We recently connected with Amy Fuchs and have shared our conversation below.
Amy, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with something countless entrepreneurs have had to figure out on the fly – how have you dealt with the rise of remote work?
I meet challenges head-on and try to see what benefit they can bring to me and those around me.
As an entrepreneur, pivoting quickly is a critical element to maintaining success. Change isn’t necessarily a bad thing, although it does cause stress for many. For me, my glass is always half full, so I am not one to sulk in fear. I meet challenges head-on and try to see what benefit they can bring to me and those around me. When change is needed, I try to learn and pivot as quickly as possible.
My business is very much relationship based in all aspects. My amazing team and I support each other and believe in each other and really are family to me. My clients, for Residential Real Estate, The FamilyHomesGa Team, and for Entertainment Real Estate, InFocusPlus, come to me initially and stay with me because of our relationship and my ability to understand what they need and produce it for them. Trust is a strong part of my relationship with my team and my clients. When I was hit in the face with the challenge to maintain business and relationships without being in front of people I had to embark on and embrace new ideas and technology. I embraced all that I could to help keep myself and others connected during a very unusual time. As a result, there were plenty of benefits. These benefits remain there as we go back to “normal” lifestyles and living.
With zoom and video, I was able to connect with people across the country and train them and build my business so that when the pandemic was starting to end, my team and I were ready to go. Now that I have learned to build the relationship remotely, I have saved thousands in travel costs and redeveloped my training to start with zoom and combine face-to-face meetings at the right times. This allows me to leverage my time better and better serve my team. In return, we maintain top-notch service, professional skills, and education and are able to continue to deliver our services to our clients with ease and a happy team.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
We work with a paramount “prime directive” if you will. of “always do what is best for the client” and by doing so we know that all else will be fine.
When I think of what I want most as a consumer I know that it is High-Quality Customer Service, Knowledgeable and Professional Professionals to help me, and no pushy salesmanship. As I created my business my goal was to always give my clients all of the things I wanted. I am a Real Estate Professional and my team, and I bring trust and professionalism to our clients every single day. We work with a paramount “prime directive”, if you will. of “always do what is best for the client” and by doing so we know that all else will be fine.
Our team brings you personalized real estate services, and we have a few special “niche markets” with a bit of sparkle to them. We also provide a wide range of specialties from Luxury Real Estate to First Time Home Buyer Specialists and everything in-between. I have hand-picked my team and am so honored to be in business with them every single day.
Luxury Furnished Short Term Rentals: A niche service focused on the ever-growing entertainment business. Offering a “home away from home” to cast and crew needing a place to stay while filming in the area. Our luxury properties are available for lease for 30 days or longer, and all amenities, utilities, internet, and maintenance are included. Just bring your suitcase and enjoy. See our full inventory at InFocusPlus.Com. Monthly rates range from $2500 per month to $65,000 per month.
On-Site Filming Locations: Turn your home into an income producer. Lend your home to a film crew for a few hours or a few days as they film a commercial, tv show or major motion picture. As they step foot onto your property they hand you a check, and homes command anywhere from $500 to $5000 per day on average. Mansions command $10,000 or more per day. If you watched the most recent season of Joe Millionaire, that was filmed at one of our homeowner’s properties. She and her family spent 2 months on an island while they filmed at their home. It was a win-win-win for everyone.
Place a free property ad for your home to be considered on InFocusPlus.Com and let the fun begin.
We place all sorts of properties from tear-downs to Mansions and everything in-between.
Sell for More, Hire a Pro: Who you do business with matters, and when you are selling the largest asset in your financial portfolio having a pro on your side can make all the difference in the world. My team and I work hard for you to help get your home show ready and then make sure our marketing is powerful, strong, and aggressive. We spend the time, money, and energy to get your buyer for you and the most money in your pocket. Our pre-list service takes the worry and stresses out of the experience.
We have many more options such as Rent to Own, Cash Offers, First Time Home Buyer Programs, and Senior Services, to name a few. Check out our website FamilyHomesGa.com to learn more or just call Amy for a chat. Amy can be reached at 404.439.1031. Keller Williams Chattahoochee North Office 678.578.2700
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
I researched, interviewed, and networked before choosing my path and jumping off the “cliff”.
It was do or die for me when I got into Real Estate. As the primary income for my family, giving up a nice salary and benefits to go into a career that “you eat what you kill” with no benefits was a bit scary. My husband and I have built a great life for our little family here in Atlanta and we have some very close friends, but we really don’t have any family to be our emotional or financial safety net. When we decided, I was going to give up my successful career in finance and jump into my longtime dream of being a Realtor, my husband and I set a one-year trial period. If I couldn’t grow the business enough to support the family in one year it would be time to pivot again. Knowing 80% of Realtors drop out of the business inside of 18 months I was determined to make sure I was part of the top 20%. I researched, interviewed, and networked before choosing my path and jumping off the “cliff”.
During my first year in Real Estate I was, and still am, eternally grateful for all of the great advice and time very successful people in the industry gave me. ***SIDE NOTE*** Many told me, don’t call her or him, they will eat you alive. I took a deep breath and went for it and I always say, never let them see you sweat, and I kept saying that over and over to myself on my way to meet some of these power players in the industry. It works, be confident, do your research and go for it ***** As I networked some of the agents invited me to be on their teams. For various reasons it just didn’t sit well with me to join the team. I kept going on my own.
As business got busier and success was shining on me, I started partnering on deals with other agents. When business grew to a point where a team seemed to be the next best step for my business, I thought back to why joining a team when asked didn’t work for me and I set out to create a team that I would want to join. While I respected the models that worked for so many, I looked at them, took the pieces that worked for me and tweaked where I saw fit and created my own path. I then set out to look for the best of the best and of the “best” those that had the same outlook on business and family as I did. I then zealously pursued them and because I have created a team where we all honor and respect each other and I took out some of the “ego” of the team lead building process I am now so incredibly proud and happy of the team I get to work with every day.
One example of going against the norm is that all of my teammates work hard to create strong relationships with our clients and they put their energy and sweat into making sure each and every listing is the best it can be so we can achieve the best results for our clients. I thought why should my name be on that listing. The owner of the home trusts our brand and standards but the intimate relationship is with that specific agent. While the team name and logo is part of our branding, each outstanding Realtor on my team has their own name and phone number on the signs, listing and marketing materials. The sense of pride for the Realtor and the connecting relationship with the owner is intact. The Realtor is able to leverage the advantages of the team to make the best experience and result for the client. Again, a win-win-win.
I also try to always keep an open mind, eye and attitude. If someone suggests something that makes it better for the agent, the team, the process or the client I welcome it with gratitude. I love to learn from my team and I strive to help them grow in their careers as well. Together we are stronger, wiser and happier.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
My team and I work hard to be “your Realtors for Life” not a “one-and-done shop”.
No matter how much I advertise, 85% of our business is from referrals and repeat clients. Perhaps this is because my team and I work hard to be “your Realtors for Life” not a “one-and-done shop”.
Living by our “prime directive” of always doing what is right for the client helps us build a sincere and trusting relationship. Let’s take it one step further, much like your Financial Advisor that helps you and your family through all the stages of your life from a financial aspect, we also strive to be your Realtor throughout life. What I mean by that is as we grow and experience life our housing needs change. The average person lives in 11 homes during their lifetime. For example, You just landed that first great job and want to buy your first home near a downtown area so you are close to restaurants and lots of things to do. Then comes the promotion and you have a dog now and want a little yard, so you sell your condo and buy a townhome. Next may come, pairing up and becoming a couple, now we have two adults and two dogs … things are getting tight, time for a slightly bigger place and fenced in yard. Your priorities are shifting and you would rather be closer to parks than traffic so you call your trusted Realtor again. You are benefiting from reinvesting your equity each time and it helps again because now you are getting ready to say I DO and Mini Me number one is to come soon. Then comes the big promotion and desired high school district so it is time to call Amy Fuchs, our trusted Realtor once again. We have really loved living in our dream home but with the kids done with school we want to downsize a bit and travel, maybe even buy a little place near the grandkids. Amy Fuchs and her team are there to help with this too. Even for an out of state purchases she and her team were by our side working with the right referral agent and making sure we were protected and served well. We were so glad when our oldest called her for the purchase of his first home …. and the cycle of happy homes to fit your lifestyle continues.
In addition, I try to have at least two one-to-one meeting with local vendors each month. I want to make sure when my clients need a great electrician or mason, I have someone I know and trust to refer them to. There is no better way to ensure than by looking someone in the eye and chatting to learn about the people and their business and to explain to them my business and expectations of a referral partner.
Of course, I love to see all our FamilyHomesGa and InFocusPlus families at our Client Events. We say we throw these to say thank you to our clients, but I secretly really do it because I miss my wonderful client’s between closings and really enjoy and become uplifted by seeing them and their growing families from time to time. My favorite event is our Holiday party, and we are fortunate enough to get a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus and it is the joy of the year for me to see the little smiles as they gleam into Santa’s eyes. I am gleaming with joy and a silly grin as I write this.
For InFocusPlus, there is no place I can advertise that would have made us an instant success. This industry is all word of mouth. Reputation is everything. Providing our unique Real Estate Products to the Entertainment industry and the fabulous growth we have experienced are all due to one-to-one referrals, hard work, and quality professional service.
In a nutshell, treat your clients as you want to be treated, be an expert in your field, do the right thing and let your reputation and relationships flourish and business will come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://familyhomesga.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infocusplus/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FamilyHomesGaTeam
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyweissfuchs/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyHomesGa
- Other: https://infocusplus.com/ https://www.facebook.com/InFocusPlusAtlanta https://www.familyhomesga.net/ Join my Groups on Facebook and Nextdoor: Duluth Scoop