You’ll want to dig into our blogs as we share monthly newsletters and profiles of success EXIT Southeast franchises. It’s important to dig deeper beyond a social media post to find inspiration and help to better your own business today.
When franchise owner Cindy Crutcher and her husband, Mark, launched their first franchise in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky in 2005, they began with slogan “Bringing buyers and sellers of real estate together." But, when they studied their why, in 2016,  they realized the reason they brought buyers and sellers together was because they wanted to help families and changed their slogan to “Real Estate is what we do, families are why we do it."
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EXIT Realty Crutcher owners, Mark and Cindy Crutcher.[/caption]
Helping others has helped them grow their business in the last 15 years says Cindy.  “When we were looking at franchise opportunities I began each morning praying and finally gave up.  I was tired of the process but while on a field trip with my daughter was approached by someone from EXIT.  I told him, I’ve got my momma hat on and can’t talk.  After follow-up, I found out how company driven, agent oriented EXIT is and it fits perfectly with my philosophy,”  Cindy explained. 
“If someone is considering a franchise, I usually share what I love most is our corporate office support.  They are involved, show up, do what they say and are always willing to go the extra mile.  They don’t just preach it, they live it.  Our regional owners have been with us for five years and also provide training, offer encouragement and have been supportive.  The goal of get, keep and grow at the end of the day is important for us all,”  Cindy said.
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Mark and Cindy Crutcher, EXIT Realty Crutcher, center, at convention with EXIT leadership Janice Petteway, Kenny Lynn, Stacy Strobl, Craig Witt, Tami Bonnell and Steve Morris, founder/chairman.[/caption]
Cindy says they began with eight agents in Lawrenceburg and added a Louisville franchise in 2006 and Frankfort in 2017.   “Today, we have a total of 80 agents and the key to growth has been consistency while being persistent with a lot of hard work.  We focus on making sure our three franchises are doing well before considering any future growth." 
No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care is a great quote from Theodore Roosevelt which she says sums up her mentoring philosophy.  “That saying has always stuck with me and I teach agents everything I know but when they understand how much I care and support them, that’s when it works.” 
Cindy was one of the first to work with the real estate commission in Kentucky to be approved for continuing education via Zoom.  “Safety was first but we knew we wanted to continue to grow our business and be strong instead of being fearful.  I had just signed five new agents who had just earned a license and knew training was key and had to connect with them.  Also, we do not take any new agents if they don’t agree to our mentoring program.  All of this is key to their success. We’ve remained focused during this time and most of my agents are having a phenomenal year,”  Cindy said. 
Supporting community and agents is important to the Crutcher EXIT franchises. 
“My amazing team is crucial to everything and it includes my husband, Mark, managing broker George Green, director of growth Joe Lopez and two ladies who have been with us for over 20 years, Nita Basham, our financial officer, who earned EXIT Realty corporate admin of the year and Janeffa Pate, who is our compliance officer.  We are very lucky to have this awesome team,” Cindy said.
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EXIT Realty Crutcher raised $6,500 for Habitat for Humanity and EXIT corporate matched with $5,000 for a total donation of $11,500 in 2019.[/caption]The team and agents are very active in supporting Habitat for Humanity and they are doing something very fun August 22 – freeze-pop day!
“We are trying to safely connect with our community and see people by doing a drive-by freeze pop event in different subdivisions. At the end of the day, I love to help people and that’s what I am about.  When I look at an agent who achieves their goals and helps families, that is the reward for me,” Cindy said.
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EXIT Realty Crutcher had the top supporting team for a GLAR area bowling fundraiser where the funds were split between multiple charities.[/caption]
A recent EXIT Realty Crutcher agent, Joe Lopez,  helped someone purchase their first home in the U.S. and went above and beyond finding translators to help through the process.  It makes Cindy proud to know how he helped. "The buyer was from South Africa and he said “I look to you now as I would my father and you are now my family,"  Cindy shared.   
“We are culture and family oriented.  Each year, we host a Redneck Day on our 188 acre farm roasting a pig, picking pumpkins and a hay ride.  It is important to create EXIT family and this is important to me at the end of the day,”  Cindy said.
Click here to connect with EXIT Realty Crutcher, or reach out to Cindy at 502-680-9822. 
Join A Team of Unstoppable Professionals
In 2019, EXIT Southeast earned #1 Region for EXIT Realty Corp. International as well as earned #1 in franchise sales and top Best In Business for the Nashville Business Journal. The duo also broke the all-time EXIT company record for franchise sales. 
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).  
In the August newsletter, we share the latest rankings, an inspiring story from EXIT Realty Crutcher owner Cindy Crutcher, an interesting reflection from EXIT Realty Corp. International Dir. of Brokerage Development Janice Petteway as well as the official Florida announcement.Click this link to see the latest newsletter or the image below.
Why real estate is one of the first questions broker/owner Ken Doran asks a potential agent. If the answer does not include the word help, then EXIT Gulf Coast Realty is not the right place for you he says. Leading with the heart is something Ken takes very seriously, and it is making a difference in his business today.[caption id="attachment_4374" align="aligncenter" width="270"]
EXIT Gulf Coast Realty Broker/Owner Ken Doran says leading from the heart has changed his real estate business today.[/caption]“Money is a byproduct of helping someone. Agents need to copy what a top producer does, but they need to be who they are. They just must have that desire to help someone. We want to be a leader, but it is not about the money, we need to be leaders in our real estate industry. I am proud to be a Realtor and even prouder to be at EXIT. We need to get involved in the board of realtors and your local community. Selling or buying a house should be an exciting time in a person’s life. We can help make that a great experience,"  Ken said.[caption id="attachment_4375" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Supporting Feeding America's Red Nose Day is one way EXIT Gulf Coast Realty gives back to the community.[/caption]
Originally from Ohio and now living in Punta Gorda, Florida, Ken has been that agent that he will not hire today.“I’ve been that guy who earned all the awards including qualifying for the RE/MAX Hall of Fame, carried 40 to 60 listings at a time and earning over a half a million dollars in commissions per year. I was not happy because I did not treat business the way I do today. I love my life it makes me happy,” Ken said.Ken came to Florida in 2012 originally to work for EXIT Florida and help sell franchises. Two days were important in his EXIT story. Those days were when he went to EXIT Broker Owner Training and the day, he fired himself as the sales agent and went behind the desk to really build an office his agents can be proud to call home.“We’ve had a solid foundation of agents and did well from day one with the sales in our office, but we didn’t start to build until I went behind the desk as broker and recruiter. It is a process and I am taking the opportunity to nurture agents and their business which will grow the office using all the pillars and the foundation of EXIT which I know makes Kenny and Stacy happy. (EXIT Southeast Regional Owners) Daily affirmations are also particularly important to me. Because I need more work than most people, I try to write 40 to 70 affirmations per day. It helps me stay focused on my day. I work harder every day and I am still learning,” Ken said.
“The key to a successful office and growing my business has always been office administrator and I am lucky to have Caroline. “I was blessed to be asked about my story but truthfully I have just begun the story. There are so many people that have been willing to help me in EXIT Realty that I can’t help but grow our business,” Ken says.
The real estate veteran says the turning point in his decades long career was his first EXIT Realty Corp. International Broker Owner Training. “I still stay in touch with people from my first class. My daughter, who never wants to speak publicly, was so moved by the EXIT training, she got up and spoke which moved me to tears. Anyone who knows me, knows that I do not show that kind of emotion, ever,"  Ken shared.
Ken has owned two other real estate franchises and an independent, sold houses under numerous other companies but says he has finally found a home with EXIT Realty."The people I met at other offices around North America and the people at corporate headquarters are not only my friends but I am proud to call them my family. It has and continues to be a life changing experience, “Ken said. “EXIT Realty has something for everyone. The tools, training and technology are all here and better than I have found in the industry. What other company provides you with a third level of extra income and helps you build your business at the same time. What company worries about your retirement or if something were to happen to you ensures your beneficiary is taken care of? What other company does all that?"Good is not good enough. “I’ve believed this for a long time. You must stand for something. I like to say I help people change their lives through their real estate career. It is what I do for a living. I help people with their real estate dreams and goals. We help people,” said Ken.
Leave it at the door is also an important concept for Ken. “I owe it to my agents and our clients to not be around negativity. Sales is a hard-enough job without having negative people in the office to work around. As Angel Tucker would say, “get those people off the bus!”
When I asked if I am married, he replied,” I got married once, and it will be 39 years in December. I could not have picked a better one. I still wonder what Cindy sees in me, but we have 2 great children which they both now sell real estate with EXIT Realty.”Connect with Ken Doran by texting ITSSOLD to 85377, for his mobile business card.
In 2019, EXIT Southeast earned #1 Region for EXIT Realty Corp. International as well as earned #1 in franchise sales and top Best In Business for the Nashville Business Journal. The duo also broke the all-time EXIT company record for franchise sales. 
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).
 
The latest EXIT Southeast newsletter is out with rankings for Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and across the region.  We also talk with owner/broker Ken Doran with EXIT Gulf Coast Realty and EXIT U.S. President Craig Witt addresses the question, are we headed toward a virtual industry?  It's in the latest newsletter as well as Regional Owners Kenny Lynn and Stacy Strobl's announcement of new EXIT Southeast franchises!Click here to read the newsletter or the photo below.
In 2019, EXIT Southeast earned #1 Region for EXIT Realty Corp. International as well as earned #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).
There are so many reasons EXIT Realty Lake Country Broker/Owners Aaron and Christy Dwyer are driven, but, at the heart of it all, helping to grow their agents into the best versions of themselves while assisting them in building a real estate career of balance, freedom and security is at the top of their list.[caption id="attachment_4399" align="aligncenter" width="450"]
EXIT Realty Lake Country value statement.[/caption]
“One of the reasons I think we connect with our agents is they know we’ve been in the trenches. We’re just who we are,” says Christy.  “Everyone has a story, which is why they are who they are today.  We are building on these stories.”
“Adversity in our professional and personal lives, is part of our story”, says Aaron.  “When you come out of the fire and storm, you are a different person than the person who went in. I want to work with authentic people. I want to work with agents who want to grow both personally and professionally.  I want agents who have open hearts and open minds. Our agents see in us that we are authentic, transparent, and they believe in our message.”“We walk the walk”, says Christy.  “They understand we know this business and, in our heart, we want to help them grow. Their growth and success is changing their lives, their family’s trajectory, and the kids that are watching them, which means so much.”EXIT Realty Lake Country will have several agents earn over $100,000 for the first time in their lives in 2020.  This alone confirms to Aaron and Christy that they are truly operating in their purpose!
With previous experience working for an independent and another large franchise real estate company, Aaron joined EXIT in February of 2017 because he was intrigued by the residual income opportunity, which is unique to the real estate industry.“Yes, the model intrigued me, but what pushed me over the edge was hearing Steve Morris speak at the 2017 EXIT Southeast awards event at the Omni Hotel in Nashville,” Aaron said. “I had been studying the importance of mindset, affirmations, law of attraction and expectancy theory for a long time. He talked about all of these things and quoted authors I’ve been inspired by for years. This shared mind-set helped me know EXIT was the right place for me.”
Christy’s connection to EXIT was more personal.  With her mother having previously served as an EXIT agent in Florida, she encouraged Christy to check out the EXIT opportunities in Georgia early in her career.“I started my real estate career with another franchise company in 2005. My mom said I should look at EXIT, but there wasn’t an EXIT office close, so I joined another franchise brand in a nearby town.  My first year as a Realtor, I earned office rookie of the year and broke $100,000 in gross commissions within ten months. I accomplished all of that while really having no direction, coach or utilizing a database. I just did what made sense to me.  I knew nothing about franchises or the resources available. Ultimately, I knew I needed a process and structure.”As a High D, Christy says she isn’t big on researching options, she typically goes with whatever option makes sense at the time.  She was obviously drawn to EXIT, and in July of 2006 she purchased her first EXIT franchise and opened the Hartwell, Georgia location. Over the next decade, she established a strong presence as a top producer and built the EXIT name in the Northeast Georgia market area .“When Kenny and Stacy acquired the region of Georgia in 2017, they immediately starting impressing upon me the necessity of embracing the EXIT model and encouraged me to expand my footprint in order to start building something for the future,” Christy added.  In January of 2018, she acquired her second franchise with EXIT and the Madison, Georgia location opened in the spring of 2018.To do it right and build something that will have sustainability, you have to do the work. “It won’t grow overnight,” Christy explains. “Aaron and I have spent the past two years planting the seeds, heavily focused on attracting the right agents, embracing the EXIT model, and that is how we have experienced steady growth and low turn-over.”
The pair have been very strategic with agents joining their team and have learned that some just aren’t going to be a fit, because culture is key to what they are building.One of the analogies Aaron uses is the Grand Canyon. “If I visit the Grand Canyon and show you a picture, you’ll think it is pretty cool.  But, until you experience the grandeur yourself, you don’t realize the magnitude.  Our culture is the same.  Until you truly come and see how we do things, and look over the edge, you just can’t understand it.”Christy adds that words to describe the EXIT culture can be difficult. “You have to come here, experience it for yourself, and then you’ll realize what we are talking about.”
While Christy and Aaron say you have to experience the EXIT culture to understand it, their agents definitely say it best. Here’s a message they received from an agent who recently joined their company.“Love you guys! Thanks so much! I came home to work on my 2021 goals! IDK if y’all know how inspirational you are, but it’s life changing. Through the life you guys speak into your agents,  I KNOW I can create the life I want for myself and my daughter. Most brokers aren’t like this. EXIT is definitely a culture and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”[caption id="attachment_4415" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
EXIT Lake Country training with Angel Tucker.[/caption]
Whether you are thinking of buying a franchise or becoming an agent, you want to be surrounded by people who are making the same investment. This is the support they felt immediately from corporate leaders like Steve Morris, Tami Bonnell, Erica Nasby and Angel Tucker as well as regional owners, Kenny Lynn and Stacy Strobl.
“Kenny and Stacy encouraged involvement from the time I met them, emphasizing the importance of the EXIT culture, saying to be in the room, come be a part of it.  Stacy watched out for me and connected me with other EXIT Realty Broker/Owners who were all very welcoming and willing to share ideas and experiences with me,” Christy said.
“Definitely get involved and budget for training,” says Aaron. “If you are thinking of buying a franchise, you need to budget in every experience you can, beginning with Broker-Owner training in Canada.  Make that commitment in your business and you’ll attract agents who are committed to the same thing. These will be the agents who will grow your culture,” Aaron said.Christy says EXIT is the perfect hybrid real estate model.  It is the closest you can get to a smaller, independent company, both culture-wise and with the ability to run your business without the “big box” rules and requirements, while still having access to the vast amounts of training, support and resources that come with being part of a franchise.“EXIT is very agent-focused.  If you are focused on helping people, creating security, and developing your personal brand & business by design, EXIT is a good choice. This was the philosophy of the founder, Steve Morris. If all you want to do is to make as much money as possible, EXIT may not the place for you,” Aaron added.
With Aaron and Christy’s passion and commitment to growth by enhancing the lives of their agents, EXIT Realty Lake Country has grown over the past two years to five offices in Georgia, spanning from Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee to Lake Hartwell and Lake Lanier. They have also added agents in the Augusta, Georgia area and are licensed in South Carolina, as well.In Tennessee, their Mt. Juliet office location is slated to open within the next 30 days.  “We already have three agents on board, even before the buildout is complete and office opened. When that sign goes up on the building, we anticipate the same amazing growth in our Tennessee office that we’ve experienced in Georgia,”  Aaron said.Text “JoinUs” to 85377 to connect with Aaron, or text “LakeCountry” to 85377 to connect with Christy.
In 2019, EXIT Southeast earned #1 Region for EXIT Realty Corp. International as well as earned #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).
