TO RECOGNIZE TRUE LUXURY PROPERTIES

donates to local charities.

Looking to the future, Jorge has big the upcoming merger of his busines will be called the Iconic Living Rea grow it as big as we can,” he says. “ you can grow your business. I know and that purpose is to touch as many of my business is not about me, it’s viduals on my team and everyone a success are consistency and persisten

22) ARE YOU DOING BUSINESS AS YOU ON FACEBOOK?

Jorge and his team are also consummate marketers of their listings, which they do using cutting-edge and intelligent methods. Profes-

Phone 888-461-3930 | Fax 310-751-7068 mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. Published in the U.S. 2

For more information about Jorge Montill Top Agent Magazine

please call 470 - 535 - 4741 or email Jorge@iconiclivingt

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

Top Agent Magazine

How to Build a Team That Will Win Big No Matter its Size In the real estate world building a team is a goal almost every agent strives towards achieving. Doing business with a team as opposed to solo has numerous advantages. With more agents handling clients as well as other employees specialized in areas such as marketing and administrative support there to assist you; you can greatly increase your business and sales. 4

So, when creating a team, logic would tell us that the bigger it is, the better, right? Wrong. When it comes to real estate teams, size doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter so much as the players you bring onto that team to work with you. A team doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be big to win big, and here are the secrets to building a team that wins big no matter its size.

Top Agent Magazine

Hire the Right Team Members

Put Your Team Members in the Right Positions to Win

You’ve probably heard the saying, “you’re only as strong as you’re weakest link.” That idea holds true for any kind of team, including those in real estate. If you have weak members on your team, then it’s not possible to have a strong team. Drawing strong team members to your business is essential.

Finding strong team members is just one part of the equation. As the leader of your team, you now have to assess each member’s strengths and weaknesses and position them appropriately. You want the best player for each role playing that part and catering to their strengths. Choose your team member’s roles wisely, and place each individual in the position where their strengths can shine and they can best contribute to a win for the entire team. Every role is important to the team working smoothly and winning as a whole, so it is important to place each team member in the role most suited to his or her skills.

To better understand what kind of person would make a strong addition to your team, you need to ask yourself what skills and characteristics you want your team members to possess. The strongest members are often ones that share their leader’s values. When you share values with your teammates, you are all running along the same course towards the same goal as one. Your definition of a victory in this case is also your teammates’ definition of it. This helps strengthen even the smallest of numbers because you are all working together toward a common goal. Another characteristic too look out for in potential team members is a positive attitude. You can teach someone the skills needed in real estate, but you can’t teach someone how to have a positive attitude. Positive members tend to achieve more due to their optimistic nature, but more importantly, they spread that positive attitude to the rest of the team, which improves every members’ performance. Top Agent Magazine

Communicating Your Vision to Your Team

Your team members are the key ingredients to ultimate victory, but what recipe do you follow now to lead them to victory? That is what communication is for a winning team; the recipe you will use to

Top Agent Magazine

help best utilize each team member and instruct them on how they need to work together to fulfill the recipe that will lead them to be a winning team. Your team members need to know the plan and you must give them the tools to successfully execute it. It is up to the leader of a team to help your players see your vision and help them understand what a victory looks like. The goal may seem simple and obvious to you, but you must communicate it over and over again to your team members, so they understand it as well as you do. With different personalities coming together to form a unit, you are going to be dealing with numerous challenges such as competing agendas. You will find this on any team. You must keep the goal and at the forefront of your playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minds in order to encourage them to put aside their own personal desires in order to come together as one cohesive, single-minded unit and push towards the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal.

Give Your Team Members the Tools to Help Them Perform at Their Best The final thing all great leaders do is equip their team members with the proper tools and training needed for them to succeed. You have to show them how they can each come together with their different strengths to work as a team towards one unified goal. This involves more than simple skills training, but also endurance, so they can last as a team and win even those matches that seem unending and impossible. Think of all the challenges that they could possibly face ahead, and clear their path to victory by giving them the necessary training and tools they will need to get past any obstacle. As the leader, you must be prepared to continually communicate the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal and your vision. Use that vision to motivate your team members throughout the journey towards victory.

Top Agent Magazine

JILL VAN NUIS

Jill Van Nuis

Jill Van Nuis leads a team that serves Cobb County and surrounding counties including Paulding, Bartow, Cherokee and Fulton. How did Jill Van Nuis become one of the most trusted real estate agents in Marietta and the surrounding area? For years, friends had been telling Jill she had all the right qualities to become an amazing realtor. In 2011, she finally decided to follow their advice, 8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

studying for her license and launching her career. She now leads a team that includes a buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agent and an administrative assistant serving Cobb County and surrounding counties including Paulding, Bartow, Cherokee and Fulton. Top Agent Magazine

What sets Jill apart from other agents in the area and keeps her clients coming back? She is known for being honest, trustworthy and direct. She’s also dedicated to continually educating herself. “I study the market regularly and know my numbers. My clients understand that I do my homework and that I’m a fiduciary for them as well,” Jill says. As a result, fifty percent of her business comes from repeat and referral clients. When it comes to staying in touch with past clients, Jill believes in a personal touch. She Top Agent Magazine

pops by for quick visits, meets past clients for lunch, hosts well-attended client appreciation events, and sends handwritten notes. Jill believes that one of the keys to selling a property well is to prepare it before listing. She brings in a professional stager to ensure the property looks its best before hiring professional photographers to take high quality photos. “Staging, photography and strategic pricing make up 90% of getting a house sold,” she says. Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

Jill posts all listings on the MLS and other major real estate websites, and she is a Premiere Agent on Zillow. She sends out postcards to potential buyers to let them Copyright Top Agent Magazine Copyright 10

know about listings and open houses. She also believes strongly in internal marketing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a large brokerage and a lot of sister brokerages, so we send out a lot of Top Agent Magazine

internal marketing through agents so they can share them with their clients who are looking to buy,” Jill explains. The result is often quick sales at high prices. After working with Jill, her clients remember that she had their back every step of the way. They rave about her authenticity in her interactions and her trustworthiness. “I develop good relationships with my clients,” she says. “I’m a people pleaser. I like helping people tackle this large transaction that they have in front of them and walking them through the process. I’ve discovered I’m good at what I do.” Jill believes in educating her clients Top Agent Magazine

so they understand what is happening. This helps them to maintain a state of peace during what could otherwise be a stressful process. To give back to the community, Jill is very involved with Arise Life Church, where she runs a small group focused on business. She’s also involved with fundraising for Young Lives, a ministry for teen moms in the community. In her cherished free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog in the national park near her home. She also kayaks and attends yoga and Pilates classes. For the future, Jill plans to grow her team. In the near future, she’ll be promoting her administrative assistant to Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

a buyer’s agent and bringing her daughter in as an admin. “As a single mother, I’ve been so blessed in this business that I want to bring more single moms and widows into the real estate community. I provide scholarships to

them and I’d like to grow that into mentorship, training, childcare, and maybe even housing!” With her dedication to her community, her career, and her faith, she’s sure to make that bold dream of service a reality!

To find out more about Jill Van Nuis, email jill@the-harvest-group.com, call 678 - 907 - 2074, or visit the-harvest-group.com www.

https://www.facebook.com/kimsuttonadairrealtor/

Top Agent Magazine

Randy Bristol is proud to congratulate

Jill Van Nuis

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

1600 Kennesaw Due West Rd NW, Suite 610, Kennesaw, Georgia 30152

RANDY BRISTOL C: (770) 500 -5080 | F: (678) 996-7112 rb@directlendersllc.com | directlendersllc.com http://

NMLS: #306130 | Georgia: #29437 | Alabama: #21245 | Florida: #MDL504 Top Agent Magazine

How to Recognize True Luxury Properties What to Consider Other Than Location When luxury home buyers are looking for a new abode, they are often advised to pay most of their attention to location, location, location. And it’s true that good locations often have better properties, but if you’re only looking at location then you might be forgetting what it is in a luxury property that makes it luxury. You could view a property in a great location, and because you completely ignored any of the other factors that make a property high end, you might find that once you move in, you aren’t as pleased with the actual house itself as you thought you would be. Here are the other things you should look out for when purchasing a luxury home: • Architectural Uniqueness: The simple fact is that good

architecture retains its value. Do your homework on architects and find the ones that have a good track record of designing beautiful, but practical homes. Don’t simply pay attention to how the building looks today. Consider how it will look in a few decades. Keep an eye out for the “bones” of the building, and decide whether they will stand the test of time or not. Things such as a solid foundation, high-grade materials, unusual details, and artistic components are good aspects to consider. Will the structure hold up well or will it degrade and crumble without constant upkeep? That funky molding may look artistic today, but in ten years will it be considered artistic or just plain weird?

Top Agent Magazine

• Practical Layout: Make sure you have enough room to live

in comfort. As a buyer of luxury property, you probably have quite a busy social schedule. You want to make sure that the layout will lend itself to helping you maintain clear separation between your social areas and private ones. You don’t want guests having to go back into your bedroom to use the bathroom. Look out for places with stairwells, awkward columns, long hallways, and other wastes of space.

• Unobstructed Views and Light: You want to live in

a home that gives you lots of natural light, such as one that is open to the outdoors. That natural light will improve your mood, as well as the resale value. The openness of a space filled with natural light will make you feel more comfortable and happy in your new home. What about the view? Do you see a Do you park, a bridge, a river, or a skyline? Is the see a park, fantastic view out your window protected? a bridge, You’ll need to understand the surrounding air a river, or a rights and zoning allowances of neighboring buildings to understand the possible risks. skyline?

• Windows: Windows are the primary source of losing heat and

cooling. Make sure they are double-paned with good insulation that will protect your home against weather and noise. Unless the windows are already like this, it is unlikely that the condo or co-op board will allow you to install your own.

• Ceiling Height: Consider the cubic footage of the property.

You want to look for high ceilings that increase the openness of a room. Of course, you don’t want to go too high. Above 14 feet will get you diminished marginal returns.

• Storage: If you’re a woman, you will understand this one. We need

lots of closets and additional storage room to fit all of our clothes, shoes, jackets, hats, purses, etc. However, lucky for you, your potential home’s existing closet square footage will not limit you from putting in more storage space. Custom closet companies can create any kind of storage

Top Agent Magazine

space you desire. You will have to, however, make sure that your new home does have an area that you can turn into this storage space. • In-Unit Laundry: In-unit laundry has become necessary for

any luxury home or apartment. Do you really want to have to trek down flights of stairs to use the basement laundry? If you still consider it wasted space, you can convert it into more closet space.

• The Gym: Having a fitness area nearby is an amenity that is especially

important, particularly in winter when you don’t feel like walking to the gym a few blocks down. One thing to consider is the Do you really want of the gym in relation to have to trek down size to the size of the building in flights of stairs? light of common area fees. • Move-In Ready: I’d advise against buying time-consuming and

frustrating fixer-uppers no matter how much you want to add custom kitchens, finishes, fixtures, and other characteristics. Choose a property that already has all of these amenities taken care of. These properties have already had the same designers you would hire fashion the house at a fraction of the cost you would pay to have them do it after you move in. In this light, it is worthwhile to pay a little extra for the move-in ready home.

• Reputation: Pay attention to the reputation of the building. A

property that has a good reputation tends to retain its value. You can easily find this out online on posts, and established locals are likely to have an opinion.

If you want to buy luxury property that is really worth it’s price, then I would suggest adding these points to your list of things your new home must have. If you want to get a high quality home that is a true luxury, you’ll want to watch out for these aspects as well as the location. Some properties might claim to be luxury based on their location, but when compared against this list, they don’t make the cut. So, don’t be fooled by imposters, and make sure you find a true high-end property. 16

Top Agent Magazine

ELIZABETH HEAD 17

ELIZABETH HEAD Gregarious, conscientious and extremely knowledgeable, top agent Elizabeth Head of Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners in Stockbridge, Georgia has made a name for herself as a real estate professional who approaches each transaction with her client’s best interests in mind. Her dedication to providing exceptional customer service to all of her buyers and sellers, coupled with her twelve years of industry experience has resulted in a business that is growing exponentially year after year with no sign of slowing down anytime soon. “I started in the real estate industry in 2006, but I began by doing the administrative side,” explains Elizabeth. “I started as the Director of First Impressions at Keller Williams Realty, and within six months I had moved to the Market Center Administrator role. I did that for about two years, until that office closed and merged with another.” Contacted by an agent named John Durham, she joined his team in an administrative role, learning the business from the bottom up. “In 2013, I decided to get my license, and it just took off from there,” she recalls. In the years since, Elizabeth has distinguished herself as a highly-respected real estate professional whose knowledge of market trends, fierce negotiating skills and overall integrity has translated into a flourishing business. Working with her husband, Michael, who is also a licensed agent, her star continues to rise as more and more clients discover how hard she works to ensure a smooth transaction process. A large portion of Elizabeth’s business is predicated on repeat and referral business, a fact she is justifiably proud of, as that tends to be the truest measure of client satisfaction in the real estate industry. When asked to account for this impressive level of client loyalty, Elizabeth points to the care and true concern for her cli-

ents she demonstrates. “I think it’s about how I make them feel,” she says. “You can have all sorts of amazing systems in place, and that’s a great thing, but at the end of the day it’s about making sure my clients know that they’re my top priority.” Her care and concern transcends the closing table as well. “I keep in touch with all of my clients after the transaction is complete,” she explains. “I become friends with most of my clients; I’ve been invited to weddings, parties and baby showers.” She also frequently provides post-sale assistance. “When they have any kind of contractor needs, they know I’m there to help them.” Elizabeth is committed to providing her clients with exceptional, up-to-date marketing assistance. Utilizing two MLS’s, high-quality professional photography, and a robust social media presence, she ensures that her properties are presented in their very best light and that they are seen by as many prospective buyers as possible. She is also staying at the forefront of technology, and points to her use of video tours as a highly-effective marketing tool. “I really think video marketing is where it’s at,” she explains. When she’s not working, Elizabeth is active in her community. She sponsors her children’s softball & baseball teams. She is also an avid traveler. “I love to go places,” she says. “My friends tell me I should be a travel planner.” Looking to the future, Elizabeth plans on growing her business while sacrificing none of the exceptional client service she has become known for. “This business can be a roller coaster,” she muses. “But for me, it’s about the relationships I get to build with my clients. The greatest thing for me is being at a closing and seeing those happy tears. That’s the best feeling ever.”

For more information about Elizabeth Head, please call 678 -588 -1797 or email ElizabethHeadRealtor@gmail.com 18

Top Agent Tips and Questions for Choosing Your Listing Agent Now that you’ve decided to sell, it’s time to select the professional to help you market your property. Before meeting with agents, however, consider Top Agent Magazine’s tips for preparing yourself. Frist, ask yourself what kind of relationship you’d like to have with your listing agent. Are you seeking a casual, personable relationship and the latest marketing tools or are you interested in a more formal, traditional relationship and approach to marketing techniques? Next, populate your list of agents by attending open houses and asking for recommendations from recent buyers and sellers. Finally, schedule your meetings at your home, where you’ll be able to gauge the chemistry between you and each agent. During your meetings, expect any Top Agent to ask you several questions, but also consider discussing the following: Top Agent Magazine

Will you please describe your sales experience and local network?

Ask your Top Agent to describe recent listings and sales of homes comparable to your own. Ask about the sellers’ priorities, the original list price, market time and number of offers. Top Agents will also describe how well they are connected with other REALTORS® in the region as well as their contacts with relocation companies, local corporations and chambers of commerce. Be sure to ask about each agent’s knowledge of how your market has changed over time and what has influenced change.

You’ll learn a lot by listening to agents’ opinions.

How will you market the property? Each

Top Agent has a unique set of online or local marketing tools at his or her disposal. Some use lead-generation applications and nearly ever luxury agent take advantage of video. Even video marketing tools vary from agent-to-agent, however. You’ll get to decide if you prefer an agent with higher-end video production and 3D Matterport tours or an agent with more intimate techniques featuring walk-and-talk style video tours. What factors influence your list-price recommendation? Before an-

swering this question, most Top Agents will have several questions for you, including whether you’re more focused on a faster sale or a higher list price. They’ll also educate you on how best to balance both market time and list price relative to sales histories your area. Now that you’ve seen the home, what repairs or improvements do you recommend before listing? You’ll learn a lot by listening to agents’

opinions on your home’s sale potential with or without some improvements. Most Top Agents will also recommend a full professional inspection prior to listing to avoid surprises during buyer inspection.

How will you help with staging? Some Top Agents will pay for part or

all of the staging costs. At a minimum, however, a Top Agent will have a staging professional or two in their partner network. While they’re at it, they may provide referrals for carpet cleaning, painting, gardening and other minor finishing touches. 20

Top Agent Magazine

What attributes of the property will you want to highlight? Each Top

Agent will have a somewhat different answer to this question, but that’s a good thing! Even if you have your own ideas about your home’s greatest attributes, you’ll glean insight into the current market by considering different agents’ opinions. In learning their views, you may even change your mind about your home’s most marketable features!

What is your approach to Open Houses? How many agent-only Open

Houses will your Top Agent want to host? How many truly Open Houses? Some Top Agents may even reveal a “swankier” approach to the Open House – such as an evening cocktail party or by-invitation “open” hours to which buyers visit along with the agent representing them.

Who will be our primary point(s) of contact from your office? This

important question will help you understand the scope of your agent’s practice. You’ll get to see if your agent runs a robust team with many hands on deck or if he or she works by close, one-on-one contact with each client. Either approach is wonderful; you get to decide what suits you. Now, let’s list! Top Agent Magazine

Are You Doing Business As YOU On Facebook? Are you ‘Doing Business As YOU’ on your personal Facebook page? In other words, are you posting your business content from your personal page? Yesterday a REALTOR® asked us, “Why should I bother with a company Facebook page? Can’t I just post everything from my profile page?” The answer lies in what we call division of content. As you may be aware, social media began as just that… social. It was never truly intended for business use. Over time, as businesses began to see the potential in reaching the masses in a new way, they began to intrude on this communication. Today, it is widely accepted that business will be conducted on all social platforms, but the manner in which we do so (and in which we are received) is still a touchy subject at times. We believe it’s important to be transparent on social media. Draw the line between communicating as the Person and the Professional. Not only does this help you keep your content separate and appropriate, it also gives the control to your network of family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances and customers. They get to decide whether to ‘like’ or ‘follow’ your company page. They get to decide whether they want to see your business related posts. User control is the #1 reason you need a business page if you’re conducting business on Facebook. Wouldn’t you rather have a willing and engaged audience over a forced, potentially reluctant one? We have personally eliminated many of the ‘DBA’ offenders from our news feeds and you have likely done the same.

As in all controversial social media topics, there is some gray area. And that gray area is often subjective, so consider this post food for thought and decide for yourself. We try our best to keep professional content on our business pages, with a couple of exceptions: 1. Philanthropic Promotion: We’re in favor of posting anything that will help an organization in need on both your personal and business pages. Nonprofits often have little to no marketing budget and rely on all of us to promote their good works, so we believe that’s a good line to cross (as long as it’s about the organization, and not you). 2. Recognition Tagging: Facebook does not allow you to tag an individual on your business page. Yes, there are some tricky work-arounds, but they are inconsistent at best. So when it’s truly important for us to recognize and tag an individual, especially someone who has done something nice for us (inviting us as guests on their radio show or podcast, for instance), we will generally post that on the business page first, then share it from our personal pages, along with a comment recognizing and tagging the individual(s) or business who helped us. Either way (personal or business), remember to be true to the social aspect. Our participation on social media should be about giving, helping, recognizing and connecting…especially when it comes to your business.

Tonya Eberhart is the Branding Agent to Business Stars and founder of BrandFace®, LLC. Michael Carr is America’s Top Selling Real Estate Auctioneer & BrandFace® partner. Together, they focus on personal branding and marketing designed to help real estate professionals become the face of their business & a star in their market. BrandFace® for Real Estate Professionals is a book, professional speaking series and an exclusive workshop for agents, and is currently active in 18 U.S. states, Canada and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.BrandFaceRealEstate.com. 22

Top Agent Magazine

JORGE MONTILLA Top Agent Jorge Montilla, lead of Montilla International Realty at Keller Williams First Atlanta has made a name for himself as a Realtor with heart who can be consistently trusted to put his client’s needs front and center. His true passion for helping people achieve the American dream of homeownership has translated into a thriving and ever-growing business that shows no sign of slowing down. Prior to entering the world of real estate, Jorge already demonstrated a strong desire to help people by serving as a police officer. “I’ve always been into helping my community,” he says, “and uplifting and inspiring people.” Jorge eventually found himself contemplating a career in real estate, when a friend suggested that his business acumen could be an asset in that field. “I did some research,” he explains, “and saw how impactful it could be, and how much I could do for people, and inspire people. I was the first person in my family to buy a home, and to be able to help others do that was very appealing to me.” In 2015, he jumped into real estate with both feet and found almost instant success. In the first year of his new career, he was able to buy a home for his mother in the Dominican Republic for her retirement. Jorge also achieved Rookie of the Year status that first year. Primarily serving Gwinnett County, Jorge and his team of six agents and three administrative employees have firmly established themselves as a company that will always go the extra mile for their grateful clients. With a business that is based more than a third upon repeat and referral clients, they are clearly engendering a high level of customer loyalty. “I think what keeps our clients coming back is that they always come first,” he explains. “We love helping people achieve their dreams. I think we have a level of selflessness within our team, and that is what keep them coming back. At the end of the day, it’s not about a paycheck, it’s about them.” Jorge and his team are also consummate marketers of their listings, which they do using cutting-edge and intelligent methods. Profes-

sional photography, video, and a robust social media presence are just some of the tools they utilize to great effect. They also work closely with their many non-English speaking Hispanic clients, facilitating communications between contractors and assisting with appointment scheduling when necessary. Jorge and his team’s commitment to excellent service has endeared him to his many buyers and sellers, as evidenced by the multitude of glowing reviews they have received on Zillow.com. Among the raves for Montilla International Realty is this one: “Jorge and his team are on-point. They are responsive and understanding. Motivated and extremely knowledgeable of everything you’ll need and way more! You’ll never regret hiring Jorge Montilla. He sold my house in one day for way over asking price and negotiated my new house. Awesome team!” Most of Jorge’s buyers and sellers have made note of his genuine, upbeat approach. “I’m always smiling,” he says, “regardless of how stressful a situation might be. My clients remember that we truly care, and they like the fact that we always stay positive regardless of what’s going on, and that we’ll always find a solution to any problem.” When he’s not working, Jorge loves spending quality time with his family, and is an avid motorcycle and automobile buff. He also donates to local charities. Looking to the future, Jorge has big plans in the works, including the upcoming merger of his business with another to create what will be called the Iconic Living Real Estate Team. “Our goal is to grow it as big as we can,” he says. “There are no limits to how big you can grow your business. I know that I’m here for a purpose, and that purpose is to touch as many people as I can. The growth of my business is not about me, it’s about the growth of the individuals on my team and everyone around me. The main parts of success are consistency and persistence.”

For more information about Jorge Montilla, please call 470 - 535 - 4741 or email Jorge@iconiclivingteam.com Top Agent Magazine

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

Top Agent Magazine