NORTH CAROLINA 5-9-22

NORTH CAROLINA EDITION

SUCCESS-

1 Billion-Plus Reasons Why You Should be Active on Facebook

THESE 7 HABITS ARE THE REAL SECRET TO SUCCESS FEATURED AGENTS

How to Incorporate Current Events to Your Email Blasts and Stay Relevant

MAGGIE LI JULIE PRINCE BELL FAB ADLER MELISSA JONES & TRACY WATSON STEPHANIE McCOY CHRIS PHILLIS KRISTI VERNON KRISTLE WILLIAMS

JEFF RICH COVER STORY

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

Top Agent Magazine

3

How to Incorporate Current Events to Your Email Blasts and Stay Relevant Email marketing is a cost effective and straightforward method of getting your name and services in front of clients with just a few keystrokes. This tried-and-true approach to digital marketing is a favorite of many, and there are countless ways to customize (and maximize) your email blasts to reap superior results. Despite this, many real estate profes4

sionals are content to standardize their email advertising and take a broad, one-size-fits-all approach to capturing interest and leads. While an up-front sales pitch certainly has its uses and benefits, it doesn’t hurt to shake up your routine and refresh your email marketing approach by adding specifics that draw renewed interest from your audience.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

One way to accomplish this is by tying in current events and local happenings to your email blasts. After all, your sphere of influence likely receives countless marketing emails per day. To cut through the noise, sharpen your message with a few specifics that separate your communications from the pack. Not every email should be focused on closing a sale, or else your audience will learn to stop listening.

How do you build your brand, stay top of mind, and keep the lines of communication open with your clientele? Here are a few ideas to get you started.

against an old rival? Do they host themed fan days honoring veterans or catering to families? Tailoring your communications to a local sports franchise’s big news or next event can draw intrigue and provide added value for your clients. Remember, not every communication you send should be focused on pitching and closing a sale, otherwise your audience will tune out your emails altogether. Instead, incorporate fun, community-oriented content that lets readers know you’re a resource for much more than real estate.

Sports news makes a splash

Become a one-stop-shop for holiday fun and seasonal ideas.

People love to rally behind the home team.

Is a regional, local university, or professional sports team in your area headed to the playoffs or the championship? Are they facing off

From Mother’s Day to Thanksgiving, anyone can send an email wishing clients a happy holiday. While the sentiment is a good one, you’ll be one of dozens flooding inboxes with

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine ®

5

your well-wishes. Instead, go beyond the traditional greetings and good tidings and become a hyper-specific resource for clients. Create a gift guide for Mother’s Day, outline family-friendly local events occurring in your area around the holidays, or engage in a promotional partnership with a local business who’s offering a holiday special of their own. In other words, don’t settle for just saying hello during certain times of the year. Instead, up the value of your email blast by offering clients curated information that relates to their interests and area.

Doing so makes your emails a must-read, while demonstrating your ability to go the extra mile.

Pop culture serves as a fun and timely tie-in.

Is a new gaming app sweeping the nation? Have your social media feeds been flooded with the same viral video? Is everyone gossiping about the same TV show premiere? Pop culture tie-ins in your email marketing campaigns can be extremely effective, but in order to for

6

them to work, you’ll need to move quickly and keep your focus on the phenomenon, rather than your service pitch. The goal behind pop culture marketing tie-ins is communicating the progressiveness and hip factor of your brand, while capturing timely, topical interest that’s at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be in on a running joke or trend, and if you leverage trending pop culture moments in your email marketing, you’ll be able to draw views and clicks from a wide audience.

Plenty of services offer standardized email marketing templates and content for today’s real estate professionals, and while the motivation behind marketing is transactional, your communications don’t have to be. The surest way to make an impact in your clients’ inboxes is to add original value and break apart from the pack. Consider updating some of your routines with these current events oriented techniques and your email audience is sure to take a second look.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

JEFF RICH Top Agent Magazine

7

Top Agent Jeff Rich has been fortunate enough to be awarded as a Top 1% Realtor in the USA by Zillow for 3 years in a row.

Using his life experience as a guide to his Real Estate success, Jeff pulls from his experiences as a 12 year U.S. Air Force Veteran, Fleet Manager with AT&T, and being a small business owner of three companies for over 18 years. His business beliefs are rooted in two things, ensuring you can consistently deliver quality, and to provide the highest level of white glove customer service possible. His practical knowledge has proven that if you do those two things well, they’ll keep coming back. “I’m a proponent of under-promising and over delivering and that makes everyone happy, but I’m known for operating quickly and efficiently in a simplified manner with the core belief of always being available to my clients. Once I work with a client it’s my intention to service them for life because I now have their blessing to reach out to them in multiple ways long after closing.

What I hope to create is I’m of value to them.

When you create value they’ll pass that along to their friends & family which is the holy grail of Real Estate. My ultimate goal is to be integrated in the fabric of their lives. We all have go to’s, whether it be Wal-Mart or Joe’s Plumbing. I want them to feel comfortable enough to text or call me in a natural way and it starts with being open, honest, and as accessible as possible simply by being authentic. I want to be their go to 8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

in Real Estate,” as he pretends to drop the mic, while laughing.

Service was taught as a way of life for Jeff.

“Our Mom taught us to help others when we have a chance. Growing up, our family didn’t have a lot but when others around us had greater needs, we shared.” This strong sense of service caused him to form a non-profit and use his Mother’s initials as its name calling it, The JBR Fund. “Several years ago when I was coaching high school baseball I discovered a couple of players in dire need of food at home. Along with a couple friends and an investor, we set up a program where we order groceries online and the families pick it up in the drive thru biweekly and Harris Teeter bills us monthly. One of the most important aspects was to have the ability to use the drive thru for the privacy of the families. I wanted to ensure Top Agent Magazine

they were treated just like a regular customer without the stigma of receiving charity. It’s the perfect system because we provide groceries they request, no money changes hands, not one of us gets paid, and 100% of the money is spent on groceries. I can promise you this, I’m just a spoke in the wheel with the JBR Fund because it took four of us to create it. It’s bigger than all of us involved.”

His past experiences provide him a memory bank of knowledge when it comes to success in Real Estate. Surprisingly, it’s due in part to a failure. “I’ve had a business fail and I don’t view it as a negative. Failure has the potential to provide greater understanding just as much as success if you look for the positive. Trust me, I realize being selected for the Top Agent Award is viewed as success and that’s awesome, but I also understand I’m very small in this universe.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

“I’m a proponent of under-promising and over delivering and that makes everyone happy, but I’m known for operating quickly and efficiently in a simplified manner with the core belief of always being available to my clients.

I’m thankful for the gifts God has blessed me with and I don’t take that lightly.”

Jeff has been fortunate to have several mentors in his Military and business careers that formed his work ethic and leadership style, but his most influential mentor has been his Real Estate Instructor and friend at Superior School of Real Estate, Derrin Dunzweiler. “Derrin is a selfless human being. He’s literally always available to his students. He teaches beyond the book stressing fairness, equality, compassion, using creativity, and exhausting all avenues before giving up on a deal. His passion is contagious and I’m always reminded of his main point of emphasis which is, don’t make Real Estate about us. Make it about them, make it about your client. Derrin gives a college education in life and it just happens to be in the form of a Real Estate course. I’ve been fortunate enough to be awarded as a Top 1% Realtor in the USA

by Zillow for 3 years in a row and that’s a direct correlation to his influence and guidance. Derrin is nothing short of an award winning Instructor and I’ve benefited greatly from it.”

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

Top Agent Magazine

He credits his curiousness and intuition with obtaining the state of the art technology he utilizes. “The days of major Real Estate companies having a lock on advanced systems is long gone. I took the time to not only research but to test various versions of what I have today.

This technology not only keeps me organized and informed but allows me to provide wonderful tools to people in the beautiful North Carolina Triad while also giving me the opportunity to serve clients all over the State. I enjoy going to different places and I’m willing to go where my clients need me so the technology I use is exactly what I was searching for and the investment has paid dividends. So far in the first quarter of 2022 I’ve matched my total sales for 2021 so my instincts paid off with the tech companies I’ve partnered with.”

over 260 team or individual awards competing in 6 different sports, in 16 countries, and 28 States, and his competitiveness comes natural. “Let’s be honest, there’s thousands of great agents out there, but in business just as in athletics you must be competitive and have a certain level of drive to be successful. To be one of the best at anything you also need something that separates you from the rest. “I come by it honestly,’’ he says with a laugh. “My Dad didn’t coddle me, nor did he sugar coat the importance of competing because life is competitive. In his day he was a gifted basketball player and he would always remind me that whatever I do, give it my all and if someone gets bloody don’t let it be you,” as he again chuckles. “I’m definitely past the bloody part of my life but I’m thankful for the love and DNA he passed to me.”

With the belief that business and athletics are mirrors Jeff is an accomplished athlete winning

Since becoming a Realtor 4 years ago he’s continued following his business plan every step of

Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

the way as his guide while adapting as needed.

Using a skill born & honed in the military, he’s found being adaptive is key to Real Estate.

During Covid times and in this unprecedented sellers market, this skill has proven paramount.

“We were all thrown for a loop when Covid hit with Local, State & National mandates constantly

being a moving target. It affected all industries and we weren’t immune. This environment also caused me to be more creative and even more communicative for my clients just to reassure their fears and doubts of the uncharted landscape.

It’s been a challenge, but going through this has made me a better Realtor.”

To reach Jeff Rich, please call 336.800.2846, email jr@theone.homes or visit TheOne.Homes www.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 12

Top Agent Magazine

Creative Meditation

for the Real Estate Professional The real estate world can be an industry of intense emotional and psychological pressure. Deadlines, meetings, employee needs, client needs and a hundred other items on which one needs to focus on a daily basis can create an environment that is not only not conducive to mental well-being, but can be outright detrimental.

Learning to quiet the mind has been the focus of meditation for millennia. While those not familiar with the concept of meditation may instinctively think of yoga mats, incense, and chanting when the word “meditation” arises, there are in fact, many forms of meditation that can integrate quite Top Agent Magazine

easily into the daily hustle & bustle world of the busy real estate agent.

First, think about when you are alone each day. Here are some possible times to practice mediation during the work day: • When driving to the office in the morning • When driving to a showing or to meet a client • Before your open house begins • After the open house • Driving home in the evening 13

Repeating a mantra can be very calming, particularly when you are trying to rid yourself of negative, self-defeating thoughts.

These are just five examples of times when you can take advantage of meditation techniques to quiet your mind and, by extension, increase productivity. A calm mind is a more thoughtful, better tuned instrument.

Here are some examples of meditations you can try:

1

For when you’re driving, download and listen to any number of audio Guided Meditations available on the internet. YouTube has a generous selection of these, many of which are geared towards success in business.

2 Repeating a mantra can be very calm-

ing, particularly when you are trying to rid yourself of negative, self-defeating thoughts. It doesn’t matter what words you choose, as long as you feel good about your choice. “I am a success” or “I will approach all of my clients with love today” are two examples. Whatever works for you and gets you into the desired mindset.

14

3 Something as simple as listening to pleasant music in your car can be considered meditation, provided it brings you to a place of comfort as opposed to one of spiritual discordance.

4 The most important thing, however, is to take time to find gratitude in everything you do. Count your blessings, be grateful the exciting career in real estate you have built for yourself.

Once you’ve mastered some of these techniques at quieting your mind, you can attempt to find some that work even better for you. Walking, plain silence, or even exercise can have meditative qualities and benefits if practiced on a regular basis.

When you’re truly feeling calm, your clients can sense this. And with this comes the feeling that you can be relied upon to stay focused and calm in any unforeseen circumstances. And in the world of real estate, that’s a highly prized commodity.

Top Agent Magazine

MAGGIE LI Top Agent Magazine

15

MAGGIE LI

Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina and in the last ten years, Maggie has watched it grow and expand dramatically. The city is home to Lowe’s, the Bank of America headquarters, Truist Bank, the regional Wells Fargo office and many other 500 Fortune companies, providing a strong economic foundation that draws families and businesses. When Maggie wanted to help family and friends with their properties around the growing area and get a position with flexible hours, getting her real estate license was the clear choice. She works hard to be a good agent in a competitive market, and she has a support network at Adams Realty, including a marketing team and an admin team behind her.

Michael Jordan and the five-star Trump golf course.

The attractions of the area bring in first time buyers who don’t know anything about the local market conditions or the area itself. Maggie spends extra time with new buyers, teaching them the ins and outs of their real estate investment and introducing them to the area. Her clients are not just buying a house, but starting a new chapter in their lives, and she is happy to guide them through the transition time. Many people who have worked with Maggie

There are lots of people coming from other states to a beautiful city where it doesn’t get too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. With the draw of teams like the Panthers and the Hornets, being the home of NASCAR and the sparkling landscape around Lake Norman, it’s no surprise that Charlotte has grabbed the attention of local 16

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

or bought house through her are drawn by her knowledge, experience, and passion. She has a very attractive and trust-worthy personality that makes people around her to feel comfortable and in good hand with transactions. It’s not an easy job to find and buy a house now a days with such a historical low inventory, Maggie always gives the priority to her clients to help them save time and money.

Maggie’s lived there with her family over a decade and is glad to show her clients the amazing area she loves so much. She treats them in a professional way with honesty, patience and integrity.

After the transaction is done, many of her clients become close friends, building strong and lasting relationships with the community. For years, she was the principal of a very well-respected Chinese school in Charlotte, and the respect and connections earned there continue to serve her. Those lasting friendships and connections add up to 75% of her business being repeat and referrals, brought on by shining testimonials that serve as her main marketing strategy.

She’s confident she’s a good agent, and the numbers back her up. In 2021 she was the office sales leader with over 45 closings. Not content to just go by the amazing word of mouth she generates, Maggie takes to social media to further her marketing reach. When a deal is wrapped, all that Maggie needs is to see the smiling faces of the new homeowners. It’s an honor to share that moment of happiness with them. She focusses on making clients happy, concentrating on quality customer support, not volume.

Maggie loves Charlotte. When the day is done, that’s where she wants to be, going for long walks with her husband along the waterside and exploring all of the fantastic new gourmet restaurants that are popping up throughout the city. She’ll never push to sell; she simply wants more people to enjoy the fabulous surroundings of Charlotte as much as she does.

Top Agent Magazine

For more information about Maggie Li, please call 980-318-9343 and email Maggieli@helenadamsrealty.com

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 17

Success– These 7 Habits Are the Real Secret to Success What makes somesome people so sucWhat isisit itthatthat makes people so cessful andand others not? successful others not?Is Isthere thereaa secret secret recipe recipe one one can can follow, follow, as as easy easy as as baking baking aa cake, cake, which which will will give give them them the the strength strength to to achieve achieve their their ultimate ultimate goals goals and and have have ititall? all?

The The answer answer is is that, that,in inaamanner, manner,there thereis. is.The The trick trick is is in in how how you you think think about about success success and and what what itit means means for for you. you. Many Many people people define define success success as as achieving achieving their their personal personal goals, goals, but but could could this this be be leading leading them them to to look look atat the the world a little too narrowly? The people people that that are are truly truly successful successful in in every every aspect aspect of of 18

don’t stop stop at at simply simply achieving achieving their lives don’t their personal goals. goals. They They succeed succeedin inmany many job,job, reavenues of of their theirlife, life,including includingtheir their lationships, health, andand family just to name relationships, health, family just to a few.a few. name ultra-successful people tend It turns turnsout outthatthat ultra-successful people to have quite quite a number of things in comtend to have a number of things in mon. One One main main skill many possess common. skill seem many toseem to is high emotional intelligence, or the abilpossess is high emotional intelligence, or ity to manage your emotions so that you the ability to manage your emotions so can you staycan calm focused even even in high that stayand calm and focused in

TopAgent AgentMagazine Magazine® Top

Top Agent Magazine

high stress situations. Luckily, it seems not all of them are simply born with this ability, but have many strategies they use to help them achieve higher emotional intelligence. Here are seven strategies and habits that will help you achieve success in every area of your life.

1

BE COMPOSED The first thing successful people always seem to have under control is their composure. Successful people stay calmand composed when the going gets tough and fingers start pointing. They don’t panic. The secret? They understand that in life things are always changing.It doesn’tmatter if something is bad at the moment because that will change soon enough. In this topsy turvy life all you can really do is adapt in order to stay happy and remain in control of how you react.

2

BE KNOWLEDGEABLE Have you ever noticed how successful people always seem to have such awide range of knowledge and interests? Successful people do know more because they are always working to grow and learn. They strive to constantly increasetheir self-awareness. If a spare moment exists,then they will fill it with some kind of self-education. They do this because they are passionate about learning new things and ways to improve their life. Ignore the fear of being judged and ask questions, because that is the only way you can learn. Successful people don’t

Top Agent Magazine

fear asking questions. They fear not asking those questions and growing stagnant.

3

BE DELIBERATE It is important to think and reason before you come to a decision. Successful people don’t rush. They seek out advice from others, they think of all the aspects, and sleep on their thoughts before finally making their decision. Your gut instinct can be misleading, and lead you to make a rash decision that you will come to regret later.

4

BE CERTAIN, AND SPEAK WITH CONVICTION Successful people speak with certainty.

Unless you communicate your ideas with conviction and certainty, then you will have a hard time getting people to listen to them.

5

BE POSITIVE Successful people use positive body language when they are talking to draw other people in. Their tone is enthusiastic, they maintain eye contact, leaning in towards the person speaking to show interest. Successful people use it to draw those other people in. How you say something can be just as if not more important that what you say to people. Positive body language can completely alter how your speech is perceived by others, and helps to keep attention on you and what you are saying.

TopAgent AgentMagazine Magazine® Top

19

6 6

BE MEMORABLE BY BE MEMORABLE BY LEAVING A STRONG LEAVING A STRONG FIRST IMPRESSION FIRST IMPRESSION You only have once to make a first impresYou only haveare oneincredibly time to make a firstas sion, and they important, impression, and they importthey are closely tiesare to incredibly positive body lanant, as You theyhave are around closely 7tied to positive guage. seconds to conbody language.

7 seconds vince a person toYou likehave youaround after you initially to convince a person to like after them you meet them. That is how longyou it takes initially a person to decidemeet whenthem. they After meet that, you. After that simplyisspending the rest ofthe therest converaisperson simply spending of the sation justifying that initial reaction they conversation justifying that initial reaction had. You yousure make a good they had.can Youmake can sure make you make impression by having strong strong posafirst good first impression by having ture, a firm handshake, a warm smile,smile, and posture, a firm handshake, a warm openopen shoulders. and shoulders.

7 7

BE FEARLESS BE FEARLESS Successful people know that to give in Successful peopleThey know that let giving to fear is a choice. don’t the into fear fear a choice.

They don’t let takeisover, instead focusing onthe thefeart rushake of over, instead, they focus on the rush of euphoria that comes with conquering fears. euphoria that comes with conquering fears.

All of this adds up to having a high emotionAll of this addsWhat up tohelps having emoal intelligence. you atohigh succeed is tional intelligence.What helps you toemosucthe ability to control those whirlwind ceed theyou ability control whirlwind tionsisso can to stay calmthose and focused on emotions so you can stay calm andcan focused actually succeeding.

These habits help on Theseintelligence, habits can youactually gain a succeeding. higher emotional help a higher emotional intellibut asyou yougain probably already know, anything gence, but dealing as you probably know, involving with youralready emotions in anything dealing with your a healthyinvolving manner takes serious work.emoSo, tions healthy takestime. serious don’t in givea up if you manner fail the first You work.

So, don’t up again. if you fail the first must always try give and try time.You must always try and try again.

Top Agent Magazine 20

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

JULIE PRINCE BELL Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine ®

21

JULIE PRINCE BELL

Julie Bell has always made a career of helping people. Her previous work centered on securing services for aging and disabled adults. In that capacity, she assisted countless nonprofits and had a hand in writing North Carolina’s policy for people who need long-term care. Serving the community was great, but she also sought a career with higher earning potential that would allow her to still help people.

Her dad, a retired civil engineer and surveyor, suggested real estate based on her personality. “And when I actually got into the field, I just loved being able to help people, especially people who don’t believe they can buy a house,” she says. Clients have returned the love. Four years in, Julie has built a business fueled entirely by repeat and referral customers.

closely protecting their most valuable asset. She has a 10-person team that can help when a crisis arises.

“I think that I can be a lot of fun and bubbly when we need to keep people’s spirits up, or just to make the sometimes challenging process fun,” she says.

“When it comes to the money part, I get very serious.” She holds dual masters degrees in business and policy, which come in handy with numbers and negotiations. She enjoys solving the mystery of a homebuyer’s unsaid wants and needs. “Sometimes

It was those referrals and her mom who got Julie through a tough year when covid sidelined her for nine months. Her sales volume dropped, but she was able to get through by living up to her motto of building close relationships with clients while 22

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

they may think one thing but it’s not really exactly what they want. They just don’t know how to describe it,” she says. “So when we find that perfect house, that’s always thrilling.”

Julie’s drive to help others extends into her community service. Still an advocate for older and disabled adults, she recently served as co-chair of Friends of Residents in Long-Term Care. The organization improves life for people living in nursing homes, assisted living and continuing care retirement communities. With a local focus, Julie has formed a networking group for women entrepreneurs in Cary. She wants the group to become a source of referrals and support. Apart from real estate and her causes, she participates in book and photography clubs and spends time with friends and extended family in the area.

The Triangle area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) has long attracted homebuyers with its esteemed universities and hot technology and healthcare sectors. That attraction has only intensified with recent construction announcements by tech giants such as Google. Julie says an influx of newcomers will plant roots there. “It’s such an amazing place,” she says. “The schools are great. Parks, government, everything is amazing here. So most people don’t leave once they get there.” Julie herself is a 47-year native of the area.

The Triangle’s development activity may open an avenue into the commercial market for Julie’s team. Aligned with her social advocacy work, Julie has begun the search for a large office space for a non-profit that works with disabled children and adults. Another client seeks a similar office.

Julie’s primary goal is to break into the commercial sector to be able to offer that service to her clients as well. In the meantime, her growth in residential, land and investment real estate will come from the close-knit network she has developed.

“I’m getting so much love from my old clients and my family and friends here,” she says. “It’s been a roller coaster ride, but I’ve got so many people supporting me. I’m very lucky.”

Top Agent Magazine

To learn more about Julie Bell, email JuliePBellRE@gmail.com or call 919.412.0185 Copyright Top Agent Magazine 23

Welcome Home:

Working with Relocators in Transition People stage moves for all sorts of reasons.

From the joyous and pre-planned, to the unfortunate and unexpected, new chapters begin with the help of an agent. When you’re working with buyers from a different region, state, or country, the typical complications of a transaction can be compounded. So, what’s a savvy agent to do?

For starters, envision the big picture. Relocators have extra obstacles between them and 24

their dream home. They don’t necessarily know which neighborhoods are ideal for their lifestyle, what they should budget for utilities, what type of homeowner’s insurance is ideal, or how they can tour, let alone close, on a house from afar. All in all, it’s a tall order, but if you can manage a relocation transaction successfully, you could tap into a sizable pool of clientele. Think of it this way: if you’re the shining star of a relocator’s moving process, their word-of-mouth praise could be

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

exponential. Likewise, a winning reputation within that client’s corporate sphere could lead to lucrative, stable referrals and partnerships for years to come. Here are a few key ways to help clients navigate the relocation process with minimal stress and maximum results.

Create a full-scale timeline for you and your client that makes expectations clear.

Moving is already one of life’s biggest stressors, but relocations have a dozen more moving parts that your average deal. Consider creating a master-plan of sorts to help you and your client visualize the steps required to achieve success in the midst of a relocation.

Even from afar, your client will be able to refer to the roadmap you’ve set. Likewise, this makes sure you and your client are on the same page regarding expectations, timelines, and checklists. Assemble an articulated, overarching gameplan also helps demystify the process and lower stress. Instead of clients wondering what’s next, what’s needed, who to call, and when to be ready—handy guidelines of your own devising will be at their fingertips.

Top Agent Magazine

Attune your communication style so that nothing goes overlooked or miscommunicated.

Establish early on how your client prefers to communicate and which methods should be excluded. Also, make sure to outline what timeframes are ideal to communicate in, and how often they expect to hear from you with status updates or follow-ups. Some clients might prefer a more hands-off approach that lets you manage most details behind the scenes with updates only when progress is made. Most clients in the midst of a serious relocation, however, will prefer to be in touch more frequently. Customizing is key. If they prefer text messages and emails over calls, that’s a helpful detail to know from the outset. If they prefer face-to-face video chats or can only speak after business hours—those are also key parameters to work within. The less mystery and hassle, the better.

Be a local resource with vetted recommendations and vendors on-hand.

Relocating homeowners may not know the best neighborhoods and their amenities, or where the best school districts are, which areas are high-traffic, or where their dollar might stretch a little further. Identifying your clients’ goals can help narrow this field, but you’ll also want to be careful not to overwhelm them with information. After all, they’re taking on a huge life transition and making a move as an outsider. You’ll want to serve as a onestop-shop who can remove some steps and stress from their organizational obligations.

Have a contractor who can get a head-start on home projects while clients make the move?

Top Agent Magazine ®

25

Excellent. Or, perhaps you can provide an out-of-state agent referral so that clients can sell their existing property in a timeline that works in conjunction with their new purchase. Make yourself a community expert and a connector, and you’ve won a client— and their referrals—for much longer than a single transaction.

Think outside the box when weighing variables.

Relocations aren’t your typical transaction.

You’ll need to do a bit more planning to avoid pitfalls along the way. For instance, have you considered how you’ll tour homes with clients if they live hundreds of miles away?

Are there time zone differences to factor in?

26

If clients are relocating from another country, are there any special visa or naturalization considerations? How will their belongings travel? Are there pets to relocate? There are plenty of questions to ask and plan for, but the key is to be communicative and thorough up front. The more information and planning time you have, the smoother the transition will go.

There are certified real estate agent designations you can pursue that set you apart for your experience when it comes to relocations, but in lieu of those—arm yourself with the planning details and methods that will make your client a raving fan. In the process, you’ll up your game, create a happy client, and hopefully field similar business for years to come.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

FAB ADLER With a vibrant personality and a desire to help others, Fabiola Adler has found her true calling as an agent in the greater Raleigh region. Moving to the states from Brazil in 1997, Fab quickly realized all the opportunities that awaited her. She began working as an interior designer, putting her creativity to work. When she had her daughter, she decided to close her business and spend more time with her. Once it was time for her to return to work, she decided on real estate, as it combined her passion for people with her skills as an interior designer and business owner. Today she has been in the industry for 10 years, with an assistant and another agent on her team. Serving Raleigh and surrounding areas, like Wake Forest, Louisburg, Cary, Rolesville, Knightdale, Youngsville, and more, Fab has become an expert about everything North Carolina has to offer.

“We have great universities, and there are a variety of different types of towns,” she explains. “We have bigger cities and more rural areas. There is something for everyone.” She loves showing people the region and introducing them to communities that would suit their lifestyle. With the majority of her business deriving from repeats and referrals, she goes above and beyond to meet her clients’ needs. “I am very dedicated to them,” she says. “By the end of the transaction, we become friends.” Utilizing her design background, she is able to assist in staging properties and ensure homes are looking their best. “I’ve helped many buyers decorate their house after they purchase the home, or advise them on furniture placement or paint colors.” Fab has even completed several renovations for her buyers.

After working with Fab, clients spread the word about her. One recently said, “WOW! What a go-getter! I had the pleasure of working with not only a professional in her career but a very caring and understanding individual. Fabiola has a gift for communicating and understanding a client’s criteria quite well which makes Top Agent Magazine

it a smooth and enjoyable experience.

She’s definitely determined, motivated and HIGHLY energetic which is a winning combination to have on your side! Thanks to her she went up to bat and nailed it with her skills on a beautiful home that I had my heart set on the moment I saw it...way to go Fab! I definitely recommend her to my family, friends and anyone else looking to do a Real Estate transaction. Thanks again Fab for all your efforts and I look forward to doing business with you again!”

Fab cares about her community and loves giving back. She’s been a member of the Wakefield Women’s Club, Wake County Homebuilders Association and the Wake Forest Chamber. She also volunteers for her daughter’s school. During her free time, she enjoys watching movies, relaxing with family, or playing golf.

Hitting her stride, Fab looks forward to years of continuous growth. She hopes to add a few more agents to her team. “But mainly, I just want to continue offering the same kind of service to every client. I love building relationships with them and helping them accomplish their goals.”

For more information about Fabiola Adler, please call 919-696-5904 or email fab@fabhomesnc.com

Top Agent Magazine ®

27 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

MELISSA JONES & TRACY WATSON Melissa Jones is an Army Veteran and has been a Realtor® since 2013.

She specializes in working with military veterans or those in active duty and understands what it’s like to move to a new area and relocate.

In January of 2021 she partnered with Tracy Watson and they started Mission First Realty together. Tracy Watson started in real estate seven years ago by flipping houses. After two successful flips, she decided to quit her corporate job and get her license to pursue house flipping full time. Tracy is now proud to be able to use her extensive network of vetted agents to assist activeduty military, veterans, first responders, and families with relocating.

Serving Raleigh, NC, as far North as Wake Forest and as far south as Ft Bragg, the team of 7 agents cover a wide area. The area around the Research Triangle Park is loaded with tech companies like Cisco and IBM. Universities are also scattered throughout the region and they attract people from all walks of life with relocation needs. As such, Melissa and Tracy are always ready to help newcomers navigate their next real estate venture with ease. Approximately 70% - 80% of their business comes from friend or family referrals and repeat clients. The rest comes from social media, where Tracy’s skills really shine. During the pandemic, Tracy received a social media marketing certificate. For listings, she uses targeted ads on social media to attract people that are looking at the area or getting qualified for home loans. All of their agents then share the posts and listings within their sphere for maximum reach. As a team they were able to achieve $15M in sales volume in their first year.

Clients continue to return to Mission First Realty because of the teams’ clear communication and availability throughout the process. Their agency offers discounts on their services for Veterans and First Responders. This approach extends outwards to their respective communities where they are very supportive of locally owned or Veteran owned businesses. “I love all of our small, locally owned establishments and I frequent them often,” says Tracy. As the newly elected town Commissioner of Fuquay-Varina, NC, Tracy hosts a car show in the Fall to raise money for a local non profit that helps military members and homeless or disabled Veterans.

To be able to put someone in their first house, or help them find the one of their dreams, is extremely rewarding for Melissa and one of the biggest reasons she’s stayed in the business this long. “I think the greatest reward for me is the gratitude from the buyers and sellers.” Tracy loves meeting new people. She also enjoys introducing new arrivals to their community. After closing, she provides new residents with a pamphlet that has local resources and emergency contacts. She also adds gift cards, redeemable at local businesses, to a gift bag for them. “Its fun to get to know them and their families throughout the process.”

When not working, Tracy and Melissa like to take their Jeep Wranglers off-roading and to the beach. In the future they want to continue to grow, add more agents and expand to different markets. “I would just like to see us grow to where we have local experts in every area,” says Melissa. As owners, Tracy and Melissa’s talented team can help you reach your goal with the highest level of success.

Contact Melissa Jones at (910) 986-7962, email melissa@missionfirstrealty.com or visit melissajonesmfrnc.com. Contact Tracy Watson at (919) 761-0405, email tracy@missionfirstrealty.com or visit missionfirstrealtync.com. www.

www.

28

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Turning Your Profession into a Passion The old adage goes that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.

On the other hand, it’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day worries and responsibilities of your career, even if you generally enjoy what you do. While there’s no guaranteeing that every day on the job will be a picnic, there are a few steps you can take to vastly improve your morale and transform your profession into a passion.

After all, cultivating a passion for what you do will not only add to your quality Top Agent Magazine

of life, but will likely make you more successful in the long run.

BUILD YOUR BASE OF KNOWLEDGE Knowledge builds confidence, and confidence breeds success. A sure way to light a fire in your heart for your daily work is to challenge yourself to learn more and expand your understanding of your field. By doing so, you equip yourself for success, create challenges, and find the most inter-

Top Agent Magazine

29

esting features of your work—especially those that most appeal to your interests and talents. Try reading the top five books on the topic of your industry, or subscribe to a podcast where thriving professionals offer their two cents. Either way, learning more about your industry is bound to reveal a source of inspiration worth pursuing.

THINK ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE

and excelling in your field, you may find that others’ approaches inspire your own.

Likewise, what you learn from other successful, passionate people in your field can help you shape your own office and work life, in turn creating more opportunities for you to fall in love with what you do, all over again.

TAKE RISKS

CONNECT WITH LIKE-MINDED PROFESSIONALS

One of the biggest hindrances of professional passion is falling into a rut. Routines are familiar and everyday responsibilities vie for our energy. But the next time you tackle a task the way that you always have, take a moment and try to refresh your perspective—is there a more clever or efficient way you could approach this project?

Even better: why not take the plunge and do the things you’ve always been meaning to—throw that client appreciation event you’ve put off planning, take the continuing education course you keep forgetting to register for, even try a creative activity that pushes you out of your comfort zone.

There’s no better way to inject some passion into your life than by going outside your bubble and taking a risk.

Have you ever chatted with someone who was overflowing with energy for what they do? That sort of passion tends to be infectious—often causing us to beg our own questions about professional engagement.

By participating in local organizations or networking with those who are active

Passion comes from all directions—from your own interior journey and from the world around you. To transform your profession into a passion worth having, invest in yourself and venture into the vast world around you. You’ll surely reap the rewards.

Sometimes reinvigorating your passion for your work is about looking outward, rather than inward. Gain some perspective and consider who your work helps in the long run. As a real estate professional—whether you work as an agent, broker, in mortgages, home inspections, or otherwise—your work positively impacts someone else’s home-sweet-home. You make a difference. While it may seem like just another day at the office, taking a moment to visualize exactly who you are helping in the world at large is a great way to add some motivational fire to your daily tasks.

30

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

Area Specialist STEPHANIE MCCOY As far back as Stephanie McCoy can remember, real estate has been a passion. Watching HGTV and going to open houses on the weekends, she always found the industry intriguing. That interest grew and grew, until one day in 2019 she decided to earn her real estate license. After having an unsatisfying experience purchasing her first house, she knew she wanted to make a difference in this field. “I want to educate buyers and sellers on everything that real estate transactions entail,” she says. Today, Stephanie has established herself as a prominent agent in the greater Fayetteville region of North Carolina. With a large military presence, she works with many buyers who are either relocating to the area or who have decided to purchase real estate after years of renting.

Much of Stephanie’s network comes from being a United States Army Disabled Veteran and government contractor on Fort Bragg. “My sphere of influence is predominantly military affiliated individuals, but I work with clients with no military affiliation as well,” she explains. “I either receive referrals from other veterans or clients have found me on Zillow, Realtor.com and other social media platforms.” While Fort Bragg is one of the area’s biggest features, Fayetteville also offers a high quality of life. “We have great restaurants, including Caruso Confections & Bistro, Uptown’s Chicken and Waffles, Olea Mediterranean Kitchen, and Los Primos,” Stephanie explains. It has been named an ‘All American City’ on numerous occasions by the National Civic League. Its low unemployment rate and unmatched shopping, healthcare and entertainment attract many people from all over the country. Stephanie loves to provide an exceptional real estate journey to all who buy or sell here. “I don’t want my clients to feel as though each transaction is solely about business,” she says. “I focus on making them feel comfortable, and being as transparent as possible.” Education is the cornerstone of her work, as Stephanie wants her buyers and sellers to be informed at all times. “It’s so important for me to make sure they are making decisions Top Agent Magazine

backed by knowledge. Whether it’s buying, selling or even walking away.”

Once the transaction is complete, clients look back on their journey with joy. One review recently read, “Stephanie McCoy was a great choice for my latest home purchasing experience. I’ve bought homes in the past and I had a decent knowledge of the process. This time it was a lot different, mostly because of the competitiveness of the current market. She possessed the experience and the professionalism to navigate the market during this difficult time. All of her experience and guidance helped me make the best decision to meet my financial needs and my style.”

As years go by, Stephanie is eager to grow her business and reach great heights. At the same time, she will prioritize her clients’ needs, always providing handson support when they need it. “What I love most is sharing knowledge with my clients. Even if they don’t utilize me as their agent, they know the good and bad things to look out for. They understand when they’re being treated fairly and when their agent or lender has their best interests at heart. That is incredibly important and meaningful for me.”

To contact Stephanie McCoy, affiliate of Realty One Group Liberty, please call 910-850-7105 or email smccoy.realtysolutions@gmail.com

Top Agent Magazine

31

Area Specialist CHRIS PHILLIS As one of the fastest growing cities in America, Charlotte, North Carolina is attracting people from all over the country. It consistently ranks as one of the hottest real estate markets, likely due to its natural beauty, generally pleasant weather, strong education system and endless job opportunities. Real estate agent Chris Phillis understands the appeal of this city, and loves to help people find home here.

“It’s just a really exciting place to be,” he says. “Our average age is 34 years old, so we’re a young, growing city.” He moved here from upstate New York seven years ago and married his wife. Working as a loan officer since 2004, the move inspired him to switch careers. “I was already investing in real estate, and I really enjoyed it. So I decided to earn my license and become an agent.” It turned out to be one of the best decisions he ever made, as he feels he has truly found his calling.

Chris’ main goal is to provide his clients with superior service at every step. “I work with their best interests in mind,” he explains. “Whether it’s providing a seamless experience or just being patient with them. I never pressure them, I am there to guide them through it.” His focus is on giving his clients what they need and being there for them along the way. Knowing that this is a pivotal moment in life, Chris takes his time getting to understand his buyers and sellers. He educates them, helping them make informed decisions. “They can reach me anytime,” he says. “I’m going to be there for them. Having worked in the mortgage side for so long, I understand that emotions are high during this time. So it helps to know someone will be by your side.” Chris develops lasting relationships with his clients, staying in touch with them for years after the transaction. He hosts various events, like ticket 32

giveaways for baseball or football games, photos at the park and pumpkin patch meetups.

One recent buyer raved, “Chris was more than an agent. I was a first time home buyer and had more questions about buying a home than you can imagine. He was there to pick up the phone every time I called, no matter what day or time. His insight when it came to what I should look for in a property outmatched every other REALTOR® I worked with.

I got the house below asking and had to do little negotiation to make this happen. I have recommended Chris to friends and family and have gotten only good responses from the people he has worked with.

I fully support Chris and wish every REALTOR® was as professional and helpful as he has been.”

As Chris looks ahead, he is eager to continue growing and hopes to bring on a full-time assistant in the next few months. He loves every second of his path and can’t wait to see where it leads. “Seeing my clients happy is what makes it all worthwhile.

Knowing they are turning the page to the next chapter of their lives, and I get to be a part of that, it’s just a great feeling.”

For more information about Chris Phillis, please call 980-221-5152 or email chris@homewiserealtygroup.com Top Agent Magazine

Modern Email Etiquette for Today’s Agents In today’s tech-forward culture, consumers are constantly inundated with promotional emails, alerts, invites, and social media blasts. As a real estate agent or a loan officer, how do you stand apart from the noise? What’s more, how do you stay relevant in a digital landscape that’s constantly changing?

For starters, there are a few timeless techniques you can apply to up your skillset when it comes email and digital communication: asking questions that Top Agent Magazine

inspire conversation, politeness, and following up regularly—to name a few. Likewise, there are surely new tricks you can add to your arsenal to stay ahead of the curve. Let’s outline a few ways you can refine and update your email etiquette to compete in today’s virtual marketplace.

Make your subject line count Too often, we labor over the content of our emails without giving much thought to subject lines.

Top Agent Magazine ®

33

Though email is no longer a new-fangled invention, there are certainly ways you can modernize its use and take advantage of its ubiquity.

However, these little headlines can go a long way in luring the consumer to open your email and ultimately click through to your website in search for your services. An enticing subject line should be short and sweet, ideally less than fifty characters.

You might also include the name of the recipient, and be up front (though concise) about the subject matter of your message. Remember: the first thing a client will see is your name and subject line—be sure to make this prime real estate shine.

Think mobile Research tells us that 79% of Americans check their phones within fifteen minutes of waking up. In fact, much of modern day correspondence occurs by smartphone. Accordingly, you’ll want to account for email readability on a mobile phone.

For instance, incorporating paragraph breaks for each new thought allows information to be parceled out in a palatable way for readers utilizing small screens. Also, any sort of graphic flair or links within your email should be shortened and streamlined for mobile consumption. Send yourself an email every now and again and access it from your phone—you’ll be able to double-check that all the elements of your emails are working well on a mobile platform.

Incorporate email tools There are excellent tools out there to enhance your email experience. With just a quick download, 34

you can add spellcheck, a URL address shortening feature, or a delay option that holds emails for thirty seconds before they’re sent. Think about the possibilities! Haven’t you sent an email without including the attachment you intended, or realizing you sent correspondence to the wrong client? If that’s the case, a delay feature can help you save face and build in a window for error— just in case. Regardless of which tools speak to your email habits, there are plenty of add-ons out there that can revamp your digital correspondence style.

Use email to maximize your online presence These days, there are plenty of ways to communicate—email, text, phone, apps, and social media.

When you interact through email, consider it an opportunity to invite your client to follow you elsewhere online. Ensure that your email signature includes unobtrusive, streamlined links to your social media accounts, professional website, or review page. This will build in an opportunity for clients to engage with your brand, and you may even add an online follower for the long term.

Though email is no longer a new-fangled invention, there are certainly ways you can modernize its use and take advantage of its ubiquity. Keep these approaches in mind as you reenergize your email technique and fortify your communication in the digital era.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

KRISTI VERNON When Kristi Vernon tells you that she has never met a stranger, she is telling you the truth. Even when she is the subject of the interview, she will likely walk away knowing as much about the interviewer as they know about her.

Kristi’s path into real estate was a natural one, though she never really thought that the business would be something she was interested in. “My mother was in real estate,’ explained Kristi, “so when I graduated from college I joined her thinking I would help her out until I decided what I wanted to be when I grew up. Well, it turns out that once again my mother was right - I fell in love with the real estate business.” Now the team leader and a Broker for the Vernon Realty Group with Keller Williams Lake Norman in North Carolina, Kristi has a market area that covers the entire Charlotte metro and into South Carolina as well. Kristi and her small, family-like team consists of Holly, who wears many hats but her top three are admin, closing coordinator and client care manager, and two incredible agents, Sally and Mike, who work with both buyers and sellers. Last year the team helped just over 50 families with their real estate needs and that is truly what this is all about... helping people navigate what can be a stressful process to achieve their goals.

Kristi has been a resident of Huntersville since 1996 and has been selling real estate since 2004. She describes the area as the perfect ‘live, work and play’ environment, with great dining, shopping and recreational activities. “I like to say that life is always better when you love where you live,” says Kristi. “I am fortunate that I not only get to live in a place I love, but I get to make a living helping others to enjoy the same lifestyle.” That may explain why Kristi’s business consists

almost entirely of repeat clients and client referrals. “I have been at this for 18 years,” recalls Kristi. “In all those years no two deals have ever been the same and no two families have ever been the same.” Kristi acknowledges that the home buying process is not stress free but she works very hard to make it seamless. She and her team take a concierge approach to each transaction. “We don’t abandon our clients after the closing,” says Kristi. “This is a long term relationship, not just a transaction.” One of the ways that Kristi maintains those relationships is by checking in, sending out little thank you’s and hosting client events.. “Obviously that was a problem during the pandemic,” explains Kristi, “but we plan on getting back to that again.”

While their team has embraced the conveniences of technology, they have not lost the personal touch. The resources, however convenient, will never replace the up close and personal time they spend with their clients, serving as their personal guide and trusted advisor through the process. Vernon Realty Group is sure to leave no stone unturned when it comes to real estate and that includes staying up to date on the latest social media trends to maximize exposure for our seller clients.

Kristi’s life outside of real estate is focused on family, friends and the community. She is primarily involved with charitable causes that address the nutritional needs of school-aged children on weekends and during summer months and actively participates in food and clothing drives as well. When it comes to her family, Kristi puts it this way, “We are pretty much outdoor, water-oriented people. We love to go boating or go to the beach or grill out with friends. Like I said earlier, life is better when you love where you live.”

Contact Kristi Vernon at 704-641-0062 or email kristi@vernonrealtygroup.com Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 35

1 Billion-Plus Reasons Why You Should Be Active on Facebook

By Bubba Mills

The number is staggering and potentially career ending for REALTORS® who ignore it: 1,440,000,000. That’s the total number of monthly active users on the social medium Facebook.

That number alone is reason enough to use it regularly in your real estate business. But Facebook can also help turn you into the expert in your community. Just by sharing knowledge and relevant events about the community you can become the go-to source for all things local – a perfect way to capture the attention of prospective buyers.

Plus, Facebook advertising also gives you tons of targeting layers like age, location, recent life events and interests. Plus, it constantly adds new targeting filters and functions that help you reach even more niche prospects who closely meet your customer criteria. Talk about pinpointing a target audience.

36

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

Another Facebook real estate ad tool is Website Custom Audiences that lets you create Facebook ads that target users who have visited your website.

And several apps specifically for Facebook have emerged. Consider these: • Heyo.com: Helps you host contests, showcase promotions and high-

light special offers.

• Woobox.com: Let’s you easily create quizzes and other fun tools for engaging content.

• Pagemodo.com: Helps you make your Facebook business page both sleek and stylish and tabs allow for easy lead capture.

But the latest offering is just as cool. It’s called Facebook Live and it lets you stream live video on the internet. I recently wrote about Periscope, another live video streaming app, but when you use Facebook Live you’re automatically featured at the top of Facebook users’ news feed. What’s more, statistics show that live video is viewed more than recorded video.

How can REALTORS® use Facebook Live?

Open Houses: Broadcast a walk-through of a new listing

and highlight all the great features.

Webinars: Host live webinars targeted to buyers and sellers. They can sub-

mit questions just like a real-life seminar.

Real Estate Talk Show: Offer the latest news in the industry plus share lo-

cal events and your newest listings. In short, become the Lester Holt or Diane Sawyer of real estate in your town with your own “TV” show!

Facebook offers these tips for using Facebook Live: Promote: Tease upcoming Facebook Live broadcasts for more viewers.

Plan better: Take time to plan what you want to do in the video, whether

it’s a few key talking points or to have a few questions ready ahead of time in a Q&A, in case incoming comments slow down.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

37

Invest in some equipment: A shaky live stream turns off viewers so con-

sider a tripod or other stabilizing tools, especially if you’re taking viewers on a tour of an open house. And check the shot before going live.

Get the lighting right: If you’re indoors be sure you have plenty of good

lighting and avoid a lot of light directly behind you because it’ll wash you out.

Sound good: A common mistake for beginners is overlooking sound.

Consider an external microphone to make sure your viewers can actually hear you.

And if the live option makes you a little nervous, you can also stream pre-recorded videos. Hey, that has worked like a charm for TV for decades. Some businesses promote their web series to “air” on Facebook Live at a certain time like TV shows. After they are streamed, Facebook Live videos function as normal Facebook videos. Some business owners believe videos may perform better if they begin as live ones.

NowThis, a news company that publishes entirely on social platforms, experimented by streaming a 38-minute compilation of its favorite viral videos via Facebook Live. The stream received over 20,000 views and over 500 comments, according to Facebook’s counters.

Yes, all the new-fangled internet tools, apps and options for REALTORS® can be a bit overwhelming. Just take it one step at a time and you’ll slowly be right there in the business-winning mix. E-mail me today at Article@CorcoranCoaching.com and I’ll send you more free information about how technology can help your real estate business.

Copyright©, Bubba Mills. All rights reserved.

Bubba Mills is the CEO of Corcoran Consulting and Coaching Inc. (www.corcorancoaching.com/programs, 800-957-8353), an international Real Estate, Mortgage, and Small Business coaching company committed to helping clients balance success in business, while building value in life. Bubba Mills is a nationally recognized inspirational and education speaker, coach and mentor to the top real estate agents and mortgage companies. To find out more about Corcoran Consulting & Coaching, call 1-800-957-8353 or visit us at www.CorcoranCoaching.com.

38

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

KRISTLE WILLIAMS Nine years ago Kristle Williams found herself at one of those career crossroads.

She had been working as a pharmaceutical sales representative when her employer underwent a major restructuring. Kristle could keep her lucrative job but she would need to take on a much larger territory, which meant more time away from home. Her father was a real estate agent and he encouraged her to attend class and get her license. Kristle resisted; her father persisted.

With a young child at home Kristle’s initial plan was to do real estate part time. “I liked the idea of a flexible schedule,” explained Kristle. “But two things became apparent rather quickly – this wasn’t going to be part time and my schedule was not going to be all that flexible.” Joining Keller Williams Realty Group in Greensboro, North Carolina, it quickly became evident that Kristle was passionate about real estate and helping people not only find their perfect home but to build long term wealth through investing in real estate.

Kristle is also clearly passionate about her part of North Carolina, which primarily encompasses the cities of Greensboro and High Point but stretches as far east as Mebane and Burlington and as far west as WinstonSalem. “I am so fortunate to live and work in such a beautiful, vibrant area” said Kristle. “Greensboro, now the third largest city in the state, is home to five colleges and has a wonderful downtown where I am proud to say we have a new performing arts center. Then you have High Point,” she continued, “which many believe to be the furniture capital of the country. But the best part is simply the natural beauty of the area.” That passion for real estate and for her community may explain why Kristle and her team sold 98 homes last year. That team dynamic has changed with the market. Gone are the two buyer’s agents, with the team now consisting of two administrative assistants and two showing agents.

Kristle’s business is generated in large part from repeat clients and referrals from those same clients. She also teaches classes on home ownership and real estate finance that results in many new clients, and actively cultivates referrals from agents outside of the Greensboro-High Point market. “I make an effort to stay in regular contact with all of my past clients,” said Kristle quite proudly. “During the coronavirus pandemic I made regular ‘care calls’ to clients just to see how they were doing; how their families were doing. I send birthday cards. It is really all about the personal touch…and I genuinely care about these people.” Kristle holds at least two events for clients annually, in addition to monthly gift giveaways that include tickets to shows, gift cards to restaurants and elaborate gift baskets. This year, as part of the client rewards program, Keller Williams is renting out the party deck at Greensboro’s baseball stadium. Kristle also conducts financial planning and awareness seminars for her clients.

But as hard as Kristle works at her business, she is quick to point out the importance of work/life balance.

Kristle is very active in her church, teaching classes and participating in everything from food drives and toy drives to volunteer days at homeless shelters. “It is so important that we give back to the community,” Kristle stressed. During the coronavirus pandemic she was involved in sponsoring food trucks and food giveaways to show appreciate for nurses and other healthcare professionals. As for her home life, with a 15 year old and an 8 year old Kristle and her husband spend a lot of time on school activities like sports and band. “We really love our ‘family time’, says Kristle, “whether that is going to the movies, taking bike rides, relaxing outdoors or simply sitting down for family dinners. It is all about having balance.”

Contact Kristle Williams at 336-772-3925 or email kristlewilliams.kw@gmail.com Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 39

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

40

Top Agent Magazine