SavvyRealEstatePro.me

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. REALTORS® are members of The National Association of REALTORS® and uphold the most strict standards of ethics. You can be a real estate agent without being a REALTOR®, but only a REALTOR® has access to the highest quality services and tools, and information and training available in the industry today. That does not mean however, that all REALTORS® are equal. So, make sure you interview for your next business partner. Because you truly should feel in partnership with the person who's going to be assisting you with one of the largest investments you'll most likely make in your lifetime.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I am a trend-setter and leader in technology applications used in our local real estate market. Our clients are provided the top-of-the-line in servicing tools, and real-time market insight that put them in the driver's seat and create a collaborative-team atmosphere. When you work with me we are not working as individuals with a set agenda, but rather a partnership with the same goals in mind... yours!

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. Watching the faces of that first-time homebuyer who just got into the home of their selection, and hearing the excitement in their voice when they start planning their decorating or landscaping strategies. Or, the first time that seller has to make a move and goes from anxious-ridden individuals confused about the path they're about to journey down, to that sigh of relief they feel when they've finally closed on the sale and think back to how well the journey went vs how they feared it might have gone.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. How are you different from the competition? I don't hold back and tell you what I think you want to hear. I'm going to give you all of the information you're going to need to have in order to make some timely, strategic decisions so that you realize your goals in a time that suits your needs. Not everyone has the same goals in mind, and therefore, I do not provide a one-size-fits-all business strategy to meet them. We'll sit and talk about your unique goals, your questions and concerns, and together we'll develop a strategy that will help YOU realize those goals in the most equitable solution, in the most timely manner possible.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. Many times consumers are under the impression that we charge a large commission percentage to provide them the same information that they can find on the internet themselves, or in the case of a seller, to just list their home on the local multiple listing service (MLS). This is a common misperception, and one that is far from the rest of the story. A REALTOR® has the tools and resources, the know-how, connections, and negotiating skills to make what can be a very time-consuming, and frustrating process become one that's more seamless and less stressful. Additionally, that "huge" commission you think we're pocketing... we'll it actually gets split up to a minimum of 4 different ways; to four different parties. Sometimes that split can be broken down as much as 5,6,7 or 8 different ways depending on the number of agents who were servicing a client on behalf of a broker on either side of a transaction, and how those personal business-to-business contracts are set up between an independent real estate professional and the broker who holds their license. In fact, as an independent contractor, a REALTOR® takes on a large financial burden most times; ahead of any payday; paying for advertising and material costs, with no guarantee of a paycheck until the job is done. It's a very challenging career and one that I love because of the positive difference I'm helping to make in the lives of those I service.

Tanya Ericksen-Troska | Keller Williams Premier Realty
MN DRE#20306911

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. Each year we are required to complete a number of hours of continuing education in order to complete and satisfy licensing guidelines setforth by the state of Minnesota. Many times, this minimum requirement of 15hours annually is often exceeded because of the number of timely and topical points that we need to research as professionals in order to stay competitive in our field. Technology, for example, changes so quickly, and if you're only looking at the minimum education once or twice a year, then there's a good chance you're missing something vital that can benefit your clients, and effect their goals. Additionally, there are many changes from the legislative level, financial reforms, or ethical updates from the association levels that can change the way you do business. It's important, that I'm consistantly monitoring communications for opportunities of improvement from all levels of this industry; locally and nationally, from a governmental-level, association-level, and even broker-level.

Tanya Ericksen-Troska | Keller Williams Premier Realty
MN DRE#20306911