Realtor Conversations

Demyan Trofimovich

Joining us in the penthouse today is Demyan Trofimovich with EXP Realty. Demyan is here to talk about moving to the US from Eastern Europe, how his career path changed from medical device sales to real estate, why building teams is so important, and balancing family life with a hectic schedule.

 

On this episode:

• Where is Demyan from, how long has he been in America, and what brought him here?
• How Demyan dealt with the sudden move.
• How the US measured up to his expectations from the movies he had seen.
• What life was like for Demyan back home.
• Overcoming language barriers and dealing with culture shock.
• How Demyan graduated the ESL program in 2 years.
• How did Demyan end up in real estate?
• About Demyan’s college life.
• Making the surprise move from medical device sales to real estate.
• What is involved in medical device sales?
• How learning to profile doctors helped him in real estate.
• How he started building his client base.
• Understanding how to become a top producer.
• The importance of work ethic and hyper-focus in real estate.
• The necessity of actually listening to clients.
• Why you need to make the effort to educate your sellers and buyers.
• About Demyan’s team, as well as his team-building goals.
• How having a child has influenced Demyan’s work.
• Learning to leave work at the office.
• What Demyan sees in today’s market.
• Why sellers need to make sure their house is 100% ready to sell.
• What buyers need to consider in the market and why you need a realtor.
• Making sure your offer is one you are comfortable with.
• Why are people skipping inspections?

 

Contact Demyan:

Phone: 651-767-2462

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/demyanandtwincities 

Jen Rogness

Joining us in the penthouse today in Jen Rogness with EXP Realty FitRE Group. Jen is here to discuss horses, the market in Hudson, and why her team is called Fit. We also get to hear about her involvement with horses and why Hudson is heating up.

 

On this episode:

• Who Jen works with on her team.
• Jen’s background with horses and how she takes hers everywhere with her.
• About Jen’s riding competitions and what the costs are to enter.
• The relationship benefits of competing.
• About getting more competitive as time goes on.
• Jen’s expertise in farm realty and where her office is located.
• Does Jen prefer covering Wisconsin or Minnesota?
• Why Jen got a dual license.
• New developments in Hudson.
• Why it’s important that Jen can work on both sides of the river.
• Why the Hudson market is becoming more competitive.
• The reason why there are so many equestrian facilities in Washington County.
• What does FitRE stand for?
• About the team’s interest in fitness.
• The dangers of winter fitness and what Jen’s fitness routine looks like.
• Training for a marathon.
• About the skincare company Neora and Jen’s involvement with them.
• How working with Neora has aided her real estate career.
• What Jen is seeing in the current market.
• The one hurdle Jen is coming across.
• Why inventory is the number one pushback.
• How to use the seller’s market to your advantage.
• Why there’s no reason to be afraid to be in complete control of your home sale.
• The importance of timeline flexibility when buying and selling.
• About Jen’s family, including why her husband is a local legend.
• Where Jen’s horse is boarded.

 

Contact Jen:

Email: jen@fitregroup.com

Phone: 715-821-1952

Katie House

In today’s episode, we’re joined by guest Katie House from EXP Realty and the House team based in Somerset Wisconsin. She joins us to discuss the current market, creative solutions to market issues, and setting expectations for her clients.

 

On this episode:

• The tagline for Katie’s team.
• How long Katie has been in the real estate business.
• The market in 2012 versus the market now.
• Where Katie began working.
• Working with your best friend.
• Coming to real estate from a background without sales.
• Katie’s experience working with other realtors.
• About EXP, their growth, and why other realtors are joining.
• Is the future of being a real estate agent virtual?
• Katie’s physical office and what it’s like to work with her team.
• The importance of having a team that’s like family.
• Why is today’s market so unique?
• What are the challenges of the current market?
• Why low inventory is a problem.
• Current issues with new constructions.
• What Katie would say to someone looking to move while the inventory is so low.
• What it means to be non-contingent.
• Katie’s recommendations for those looking to move.
• Creative solutions to the markets’ unknowns and why you need an agent to navigate them.
• Who is Katie working with most, sellers or buyers?
• Setting expectations for both buyers and sellers.
• Being a sounding board for clients.
• Why it’s important for Katie and her team to get to know their clients.
• Marrying client relationships with data-driven strategies.
• The area that Katie and her team cover.

 

Contact Katie:

Phone number: 612-816-9945

Website: katiehouserealtor.com

Olga Walker

Olga Walker, a Community Specialist with Creative Homes, is our guest on today’s show. We’re going to hear all about quick move-in homes, why community involvement is important, and the reason Creative Homes will never compromise on quality craftmanship.

 

On this episode:

• What is a Community Specialist?
• What Creative Homes does for its clients.
• The importance of being available to answer community questions.
• Why a human connection is important to Creative Homes.
• Common questions Olga receives.
• About the design studio experience.
• Current available inventory in the area and how long it will last.
• How Creative Homes is dealing with the low inventory numbers.
• About Creative Homes quick move-in options.
• Creative Homes’ recent successes and award wins.
• Olga’s personal success within the industry.
• How Olga got her start in the business.
• How Stig and Olga know each other.
• Creative Homes’ contribution to the community.
• About the Hearts and Hammers program.
• What qualifies you for the Hearts and Hammers program?
• The future of the program and what they hope to continue offering to participants.
• What Creative Homes is doing for people that are on the fence about waiting for a home.
• The customer experience provided at Creative Homes.
• Olga’s experience with Creative Homes before she worked there.
• How Olga’s experience building her own home helps inform her work today.
• How Creative Homes is planning to maintain its high-quality craftsmanship compared to their low prices.
• What’s the best route to purchase a Creative Home?

 

Contact Olga and Creative Homes:

Website: creativehomes.com

Phone Number: 651-371-9678 

Wendy Gimpel

In today’s episode, we’re joined by guest Wendy Gimpel with Keller Williams Realty. She will tell us about the importance of hiring experienced agents that actually know what they’re doing, why the highest offer doesn’t always close the deal, and interest rates and their impact on buyers.

 

On this episode:

• About Wendy’s background in real estate.
• How Wendy turned her vacation into a sale.
• What is the secret to selling in the current market?
• The competitive nature of listings at the moment.
• Why it isn’t always the highest price offer that wins and the other factors that come into play.
• Understanding that you need to stand behind your offer.
• The reasons you need to hire an experienced real estate agent to help you through the process.
• How Wendy helped navigate a difficult situation last minute to close a deal on time.
• Wendy’s predictions for the next 6 months, including interest rates.
• Will mortgage rates go up if prime rates increase? How does that affect buying power?
• Wendy’s experience buying her first house.
• How the mortgage rates have differed from the 90s to now.
• Will people try to assume lower mortgage rates?
• Why inventory correction needs to happen.
• About the silent generation and their impact on the market.
• How the economic crash in 2008 has lingering effects in the market today.
• Can the government intervene?
• Why Wendy is in it for the long haul.
• Wendy’s dedication to long-term client relationships.
• Why you need to answer your phone to be successful.

 

Contact Wendy:

Email: wendy@wendygimpel.com

Phone number: 651-214-7796

Bob Snyder

In our first episode of 2022, we’re joined by Bob Snyder. He is a local real estate expert with EXP Realty who has been licensed since 20 years ago in 2002. Bob is here to discuss being a giant in the real estate industry, the benefits of having a team for him and for his clients, and why they niched down into higher-end markets.

 

On this episode:

• About Bob’s trips to Vermillion.
• Does Bob ever sell any real estate at Lake Vermillion?
• About Bob’s other business, Vermillion Dock and Lift Services.
• What does this second business offer?
• The exponential growth that EXP Realty has had.
• Why and when Bob and his business partner Jennifer moved to EXP Realty.
• Where is Bob’s office?
• How many people are on Bob and Jennifer’s team?
• The main benefit of working with their team over working with a single realtor.
• About Bob and Jennifer’s top production rates in the area.
• How they were able to have such a good year.
• What kind of property do they specialize in?
• The lots and custom builds that Bob and his team currently have remaining.
• How to weigh building new and buying pre-owned.
• About competitive new construction interest rates and how they are impacting sales.
• Why sometimes buying a house is a compromise.
• What is so great about the local market these days?
• What percentage of the Snyder team’s business is based in Wisconsin?
• Who is Bob outside of work?
• How to get a hold of the Snyder Team.

 

Contact Bob:

Cell number: 651-402-1537

Email: bob@thesnyderteam.com

Vermilion Dock and Lift Services: https://vermiliondockandliftservices.com/

Diane Donley

This time we are welcoming Diane Donley from Realty Group based in the Twin Cities. She has been doing real estate in the St. Croix valley for 22 years and has recently purchased a property in the area. A strong market, Diane tells us about the unique deals that happen there and some mistakes she has been seeing recently.

 

On this episode:

• How Brad and Stig recently helped out Diane.
• Diane’s plan to Airbnb a cabin on a property she recently bought.
• Looking at lake and farm properties for people, and the strength of that market.
• What it was like for Diane to join the Army right out of high school.
• What’s harder, being in the military or being in real estate?
• Working as a therapist for 15 years before becoming a realtor.
• How the therapy that Diane performed was unique.
• Similarities between Otter Tail Lake and Stillwater.
• The feeling of honor that Diane gets when she works with other veterans.
• Are multiple offers still being seen in the Otter Tail Lake area?
• Another lake in the area and why it’s great for duck hunting.
• Advice for people who sell their house but then can’t find one to buy.
• Issues that Diane sees with purchase agreements, especially from newer realtors.
• Why all financing is not created equally.
• Something that Diane lets every one of her clients know.
• Guiding your clients to make a purchase that is comfortable for them.

 

Diane Donley of Realty Group

Email: dianedonleyproperties@gmail.com

cell # 612-723-9086 

Meghan Kell

On today’s episode we’re joined by guest Meghan Kell, an architect based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Meghan and her company help people build their dreams, so she’ll be explaining how in this episode, along with what architects can do to add value to your property.

 

On this episode:

• Why Meghan fits in on the Realtor Conversations podcast.
• How Meghan helps realtors and their clients to see the potential of a home.
• Seeing past the aesthetic issues of a home.
• About what Meghan does within domestic architecture.
• Why Meghan is honoring her father with her company name.
• How Meghan found her passion for architecture while studying liberal arts.
• What happened after Meghan graduated.
• Meghan’s journey to starting her own firm in 2010.
• Who is Meghan’s ideal client?
• Why would you benefit from what an architect can provide?
• What architects actually do (hint: it’s not just drawing blueprints).
• Moving the puzzle pieces of a house to solve a problem.
• How architects can save you money.
• What are the hallmarks of Meghan’s design?
• Understanding the importance of spaces.
• What is trending right know in architecture?
• How having an open mind to possibilities can help when working with the architect.
• Should you hire a builder or an architect first?
• What you can achieve with simple cosmetic work.
• Creating a harmonious home from outside in.
• The importance of lighting, along with natural versus electrical.
• What is involved when you first start working with Meghan.
• How Meghan finds inspiration and solutions.
• Meghan’s goal when working with her clients.

 

Contact Meghan:

Phone: 612-812-5687

Website: www.kellarchitects.com

Email: info@kellarchitects.com

Sara Letourneau

In this episode we’ve got Sara Letourneau, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker, as our guest. Sara is here to discuss how she first got into real estate, her other business River Town Tours, as well as her experience of selling 7 figure homes.

 

On this episode:

• The restructuring at Sara’s old job and why this pushed her to get her real estate license.
• What you should know about today’s market as a new buyer.
• The importance of knowing your numbers.
• The difference between what you can afford and what you are comfortable with.
• Why ‘no regrets’ is Sara’s mantra for her clients.
• Why you need a good realtor working on your behalf.
• Today’s rates as they stand.
• How and why Sara bought her first house on an A.R.M.
• Why she bought her house at 23-years-old.
• Taking the opportunity to build wealth as a young person.
• The process of selling a 7-figure home for the first time.
• Understanding the process to sell could take time.
• Sara’s other business, River Town Tours, and what the current situation is.
• Has Sara ever sold a haunted house?
• Local haunted places.
• Common seller concerns in the current real estate market.
• Understanding the importance of presenting your house well.
• Being realistic with your selling expectations.
• Knowing the strategy of real estate buying and selling.
• Common public misconceptions about realtors.
• The most important things to consider when working with a realtor.
• Building relationships and trust.
• Why you should stay in the market through the holidays.

 

Contact Sara:

Website: https://www.saraletourneau.com

Email: Realty@saraletourneau.com

Phone number: 651-964-8274

CJ Randazzo

In this episode we welcome CJ Randazzo, a realtor with EXP Realty, a virtual real estate company. CJ is a favorite real estate agent of the show because he’s never afraid to pick up the phone, and he always keeps his cool in high-stress situations. He’s been a realtor for six years now, and in that time he’s learned a lot. During the episode he shares how he got into the industry, the lens by which he views real estate, and how he’s using his knowledge to give a hand up to friends and clients.

 

On this episode:

• How long CJ has been with EXP Realty.
• Why CJ got into the real estate industry and how he ended up here.
• What he always thought about real estate while growing up.
• Why CJ believes in buying properties with rent potential.
• What sets CJ apart from other realtors.
• How CJ is using his skills and expertise to help his friends and family.
• Why it’s important to look at real estate as an investment.
• Why CJ says every realtor should act like it’s their own buy.
• The benefits of buying a property that needs a bit of work.
• The importance of facilitating trust with clients.
• A little bit about CJ’s additional business.
• Why he’s a big believer in having multiple income streams.
• All of the hats CJ can wear day-to-day as a realtor.
• How to get in contact with CJ.

 

Contact CJ:

Phone: 651-472-3892

Email: cjrandazzo@gmail.com

Facebook: CJ Randazzo Real Estate