It’s not enough just to connect with your agents these days. In order to build a tight knit team, it’s important to connect with them often, and individually. In the following interview, Gary Fontenot, Broker/Owner of Realty Executives South Louisiana Group, Prairieville, La., gives us some inspirational insight into the way he does business.
Region served: Greater Baton Rouge MSA
Years in real estate: 29
Average time on market: 90 days
Average sales price: $212,000
Top tip for real estate newbies: Work your sphere of influence first and foremost, as your friends, family and neighbors are your best source for business. Once you have those people, get them to come to your personal website and keep up with their searching activity.
What is your go-to technology tool?
In addition to our website platform, we use a mobile platform through Virtual Agent. Our agents can have their own personal mobile app for clients to download by texting a personal short code, and the agents can also assign codes to each of their listings in order to send up-to-date property information and pictures.
How do you like to connect with agents?
As often as possible and on an individual basis. Our agents know that they can reach me via phone or text at any time. We also have regular sales meetings where we share market activity, new listings and general business discussions.
How does your company stay flexible and current?
There are three partners in the ownership of the brokerage and we’re all active in our area Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Corporations, Home Builders Association, Planning and Zoning meetings and City Council meetings. We rely on each other and our agents to stay current on local market conditions and share the information with one another. Technology wise, we rely on the marketing and technology team at Realty Executives International. With everything brokers deal with day in and day out, it’s even more difficult to dedicate time to reviewing new technology and trying to stay ahead of the curve.
What is your secret to effective time management?
Keeping the e-schedule on devices is a must, but I also write to-do items on a notepad and cross them out as completed. The stroke of that pen gives me a feeling of accomplishment and reinvigorates me to tackle the next challenge.
How are you preparing your agents for the future of real estate?
This goes back to communication with our agents. Our brokers and agents keep each other up-to-date on current and future trends within our local market and we rely on our support team at Realty Executives International to keep us up-to-date on national trends.
