CENTURY 21 360 Photography Tutorial

December 8, 2017 By Casey Danton

With the majority of potential homebuyers using the internet as part of their search, photography is crucial. Flattering angles, good lighting, color editing―it all matters. But sometimes, a regular photo just doesn’t cut it. That’s where 360-degree photos come in. If you want to bring a new listing to life, develop a stunning panorama to show it off. Follow these tips to highlight every angle of your new listing.

Step 1: Download a 360 Photo App

First, you’ll need a program on your phone that’s capable of taking 360-degree photos. There are a number of reliable options available for Android and iPhone. If you use an Android phone, take advantage of the “photo sphere” mode in the stock camera to take immersive 360-degree panoramas. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use app, download Street View to capture the best features inside or outside a home.

Step 2: Capture the Perfect Photo

Once you’ve successfully downloaded your software of choice, it’s time to take the actual photo. First, decide on a location. Choose a room with a good amount of natural light and stand in the center so objects aren’t too close. Now that you know where to take the photo, it’s time to learn how. If you’re using Street View, tap “Camera.” The photo-taking process is pretty straightforward, and the app will guide you through it―just stand in one place and keep the camera centered on all of the orange circles. When you reach each position, an image will automatically be taken, so there’s no need to press the shutter button.

Step 3: Review the Final Product

Once you’ve recorded all of your images, you’ve come full circle. Tap the check mark, and the app will turn all of those little photos into one 360-degree panorama. Take a look at the result. If you aren’t satisfied, retake the photo as many times as you need to capture the image you’re looking for. Even if you are satisfied, it never hurts to take a few more so you have options.

Step 4: Share on Social Media

Once you’ve captured the perfect picture, you’ll most certainly want to share it. Tap “Share” and upload your picture to Facebook. Facebook automatically recognizes the 360-degree photo and uploads it. Once the upload is complete, fill in any pertinent details in your post copy. After that, your work is done. Sit back, relax, and let your potential buyers take a virtual trip around their future home.

Use this strategy with your future listings and take note of its outcomes. If they’re positive, you can even consider a 360-degree video. It’s only up from here.

Watch the CENTURY 21 360 Photography Tutorial below to see these tips in action.

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CENTURY 21 Photography Tips Tutorial

November 28, 2017 By Casey Danton

As an agent, it’s vital that you make a big splash with your listing. In most cases, great photography is your only chance of enticing prospective buyers into coming by to take a look. First impressions are everything. Follow these tips to showcase your listing in the best possible light.

Step One: Use a Tripod

Whether you’re using a smartphone to take your pictures or a nice digital camera, a tripod makes the picture taking a lot easier. An uneven or blurry photo will immediately turn off potential customers, so it’s essential to get this step right. Low light is also one of the main reasons tripods are important. Why? To cut down on blurry pictures. Tripods make taking a steady and stable shot possible. If you’re taking a panoramic photo, a tripod allows you to pan seamlessly through a room. This is a great tip for capturing wide rooms, entranceways, and exterior shots. And yes, you can use a tripod with a smartphone if that’s your camera of choice.

Step Two: Take Advantage of Natural Light

Any photographer will tell you that nothing’s better than natural light. Flashes can saturate an image, and they don’t always illuminate what you want to showcase. Try to take your pictures on a sunny day, and take advantage of the early mornings and afternoons. This varies depending on which direction the house is facing and where the room you’re shooting is. But be mindful of bright light and use it to your advantage. Don’t forget to open those curtains to allow natural light into the frame.

Step Three: Adjust Camera Settings

If you’re using a digital camera, there are many settings to choose from. The different options at your disposal can seem endless, but it’s important to try and follow a few fundamentals as you get started until you become comfortable.

In the beginning, follow these simple steps:

Set your camera to manual. Default settings can only get you so far.
Select the lowest ISO setting. ISO measures the sensitivity of the image sensor. The lower the number, the less sensitive the sensor is to light. A lower ISO will capture more detail, which is ideal when you’re trying to bring a listing to life.
Adjust shutter speed for good exposure. A slower shutter speed allows more light into the camera sensor. Use this setting for low-light photos. A faster shutter speed helps freeze motion. Use this setting if you’re trying to capture movement.
Adjust aperture to allow a low amount of light to reach the image sensor. Aperture controls the amount of light entering the camera.

If you’re using a smartphone, test out its various modes in different conditions like direct sun and low light. Android phones and iPhones are both well-equipped with features, from fast processors to high resolution displays. When using a smartphone, select a high resolution. The higher the resolution is, the better quality image you’ll get. This is perfect for showcasing key features inside a home.

Step Four: Adjust shot to highlight features

Every home has unique features, so show them off! Keep in mind that this is an advertisement for the home you’re trying to sell. Try to exclude obstructions and unsightly dumpsters, trash cans, or electrical wires.

When photographing inside, remember that interior rooms almost always look better if they’re being shot from the doorway looking into the room. If you want to make a room look big, use a wide-angle lens. Exterior shots benefit from shooting at low angles. This technique allows viewers to see the depth and scale of the listing.

Step Five: Edit your photos

Always take more photos than you think you’ll need. The more images you have to work with, the easier the editing process will be. Smartphones and most digital cameras have editing functions built right into them.

There are two basic principles to editing photos—adjusting color and light. No matter which tool you’re using to take your pictures, follow these steps for best results:

Color:

Temperature: affects the yellow and blues of a photo. If you want a warmer photo, add yellows. If you are creating a cooler photo, add blues. Ideally you’ll end up with a balanced photo.
Tint: adjusts greens and magentas. Making these adjustments will alter the tone of the photo as well.

Light:

Exposure: evenly distributes brightness throughout the photo.
Brightness: adjusts midtones in the photo.
Highlights and shadows: if the photo is overexposed or underexposed, use this feature to even out the detail in the photo. For example if an area is very bright, you can lower the lights to bring out detail in the highlights of a photo. Shadows will only alter dark parts of the photo.
Contrast: makes shadows darker and highlights brighter. Contrast adjusts the separation between the darkest and brightest areas of the image.

Feel free to go a step further and use editing software for more dynamic edits. In the end, remember to be selective and only post what best represents your listing. Let your pictures do the talking. After all, we live in a scrolling world, so make sure your listing doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.

Watch the CENTURY 21 Photography Tips tutorial below to see these tips in action.

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CENTURY 21Ⓡ Open House: Nurturing Client Relationships

November 15, 2017 By Casey Danton

Excellent service means excellent business. That’s the name of the game in real estate. But, how do you manage a full roster of competing clients? We asked several CENTURY 21® team members to share advice on how to make their clients happy, especially when the going gets tough. Each answer we received proved there are never any dull moments in real estate.

How Do You Let a Client Know They’re Important?

“I let a client know they’re important by finding out what I can do to genuinely help them. When my intent is to provide a world-class experience for each and every client, all selling goes away as they know I am here to serve. My intent is to serve their highest motivation and help them achieve whatever goal they want to achieve, and by doing this they know my only goal is to help them achieve theirs.” –Justin Udy, CENTURY 21 Everest Realty Group

“I do my best to let my past clients know they are important to me by keeping them constantly updated on the market, keeping them informed on events and community programs for their local marketplaces, making personal calls on important anniversary & birthdays and holidays too. This year we took extra steps to ensure our past clients had emergency preparedness plans in place due to all the natural disasters we have been experiencing.” –Angela Avilez, CENTURY 21 Award

What Listening Tactics Do You Recommend?

“When in front of clients it’s important to turn off your cell phone. The biggest distraction we have as agents is our phone and when you have it out it’s easy to get distracted. Letting the buyer or seller know you have their complete attention is very important.” –Angela

“I would recommend listening 70% of the time and only talking 30%. To really listen means they need to be able to express thing they may not have the chance to if you’re too busy interrupting.” –Justin

“As we are discussing what they want in their new home, I am jotting everything down to make sure that I understand their wish list. This allows me to know in more detail what they want and it makes it easier to search for the perfect home for them.” –Sarah Figurski, CENTURY 21 Curran & Christie

What Are Creative Solutions You’ve Come up With to Mediate Difficult Situations?

“When there is a problem, seek to get complete clarity and understand the details at a deep level. Difficult situations are not typically difficult to solve once you have all the facts. Only then, do we start the process of being very strategic and very reasonable in how to move forward in a constructive and business-like manner.” –Justin

“There can be a lot of emotions involved in this industry. People are making large purchases or selling the home they have lived in for the last twenty years. I would say my best tip for mediating solutions is listening and keeping that mentality that ‘the customer is always right.’ Just be sure to stay positive and if there is an issue, be sure to work your best to fix it. Also, keep your client in the loop. Even if you don’t have any news, call them to tell them you don’t. I have found that being on top of everything and calling my client before they have a chance to call me has helped me avoid a lot of difficult situations.” –Sarah

How Do You Keep a Roster of Clients Happy?

“I have found that my clients want information timely and delivered efficiently. I strive to ensure that if and when my clients have questions I respond with a prompt answer or a solution for an answer in with expected time frames.” –Angela

“We input all of our clients into our database and will create tags around our experience. Some get the tag of raving fan while other may get the tag happy client. Either way, creating a database of your best clients is a must in real estate, which is truly the business of relationships. It really helps you be intentional about staying in front of them and keeping that relationship.” –Justin

Managing a clash of clients isn’t easy work, but it’s essential to running a successful business. So, follow these tips and if you’re ever at a loss, go with your gut and improvise. If nothing else, remember that serving the client’s needs is what it’s all about.

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#C21News: August 2017

September 21, 2017 By Casey Danton

Summer certainly ended on a high note for Century 21 Real Estate. Read more below about the significant franchise growth and impressive achievements that occurred in August.

New Franchise Spotlight

iProperties Hawaii, an independent real estate firm based in Honolulu, HI, announced that it has joined the CENTURY 21® Franchise System and will do business as CENTURY 21 iProperties Hawaii. Abe Lee, the owner and a 43-year veteran in the local real estate industry, said he is “excited about joining the CENTURY 21 brand, one of the most recognized real estate brands in the world. Not only can we benefit from the incredible reputation the franchise has through the global system, but the brand’s cutting-edge tools and technologies will enhance the level of service we provide to our clients.” Read more here.

Community Partners Realty, an independently owned and operated real estate brokerage company in Winder, GA, joined the CENTURY 21® Franchise System. The firm will do business as CENTURY 21 Community Partners Realty. Owner Tim Hill has more than 20 years of experience in the real estate and construction industry, and he and his team of agents have become a go-to source for land and farm sales throughout the region. “We’re primed and ready to take full advantage of not only the tools and technology the brand offers, but also the tremendous support of our fellow offices within the System. The international reach of the brand will now be a critical advantage for our clients,” said Hill. Read more here.

Franchise Growth

CENTURY 21 Premiere Properties, which first opened in Norwalk, OH, opened a third office in Fremont, OH. Broker and owner Annette Wilcox expressed excitement about the expansion, noting that it “will enable us to introduce area consumers to its array of real estate services, including specialty-market programs such as the CENTURY 21 Fine Homes and Estates and the CENTURY 21 Commercial programs.” Read more here.

Achievements

Representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries, The National Association of REALTORS® is America’s largest trade association and one of the most influential organizations in the business. Two of our affiliates, John Kmiecik and Vicky Silvano, earned leadership positions within the organization in August.

CENTURY 21 Affiliated’s John Kmiecik was named the Chair of the Business Issues Policy Committee for the National Association of REALTORS®. Kmiecik has extensive experience in the industry, having been a sales agent, managing broker, and company owner. “Together with all those who see value in volunteering their time and energy for REALTORS® everywhere, I stand ready and able to face NAR’s challenges and opportunities,” said Kmiecik. Read more here.

CENTURY 21 SGR, Inc.’s Vicky Silvano was named the National Association of REALTORS®’ Global Real Estate Committee Liaison. As the 2016 national chair of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), Silvano brings a wealth of experience and knowledge on the global front via AREAA’s successful trade missions. Read more here.

Leadership

Former Zillow executive Nick Bailey was named President & CEO of Century 21 Real Estate. Bailey is a licensed broker and has over 20 years of real estate industry experience as a leader in franchising, brokerage, management, and technology. “Nick brings a unique mix of leadership experience and industry insights to our company and we are eager to see him lead the CENTURY 21® brand into the future,” said John Peyton, the president and chief executive officer of Realogy Franchise Group LLC, parent company of Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Bailey added, “It’s an honor to be taking the reins at Century 21 Real Estate at a time when this iconic brand is experiencing tremendous growth around the world, and the foundation for its success is in its recognition as a global leader in real estate services.” Read more here.

Check back next month for the latest Century 21 Real Estate News briefing.

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CENTURY 21® Social: How to Use Snapchat for Real Estate

September 5, 2017 By Casey Danton

Snapchat is a powerful social platform to share entertaining, valuable, and informative content. It allows users to communicate through “Stories” containing photos and short videos that can be viewed for up to 24 hours. Users can also send Snaps to specific people on a timer, disappearing as soon as the viewer exits out of it. Real estate agents can take advantage of this social tool for sharing listings, local content, and more.

Every Home Has A Story

Agents can Snap fun facts about each listing and the neighborhood around it. Because the content disappears so quickly, you only have a few seconds to catch the attention of your viewers. You can shoot pictures and videos of each room in the house as “ten-second tours.” Providing snapshots of your listings to your followers will spark interest. Followers can then direct message you to set up a viewing instantaneously.

Snapchat Geofilters

This feature enables agents to use basic geofilters or create a custom option. When the app detects you are in a specific location, unique filters associated with your area become available to overlay on your content.

Pre-made Filters: You can use the geofilters that have already been created to show the coolest spots in the neighborhood. When showing listings in a certain area, agents can travel around the neighborhood itself and display the local bars, restaurants, and stores via Snapchat to add value to the listings.

Custom On-Demand Filters: For a small fee, agents can create their own sponsored filters for events like real estate conferences, open houses, and even local community events, to generate brand awareness and interest. Just be sure to keep your audience in mind and create something that users will want to apply to their content.

GhostCodes

This separate app lets you discover Snapchat users who are listed under specific categories, like ‘Real Estate.’ GhostCodes makes it easy for other users to find you and can help you increase your following. It’s a great way to help you build a solid referral network and meet new clients!

The key to Snapchat for real estate agents is to make your audience feel more connected to you. It is important to engage with your clients and share content that they want to interact with.

Sources:

http://bhgrealestateblog.com/how-to-use-snapchat-for-real-estate-101/

https://www.inman.com/2016/02/25/snapchats-new-custom-filters-will-change-real-estate-marketing/

https://www.agentimage.com/blog/snapchat-real-estate-marketing/

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CENTURY 21® Social: LinkedIn Pro Tips

August 11, 2017 By Casey Danton

As the real estate industry continues to further embrace social media and technology in general, LinkedIn is quickly becoming one of the most valuable digital tools in an agent’s arsenal. LinkedIn is built for networking, and luckily for us, that’s one of the things we, as agents, do best. Here are a few “pro tips” that will help you become a LinkedIn expert in no time.

Choose the right photos.

When you are choosing a profile photo or an image to post with your content, make sure it is clear, professional, and consistent with your brand and your business.

Optimize your bio for real estate.

Once you upload your professional profile picture, it’s time to tackle your bio. Make sure this section lets prospects know who you (a real estate professional) are and what you will be sharing on LinkedIn. The bio is also a great place to let your personality shine through the screen.

Include your awards and accolades.

Don’t be afraid to exercise your bragging rights. In fact, LinkedIn has an entire profile section devoted to accomplishments. This section is where you share your awards, your brokerage’s awards, certifications, and courses.

Use media files efficiently.

When editing your profile, you can add media files as part of your page. These media files show up as actionable thumbnails which are great for displaying assets like your website. For the most clicks, put these files right below your summary section.

Publish content to generate leads.

One of the most important pieces of your LinkedIn profile is the content that you are sharing on it. Instead of going too heavy on listings, try to share articles that offer valuable real estate tips and advice from you or another reputable source.

Build your network.

Start by connecting with your network of realtors and brokers, then connect with their connections and so on. Your email contact list is also a great place to establish LinkedIn connections. If you would like to identify some more quality connections, use LinkedIn’s “Advanced Search” feature. It allows you to specify keywords and the location of where you would like to search for connections.

Implement these tips and techniques to establish connections and generate leads for your business through LinkedIn!

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Open House with CENTURY 21®: Your Big Break in Real Estate

August 8, 2017 By Casey Danton

When did you experience your “big break” in real estate? We asked several CENTURY 21® team members this question to learn more about the moment they realized they would make it in such a challenging, yet rewarding industry. From months to years, networking events to sales calls, every story is different proving once again that nothing in real estate is predictable.

It’s About Time

If these stories tell us one thing, it’s that there is no set time for success.

“I realized I would make it in the industry after six months. I discovered that if my morning hours were dedicated to lead generation, I would continue to have a consistent flow of clients, grow my business pipeline, and expand my sphere of influence.” –Justin Udy, CENTURY 21 Everest Realty Group

“In all honesty, it came after I attended Inman Connect San Francisco in 2015. I was a brand new attendee and did not know what to expect at all. My boss recommended that I attend — and instinctively knew that it would be a place where I could meet like-minded people in the industry, and make really meaningful connections as well. I went from being a conference attendee to an Inman Ambassador, to speaking and presenting on the main stage — all within a year.” –Billy Ekofo, CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty

“When my schedule overflowed, and I brought in a client care coordinator to manage the behind the scenes in my third year, I knew I had found my passion of changing people’s lives one house at a time.” –Jerry Cibulski, CENTURY 21 Albertson Realty

A World of Opportunity

Finding success is also about finding opportunities and seizing the ones given to you.

“I discovered that if my morning hours were dedicated to lead generation, I would continue to have a consistent flow of clients, grow my business pipeline, and expand my sphere of influence.” –Justin Udy, CENTURY 21 Everest Realty Group

“The opportunity to speak at Inman Connect opened the door for me to speak at the CENTURY 21 Iberia Conference in Lisbon in February 2017, the CENTURY 21 Global Conference in March 2017, and be a keynote speaker at a Realogy event in June 2017. I will also be back as a speaker at Inman this August in San Francisco, as well as a first-time panelist at the second Realtor.com Summit in Las Vegas this September.

None of these experiences and opportunities would have come to me if it wasn’t for Century 21 Redwood Realty investing their time in sending me to Inman Connect back in 2015, and to the team at Inman for giving me the opportunity to serve and speak.” –Billy Ekofo, CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty

“During my first full year in the business, I was grateful for the referrals of family and friends of my budding client list.” –Jerry Cibulski, CENTURY 21 Albertson Realty

Establishing Awards

The most obvious evidence of success is awards and honors. As explained by our interviewees, hard work reaps tangible rewards.

“I was amazed when I was awarded ‘Top Rookie Producer’ in my office following my first year. I was able to achieve this honor because I was always on the phone. I time blocked my mornings, and I made an effort to be in front of people consistently.” –Justin Udy, CENTURY 21 Everest Realty Group

“I started part-time one summer and was honored with a Century 21 Masters Sales Award in my first six months.” –Jerry Cibulski, CENTURY 21 Albertson Realty

The moral of the story? Nothing comes easy, and your “big break” is not always marked by a specific event or achievement, it’s a culmination of time, hard work, and opportunity. Though the definition is different for everyone, when it happens, it is worth every minute.

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CENTURY 21® Social: 3 Ways to Use Instagram Stories

July 12, 2017 By Casey Danton

Instagram has followed Snapchat’s lead in providing a separate feed dedicated to showcasing a user’s activities within the past 24 hours. Stories provides a time-sensitive “day in the life” overview of a single user’s postings by offering an in-the-moment view that makes followers feel like part of the action. While this may be a problem for Snapchat, it’s great for real estate agents. Now you can target followers with two very different content approaches all within one network.

Read on to learn what you can do with Instagram Stories.

Highlight Your Listings

From sneak peeks to virtual tours — Instagram Stories gives clients a new way to look at listings. First, it allows agents to link all of their photos together to display as one cohesive stream to promote listings and events. Its video capability also allows agents to share brief virtual tours to help followers get a glimpse of the bigger picture. No matter which visual approach you choose, Stories offers the option to draw on the photos or place markers so that you can highlight all your favorite features of the home.

Share the Spotlight

Instagram Stories boasts native features that help users enhance the content they share — a couple in particular, are very beneficial for agents:

Stickers: Customizable sticker options allow agents to add context about the location, weather, or time. The location feature in particular is useful because users can tap the sticker to learn more about the location — giving agents an opportunity to share important open house information or highlight local businesses in the community they serve.
Mentions: Similar to locations, mentions allow agents to tag Instagram accounts in a story. This is another great way to interact and highlight local businesses or influential people in the area.

If you host weekly happy hours, networking events, or any other gatherings on a consistent basis, consider promoting them with Instagram Stories.

Unique Content

The first rule for any social media content is to ensure that it is providing value to the audience. Instagram Stories offers a unique way to do this. For example, DIY tutorials for new homeowners or sellers trying to make repairs can offer value followers will appreciate. Stories also provides a great opportunity to showcase the everyday life of an agent and their personality, which is crucial for developing (and retaining) connections.

As with any new feature, the best way to figure out what works for you is to experiment. Start by thinking of something you can create for each of the categories mentioned above and see where the stories take you.

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Agent Spotlight: Q&A with Justin Udy of CENTURY 21 Everest Realty Group

June 14, 2017 By Casey Danton

This month, we sat down with Justin Udy of CENTURY 21 Everest Realty Group in Cottonwood Heights, UT. Despite a challenging start to his real estate career, Justin joined forces with Century 21 Real Estate to grow his business and ultimately, lead one of the top producing teams in the CENTURY 21 Brand. Read more of Justin’s story and the advice he has for millennial agents who are finding their way in the real estate industry.

CENTURY 21: What led you to join the CENTURY 21 Brand in particular?

Justin: Their focus on self-development and desire to provide an amazing environment. I was at a brokerage on the verge of bankruptcy. Century 21 Real Estate helped facilitate the merger of the struggling brokerage of 26 agents into a productive Century 21 Real Estate brokerage. This allowed the struggling brokerage to get their books straight and debts paid, and get the agents into a new, productive environment. Most of them are still here today.

CENTURY 21: What is your favorite thing about your job?

Justin: I genuinely enjoy people and the sticks and bricks of real estate. I love being able to help people and the face-to-face relationships I build. In addition, it is rewarding to introduce people to a career in real estate, create long-term wealth for clients, and advise and improve their lives through the process.

CENTURY 21: What is the biggest misconception about millennial real estate agents?

Justin: The biggest misconception is that they have no drive and are lazy. In reality, I have met many millennials who are ambitious and driven. They want to succeed and are willing to pay the price for success.

CENTURY 21: What would you say to millennials who consider this an “easy” profession to get into?

Justin: No profession is “easy” if you’re looking to perform at the highest level. If you want to be the best, you have to pay the price. That can only be done with hard work, focus, and an obsession to be the best.

CENTURY 21: What’s your best advice for millennials looking to find success in the real estate industry?

Justin: To live a big life you need to do big things. Give up a season of your life so you can have a life like no one.

Check out Justin in this Shaun McBride video for CENTURY 21’s Adulting series.

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Agent Spotlight: Q&A with Lara Marquess of CENTURY 21® Union Realty

June 9, 2017 By Casey Danton

This month, we sat down with Lara Marquess of CENTURY 21® Union Realty in Los Angeles. In the interview, Lara shared how she got her start in real estate and what it was like working with Robeson Design’s Director of Marketing, Sharrah Robeson, for CENTURY 21’s Adulting series.

CENTURY 21: How did you get your start in real estate?

Lara: My initial plan was to teach. However, I realized I’d be doing students a disservice because my heart was just not in it. One day my neighbor walked over, pointed her finger at me, and told me I should be in real estate. She’s been in real estate since the 80s and she said that I’d be the perfect fit. I decided to get an internship with a successful real estate team and after my first week I knew this was the career for me.

In this job, every day is different. You’ve got to have energy and drive and I just knew that I could thrive in this type of environment. After a few months of interning, I got my license and stayed with the team for a little while longer. I decided to go off on my own in January of 2017.

CENTURY 21: What led you to the CENTURY 21 Brand in particular?

Lara: They understand that real estate is a tough business. It’s not hard getting into real estate but it takes time and effort to become a good real estate agent. Century 21 Real Estate has systems in place to help their agents grow and succeed.

CENTURY 21: How has Century 21 Real Estate supported you during these early years of your career?

Lara: The first thing that comes to mind is the training. We have trainings where we tour homes and identify parts of a house. We also have bi-weekly meetings where we talk about 1031 exchanges, mortgage programs, and much more. We’re all independent contractors who are all going after the same deals, but we have each other’s back. If I ever need help or advice, an agent in my office is willing to take a break from what she’s doing and lend me a hand. We have such a great support system.

CENTURY 21: What would you say to millennials who consider this an “easy” profession to get into?

Lara: I’d say they’re right. Real estate is super easy to get into. You don’t have to go to college. All you have to do is pass some tests and then hang up your license somewhere. What’s difficult is generating business and becoming a good agent who provides great customer service—and to succeed at these you have to commit to doing these things every day… not just when you feel like it.

CENTURY 21: What is your favorite thing about your job?’’

Lara: The idea of what I can turn my business into. The possibilities are endless.

CENTURY 21: What was it like working with Sharrah Robeson?

Lara: It was fun. Sharrah is super sweet and very friendly. We got to talking right away and she’s a true professional. I would love to have her design my house!

Check out Lara Marquess in Sharrah Robeson’s video and stay tuned for another agent spotlight next month!

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