REALTOR PROFILES - APRIL 2022

2022 REALTOR PROFILES SPECIAL FEATURE PRESENTED BY

WORDS Dwain Hebda and Catherine Frederick some interviews have been edited for length and clarity

Do South® Magazine is proud to recognize the talents and contributions of select Realtors in our community. They set the bar for excellence and are committed to going the extra mile for their clients. Join us as we salute their incredible achievements and the passion they share for their profession.

DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM

2022 REALTOR PROFILES SPECIAL FEATURE PRESENTED BY

WORDS Dwain Hebda and Catherine Frederick some interviews have been edited for length and clarity

Do South® Magazine is proud to recognize the talents and contributions of select Realtors in our community. They set the bar for excellence and are committed to going the extra mile for their clients. Join us as we salute their incredible achievements and the passion they share for their profession.

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GHAN & COOPER COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

company specializes in selling, leasing, development and property management, spanning two generations and seventy years of

Kathleen Caldarera didn’t start out in the real estate business,

combined experience.

answering a want ad for an entry-level assistant apartment manager twelve years ago. What she may have lacked in a head

Kathleen lives up to the demands of the company’s stellar

start she more than made up for in determination and hustle,

reputation by addressing each client’s needs individually,

working her way into the role of partner with Ghan & Cooper.

leveraging her knowledge of local markets, trends and cap rates to help clients understand the metrics that maximize their return

“What sets me apart is hard work. I really pride myself on my work

on investment.

ethic,” she says. “I am also a very competitive person and I always strive to be the very best at what I do. I put that combination to

“ With each new client, I like to meet and discuss their objectives

work every day in our company. Clients can count on me to go the

to determine how our company can help meet those goals,” she

extra mile for them.”

said. “I think what sets our company apart is our clear way of communicating, our transparency and our attention to detail.

Ghan & Cooper Commercial Properties provides full-service

We help our clients manage their commercial property as if it

commercial, industrial and multi-family real estate services. The

were our own.”

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Warnock Real Estate Buying a house is one of the most exciting landmarks in the life of any family, but without the assistance of a real estate professional, it can also be a complicated and intimidating process, especially for first-timers or those who are new to a community.

For six decades, Warnock Real Estate has taken the stress and worry out of buying or selling a home, fulfilling the dreams of thousands of satisfied clients. And while the industry itself has become more and more complex, Warnock Real Estate has kept things simple by providing expertise in a manner that’s responsive and customer centered.

“Our firm has always believed in providing the best possible service and that starts with the quality of our team,” said Clif Warnock, second-generation owner and Principal Broker.

“Our team features many experienced agents and brokers, all of whom are recognized for their expertise and customer-facing skills. In fact, many of our brokers have, at one time, operated a brokerage of their own.”

Clif said a second element that differentiates Warnock Real Estate from the competition is the fact that the company only retains full-time agents and brokers. He said one of the things that forty-three years has taught him is the value of a totally committed staff.

“All our agents and brokers are full time,” he says. “ This has never been a business where one can provide the highest level of professionalism while performing it as a hobby.” Part of that service lies in supporting technology that makes it easier for clients to communicate and complete certain functions from afar. But Clif says technology can only go so far, so the company strikes a healthy balance between the convenience of digital and the impact of human connection.

“With all the technology in use today, it is common for agents to lose the ability to relate to people and their situations,” he says. “We appreciate technology, but we require our agents to work personally with clients to answer questions and counsel them through the process of buying or selling a home. Some things still best done one-on-one.”

If Clif sounds personally invested in his work, it’s because he is. He said the sterling reputation of the family business and the ability to provide career opportunities for his agents have made his time in the industry gratifying. “ To be the best, you have to be completely committed to your work and we are,” he says.

“We’re not as concerned with being the largest firm in town as we are to being the best at serving our customers.”

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Keller Williams Platinum Realty Six years ago, Keller Williams didn’t even exist in the River Valley, but it’s certainly made up for lost time since. Opening its Fort Smith office in late 2017, the company has enjoyed skyrocketing success, growing to 120 agents and breaking sales records every year.

“I’m proud of our success because of what that success represents,” says Barbie Johnson, CEO and team leader. “When our agents are successful, it means they’re consistently producing highly satisfied clients who will recommend them to family and friends. It’s the ultimate win-win.”

Keller Williams’s agents aren’t successful by accident, either. Barbie said the training, technology, tools, systems and models the company provides are second to none, giving team members everything necessary to provide their clients the best experience.

“We have training available every day,” she says. “We do that because we want our agents to be the best resources for their clients, no matter the situation. We train on how to work best with your buyers in this market, how to do an effective listing presentation, and how to know the market in 2022.”

“Agents have gained knowledge of the market from the perspective of a buyer or a seller and communicate that well. I think training is what really helps our agents sell and break records and most importantly, serve clients.”

Real estate moves with lightning speed, especially in recent years. Keller Williams harnesses technology to keep agents informed of what’s coming onto the market, allowing them to connect those listings with prospective buyers quickly.

“We provide an app branded to each agent,” Barbie says. “When the client is looking at the app and they like a house, they hit a little heart button and the agent is notified. They can reach out right then to that client to schedule a showing of that property.”

Last year, Keller Williams was able to assist 1,477 families buy, sell or find investment properties and five of the company’s agents ranked in the top ten in sales volume for 2021.

And yet, Barbie’s as proud of how her team cares for each other as she is of the bottomline numbers.

“Even though we’re large, we consider ourselves a family,” she says. “We have an incredible company culture and we’re always trying to find ways to serve our community and each other. Our agents are amazing at taking care of their clients, but they also do an amazing job taking care of one another, whether it's with a meal, helping someone move or even giving away a car! It’s hard to find that kind of work environment these days.”

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Nick & Ellie Glidewell The real estate business carries no guarantees of success. The best agents know they must continually up their game to consistently exceed their clients’ expectations if they hope to last.

That’s precisely the game plan Nick and Ellie Glidewell have subscribed to during their Realtor careers and judging from their longevity and hundreds of satisfied customers, the high-powered pair are executing their strategy to perfection.

“Staying on top in real estate means being consistent, flexible and empathetic to the needs of your clients,” Nick says. “We want our clients to know we’re here for them in good times and bad. Our goals have changed very little in these crazy last few years; our most

Glidewell "Ready To Serve You" Nick & Ellie

important goal from a business standpoint is to be highly available to people interested in buying or selling real estate.”

“We’ve had pretty good success with that approach, much better than had we let the so-called ‘market’ dictate how we do business.” This philosophy has forged the duo a rocksolid reputation in the industry, something invaluable to any real estate professional.

“One of the keys to success in any business is visibility,” Ellie says. “ The Fort Smith region has seen a lot of fluctuations in the real estate market, especially with the recent health concerns and national drama. Within all that, we’ve maintained our visibility through marketing and outreach.”

There’s also the things that can’t be taught, like the couple’s instincts which allow them to anticipate and proactively troubleshoot issues before they become all-out emergencies. “In February 2021, we had a period of very cold weather,” Nick says. “We were out doing errands and we drove past an unoccupied home we’d recently listed.

For some reason, something told us we needed to check on the house.

“It’s a good thing we did. A pipe had burst, and part of the home was filling fast with water. When we showed up, the water was still in an area with sturdy stone flooring but was headed for a large section of gorgeous wood flooring. We cancelled our errands, turned off the water, and got to work with a squeegee to save the wood floor, along with what would have been thousands in water damage.”

While most issues aren’t that dramatic, Ellie says paying attention to the smallest details goes a long way with clients. “The people we serve entrust us to professionally and conscientiously handle their properties from Day-One until Day-Done and that’s exactly what we do,” she says. “No exceptions.”

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When You’re Buying or Selling a Home,

Everything Should Revolve Around You

Buyers:

Learn about and visit only the properties that match your specific desires and budget. We’ll advise you on every move, every decision, every step of the way.

Sellers:

Benefit from proven selling technologies like 3D Virtual Home Tours and stunning photo and web promotion. We pay for these strategies – not you.

Discover how simple and rewarding it is to buy or sell a home with Nick and Ellie Glidewell, Realtors who are 100% invested in your ultimate delight and satisfaction.

Call or visit:

(479) 739-6333 NickAndEllie.com