Jo Ferraro
The Jo Ferraro Team @ Century 21 Affiliated
Years in Real Estate: 14
Areas Served: Madison, Middleton, Waunakee, Verona & all of South Central Wisconsin

What is your best idea for time management?

Just ‘do it’! Keep doing only the things you love to do and no one else can. Maximize the value you add to your team members and clients. Communicate effectively, empower others and delegate.

What is the key to a successful life in real estate?

Putting others peoples' needs and goals above your own self interests. Effective communication, systems, leads management, honesty and integrity.

Why did you become a member of Top 5?  

To add even more value to my clients and leverage me further above my competition!

Do you use social media to stay current?

Yes, I use social media to stay current. I tweet and have a business page for all the real estate issues. I now am using the Top 5 videos and embedded in the website.

Christine Richardson
Weichert Realtors
Years in Real Estate: 24
Areas Served: Northern Virginia

Why did you become a member of Top 5?

“I believe strongly in the idea of providing relevant information to my clients. Why is it that consumers call us after they have decided they want to buy or sell real estate? They should be calling us to find out if they should be considering buying or selling real estate. I also like the idea of having a credential that spans real estate companies so that consumers have a true benchmark to seek when choosing a REALTOR®. There are so many "top producers” out there—how is a consumer to choose?”

What is the best way to connect with the consumer?

“I think you have to be versatile and flexible. Some people want to communicate by text and Facebook messaging while others prefer the good old fashioned phone call or face-to-face discussion. And you have to be able to do everything in between, too. I try to make my clients feel as comfortable and make connecting with me easy. That requires different approaches for different people.”

Priscilla Toomey
Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty
Years in Real Estate: 25
Areas Served: Southern Westchester County, NY

Why did you become a Member of Top 5?

For the information and the networking. I learn so much from working with Top 5. The articles all go up on my website, which has helped my search engine optimization tremendously.  

Why is providing relevant content and information critical to succeeding in today’s market?

Everybody starts their home search on the Internet today. They may also hear a lot in the media about real estate. One of the reasons it is so important to provide relevant content is because real estate is local, but what they may be seeing or hearing is not local. I provide important context.  

Why is it essential to build this type of ongoing relationship with clients?

Real estate sales are often looked at as transactional. My background, however, is in relocation, where the relationship goes on for 20 or 30 years. So I look at clients as clients for life and I want to be there as a resource for whatever they need,   whenever they need it.  

Jo Ann Roberts
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
Years in Real Estate: 18
Areas Served: Pinecrest, Gables by the Sea, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay, Fla.

What’s your biggest obstacle to staying ahead on information?

Time. Agents have to be very disciplined to spend their time wisely. As I go through the day, when I have “wait time,” I use my iPad to read real estate articles I have bookmarked. I constantly stay aware of my local real estate market and keep my community aware of market trends through a monthly newsletter.

Do you use social media to stay current?

Yes. I recognize social media as an important tool to build rapport and recognition in the community. But I also know it can take an immense amount of time. I think agents have to be very, very disciplined in their social media time management.

What is the key to a successful life in real estate?

Balance. Taking care of your health, family and career. Taking care of health is number one so you can enjoy number two and be successful in number three. The other way I know how well I’m doing is from the continual client referrals to their friends and relatives.

Chris Ruszkiewicz
RE/MAX Realty 100
Years in real estate: 18
Areas served: Greater Milwaukee Area; Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Racine & Ozaukee counties.

What is your unique selling advantage?

I offer exceptional service to my clients. With over 18 years as a full-time, successful Realtor, my experience helps buyers and sellers navigate this difficult market. My goal is to do all I can to help each of my clients meet their real estate goals. I strive to make each transaction as smooth and easy as possible.  With 95% of my business coming from past clients and referrals, I don’t have to invest time in pursuing new business.  I’m able to devote my time to serving the needs of my clients.

What is the key to a successful life in real estate?

Passion and balance.  I absolutely love what I do and love my clients.  However, taking care of my clients can become overwhelming.  I have learned to take care of myself and my family first.  It has made me a better wife, mother, friend and Realtor! 

Mary Miner
Nextage Lone Star Realty & MBM Property Management LLC
Years in Real Estate: 11
Areas Served: Austin, TX: Pflugerville, Hutto, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Lender

Why did you become a member of Top 5?
I became a member of Top 5 because Verl Workman has been my coach. I learn a great deal from him and he helped me succeed in a difficult time last year. Top 5 has a lot to offer and great tools for us to expand our business.

 What’s your biggest obstacle to staying ahead on information?
I believe that the biggest obstacle is lack of education. We all need coaches and need others to hold us accountable throughout our career. We need to stay focused at all times.

What is the key to a successful life in real estate?
It is to really care about your client and your fellow Realtors®. You need to learn to give back and work with your community. Learn to be the expert of your area but then give to others and all will respect you. Have passion for your profession and feel great when you client gets their results.

Brian Solinsky
South Sound Home Team at Keller Williams
Years in Real Estate: 7
Areas Served: South Sound of Washington State; mainly Puyallup, Bonney Lake, Tacoma, Federal Way, Auburn, and Spanaway 

 What is your unique selling advantage?

“Begin with the end in mind.” Steven R Covey. I start with an understanding of the goals of my clients, then set up a plan for success. Through the use of research, marketing, communication, negotiation, and follow through; I am able to sell homes for the highest price in the right amount of time. As we follow the plan with the end in mind, we can overcome any obstacle that comes our way.

What is the key to a successful life in real estate?

Finding success in real estate first involves being in front of people. It is vital to budget your time to allow for such opportunities. Being involved with my community, both in person and in cyberspace let’s others know I am there and ready to serve. It is a natural jump to do business with me as a trusted community-minded individual.

 What are you doing to make a difference and drive new business?

Community involvement is key to my business success. I coach multiple teams in youth sports and am involved in the W.A.T.C.H. DOGS program at the local elementary school. These activities put me in front of people in a positive way and lead to business opportunities as well.

Brad Korb
The Brad Korb Team at RE/MAX In Action
Years in Real Estate: 33
Areas Served: Burbank, Glendale, North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Toluca Lake, Valley Village, and surrounding areas

What is the key to a successful life in real estate?

You need to make a commitment to follow your goals.  Work on them daily and spend time improving your business and yourself.  Mastermind with fellow real estate agents with values and goals that are similar to yours.

What is the key to a successful life in real estate?

My key to a successful life in real estate is to always hang around real estate agents that are doing more business than you.  Network with top producers from around the country.  Implement ideas they share and add your core values to make them your own.  You can be green & growing or ripe & rotten.  You need to keep growing your business.

Cindy Marsh-Tichy
Weichert Realtors
Years in Real Estate: 13
Areas Served: Parsippany: Montville, Boonton, East Hanover, Denville, Rockaway, Hanovers

What is the key to a successful life in real estate?

You really have to love this business. It is so diverse and changes each day so it is always a challenge.  Surround yourself with people that love the business like you do and have the same work habits and philosophy. Everyone plays an important role in making sure the client is satisfied and returns time and time again.  Education is also key. I have always prided myself on staying educated on current topics and issues. I hold several designations and make sure to take classes that bring me up to date on market trends, legal issues, mortgage options and more. There are a lot of topics that until confronted by them, most are unaware they exist. I try to be able to be the source to find the answers.

How have you incorporated video into your marketing?

I use videos in three different ways. First, as a walkthrough of the property when it is listed with my own dialogue as if I was showing it to a prospective client.  Second, I do a segment called Driving with Cindy, and yes, it is videotaped while I am driving and it is a brief overview of a topic, like staging.  Lastly, I have a video that tells my clients why they want to work with me.  Video is very powerful, especially when marketing overseas or across the country to relocation clients.

Chris Nichols
Prudential Utah Elite Real Estate
Years in Real Estate: 9
Areas Served: Utah County, Utah

What is the biggest challenge to using social media?

I think people tend to not be themselves on social sites. This is an opportunity for you to shine and let your personality show. After all, the best client is the one who truly feels connected to you as their agent.

What is your most creative marketing strategy?

When I first got involved in social media I branded myself as utahREpro. That branding and presence across multiple platforms has made a tremendous difference for me. It has provided me with many referrals from across the nation as I have been able to stay top of mind for REALTOR friends when they have needs here in Utah.

What is the key to a successful life in real estate?

Give back! My career has truly blossomed and been impacted for the good as I have given back to the industry by serving.