Helping their agents reap the benefits of a strong brokerage and company like EXIT is a priority for EXIT Realty Quality Solutions partners, Sharon Henry and Michele Calloway, who are clear in their roles and priorities two years into their partnership and with a friendship of 17 years.(*Note this profile originally appeared in the April EXIT Southeast Newsletter.
"I have several EXIT colleagues across the country, and, with my experience at Coldwell Banker and Sharon‚ with Keller Williams, it supported our research that EXIT lines up with what we believe in. For us, the company stands out for three reasons - corporate support, respects our community ties and independence as a home town brokerage and, finally, sponsorship," Michele explains.
"If we had started EXIT Realty Quality Solutions years ago with EXIT, things would look so different today," says Michele. "No other company is doing this, helping take care of your family, and, it is the cherry on top! EXIT's sponsorship allows you to help other people and leave a legacy and residual income for your family. This is my future and my insurance policy." "A lot of companies are bottom line driven," adds Sharon, "and we love EXIT's culture. We're a big family but with corporate support."
"I am so grateful to Kenny and Stacy‚ our regional owners, for never giving up on us, seeing something in us and believing in us just like corporate," says Michele. "It is important to us. They are to us as we are to the agents. If you have a chain and you have a weak link, you have a weak chain. From top to bottom, we all have to be strong ‚ everybody ‚ cause we are all in this together."
"We have a great technological platform with EXIT and it is free," Michele explains. "Our success plan helps someone get started from the beginning. If you follow every single step, you can get started from flyers to marketing. Besides technology, the human factor of EXIT is important. Everyone is always so friendly before you sign. People ask us, did it change after you signed? I tell everyone from the CEO all the way down to people answering the phone, we immediately get help and everyone is so friendly and it never changes."From regional to national, everyone was on board in helping with a recent opportunity and time zones didn't matter said Sharon. "Annette Anthony, Janice Petteway - everyone was so helpful. And, CEO Tami Bonnell called just the other day to say "see you and you are doing great." I've been with seven other companies, and never, ever had this kind of support.‚ There's a super market for everyone and it's same thing for real estate. We're lucky to find the one that offered the right combination for us and that was EXIT. It is just like the Barbra Streisand song, Finally Found The One. This is definitely our theme song for EXIT," says Sharon!
After opening their doors in November of 2019, today, the duo have 21 agents/brokers and the key to their success is they love what they do. "EXIT gives us great corporate tools, product and technology. We match this up with who we are in the community. It's not for everybody but for the agent who is looking for a future and a career, we'e here to help you with a great platform," Michele said. "With two brokers, we offer a lot of attention and communication is key," says Sharon. We offer one-on-one guidance based on our strengths. No matter how many agents we put on board, we maintain access with our agents to help them grow their business. We're living out the culture of EXIT and the five pillars."
"We definitely distinguish ourselves from other brokers because we have a social conscience," says Michele. "We know we can make a good living while doing good work for mankind but we couldn't grow with a good corporate structure and support from EXIT. We also work with churches and civic organizations and wanted to be sure EXIT supported this work and they do." Michele is chairman of the board of National Association of Real Estate Broker (NAREB) and Sharon is Region 6 VP of NAREB which covers GA, AL, FL. She has just completed a three-year commitment as president of the local chapter of the Empire Board Realtist.
"As a team, we are like yin and yang and Abbott and Costello," says Sharon. "We have experience and different skill sets and personalities we bring to the table. This wouldn't have worked with anyone else. We're the perfect combo. Where I fall short, Michelle holds me up. We communicate with each other, on the same page, as we communicate with our agents. Transparency is a big deal for us. We are consistent, do our research, get the facts and then communicate it. Our top priority is communication. Our agents need clarity. And we respect, communicate and we complement each other's strengths. I look up to Michele. My advice, never enter into a partnership with someone you don't respect and trust," Sharon said.
"I can't imagine doing this separately," Michelle added. "No one person at the helm can handle everything. We're both vested in the success of this and as we grow, we have to divide and conquer. We're clear on how does what."
"For us, treating people with respect, being consistent, honoring and celebrating our agents has helped us reach our goal. We just launched an agent and we take the time to celebrate them, love them, train them and give them everything we have," says Sharon. The duo agrees everything they've never received from previous brokerages they are making sure they are doing. "We want to give what we didn't receive," said Michele. And, they are going deep with their help. "How many times has someone said, make a postcard or graphic for marketing. We go deeper by showing them programs and giving them tools for their tool box. If we make a suggestion, we teach them ourselves or bring in an expert. At the end of the day, we're teaching people to fish so they can do this for life."
If you are in the Metro Atlanta, Cobb County and Gwinett County Georgia areas, connect with Sharon at 404-934-5566 or Michele at 404-424-3298.Want to join a top team of unstoppable professionals? EXIT Southeast earned 2019 #1 Region for EXIT Realty Corp. International, #1 in franchise sales and top Best In Business for the Nashville Business Journal.
Across Georgia, Kentucky Tennessee and Florida, EXIT Southeast owners, brokers and agents are respected leaders in the real estate industry. If you are looking to join an award-winning team of professionals, contact EXIT Southeast Regional Owner Stacy Strobl at 412-LOVEXIT (412-568-3948).
