This is the month when we pay special attention to what we’re thankful for. In the spirit of the season, we asked our agents what they’re thankful for when it comes to their careers. These are just some of the wonderful responses we received.

What do you appreciate about being a real estate agent?

“The support and opportunity for growth is simply unmatched. I have gained invaluable knowledge and perspective in such a short time.”
— Valerie Wilson, Realty Executives agent for nearly a year

“The freedom of deciding what to do with my day, and having the ability to grow with no cap on success.”
— Colin O'Neill, in real estate for 3 years, Realty Executives agent for 1 year

“I appreciate being able to be counted on by my husband and kids, my parents and in-laws, and also by our sphere of clients because of the flexibility of my schedule.”
— Jessica Liljegren, agent for 2 years, with Realty Executives for 1 year

“I love the flexibility and the opportunity to help people through what, for most, is the biggest and scariest transaction of their lives.”
— Brian Montrey, Realty Executives agent for 5 years

“Flexibility and additional income on top of my full time job.”
— Katie Nichols, agent for 2 years, with Realty Executives for 2 months

What are you thankful for when it comes to working with your clients?

“I'm thankful that they have given me their trust, loyalty and friendship. We've been able to laugh, trudge through deep snow, outrun wild animals living in kitchen cupboards, land on the dream home, sell in the right amount of time and high five at closings, to name a few. Through it all, it has been an adventure.”
— Christine Johnson, agent for 15 years, with Realty Executives since June 2021

“Clients putting their trust in me with something so significant in their lives.”
— Hailey Chang, Realty Executives agent for 9 months

“I appreciate all my past customers who continue to use our services again and again. There is nothing more rewarding than when past customers refer their best friends and family to us.”
— Jodi Olson, Realty Executives agent for 20 years

“It was a difficult market for buyers and I am especially thankful for their resilience and realistic view on the market.”
— Amy Sprengel, Realty Executives agent for 4 years

“I've been thankful to be able to serve clients of so many different walks of life. My favorite was when I helped a family with 3 kiddos move from their trailer into a beautiful ranch home with a spacious yard for their kids to play!”
— Jordan Hynum, Realty Executives agent for 2 years

What is one thing you’ve gained by working with Realty Executives this year

“The support and opportunity for growth is simply unmatched. I have gained invaluable knowledge and perspective in such a short time.”
— Katie Wright, Realty Executives agent for 6 months

“I still appreciate the ability to do my own thing so much.”
— Kim Peterson, real estate agent for 17 years, with Realty Executives for 10 years

“I love working with the Realty Executives Family. Everyone is always super supportive and it's always okay to have questions.”
— Brandon Roeling, Realty Executives agent for 5 months

“I'm proud to be part of a company that truly values people first and stands behind it. Our agents, office staff, and clients always come first and I'm very proud of that.”
— Amy Sprengel, Realty Executives agent for 4 years

“I have learned that you can be part of a whole and still be an individual. I've learned how the firm steps up when you need it.”
— Shannon Marie Lopez, Realty Executives agent for 5 months

Thanks to all of the agents who shared their thoughts. We’re grateful to have you as a part of the Realty Executives team and look forward to continuing to help you grow your business.

Interested in more info about joining Realty Executives? Request info & learn more.

There’s a saying that goes, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Of course, the hard work never really goes away, but when you find work that’s meaningful and fulfilling it feels different than just having a job.

Rose Paul had earned a degree in computer science and programming while living in her home country, the Philippines. But, with her love of architecture and passion for helping people, it wasn’t the most rewarding career path for her. When she took a job as an administrator in a local real estate office she knew she had found the field where she belonged.

“I loved learning the industry and how to build up a business,” says Paul. 

When she arrived in the United States, she wasn’t sure she’d continue her practice as a real estate agent. “But I guess when you have a passion and love what you do, you give it a try,” she says.

Create work that has meaning for you

While Paul was establishing her roots in a new country and working hard to build her real estate business, she realized she could use her knowledge to help other people like her. 

“I believe part of the American dream is owning a home,” she says. “But a lot of people new to this country don’t know how to make the dream come true. They’re intimidated by the process, and there might be language barriers too.”

Paul decided to make as much of her real estate business as possible focused on helping immigrants, particularly those in the Filipino community. “I’m able to offer a friendly face and be someone they’re comfortable with. We speak the same language, so I can help explain the process to my clients in a way they really understand. I hope working with me to find a home here helps them feel less homesick,” she says. “My community is my niche.”

Independent but never alone

Before joining the Realty Executives team, Paul had been an agent with another firm. Although she was working hard to build her business, she wasn’t seeing the success she wanted. On top of it, she didn’t have much encouragement from her firm.

She was feeling down and unsure of herself, but not quite ready to give up. She made the move to Realty Executives and found a level of support she hadn’t had before. “Realty Executives believed in me and what I wanted to do to serve my community,” she says, “Even when others out there did not.” 

The leadership team there listened to her vision and worked with her to create a clear plan to build the business she wanted to build.

“Realty Executives was truly there for me. They helped with marketing my business, and still are pushing me to learn more. They support me in following my passion and building up my niche, and I know they care about me,” Paul says. 

She’s one of many Realty Executive agents who have built up niche businesses. Some focus on helping seniors downsize, others specialize in a certain neighborhood or wherever their interests lead them.

One more thing Realty Executives and Rose Paul believe is that building a niche has to happen for the right reasons. “You need to have a servant’s heart. You have to have a passion for serving people and helping them, and you have to do that outside of your business too,” she says.

If you feel like real estate is something you want to do, Paul’s advice is simple. “Don’t be afraid. Go for it. That passion of yours will help you go through some rough times. Find a good company or brokerage that will be there always to support you and help your business grow, that values you as a person.”

Interested in more info about joining Realty Executives? Request info & learn more.

Rose Paul is an agent with Realty Executives Integrity Brookfield.

The holidays are in full swing! Have you taken time to go over your business plan for 2020 yet? While you prepare for the next calendar year, real estate coaches also recommend reflecting on the past one, and adjusting strategies accordingly. You’ll take stock of what went well, where your time and energy was spent, and what you can change moving forward.

There’s another important piece of the reflection process that real estate coaches want you to include. It’s critical for ongoing success, yet agents are quick to overlook it and exclude it altogether from their reflection. That element? Celebration.

“When acknowledged, our wins—even very small ones—create positive energy,” Theresa Vavrek, a real estate coach at Buffini & Company, explains. “They make us feel accomplished and ready to do more and get even better next time.”

Celebrating achievements is one of the most productive activities real estate agents can do for their business at the end of the year; however, busy schedules make it the easiest step to skip, according to Rachael Yeaman, also a Buffini & Company Certified Coach.

“It takes time, and a lot of people don’t give themselves that luxury,” says Yeaman.

There are a few other reasons why people are so hesitant to celebrate achievement. Yeaman says many of us have a natural tendency to undermine our own achievements when we feel like we should be doing those things anyway—think going to the gym, delivering client gifts, reading more books, etc. Furthermore, many agents worry about showboating or being perceived as egotistical for drawing attention to their accomplishments.

In reality, says Yeaman, celebrating our own achievements actually means celebrating others.

“Nobody performs anything in isolation,” she says. “Every single accomplishment we have is representative of everybody that helped us achieve that goal.”

The Buffini & Company real estate coaches encourage agents at the beginning of the year to start a journal. This way, when it’s time to reflect, agents have an ongoing list of wins and the people who helped, so nothing slips through the cracks. Vavrek recommends scheduling some quiet time to go over that list in order to identify big accomplishments and develop a strategy moving forward.

“Give reflection the time it deserves, and make it intentional,” advises Vavrek. “Otherwise, we are looking at doing things the same and expecting a different result.”

Once you’ve spent time reflecting and you’ve taken note of your accomplishments, Yeaman says it’s time to have some fun. There are a handful of fun and stress-free ways to celebrate with your database, like throwing a small party for your strongest supporters.

“Many of my clients host gratitude gatherings where they honor the people who are there and acknowledge how they’ve helped them,” says Yeaman.

She also encourages agents to spend time with those closest to them. After all, she says, achievement is a collective effort.

“Go out with your spouse, significant other, family, parents or kids to celebrate, honor, acknowledge and thank them for the role they played in the year’s accomplishments.”

As you navigate the busy end-of-year time, remember the advice of the top real estate coaches. Reflect on the past year, but don’t forget to celebrate your wins and achievements.

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When you’re dealing with a smaller apartment, one thing is certain – you’ll have to be innovative if you want to get the most out of your space. There are plenty of situations where you’d want to have an additional room. For example, if you’ve got two kids, them sharing a single room during adolescence is sure to cause frustration all around. With that in mind, we’ve decided to give you a couple of tips on how to convert a storage space into a bedroom. Read on and enjoy! 

The Right Color

So, you’ve decided to convert a storage space into a bedroom. Sure, if you’ve got a walk-in closet that you can do without; making a bedroom out of it is certainly possible. It won’t be a spacious one, obviously; let’s just say you won’t be able to transport your piano safely inside. However, you can still utilize the space you have to the best of your abilities. And by using some interior designing tricks, you can make it seem bigger than it really is. 

For starters – you should choose the right color. We definitely recommend avoiding any darker hues. If you use lighter colors, you’ll undeniably make the room seem bigger and airy. In comparison, using darker colors will make the space look smaller.

Think Vertically

When you want to convert a storage space into a bedroom, you’ll still need some storage space inside. After all, even a tiny bedroom has more stuff in it than just the bed. Obviously, you don’t have a lot of width to run with; but you still have the height. That’s why you’ll need to think vertically in order to make the most of the cramped spaced. If it’s a kid’s bedroom you’re making, put up as much shelving as you can for toys. 

Plus, the shelves do more than provide a practical storage solution. They also work to make the room feel taller than it really is; because they draw anyone’s eyes to look upward as they enter the room. 

Built-in Furniture

When you’re looking to convert a storage space into a bedroom, you need to make use of every single inch of space. But with such a specific space, any furniture you may want to fit inside might not fit. Or conversely, it could leave precious space unused if it’s too small. You could find a standard bed that somewhat fits inside, but only while leaving inches upon inches of unused room. Instead of wasting that area, think about making a built-in bed that fits the specifications of the room precisely. 

Lighting

Unfortunately, most storage areas will lack natural lighting, if we’re talking about large closets or attic spaces. That’s just one of the compromises you’ll have to make if you want to turn it into a room. But that doesn’t mean you’ll have to settle for a dark bedroom. Instead, look to install as many different light sources as possible. That way, you’ll not only be able to have the room as bright as you want it to be; you’ll also be free to adjust the lighting in degrees. 

Remember when doing any renovation that it will take time and patience to get the space exactly how you want. Create a budget, stick to it and be creative with the unused space in your home.

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