WASHINGTON 9-19-22

WASHINGTON EDITION

6 Things You Need to Do to BE A GREAT MENTOR COVER STORY

INCORPORATE CURRENT EVENTS to Your Email Blasts and Stay Relevant

If it’s Good for the Soul,

IT’S GOOD FOR THE BUSINESS 3 Ways to Make Your Workspace Work for You

KEELY STERBA FEATURED AGENTS

BARB BUTCHER CRYSTAL NEPRUD DYLAN OVERTON PAMELA McANALLY ROMAN SHULYAK

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How to Speed Up First-Time Homebuyer Transactions Working with first-time homebuyers can be among the most rewarding real estate transactions an agent can embark upon.

Not only are you helping guide newcomers into the housing market, but you’re also witness to the excitement and triumphs along the way, including handing over those keys for the first time. While 4

helping first-time homebuyers navigate the transactional process can be a reminder of real estate’s benevolent power, it can also come with its own bumps and bruises.

So, what’s the best way to streamline the homebuying process for first-timers, while maintaining the magic and keeping your sanity along the way?

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While helping first-time homebuyers navigate the transactional process can be a reminder of real estate’s benevolent power, it can also come with its own bumps and bruises.

Set expectations upfront and often.

It’s no secret that communication is a cornerstone of a successful real estate practice and client relationship. Amidst a transaction as complex as buying (or selling) a home, it’s important that no wires get crossed, no questions go unanswered, and no information gets lost in translation. To accomplish this, create communication parameters with your clients up front. Inquire about the communication medium they’re most comfortable with—a text, a call, an email, etc.

Then, tailor your outreach accordingly.

Also, consider setting a weekly time to check in, even if no official progress has been made. This helps clients and agents touch base, float questions and concerns, and get ahead of any problems or developments. Another helpful tool is to draft a transaction timeline for your client that outlines the major milestones along the way, what sort of information will need to be gathered, what steps taken, and what outcomes are possible. This might seem like exhaustive work, but in the era of digital research, clients will come to their own conclusions and biases Top Agent Magazine

whether you like it or not. To stay on the same page and timeline, be the foremost resource for your client, and don’t leave their questions up to chance.

Know your first-time homebuyer programs and perks.

There are a variety of national, state, regional, and local grants and programs that aid first-time homebuyers as they pay their down payment, shop for home or mortgage insurance, and otherwise deal with the financial implications of becoming a homeowner. Sometimes these programs are neighborhood-specific in certain cities, with incentives to buy in up and coming areas. In some cases, there are grants that support underrepresented minority communities breaking into homebuying, and these can go a long way in making the burden of a down payment and associated fees doable. In other words, do your research.

The right program or grant could make the difference in nabbing a dream starter home for your client, while setting them up for future financial success.

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Get pre-approved for a mortgage—and shop around for the best rate.

Not all mortgage rates are made equal. As an agent, you likely have good relationships with area lenders that you trust, but it’s still important to complete your due diligence when helping first-time homebuyers find the rate that suits their longterm housing goals. Also remember that first-time homebuyers are new to this process, and while real estate transactions are complex in their own right, the borrowing and lending processes can be alienating in their complexity. As an agent, it’s your job to play intermediary and teacher, ensuring your clients know their options, are prepared to make an educated decision, and

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feel confident that they’ve chosen correctly. Talk with your preferred mortgage partners to best outline options for your clients’ understanding, laying out a framework that’s informative, projected into the future, and allows them to feel empowered by knowledge.

All in all, working with first-time homebuyers can be an exciting and joyous occasion, as long as you’re adequately prepared for some hand-holding and instruction along the way. Aside from the enthusiasm of successful first-timers at the closing table, you’ll also enjoy the lasting benefit of strong referrals to their friends and family, many of whom will be shopping with you for their own first dream homes.

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KEELY STERBA

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Top Agent Keely Sterba works with Century 21 Tri-Cities, with a growing portion of her business deriving from repeat clients and referrals.

By prioritizing their needs and going the extra mile, Keely impresses each buyer and seller, making the experience seamless.

With a people-loving personality and a desire to help others, Keely Sterba has found her true calling as a real estate agent in the Tri-Cities region. She got her start after her brother encouraged her to explore this industry. “Our dad had been an agent in the past, and my brother thought it would be the perfect fit for me,” Keely says. So Keely earned her license and got to work, loving every second of her path. Today she works with Century 21 Tri-Cities, with a growing portion of her business deriving from repeat clients and referrals. By prioritizing their needs and going the extra mile, Keely impresses each buyer and seller, making the experience seamless.

“I am very easygoing,” Keely explains. “I don’t push, and I treat them like family.”

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Understanding how important each transaction is, she does everything possible to ensure their goals are reached. Born and raised in this region, Keely knows it well, and is happy to guide her clients through their journey. Taking the time to Top Agent Magazine

get to know them, Keely understands what they’re looking for, and tailors an approach that suits their individual situation. Her vast experience in this field means she can successfully work with all types of clients, whether they’re first time buyers or Copyright Top Agent Magazine 9

Regardless of who she is serving, Keely makes exceptional customer service the cornerstone of her work. Ranking number 16 by volume in the state of Washington, it’s clear she consistently exceeds expectations. seasoned investors. Regardless of who she is serving, Keely makes exceptional customer service the cornerstone of her work.

Ranking number 16 by volume in the state of Washington, it’s clear she consistently exceeds expectations.

When the transaction is over, clients love to leave glowing reviews about their time 10Copyright Top Agent Magazine

together. One recently said, “Keely has helped multiple people in my family buy, sell and build homes within the Tri-Cities since 2014 when I first moved here. She is extremely responsive, listens to all your needs/wants and will work with you to get as close to that as possible, she sticks up for her clients and makes sure they are getting the best deals. She knows the area well and Top Agent Magazine

also knows a lot of professionals in the area and all the people she refers to you are as great as she is. We cannot recommend her enough!” Another wrote, “Keely was very helpful at every step of the process and was always available when we wanted to come back and look at the house or take measurements. She answered all our questions to Top Agent Magazine

the best of her knowledge and promptly got back to us if she did not have the answer at the ready! Highly recommend her.”

Giving back to the community is an integral part of Keely’s life. For the past two years she has held a 12 Days of Christmas event, where she donates to 12 different charities.

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Keely recently donated formula to those in need during the formula shortage. When she’s not working or giving back, she’s spending time with family, including her English Bulldog.

The future looks bright as Keely plans to promote herself more in the coming years and grow to exponential heights. She hopes to stay on this path for the long run. “I just absolutely love what I do.”

For more information about Keely Sterba, please call 509-572-8492 or email keely.s@c21-tc.com

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If it’s good for the soul,

IT’S GOOD FOR THE BUSINESS

Visibility, name recognition and knowing you’re supporting the community that makes your success possible are good reasons to take part in community service. But how is it that some people seem to be able to give time to charities while running their own businesses, managing their own families and households, exercising regularly, attending sporting events and concerts, eating well and sleeping seven or eight hours a night?

The truth is, not all agents are able to do everything so easily. But more important is the fact that no one needs to do everything all of the time. The trick is to make sure that, whatever you do holds meaning.

REALTORS® and mortgage professionals who seem the most gregarious in their community outreach are those whose giving seems to fill their own souls. When their Top Agent Magazine

volunteer efforts or donations directly impact causes they or their clients care deeply about, “giving back” becomes energizing.

Jason O’Quinn of Prime Lending in Dallas Texas, for instance, says that his family’s ongoing work building homes for some of the poorest families in Honduras fills him immeasurably. “It rejuvenates me,” he says.

“There’s quite a dichotomy between the houses we build there and the houses we finance here,” he says. “It refocuses me, going from financing $1 million homes in Dallas to physically laying cinderblock for $10,000 homes in Honduras. Everything has more meaning when we sacrificially give of our time, talent and treasure.”

The longtime “big picture” for Colorado REALTOR® and property manager, Linda

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Todd, for instance, has included giving back to the community, whether serving as a lead carpenter for Habitat for Humanity, making deliveries for Meals on Wheels, or pitching in for the sake of baseball. And through her lifelong passion for baseball, she harmoniously blended her personal interests, her work and her community service. For many years, she was so involved Little League the local league named a new field after her. “I cried for 3 days after they told me that!” She and her husband also started a scholarship fund for junior college baseball players and serve as a host family for the rookie league of the Colorado Rockies, putting up newly drafted players in their home.

For Florida REALTOR® and property manager, Mario Gonzalez, neither his business nor his primary community outreach would exist without the other. A retired U.S. Navy pilot, Mario formed his brokerage, Navy to Navy Homes, when he saw a need for military personnel to find affordable homes to purchase. “We got into it to help, but that led to a full-blown real estate business.” Besides providing opportunities for investment and homeownership, the company donates 35% of every commission to Homes for Heroes, veterans’ groups, or organizations benefiting fire, police, medical organizations, churches and homeless shelters. “We’re small, but we give so much back that we were the top Homes for Heroes company in Florida and

top-five nationwide.” But he does none of this for the attention. His friends may call him the “Humble Hero of Heroes,” but helping is Mario’s passion. “To be such a small business and be the top Homes for Heroes affiliate is mind boggling!”

Like Mario, for many, the best service takes place in simple and quiet ways. Illinois REALTOR®, Susie Scheuber, for example, takes a humble approach to giving back. Although she donates a portion of every commission check to the Children’s Miracle Network, she doesn’t discuss this with clients unless they happen to ask. “I do it because I want to and because, to me, giving back is the right thing to do when you’ve been fortunate in business and life,” says Susie.

We all know how inertia works; the more energized we get by certain behaviors, the more likely we are to continue those behaviors. For some top agents, community outreach has become such a natural routine of their daily lives that they never find it burdensome. A good way to add community service into your life, therefore, is through the causes that mean the most to you. For starters, consider giving a small donation after closing to the charity of your client’s choosing. Learning the different causes that they care about just might foster a new mission for you.

If you have a unique story to share about how your community outreach has impacted your life and your business or inspired others, click here for consideration in our magazines: www.topagentmagazine.com/nominate-a-real-estate-agent-to-be-featured 14

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BARB BUTCHER Barb Butcher is a seasoned real estate agent serving in northwestern Washington state. She is a knowledgable, reliable, and integrity-driven agent serving the large retirement population within the area. A pillar in her community, clients across Sequim have trusted Barb to buy and sell their properties for over three decades.

Barb shares how she first found real estate in the late 80s, during a transitional time in her family’s life. Her husband’s business was changing and her children were nearly all moved out of their home. This prompted Barb to pursue a full-time career for herself, inspired by her longtime interest in the real estate business. Sponsored anonymously by a friend, Barb began real estate school and completed her licensure in 1989. From there, Barb launched her solo real estate career, serving clients within Sequim and the surrounding areas. She shares how this past April, she celebrated her 33rd year in the industry.

Currently, 95% of Barb’s business is from repeat and referral clients, likely due to her consistently high quality of service. Barb notes that Sequim’s demographics are heavily a retirement-age population, with her network containing predominately older clientele.

She prides herself in understanding her client’s niche interests and strives to continually provide an unparalleled level of service to every client.

Outside of real estate, Barb has lived a rich life of travel and humanitarian service.

She shares, “I have taken time to travel to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Mexico, South Africa – and locally – to care for babies!”

She adds how she and her husband served in the foster care system for five years before adopting and raising one of their foster babies. These days, family is still the priority for Barb; she spends her free time taking care of her great-grandchildren. She also enjoys reading and regularly taking part in her church Bible study.

As she recalls the highlights of her exemplary real estate career, Barb notes, “I am planning to retire this coming year, in 2023.” After over three successful decades in the industry, Barb says, “It’s time.” While her own professional business venture is winding down in this sphere, her sound reputation and the notable impact she has made on her vast client network continues to echo within the community and beyond.

Barb’s professional approach is notably traditional, including newspaper ads, face-to-face meetings, and handwritten notes. She shares how for years she has kept in touch with clients via personal letters – a true testament to her personability.

Having hailed in the town of Sequim since 1968, Barb is both a longstanding citizen and an active participant in her community, “I am well known here.”

A prominent figure, Barb is often recognized from her newspaper ads or her local church connections.

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To get in touch with Barb, email bbutcher@olypen.com or call 360-461-2422.

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CRYSTAL NEPRUD After working in the restaurant and management sector for 12 years, REALTOR® Crystal Neprud needed a change of pace. As a people-person, she began looking for a job where she could be sociable, but in a way that would have a greater impact on the lives of others. Real estate came to mind and before long, Crystal decided to quit her old job. She went to get her license and began building her real estate business from scratch. Now that Crystal has been in the business for one year, she’s reflecting on all that she’s learned and the excitement of the upcoming year.

As a mom of three kids, Crystal also has her hands full when she’s not at the office. In addition to doing fun outdoor activities together as a family, she and her husband are currently hard at work on home improvement projects. On her own time, Crystal enjoys cooking. She also hopes to spend more time volunteering with the local humane society in the near future as she, like many residents in her area, loves animals.

Well on her way to passing the $6 million mark in sales volume this year, Crystal has plans to expand her business, reaching out to as many new audiences as possible. Eventually, she hopes to own her own brokerage. “It would be great to have a team that could help me branch out to other areas,” she says. “My goal is to help as many people as I can.”

A lifelong resident of southwest Washington, Crystal now represents homebuyers and sellers in the nearby areas of Bay Center, Cathlamet, Grays River, Long Beach, Naselle, Skamokawa and South Bend. She’s a self-proclaimed workaholic and while that might be a bad thing to some people, it is Crystal’s work ethic that has elevated her status as a REALTOR® so quickly after starting out. Keeping a tight schedule, she wakes up early everyday to tackle numerous projects, from the sale of old historic properties to helping first-time buyers find the home of their dreams. With whatever she does, Crystal puts her heart and soul into taking care of her clients. “It’s important to me to learn what their hopes, goals, and fears are,” she says. “Sometimes just being there to help while they let go of their family home means the world to them.”

Always available to chat, Crystal emails and texts regularly to keep in touch with her clients. She’s on all the major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube where she connects with both clients and personal contacts. “I’m really close to everyone I’ve worked with,” she says.

“I’ve made a lot of friends working in real estate and I’m so grateful for that.”

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To learn more about Crystal Neprud, call 971-601-0357, or email coastalcrystal.realtyone@gmail.com.

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

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

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

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

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

Sports news makes a splash

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

People love to rally behind the home team.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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DYLAN OVERTON It was 2002 and Dylan Overton had just graduated from college. The future was bright, if not clear. He had an idea of what he wanted to do, but it wasn’t until a friend invited him to Washington to visit that the idea would become a reality. “I was in the Bay Area at the time and kind of had the vision for real estate as I came here to visit,” he says. “He and I discussed that and, sure enough, I moved up here with that plan in mind and got into it.” Within a year, he had begun a successful journey as a solo agent.

Just as important as deciding what to do was deciding how to do it. Dylan decided real estate was going to be about more than numbers. It was going to be about people. “I’m not a salesperson, and I don’t look at myself that way. I believe in relationships and I approach it in that way,” he says. “I just take care of people.

And I plan on being their REALTOR® for life and let them know that.” Far from being a purely transactional agent, Dylan builds and grows his business organically through relationships, reputation and contributing to his community. “I’m happy to serve,” he says.

the region’s outdoor activities–swimming, snowboarding, hiking. With five kids, much of his off time is spent engaging with their sports and activities. He still finds time to participate in community fundraisers with his power networking group.

Dylan stakes his future on maintaining his personal touch with clients, some of whom have become actual friends. “I try to stay connected and active in that regard,” he says. “I just stay in touch with people period, and approach it as true friendships. I like my clients, and I think it’s vice versa. And I actually will stay in their lives.”

By focusing on the relationship first, Dylan has built a business with $12 million in annual sales coming now almost entirely from referrals and repeat customers.

‘I approach every home as if it was my mother buying the home, or if it was myself buying it. And I always ask myself that, would I do this? Or would I let a family member do it? And I think doing that always keeps me on the radar for somebody, ‘That’s a good honest person that people come back to’ and refer me out.” For two decades, Dylan has nurtured relationships with his customers, much of it through regular phone calls.

Dylan represents buyers and sellers in and around Clark County along the Columbia River. The area boasts wineries and historic sites amid a lush natural landscape. It is the gateway to Mt. St. Helen and the namesake of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. When not working, Dylan enjoys taking in 20

To learn more about Dylan Overton please call 360.721.1485, email dylanoverton@gmail.com or visit www.resettlerealty.com Top Agent Magazine

3 Ways to Make Your Workspace Work for You Productivity experts agree that a curated workspace positively impacts productivity and mood, but oftentimes we settle for bland desks and cubicles that lack personalized details or considerations for workflow. Why miss out on the opportunity to optimize your surroundings when it could brighten your day—and boost your performance? Keep in mind some of these tactics to make your workspace your own and reap the benefits along the way.

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DETERMINE YOUR WORKING STYLE AND DECORATE ACCORDINGLY For the creative set, a colorful and art-filled workspace can inspire fresh ideas and reduce stress. Likewise, casual yet aesthetically pleasing furniture, accessories, and décor set an inviting yet functional mood. A pop of color from an office tool—even something as basic as a stapler—can inject a sense of fun and modernism into your daily tasks. For the more analytical, right-brained worker, clean

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lines and zero clutter go a long way. A few well-chosen personal photos in tasteful, unassuming frames can provide a motivating connection to the world beyond the office, while accessories and supplies that are sleek, monochrome, and contemporary inspire a sense of calm efficiency.

BUILD A WORKSPACE WITH YOUR DAILY ROUTINE IN MIND If you find yourself spending hours on the phone per day, or assembling stacks of documents and brochures, or even coming and going from the office with frequency—there are simple adjustments you can make to your workspace that will save you time and energy. If you sit for long hours—responding to e-mails or making calls—try incorporating an ergonomic chair or keyboard wrist-pad to maximize comfort. If you spend a long time assembling presentation materials, then file organizers, trays, and easy-to-pull labels can shave valuable time off your efforts. Lastly, those who step out for frequent meetings can reduce the hassle of being on-the-go by making your space mindfully organized—a coatrack and a dish for your keys by the door, an auto-brew coffeemaker, or an easily edited whiteboard calendar can make jet-setting simpler.

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ADD EASY DETAILS THAT ENRICH YOUR WORKING EXPERIENCE While organization and décor can rally productivity and mood, there are also a few extra details you can introduce to your workspace to improve the quality of your working life.

Healthy, easy to grab-and-go snacks—think nuts, homemade trail mix, and fresh fruit— can keep your energy up without the sugar crush or guilt. If there’s a window nearby, a hard-to-kill plant like a philodendron or a fern not only cleanse the air around you, but also provide a welcome connection to the natural world. Being prepared in a pinch is another great way to make your workspace work for you: a spare tie, a tube of lip balm, hand sanitizer, or a box of Band-Aids can save you a trip to the store when an unexpected need arises.

While we take great pains to make our homes our sanctuaries—complete with the decorations, furniture, and food we favor—we often overlook our work areas, even though we spend a sizable portion of our week sitting at the same desk. Challenge yourself to add a few of these personalizing, productivity-boosting details to your work area and bring the comfort of home to your working life.

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PAMELA McANALLY Currently among the top producing agents in Camas, Washington, Pamela McAnally has always been passionate about helping others. Originally from Canada, she would begin her career as a nurse after studying business in college; however, upon moving to the United States, she found herself seeking a new opportunity that better spoke to her entrepreneurial spirit. Inspired, she decided to switch tracks and pursue her real estate license. Soon after, she would relocate from Missouri to Washington State and take her work to the next level, quickly establishing a network of satisfied clients that spans the region.

integrity that brought her to the business in the first place. “Having been a nurse in the past, I believe in developing a genuine connection with my clients,” she says. “That comes down to setting clear expectations from the beginning of the transaction, maintaining strong communication throughout, and staying on top of the market trends so that I can help them make well-informed decisions on their future.”

Today, Pamela assists clients throughout Clark County, Camas, Vancouver, and the surrounding areas of Washington. Combining her elite business acumen with her penchant for client service, she has cultivated a boutique workflow to meet the needs of any buyer or seller.

As an active member of the CamasWashougal Chamber of Commerce, Pamela enjoys contributing to local events like Camas Day, where she donated shirts for all 150 volunteers in 2021. Meanwhile, she has also launched a networking group in support of female business owners and entrepreneurs. When she’s not with clients or giving back, she can be found golfing with friends or spending quality time with her three children—living life to the fullest.

When listing a property, Pamela takes a comprehensive approach. After helping her clients fully prepare their home for the market, she shares it via both the regional MLS and a highly targeted blend of digital and social media campaigns. Along the way, she utilizes proven resources like postcards to the surrounding neighborhoods and door-knocking campaigns to give her clients an added advantage in the lead-up to the standout open house showing.

Going forward, Pamela has exciting plans for the future of her business. As her volume maintains its steady growth, she intends on scaling the trusted standards that continue to set her apart in the community she loves. “At the end of the day, I’m here to help my clients realize their dreams,” she says. “From start to finish, I’m only focused on their end goal. After all, if you approach your business from a perspective of openness and contribution, the rest will always fall into place.”

Elsewhere, Pamela is just as committed when assisting her buyers, leveraging her in-depth knowledge of the area to uncover the right investment for their best interests. In fact, she prefers to keep in touch long after the deals are done through regular check-ins and lively appreciation events—all to ensure her clients are thriving in their new homes.

Over the years, Pamela has earned a terrific reputation throughout Washington State, with the majority of her volume coming from repeat clients and referrals. Having completed over $27 million in volume in 2021 alone, she remains committed to the core values of compassion and Top Agent Magazine

Contact Pamela at call (360) 980-1163, email pamelamcanallyteam@gmail.com, or visit her website at pamelamcanally.com www.

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6 Things You Need to Do to Be a Great Mentor

Everyone reaches the point in their career where they feel they have gained enough experience and wisdom about business and what it takes to succeed, to actually help someone else achieve the same. Although you may have trained or given advice over the years, taking on the official status as a mentor to someone is a whole new ball game.

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Although mentorship is an unpaid endeavor, you’ll be surprised to find out how much you’ll gain from the experience. You’ll also grow as a business person through the process of teaching someone else. It’s also an endeavor that many will pay forward one day, creating a business atmosphere that is based more on mutual success than competition, which is better for everyone.

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If you were mentored, you may already have an idea of what it entails, and what you liked or didn’t like in your mentor/mentee relationship. Although it is a personal relationship that will need an individual approach, there are certain things that are key when it comes to being a great mentor: 1. Be a good listener

est about your own failures. It can be a huge relief to find out someone they look up to has gone through similar experiences and still managed to come out on top. As we all know, oftentimes the greatest lessons come from failures, which can be times when our character is truly tested. Building trust through mutual respect and honesty will make every aspect of your mentorship more effective.

You’re basically a sounding board who needs to hear your mentee’s ideas, plans and goals in order to advise them. Strong, constant and clear communication is key to any successful mentoring relationship.

Sometimes just letting them talk things out with you, will lead to them to discovering the solution they were looking for.

2. Set expectations and goals at the start When listening to your mentee in your first meeting about the potential relationship, it’s important to establish the parameters of what that relationship will be: What can you give them? What do they need or expect from you? Once the terms are agreed upon, you may want to set specific goals you’ll be working on together so that there’s a defined plan of action, timeline and result you can both expect.

3. Be honest This is important when it comes to offering them constructive criticism or tough love, but more importantly, you need to be honTop Agent Magazine

4. Get them to think, don’t make decisions for them Sometimes being a mentor is being a bit like a psychologist. By asking certain ques-

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tions you can lead your mentee to their own conclusions about their business dilemmas and strategies to reach their goals. Being a mentor is all about guidance. Build confidence by drawing out the best in your mentee rather than just presenting them with solutions.

5. Look at the situation objectively One of the key strengths you offer your mentee is a complete emotional detachment to their business. You have no sentimental attachment to doing things a certain way or working with an incompetent vendor because you ‘go way back’. Your only motive is what’s best for your mentee and their business. Although emotions cans still get in the way sometimes, having a detached perspective on hand to guide you is invaluable.

6. Don’t just offer constructive criticism, be supportive Yes, being a mentor is sometimes advising your mentee that he’s doing something ineffectively, but your main purpose is to alway approach everything like cheerleader.

You need to let them know that through it 26

all, you are a reliable support to them and have a complete belief in their abilities.

Make sure to always praise their accomplishments.

Remember: your job as a mentor is more about guidance than constant feedback.

Your goal is to help someone become the best they can be, not someone who just does everything the way you do it. You’re helping them build confidence in their own intuition, which will hopefully lead to a lifetime of success, and one day, they too might be a valuable resource to another mentee down the road.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

ROMAN SHULYAK Drawing on his unstoppable work ethic and his ambition to do his best for his clients, Roman Shulyak has what it takes to turn real estate dreams into reality. Since 2013, when he was just 20 years old, Roman has been working hard at perfecting his approach to real estate. “When I first started in real estate, it was like a light bulb went off,” Roman recalls. “I’m a people person, and I love sales. I knew I had whatever it took to succeed, and it just felt right to me. I closed 21 houses in my first 12 months, and it’s been an awesome journey ever since.”

Roman is hands-on when it comes to marketing his listings. His attention to detail results in covering all bases to ensure optimum exposure. Roman invests heavily in photography and videos, no matter the property’s price point. “Especially in this changing market, it’s more important than ever to make sure I grasp as many buyers’ attention as possible in the first few seconds,” Roman says. It all translates into unbeatable results to where 90%+ of Roman’s listed homes sell at or above listing price in the first 2 weeks of hitting the market.

As Managing Broker at Roman Shulyak Realty Group, Roman serves King and Pierce counties, covering an area that reaches from Tacoma to Kirkland. He lives in Bellevue and specializes in luxury listings there.

Roman’s business is heavily dominated by repeat and referral clients, a testament to the lasting connections and favorable impressions he makes. “Out of 66 houses I sold last year, 64 were referrals,” Roman explains.

“I focus on providing such a VIP experience that clients tell their friends and family: You have to go to Roman! My clients know from experience that I make the whole process seamless and stress-free.”

Looking toward the future, Roman plans to continue growing in the luxury space and eventually start a team.

“I’m a little bit different than many agents. I got into the business at a young age, and I relentlessly made it my mission to keep getting better,” Roman says. “I always thrived and got better whenever I put myself in uncomfortable situations, so I continue to take on new challenges all the time. It gives me an edge on the competition, and I like going out of my comfort zone. I want to keep getting better and being driven.”

It all comes back to the attentive and responsive service Roman provides. “I realized years ago that everybody loves to feel taken care of,” he says. “People know that I care about them and go the extra mile. Every client knows they can reach out to me 24/7 with any question and I will respond. I want to be the ultimate resource for you, and I go above and beyond in communication.

I make every client feel like they’re my only client by staying on top of everything.”

It’s all part of that VIP experience. “In real estate, we are helping people with their biggest asset. It’s a stressful time, and I can help take the burden off of my clients. They can walk away and feel like it’s taken care of. I love to make people feel like they’re in a true pro’s hands, and they can count on me to get it done.”

Top Agent Magazine

To find out more about Roman Shulyak, you can call (253) 583-6494, email roman@romanshulyak.com or visit romanshulyak.com www.

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