MINNESOTA 5-16-22

MINNESOTA EDITION

24-HOUR TOUCH-UPS

DO YOU ADD CONSISTENT VALUE FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND FOR YOUR CLIENTS?

to Maximize Your Price List

7 REASONS WHY

YOUR PROSPECTS AREN'T TURNING INTO CLIENTS

FEATURED AGENTS

TODD BREYFOGLE SUE STEVENS COVER STORY

MARISSA BABCOCK

MINNESOTA EDITION

Area Specia SUE STEVENS TODD BREYFOGLE When Sue Stevens purchased her first

In addition to

born and raised Minnesotan, home buying process 7 as she describes it, “a15 23and selling home it was, less service to her ® highly experience” that left her LTOR Todd Breyfogle tionally, his network of contract thanisdesirable credit to som frustrated and in a verymak ho ht-after for his expertise andconfused. While that may other industry professionals have soured some people on the home the Twin Citi wledge of the western buying suburbs of a great resource and problem-sol process and the real estate busito live, espec neapolis specifically. He has over ness in general, that was not the case says Sue. “Y for Sue. a stone here years of experience in the realInstead, es- she got licensed in With a very active lifestyle, Toda 2016 with a hikingthat traila industry, though he’s only beentheadetermination to provide the freedom and flexibility a much different experience for her cligreat restauran BABCOCK TODD BREYFOGLE SUE STEVENS sed REALTOR® MARISSA forMARISSA four.

Before in real estate provides. ents. And though she admits that the first line of“No businet BABCOCK ng into the sales side offew realyears estate, tion is the same and another every banne situa were “tough”, she couldn’t be pleased loo arted his own appraisalmore firm, grewwith her decision. unique,” he says. “It’sconstantly great to ing channels t d sold it after it becameReal successful. and you never know what you ar estate was a significant career and referral bu CONTENTS hen decided to apply fordeparture his real for estate see.” While his three sons were growing Sue, license having spenttomany years in employee benefits at thewas corpofrom t he rest is history. able to travel with them, go Away to baseball rate level. But the transition turned out to be an easy Sue lends her voice to the Tw and there for TOUCH-UPS them in a way that he c 4) 7 REASONS YOUR 16)beinsurance 24-HOUR TOin one.WHY “I figured if could explain health and She is also active local cauc istently a PROSPECTS top 1% producer, Todd is known have been if he were doing a 9 to 5 AREN'T YOURchair LIST of PRICE her precinct.job.

A Pilate explain the home 401(k) plansTURNING to employees, I couldMAXIMIZE spending her free time dining buying process to my clients,” explained Sue. “I am is calm demeanor, excellent communication INTO CLIENTS eling.

“I truly spends enjoy mymos time veryto focused on and keeping every 20)informed DO ADD CONSISTENT s, and considered approach buying sell-my clients When he’sYOU not working, Todd Sue, “but when you love wh step of the way. I keep their interest at heart and try to 3 MENTAL TRICKS THAT VALUE FOR YOUR BUSINESS esidential 13) homes.

As amake global luxury agent, time doing sports-related activities. seems like work.” In coll sure there are never any surprises. No one likes WILL on TAKE YOUR BUSINESS AND FOR CLIENTS? cuses primarily high-end properties, mostit comes played at Kansas and was then re surprises, especially when to realbaseball estate.”YOUR TO$600,000 THE NEXT LEVEL hich are over while many reach the by the Oakland A’s. He enjoys golfing, w Sue is an agent with Re/MAX Results in St. Paul, million mark. Together with his team, he sold out, watching sports games, and collecting b Minnesota. Her market covers essentially the greater nd $50 million in volume last year He to point cards.

Twin Cities, butalone.

Sue is quick out In thataddition she goes to his three sons who al herbecause buyers want her. That ‘whatever s working in the westernwherever suburbs theto takesports, Todd has two Rottweilers, Rona and it takes’ attitude allows Sue to generate the bulk of Phonebeautiful 310-734-1440 | Faxin310-734-1440 has the most homes the city as Clearly, Todd her has always been a high-ach business from repeat clients and referrals. “I have one mag@topagentmagazine.com | completed www.topagentmagazine.com as great schools, lush outdoor parks and Lake five motivated individual and his clients can tel family that I have transactions with; No portion of this issue may reproduced in anysaid manner whatsoever prior consent publisher.

Top Agent netonka nearby. he approaches sale. threebewith another,” Sue. It isway verywithout gratifying whenof theevery Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published clients trust you to handle business for their friends materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. and family.”

Suetoembraces technology but Published she mainTo subscribe or change address, send inquiry mag@topagentmagazine.com. in the U.S.

n it comes to marketing,tains Todd focuses mainly As he looks to the future, Todd hopes he’ her client relationships ‘old school’. She sends igital strategies, including MLS, alsocards so-and prefers be running own real estate team. He has birthday andbut holiday to pickhis up the telephoneInstagram, and have a conversation.

Those strong relamedia 2outlets like Facebook, and client base in Arizona, so his planYou is to canopen con Top Agent Magazine tionships allowed Sue to have personal sales volume ter. He sends out private email listings and er location and manage teams in atdifferent sue.steves last year of $6.2 million, a 25% increase over her prior

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

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7 Reasons Why Your Prospects Aren’t Turning Into Clients Real estate experts suggest prospecting daily so that your sales pipeline never runs dry.

But sometimes all that effort doesn’t translate into results. If your prospects aren’t becoming clients, there’s a reason, which is better than it sounds because that means you can fix the problem.

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1. You’re Too Slow The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials estimates that there are about 2 million active real estate licensees in the United States alone. Of course, not all these individuals are working in the same markets. Nonetheless, that

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If your prospects aren’t becoming clients, there’s a reason, which is better than it sounds because that means you can fix the problem.

means that realtors face a lot of competition. If you are slow to respond to messages from prospective clients, someone else is sure to beat you to it. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to return calls and emails within 24 hours.

If you’re too busy working with active clients to return the phone calls and emails of prospective clients, consider hiring a real estate assistant who can help take administrative or marketing tasks off your plate.

2. They Don’t Trust You There are different reasons why a client might not trust you, some of which overlap with others on this list. When a client asks you a question, do you answer it directly or do you sidestep it?

Do you have testimonials and reviews from happy clients publicly available? Do you have an online presence? Social proof of your skills and knowledge is key.

3. You Don’t Seem Knowledgeable Enough Is your client constantly coming to you with new listings or marketing ideas rather than the Top Agent Magazine

other way around? Do they mention real estate and finance terms you’ve never heard of or ask you questions you’ve never thought to ask yourself? Every agent starts somewhere, but if this seems to be a pattern, it’s one clients will pick up on too.

Your clients want to know that you will add value to their home buying or selling experience, and part of that value is your expertise and passion.

4. You Have No Web Presence It’s not enough to be on Zillow or have a Facebook page. There are clients who don’t use these platforms, and at the end of the day, you don’t own the content or your access to it. Both platforms could suddenly go out of business and any following you’ve gained could be lost.

It doesn’t cost much to create and maintain a website today. If customization matters little to you, sometimes you can even get up and running for free. At the very least, it’s a good idea to invest in a domain name because yourwebsite. wordpress.com looks a lot less professional than yourwebsite.com.

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5. You Don’t Seem to Care When clients don’t think you care, it usually means they don’t feel like you are listening.

You may have systems, processes, and a proven marketing strategy. You may like to get right down to business, but to your client, this isn’t just business—it’s their life and their family’s livelihood.

When your client tells you what’s important to them, they want to make sure that you really hear them. Make sure your body language conveys that. Slow down. Shut your office door.

Make eye contact, nod your head, and pause before you speak so that they understand that you’ve put thought into your words—that they aren’t simply lines from a script.

6. You Use Too Much Jargon Remember that your clients don’t speak real estate. At most, they might buy or sell a home once every few years. They hired you to be their advocate and may even expect you to be a bit of a teacher too. Use layman’s terms so that your

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client fully understands how the two of you will work together.

7. Your Target Audience Is Everyone Your clients are home buyers and sellers, yes, but who is your ideal client? Some specialties you might consider are college students and recent graduates, working professionals, military families, seniors, CEOs, or other high-profile clients.

As a newer agent, your target audience might be anyone who will hire you, but over time, you might find that you click more with certain clients, that their lifestyle is similar to yours, or that their goals align with your mission. Whatever the reason, marketing your business to this “ideal client” rather than every potential client will make selling your services easier.

Remember: It’s within your power to alleviate your client’s concerns, but understanding why your prospects aren’t turning into clients is a good start.

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MARISSA BABCOCK

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Top Agent Marissa Babcock works independently serving buyers and sellers in Faribault, Minnesota and the surrounding area.

Marissa Babcock is making a name for herself in Minnesota’s real estate scene. Her attention to detail and design background set her apart as a desirable agent across southern Minnesota.

Marissa says that real estate has “always been on my radar.” She describes working in a senior care facility when she was approached by a family member who was a realtor. Their consistent encouragement led her to make the jump in 2015.

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Marissa completed her real estate licensure in early 2016 and has since found great success in the industry. “It just fits,” she says, noting the relationship between her career and her lifestyle. Her interior design degree serves as a valuable asset to her business, while her father’s career as an electrician ensured that Marissa was no stranger to the housing industry. Marissa currently works independently and recently hired a transaction coordinator. Her Top Agent Magazine

work radius expands approximately an hour’s drive from Faribault, in all directions.

Marissa’s repeat business rates are currently 19% past clients and 21% referrals. She shares why customers keep coming back, “My model Top Agent Magazine

is being proactive versus reactive. I really talk to my clients and educate them prior to purchasing and/or selling. Marissa takes the time to provide resources throughout the process, helping clients book contractors, cleaners, and movers to help make the process of selling or Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

“My model is being proactive versus reactive.

I really talk to my clients and educate them prior to purchasing and/or selling.” buying as low stress as possible. Her interior design experience helps her expertly stage client homes for showings.”

Marissa shares that she takes time to “educate myself and my clients consistently, in order to stay informed in today’s ever-changing market.” Her work style involves providing clients with transparency and the resources needed both during and after the process. She enjoys instilling confidence in her clients with both buying and selling, which comes from Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

listening to a client’s specific needs. Marissa shares, “Everyone’s reason for pursuing real estate is different. From having a baby to losing a loved one, real estate is an emotional transaction too.”

Marissa’s team at Weichert Realtors works together to advertise listings and operates as a team to assist clients through the buying or selling process. She also makes it a point to use professional pictures on social media and creates location-specific ads to draw more people.

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Her current annual volume is $17 million, and 64 units.

When asked what she loves about the industry, Marissa shares that she enjoys, “Getting to know new people and making lasting relationships with my clients.” She is prepared to help Top Agent Magazine

people through a very big purchase or sale and has even worked with clients for up to three or four years to ensure they find the perfect fit.

Marissa’s firm participates in an annual gift drive for “Big Brothers, Big Sisters” every Christmas. Marissa’s personal community Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

involvement is close to home, with volunteering for her three children’s school activities, going on field trips, and providing donations to their school. When asked what she enjoys doing in her free time, she laughs, “Well I have three kids, so that about sums it up!” Her family enjoys getting away to a cabin every summer and doing various seasonal activities.

Marissa’s future plans include growing her business through more transactions each year and continuing to build her team. She also hopes to find more flexibility and balance between work and personal life, “I want to give my clients the quality of service they deserve, but also to do the same at home for my family, with my time and attention.”

To connect with Marissa, call 507.210.1617 email mbabcock@teamyellownow.com, or visit marissabhomes.com www.

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3 Mental Tricks That Will Take Your Business to the Next Level It’s no secret that running a successful business requires careful planning and a tireless work ethic. Beyond those obvious ideals, it also takes the right mindset in order to capitalize on professional opportunity. In the world of real estate and mortgage lending, mental fortitude is a major component to reaching the next Top Agent Magazine

level and achieving longevity in a sector that requires so much self-discipline. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a few key mental tricks you can employ to reinvigorate your working philosophy. Incorporate these techniques into your daily mindfulness routine and your business will surely benefit.

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Visualization helps you work efficiently and keep your cool.

This may sound like one of the oldest tricks in the book, but there’s a reason why Olympic athletes and those serving in first-responder positions use visualization as a time-honored mental technique. Not only does visualizing your daily tasks help you organize your mind, but it amps up your ability to focus on what’s important. Visualization also helps reduce stress in the moment, since you’ve already created a mental expectation of the task ahead. Whether you’re preparing for a negotiation or a pitch to new a client—visualization primes your brain and affords you an extra sense of control as you tackle your day.

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Distill concepts into their simplest terms for ultimate understanding.

As an agent or loan officer, you’re likely juggling numerous clients and commitments on any given day. That’s why it helps to distill your responsibilities in clear, definitive terms. Let’s say you have a meeting set with a client to outline a marketing approach for their property. You may understand the broad strokes, but beforehand, try verbalizing the exact takeaways you’d like to impart to your client.

This may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to clarify your communication and ensure your com-

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plete understanding of a subject is to explain it aloud in its simplest terms. This crystallizes your main point and can come in handy if you drift off-topic or need to double-down on your message.

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Accept that mistakes will be made.

While it’s natural to fear failure, sometimes the dread of making an error can overwhelm your ability to perform. As the saying goes: don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

If you accept in advance that set-backs will occur, challenges will come, and things won’t always go accordingly to plan—you’ll be less confounded when hurdles do arise. What matters is keeping an even keel as you sort through unexpected delays or mishaps. Accepting that mistakes will happen allows you to shift your focus towards a solution or contingency plan. In other words, don’t spend your energy trying to achieve perfection. Aim high and work hard, but be in touch with reality: upsets are bound to occur. Accept this and you’ll be ready when they do.

The path to lasting success is ongoing, and there are bound to be challenges along the way. It takes mental fortitude to make it to the top, so keep these tricks in mind as you continue to grow as a person and a professional. Seeing situations in a new light can make all the difference as you adapt, evolve, and take your business to the next level.

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Area Specialist TODD BREYFOGLE A born and raised Minnesotan, REALTOR® Todd Breyfogle is highly sought-after for his expertise and knowledge of the western suburbs of Minneapolis specifically. He has over ten years of experience in the real estate industry, though he’s only been a licensed REALTOR® for four. Before getting into the sales side of real estate, he started his own appraisal firm, grew it, and sold it after it became successful.

He then decided to apply for his real estate license and the rest is history.

Consistently a top 1% producer, Todd is known for his calm demeanor, excellent communication skills, and considered approach to buying and selling residential homes. As a global luxury agent, he focuses primarily on high-end properties, most of which are over $600,000 while many reach the $1 million mark. Together with his team, he sold around $50 million in volume last year alone. He loves working in the western suburbs because the area has the most beautiful homes in the city as well as great schools, lush outdoor parks and Lake Minnetonka nearby.

When it comes to marketing, Todd focuses mainly on digital strategies, including MLS, but also social media outlets like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. He sends out private email listings and always makes sure that his clients receive warm wishes for birthdays, holidays, and home anniversaries. He’s a connector who both responds immediately to clients and makes sure they have everything they need to get the most out of the

home buying and selling process. Additionally, his network of contractors and other industry professionals makes him a great resource and problem-solver.

With a very active lifestyle, Todd loves the freedom and flexibility that a career in real estate provides. “No transaction is the same and every situation is unique,” he says. “It’s great to get out and you never know what you are going to see.” While his three sons were growing up, he was able to travel with them, go to baseball games and be there for them in a way that he couldn’t have been if he were doing a 9 to 5 job.

When he’s not working, Todd spends most of his time doing sports-related activities. In college, he played baseball at Kansas and was then recruited by the Oakland A’s. He enjoys golfing, working out, watching sports games, and collecting baseball cards. In addition to his three sons who also love sports, Todd has two Rottweilers, Rona and Koko.

Clearly, Todd has always been a high-achieving, motivated individual and his clients can tell by the way he approaches every sale.

As he looks to the future, Todd hopes he’ll soon be running his own real estate team. He has a large client base in Arizona, so his plan is to open another location and manage teams in different states to maximize his reach. For the moment, though, he’s concentrating on strengthening relationships in Minneapolis and making sure his clients are completely happy. “I want my clients to feel like we are friends. They can always come to me.”

To learn more about Todd Breyfogle, call 612-382-3084 or email Todd.breyfogle@cbrealty.com Top Agent Magazine

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24-Hour Touch-ups to Maximize Your List Price Sometimes it takes a full-scale overhaul to prepare a house for market. Other times, only a series of small adjustments are required to make a listing’s true potential shine. Whether you’re gearing up for an open house, assessing a list price, or maximizing a property’s appearance prior to photography—the devil is in the details. However, touch-ups and refreshes don’t have to dominate your schedule or break the bank. For a few ideas of where 16

to begin, consider our handy check-list below for quick home projects that will fortify your bottom line.

Refresh grout for a sparkling clean look.

Perhaps the quickest and most cost-effective way to make bathrooms, kitchens, and other tiled areas shine is to refresh grout until it looks

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good as new. Specialty grout stain removers and cleaners are inexpensive and sold at most home improvement stores. Plus, the project only takes a bit of elbow grease and an hour or two for a major makeover effect. Suddenly, dark, stained, and worn-down bathrooms gleam as if tile has just been placed.

Create mood lighting with soothing bulbs and fixtures.

A warm white light from specially chosen LED bulbs creates a welcoming environment when potential buyers come calling.

If outdated fixtures are bringing down a home’s otherwise modern styling, consider more design-neutral replacements that won’t

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detract from the property’s charms. These are inexpensive but highly noticeable and impactful upgrades that shift a home’s ambiance for the better.

Repaint doors for an updated and inviting entryway.

It may sound like a hassle, but repainting doorways with a fresh coat signals a wellkept property—and that’s before prospective buyers even pass through the threshold. You can also change out generic doorknobs and switch-plates to add an updated flare while on a budget. Color-of-the-year trend choices can turn heads, while neutral paint choices signal less hassle for future homeowners.

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scrub, or with the addition of new shelves or styled bulbs.

Make windows shine— both inside and out.

Cleanliness goes a long way in communicating a well-cared for home in which buyers can imagine themselves. Cleaning the inside and outside of windows not only refreshes a room, but it allows light to infuse the space while appealing to the move-in ready crowd.

Closet spaces are not an afterthought.

Every prospective buyer wants storage options, and you’ve surely led a home tour where guests inspect closets and pantries.

Don’t let these hidden spaces go overlooked. Make sure they’re clean, cleared as much as possible, and you can even touch them up with fresh paint, a good

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Remove tough appliance stains with a bit of elbow grease.

If you’re packaging appliances with the sale of a property, you’ll want to make sure those big-ticket items are also in top shape to showcase their value. Stainless steel polish, electric cooktop polish, and stain removing pads for the kitchen sink can make your appliances look five years younger with nothing more than an hour or two’s labor.

Organize garage and basement areas to maximize storage and hint at bonus space.

It may take a labor of love, but organizing and decluttering these special storage spaces

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can add significant value to a property. Instead of telling prospective buyers how much storage space there is—let these areas speak for themselves by giving them a neutral, airy bout of cleansing. That way, craft-lovers, car aficionados, and buyers with interest in renovating basement areas can witness the potential immediately.

Individually, these bit to-do list items might seem like extra work without the promise of Top Agent Magazine

a major return. But combined? These small tasks go a long way in crafting a home’s image and projecting pure potential. After all, prospective buyers imagine their lives unfolding inside those walls. That’s why cobbling together these small-scale projects can have a big payoff in the end. Not only will a home present itself in a cohesive, attractively-packaged form, but it can also translate to higher interest and a significant pay-off—in more ways than one.

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Do You Add Consistent Value for Your Business and for Your Clients?

By Walter Sanford

We recently received a question from some of our favorite coaching clients.

The Premier Team is lighting up the upper end, downtown, and historical St. Louis real estate markets.

As coaching clients, they are challenging for me because they demand new value and service for their clients each week. In fact, Chris and Lisa know that to dominate an industry they need to have tools that the competition does not. They require tools that not only make the job easier, but also more profitable for their clients.

Here is the result from a recent request from which we created a letter handout for the listing presentation and for advertisement in other media: The Premier Team Helps Clients Achieve Goals through Pre-Launch Inspections We have found that all buyers should have their purchase inspected. When we represent our sellers, the negotiations start with offers and potential counter offers. Traditionally, the buyer obtains and pays for an inspection of the property. The negotiations start again.

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Rightfully, the buyer wants any challenges to be addressed; the seller feels they had lived with the challenges, sold the property with the challenges, and do not want to repair if they have no chance to enjoy them. It’s a difficult negotiation and can sometimes leave clients unhappy.

As we do many times, we have devised a system to help all involved parties know what they are buying and selling while also saving our client’s time, trouble, and money in the mix.

When we custom-design a marketing plan to achieve our seller’s goals and receive a commitment to market the property, we then offer our seller an opportunity to have the property inspected by our team inspector. The inspector will review all systems of the home and write a thorough report on the findings. We then discuss the findings with the seller and place any challenges in different categories. There is the “must fix now” category that deals with safety of the occupants or the property. There is the sub-standard category that is below the expectations a buyer would expect of a property for the area and price range. Lastly, there is the upgrade category for items which buyers would like to see done.

By having the report and determining what categories, we can offer many opportunities to our seller clients: 1 We eliminate the “rush into a repair” syndrome by having the repair report early and without the input of a buyer waiting for an answer to complete the next step of their purchase.

2 We have time to contact numerous vendors who will compete for the best price.

3 We have time to make decisions on the condition vs. price, which is much better determined before the buyer has made a successful offer.

4 We know early if there are any big ticket items that would prevent a sale from a buyer not wanting the property or the seller not being able to afford the repair.

5 We can choose the mode of repair before a buyer has a stake in the decision. There are many ways to repair rather than replace. Replace is usually how a buyer wants the challenge remedied.

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6 We have time to get government or utilities involved if needed.

7 A seller’s net proceeds or “net sheet” can be professionally prepared.

8 We might receive a higher offer when a potential buyer is presented an inspection with all the repair receipts attached.

9 The one to two week wait is eliminated by having a report done before an offer rather than waiting for it after the offer.

10 Since we are paying for the report, we get to choose the inspector.

Finding inspectors without the drama gene is important.

There are many other reasons to be knowledgeable about the property, prior to negotiations. We have arranged a team of inspectors who have agreed to wait to be paid for their inspection and report until the seller receives their proceeds from sale. This cures the cash flow problem.

We, at Premier Real Estate, believe that this is not only an outstanding investment that pays many dividends, but it is also the most professional way to handle a sale including all possible disclosures to all potential parties.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to discuss. We have much experience in this little utilized system to increase our seller’s net proceeds.

Many people have a coach who has not been through the ups and downs as Walter Sanford. Many coaches do not have the same achievements as Walter. He has millions in cash flow equity that came from his real estate business, and he developed systems that can be implemented without any special abilities.

We currently have a few availabilities in our coaching program, and this year’s schedule has some availability for seminars as well.

Copyright©, Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Walter Sanford has been designing and implementing real estate systems for 30 years.

One of the most successful REALTORS® and now wealthy from his systems, Sanford teaches his systems and strategies through his products, seminars, and personal coaching producing the best results in the industry. Do what works, do what is proven. Hire Walter Sanford. Call our office at 800.792.5837, email walter@waltersanford.com, or chat with us online at www.waltersanford.com.

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SUE STEVENS When Sue Stevens purchased her first home it was, as she describes it, “a less than desirable experience” that left her frustrated and confused. While that may have soured some people on the home buying process and the real estate business in general, that was not the case for Sue. Instead, she got licensed in 2016 with the determination to provide a much different experience for her clients. And though she admits that the first few years were “tough”, she couldn’t be more pleased with her decision.

Real estate was a significant career departure for Sue, having spent many years in employee benefits at the corporate level. But the transition turned out to be an easy one. “I figured if could explain health insurance and 401(k) plans to employees, I could explain the home buying process to my clients,” explained Sue. “I am very focused on keeping my clients informed every step of the way. I keep their interest at heart and try to make sure there are never any surprises. No one likes surprises, especially when it comes to real estate.”

Sue is an agent with Re/MAX Results in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her market covers essentially the greater Twin Cities, but Sue is quick to point out that she goes wherever her buyers want to take her. That ‘whatever it takes’ attitude allows Sue to generate the bulk of her business from repeat clients and referrals. “I have one family that I have completed five transactions with; three with another,” said Sue. It is very gratifying when clients trust you to handle business for their friends and family.” Sue embraces technology but she maintains her client relationships ‘old school’. She sends birthday and holiday cards and prefers to pick up the telephone and have a conversation. Those strong relationships allowed Sue to have personal sales volume last year of $6.2 million, a 25% increase over her prior best year.

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In addition to her level of attention and service to her clients, Sue gives much credit to some other factors. “We are in a very hot market right now and the Twin Cities is such a great place to live, especially if you love nature,” says Sue. “You can just about throw a stone here and hit a park, a lake or a hiking trail. Not to mention all the great restaurants.” Sue has a solid pipeline of business that should make this another banner year for her, and she is constantly looking to add new marketing channels to complement her repeat and referral business.

Away from the world of real estate, Sue lends her voice to the Twin Cities Women’s Choir.

She is also active in local caucuses and is a former vice chair of her precinct. A Pilates enthusiast, Sue enjoys spending her free time dining out with friends and traveling. “I truly enjoy my time away from work,” says Sue, “but when you love what you do it never really seems like work.”

You can contact Sue Stevens at sue.stevens@results.net or by calling 612-386-6096 Copyright Top Agent Magazine 23

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