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Real Producers of Wayne County - January 2020

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WAY N E C O U N T Y

C O N N E C T I N G .

E L E VAT I N G .

I N S P I R I N G .

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! TOP PRODUCER

JENI HUBENSCHMIDT RISING STAR

BROKER FEATURE

BOYD RUDY & SHANNON HALL

MINDI RAHN PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

OMEGA LENDING GROUP Photo Credit: Eugen Muntean with Square Tangerine Productions Photos taken at Toll Brothers at Montcaret in Northville

PHOTOS FROM OUR MIXER IN THE D.... INSIDE!!! JANUARY 2020


Auto | Home/Condo | Renters | Life Umbrella | RV | Motorcycle | Boat AAA Membership | AAA Mastercard Amy Arnold • 5589 E M 36 • Ste A8 • Pinckney, MI 48169 • (734) 873-2100

Our clients love us. (with a 96 percent client approval rating) Your clients will love us, too.

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313.343.8661

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TAB LE OF

CONTENTS 06

Preferred Partners

12

Top Producer: Jeni Hubenschmidt

28

Broker Feature: Boyd Rudy & Shannon Hall

09

10

Publisher’s Note

Meet The Wayne County Team

18

24

Rising Star: Mindi Rahn

Partner Spotlight: Omega Lending Group

32

42

Photos from our MIXER in the D

Games: Get to Know the Wayne County Real Producers!

Estate Liquidation • Consignment • Full Clean Out Service Serving Metro Detroit Area. Robert and Megan Lewis

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Anne Zielke Certified Residential Appraiser

Appraisa

Unique Lis

l Services

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tings | F SBOs | Es tate Divorce | Education al Semina rs

If you are interested in contributing or nominating Realtors for certain stories, please email us at Chris.csotty@realproducersmag.com or Terra.csotty@realproducersmag.com. DISCLAIMER: Any articles included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of N2 Publishing but remain solely those of the author(s). The paid advertisements contained within the Wayne County Real Producers magazine are not endorsed or recommended by N2 Publishing or the publisher. Therefore, neither N2 Publishing nor the publisher may be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies. NOTE: When community events take place, photographers may be present to take photos for that event and they may be used in this publication.

A II Z Appraisals appriaseranne2018@gmail.com

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PREFERRED PARTNERS

This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted real estate affiliate. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring your magazine. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the REALTOR® community!

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INSURANCE AAA Insurance Amy Arnold (734) 873-2100

DRONES Stylish Detroit (313) 799-3686 WayUp Media (248) 924-1011

HOME BUILDER Lombardo Homes Melissa Cervin (586) 781-2316

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WOLFVR (248) 910-1754 ELECTRICAL Safety One Electric Company, LLC (313) 303-1617 ESTATE SALES Eclectic Attic Estate Sale Service (248) 660-3825 Hands of Time Estate Sales (734) 890-3623 FINANCIAL ADVISOR Edward Jones Colin Talbot (248) 348-0423 FLORAL & GIFT BASKETS Rodnick, Inc. (586) 772-4350

HOME INSPECTION en-Vision Property Inspections (586) 453-8755 HomeTeam Inspection Service (313) 343-8661 Inside Out Inspections Plus (734) 224-0342 Premier Residential Services, LLC (734) 363-1184 HOME ORGANIZER Tidy Smart Organizing Solutions (248) 755-4992

Farm Bureau Insurance Megan Danneels (248) 349-5592 Kennedy Nemier Insurance Agency (734) 454-4058 State Farm Ryan McCreight (517) 375-4817 LAW FIRM Laura M. Walesch, PLC (734) 357-8970 MARKETING/EVENT SERVICES/FLOORING Third Floor Marketing (313) 466-6498 MORTGAGE LENDER Capital Mortgage Funding Harry Glanz (248) 569-7283 DFCU Financial Denise Staffeld (734) 776-6593

Mortgage 1 Chuck Silver (248) 444-9114 Motto Mortgage Excel Garrett Stone (734) 748-1785 Omega Lending Group (586) 242-2468 Union Home Mortgage David Wechsler (248) 514-3489 Union Home Mortgage Ryan Andersen (248) 564-1619

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TITLE COMPANY Alliance Title of Michigan Kelly Anderson Mary Reed (586) 238-4400

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PROPERTY MANAGEMENT D Land Group (313) 347-0241

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WayUp Media (248) 924-1011

SEWER - CAMERA INSPECTION en-Vision Property Inspections (586) 453-8755

Windowstill Photography (517) 292-4066

VIDEOGRAPHER Michigan Real Estate Photography (248) 660-5708 Stylish Detroit (313) 799-3686

MOVING SERVICES BOS Moving and Service (248) 360-6644 DMS Moving Systems (800) 521-5225 Morse Moving & Storage (734) 484-1717 PHOTOGRAPHER Jessica Laine Photography (586) 855-3822 Michigan Real Estate Photography (248) 660-5708 Square Tangerine Productions Eugen Muntean (248) 702-5610 Stylish Detroit (313) 799-3686

Lake Michigan Credit Union Lisa Kreza (734) 462-5420 6 • January 2020

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Jane K. Asher, Ph.D. Writer

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8 • January 2020

Jeanne Monillo

Publisher

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Jessica Laine Gouverneur

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Jessica Laine Photography Photographer

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Brandon Ramsay Wayup MediaVideographer

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publisher’s note

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HAPPY NEW YEAR The popular New Year’s Eve song, “Auld Lang Syne”- which no one really knows the lyrics to - basically means to remember times gone by. It’s a song about remembering your friends, your relationships and impactful experiences during the year. In a nutshell, it works for the end of the year because it’s worth it to take a moment to raise a glass and remember people and experiences that should never be forgotten.

enjoyed an afternoon of networking as well as food and drinks. The unique atmosphere was a great backdrop to the LIVE podcast, “Inside Real Estate,” hosted by one of our sponsors, Omega Lending Group. Thank you again to our other sponsors – Detroit Shipping Company, Alliance Title of Michigan and Title Solutions. Check out photos from the event in THIS issue!

As the new year rushes in and the hustle of the holidays settle down, January brings a clean slate of ideas, fresh perspective, and an opportunity to set new goals and objectives - otherwise known as new year resolutions. This is the time of year when people look back at the past year and try to improve themselves for the upcoming year. Basically, looking back to move forward. The experiences from last year - both good and bad – are excellent tools to building a better new year. Regardless of what resolution you commit to, the goal is to improve life in the coming year.

We are currently accepting submissions of photos and articles of charity events that YOU are participating in. Is your office doing a fundraiser? Are you a part of an organization that gives back to the community? If so, please email terra. csotty@realproducersmag.com.

We’re still getting great feedback from our amazing event at the Detroit Shipping Company which was held in November. We had over 150 real estate agents and partners who 10 • January 2020

We have three private events coming up this year, and you don’t want to miss out! Our next event is scheduled for March at Lombardo’s Model Home in Canton where we will bring together the best of the best. Details will be posted on social media and promoted within the magazine.

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THANKS to our Preferred Partners, this magazine is FREE to the Top 300 REALTORS® in Wayne County. Our partners come to us as a trusted source of business from YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR from the entire staff at Real Producers of Wayne County!

Chris and Terra Csotty Publishers of Real Producers of Wayne County chris.csotty@realproducersmag.com 248.506.6169 terra.csotty@realproducersmag.com 586.615.8749 www.realproducersmag.com • 11


j

Jeni top producer

Hubenschmidt Reaping the Rewards of Real Estate Done Right Written By: Jane K. Asher, Ph.D. Photo Credit: Eugen Muntean with Square Tangerine Productions Photos taken at Toll Brothers at Montcaret in Northville

Jeni Hubenschmidt never imagined that she’d end up in real estate. “Funny enough, I always swore I would never be in sales,” Hubenschmidt said. “I loved marketing but wanted nothing to do with selling.” After earning a degree in psychology, business and marketing from The University of Michigan Dearborn, Hubenschmidt worked in marketing and hospitality with the Detroit Tigers and with CATCH, Sparky Anderson’s Charity for Children. She later went on to become the brand manager for The Detroit News. Then one day when she was at the Northville Hills Community Clubhouse doing some event planning, she crossed paths with some top executives from Toll Brothers, one of whom asked her, “why don’t you work for us?” After some back-and-forth, Hubenschmidt was sold on the idea of transitioning from marketing to sales. She called her husband and said, “I think I found a new career!’” In 2000, Hubenschmidt joined Toll Brothers where she began selling at The Villas at Northville Hills. As a sales manager and associate broker for Toll Brothers, Huben-

12 • January 2020

schmidt opened and sold homes in the Steeplechase community and in Northville Hills Estates until 2010 when she left Toll Brothers and became a member of the Patti Mullen Team at Remerica Hometown One. “I found through my years at Toll that I absolutely loved helping people build their dream homes and realized that I could still do that, eventually run my own business and enjoy my family all at the same time,” Hubenschmidt said. In 2016, Hubenschmidt went out on her own, still with Remerica Hometown One where she serves as an associate broker. “My biggest challenge was having faith in myself,” she said. “I would look at the ‘big dogs’ in the industry and wonder if I could ever hang. Those same big dogs are the ones who have helped me realize that I can be one of them.” Over time, the initial challenge of starting her own business gave way to one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. “I soon figured out that I was pretty darn good at this,” Hubenschmidt said. Today, Hubenschmidt has a career volume of approximately

$180 million in resale, and she projects that her 2019 sales volume will exceed her $18 million 2018 sales volume by $8 million. “I push myself to always be my best and seeing that I am coming up on my best year yet, it feels pretty great!” she said. Right now, Hubenschmidt is passionate about her clients’ satisfaction because approximately 98% of her business is referral-based. For many years, Hubenschmidt has worked alongside Jamie Begin, a licensed admin. “The combo of Jamie and me and how we both view the business is what makes our team awesome. She is my ‘left side’, and we just click in working together,” Hubenschmidt said. “I believe in taking care of my clients like they are family and hope that it shows in everything we do.” Hubenschmidt’s short-term goal is to grow her business and create a team of agents who share her passion for client satisfaction. “Real Estate allows you to set and reach for great personal finance goals as well — for me, I could do this forever. On the other hand, my goal for my husband is early retirement,” Hubenschmidt said. www.realproducersmag.com • 13


Hubenschmidt’s family of four — six if you include their four-legged friends — includes her husband Jesse; daughters Allie, 15, and Avery, 12; and dogs Dude and Marley. “We love to have fun outside together in the summer and at the rink year-round,” Hubenschmidt said. Both of Hubenschmidt’s daughters play on HoneyBaked Hockey Club’s girls travel teams, and Hubenschmidt and her husband enjoy watching and supporting them. “All of the hockey also allows us to travel — which we love to do as a family,” Hubenschmidt said. In addition to hockey, both girls play lacrosse, Avery plays on her middle school volleyball team and Allie plays on her school’s varsity field hockey team. In her free time, Hubenschmidt enjoys dancing, sewing, shopping, hanging out and hosting friends, and pom — she was a long-time high school pompon coach in Novi to a team that won multiple state championships. Hubenschmidt loves listening to country music — especially Old Dominion and Blake Shelton — and 90’s hip hop. She supports her family’s school district, South Lyon Schools, and is committed to investing in the people who educate our youth. Although she no longer

does marketing for CATCH, she continues to support its mission through volunteering, and in honor of a dear friend who passed away too soon, Hubenschmidt also supports AIM at Melanoma. “I went through medical issues early on in my adulthood that helped me keep everything in perspective and adopt a glass-half-full outlook on life,” Hubenschmidt said. “I have always believed that if you are happy, you are productive, and nothing in life is more satisfying or important to me than being happy and seeing others happy.” In her business, Hubenschmidt finds happiness in connecting with those around her and in being true to herself and to her clients, and she is grateful for the positive influences that successful agents have had on her real estate career. She also embraces the mentality that was instilled in her by her father. “My dad always taught me that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right,” Hubenschmidt said. “This advice epitomizes the way I live my life and the way I run my business — there isn’t a penny of commission out there that is worth doing the ‘wrong’ thing.” Hubenschmidt knows that real estate is ‘worth doing’ and that doing it ‘right’ means being fair and caring with clients and peers alike. “My advice for up-and-coming agents is to let your

clients see the real you — let them see your casual side. Show up in your jeans if that is what you usually wear, don’t put on a suit just to ‘feel business-like.’ You will often find Jamie and me wearing Homes by Jeni baseball hats that our clients recognize as our ‘thinking caps.’ Clients will appreciate how down-to-earth you are with them in a really stressful time in their lives,” she said. “I feel that I connect with my clients really well. I listen and try to understand; however, I am also not afraid to tell them what they need to hear. The more you let your clients talk and you listen to where they are coming from, the more they know you care and understand and most importantly, have their back.” She also knows that shaping a worthwhile career and a thriving business,

as well as leading a happy life, are no easy feats but achievable with the right mindset and dedication. “You can be a mom, a business owner, a wife, a friend, a sister, a daughter, etc., and do it all successfully as long as you have balance,” she said. “You can wear a million hats and not be the ‘Mad Hatter’.”

“

I feel that I

connect with my

clients really well. I listen and try

to understand;

however, I am also not afraid to tell them what they

need to hear. The more you let your clients talk and

“

you listen to where

they are coming from, the more they

know you care and

understand and most importantly,

have their back.

14 • January 2020

www.realproducersmag.com • 15


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rising star

MINDIRAHN

Written By: Jane K. Asher, Ph.D.

LIVING HER BEST LIFE YET

W

hen Mindi Rahn (formerly Mindi Rhodes) started her career in real estate in 2014, it marked a new beginning for herself and her family — a new chapter abounding with personal hope and professional promise. Now, as a thriving REALTOR®, Rahn gets to witness new beginnings unfold in her clients’ lives, see other families start new chapters in their new homes and watch them make new memories. “The most rewarding part of my business is the fact that I get to meet so many people, and watch their new chapters start or come to a close,” Rahn said. “I love happy endings — and the memories that they generate — and so there’s nothing better than helping buyers and sellers start and end chapters in life.”

Photo Credit: Jessica Laine Photography Photos taken at Toll Brothers at Montcaret in Northville

18 • January 2020

Prior to beginning her chapter in real estate, Rahn worked as a universal banker in downtown Plymouth and was taking online college classes to become an accountant. In addition to juggling her full-time job and

college coursework, Rahn made the decision to start another chapter in her personal life when she left her seven-year relationship and became a single mother of four children. It was then that Rahn realized that she needed to redirect her career path. She initially considered going into lending until one of her customers at the bank encouraged her to pursue real estate. “I think what has defined my path was experiencing a lot of tough times in my 20’s. My 20’s were hard, but that challenging chapter in my life made me strong, independent and determined,” Rahn said. “I had to live a short time of my life pretending to be something I was not, so when I left my relationship, I made myself two promises: never pretend to be something I am not and always make my kids proud of who I am as a mother and a professional.” Rahn joined a real estate firm as a full-time inside sales agent, working behind the scenes with new clients, participating in training and learning how to connect with buyers. After spending a year nurturing new leads and running the team’s CRM system, Rahn got her license and became a buyer’s agent, selling over 25 homes and generating over $6 million in sales during her first year. Since 2015, her career volume is $37 million, over $6 million of which she generated in 2018. Rahn steadily maintains a 5-Star Zillow rating for customer service, and since joining Moving the Mitten in 2016, Rahn has been a top-producing agent every year. “I think my Zillow reviews perfectly capture who I am as a real estate agent,” Rahn said. “I am not pushy. I walk buyers and sellers through the process, educate them about what to expect throughout the process and am always quick to respond to my clients,” Rahn said. Rahn knows that her self-discipline and organizational skills are crucial to her business and allow her to handle a lot of clients at a time — without the help of an assistant. More importantly, Rahn isn’t just “handling” clients; she’s carefully and cautiously guiding each family to make educated real estate decisions. “By the closing table, I want my clients to feel they could not have had a better experience if it weren’t for me. I want my clients to always feel that I had their best interest at heart and that I never looked at any client or home as just a number,” Rahn said. “My clients start out as clients, but at the closing table, we end as friends.” www.realproducersmag.com • 19


Photo Credit: Jessica Laine Photography Photos taken at Toll Brothers at Montcaret in Northville

ALLIANCE TITLE OF MICHIGAN

Happy New Year Rahn is preparing for her broker exam and spends a lot of her time helping new agents “learn the ropes of real estate”. At Moving the Mitten, Rahn works with a team of 40 agents and 3 administrative assistants, and she feels humbled when her fellow agents shadow her at showings, open houses, listing appointments, negotiations, and on phone calls with new leads. “I think my team is one of the best in the industry,” Rahn said. “We are like one big family. At Moving the Mitten, you are never alone and can always count on a team member to jump in, fill in or offer a helping hand or guidance when it is needed. My broker never treats us as agents — we are partners, and I love that.” Rahn is newly married to her “wonderful husband” Mike Rahn and has four children: Jaiden, 16, Neveah, 13, Hailey, 10, and Lilliana, 5. Together, they enjoy camping, going to concerts, singing karaoke and having backyard bonfires accompanied by blaring music. “All of our kids are very active and love sports, fishing and being outdoors,” Rahn said. Rahn and her three daughters make some of their favorite memories dancing and singing together, and Rahn and her husband Mike always look forward to taking rides on their Harley on sunny days. “Our joke is that I’m suit and heels by morning and boots and Harley jacket by night,” Rahn said. Rahn’s favorite music is country and outlaw country, and occasionally, when she disconnects her electronics, Rahn enjoys a good romance novel. 20 • January 2020

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“My biggest challenge as a real estate agent is the commitment it requires — there is no such thing as part-time,” Rahn said. “Finding a work-life balance is always a strain as I have never told a client ‘no’. I work seven days a week, during vacations, at family events and all the above. My clients are #1. One thing about this market is that homes do not wait for you.” Rahn has always worked well under pressure, she establishes a system to keep her on track to reach her goals, and she does a good job at adapting to last-minute changes — these skills have been integral to her success in real estate and in life. “With my drive and ability to overcome the odds of being a single mom — let alone a mother to four kids — I think I have inspired many of the new agents who have come through our office,” Rahn said. “Starting over, renting a little four-bedroom house and pursuing a commission-based career were all big risks that led me to this chapter where I am living my happiest, healthiest and best life yet...and I can thank real estate for having a huge part in that.” www.realproducersmag.com • 21


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LENDING GROUP

“PERSONALLY ADDING VALUE TO THEIR PARTNERS” Written By: Robbyn Moore Photo Credit: Jermaine Buie with Perfect Light, LLC

I

n an increasingly automated and tech-driven world, the people at Omega Lending Group believe in the value of personal service and human interaction. “Beyond offering a complete set of home loan options, we provide exceptional one-on-one service to our clients,” says Paul Apostolakis, Owner of Omega Lending Group. “Technology definitely has its place in this industry, but we got into this business because we saw how detached the mortgage process was becoming, and we knew we could set ourselves apart by offering 5-star service.”

24 • January 2020

Along with Paul, partners Salvatore Cusumano, Brad Weissgerber and Chad Ruehle have built their mortgage company based on two rules: work with pride and be a good human. “When you work with pride it is difficult to let yourself down,” explains Paul. “If you aren’t proud of your body of work, then it’s up to you to make an adjustment and do work that makes you proud.” Paul goes on to explain that being a good human may sound obvious, but in fact, most people don’t take that responsibility too serious. “We are not greedy,” he says. “We just

Paul says the relationships his team builds with their clients are one of the most fulfilling aspects of the mortgage business. “The relationships we build are so personal,” explains Paul. “When someone comes to you and trusts you with a major purchase like buying a home, you really want to deliver for that person. The whole process is filled with emotion, and we’re lucky to have the chance to be a part of that.” The team at Omega Lending Group agreed that what makes them unique is their level of support, tools and promotion they give to their partners. Paul says, “Nothing is more important to us than the success of our referral partners. We believe that getting to the closing table is just the beginning. In our relentless pursuit to add value, the real estate agent always wins.” Whether it’s explaining the difference between being pre-qualified and pre-approved, or helping agents make

some noise in the marketplace, the team of leaders at Omega Lending Group are focused on education. “If you look at our social channels or our website, blog and the Inside Real Estate podcast series, we’re always trying to break everything down,” says Paul. “We’re passionate about elevating the understanding of the market for everybody.” Paul says that building his business has mostly come down to having the right mindset. “I think the biggest business road-blocks are doubt, uncertainty and fear,” he shares. “There hasn’t been one defining moment in my career, but rather a series of many moments strung together to show me that anything is possible with the right mentality. And I hope that it’s contagious.” The elite team at Omega Lending Group pride themselves on personal attention that is unmatched in the mortgage space. “We are a people-driven business,” says Paul. “When people want a mortgage partner, they can call us. And we’ll answer the phone.” For more information about Omega Lending Group call 586-242-2468 or visit their website at www.omegalendinggroup.com. www.realproducersmag.com • 25


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broker feature

no one ever feels alone working here. We are super creative and connected. We all help each other, reciprocate and function as a team. As brokers, we stay in the trenches working so we are ‘eyes wide open’ to the market. There is literally nothing worse than a broker who is disconnected — we see and hear it all the time.” “Just like our clients, our agents deserve to get the best of everything we can offer them and shouldn’t ever feel like just another number,” Rudy said.

to be treated like people — not numbers. Too many agents, teams and brokerages think of their clients as just a sign in the ground and another sale to pad their numbers. We wanted to change that mentality and put the client first. The numbers will come, and your clients will refer you and shout your praises from the mountaintops. We are proof of that.”

BOYD R U DY &SHANNON HALL

DISRUPTING THE STATUS QUO

Written By: Jane K. Asher, Ph.D. Photo Credit: Eugen Muntean with Square Tangerine Productions

28 • January 2020

Associate Broker Boyd Rudy and Principal Broker Shannon Hall don’t share similar personality traits or approach agent education in the same way, but what they do share is an unmistakable vision for the industry — and for the clients and the agents who make it all possible. For the past six years, they’ve partnered up to manifest their vision at Dwellings by Rudy & Hall, and by leveraging their best selves and their strengths, Rudy and Hall have created an independent brokerage where clients and agents experience the very best of everything real estate has to offer.

“We opened Dwellings by Rudy & Hall to bring service back to our industry. People pay us a ton of money to sell their homes and they deserve the best representation and marketing possible no matter what the price of the home,” Rudy said. “On top of that, they deserve

In 2014, Rudy and Hall made their mark on the Michigan real estate industry by becoming the first in the state to use professional real estate photography and Matterport. Then, in 2015, they continued to set industry trends by becoming the first Michigan brokerage to stage their listings. “Implementing all of these things has caused a disruption in the industry, and now you see more and more agents and brokerages following suit. That is fine with us. We will keep adding more value and new services for our clients. If others keep following suit, maybe we will be able to break the ‘shiesty salesman’ stigma so that the public views real estate agents as professionals who truly provide value for what they are being paid,” Rudy said. At Dwellings, amazing representation, marketing and service are made possible by brokers who thoroughly educate their agents and give them every tool they need to be successful. Throughout their careers in real estate, both Rudy and Hall grew frustrated by brokerages that failed to train and support their agents. “I never wanted any agent to go through what I did when I started out, and that’s what motivated me to become a broker in 2014,” Hall said. “We view our agents as our clients; therefore, they go through rigorous training so that they have confidence in what they’re doing and are able to take care of clients. We train our agents on being the best versions of themselves they can be in business and in life.”

Currently, Dwellings by Rudy & Hall is just shy of 50 agents, employs 3 full-time support staff, and is opening a new office Downriver in Wyandotte on January 1, 2020. Additionally, Rudy and Hall own a fully staffed professional digital/social media marketing company that handles marketing and social media advertising for real estate agents and large corporations nationwide. “Not everyone gets to keep their position with us,” Hall said. “We have a strict no-asshole policy, and agents must be striving for six figures, taking care of clients, attending trainings, etc. If an agent falls short of these things, they’re gone.” “We only hire agents who want to be full-time, kick-ass, bestin-the-business agents, and every single one of them helps the others whenever they are asked,” Rudy said. “It is truly a thing of beauty to see six to seven agents volunteer to open a door for someone if they are double-booked or have an event for their child. I’ve been at and run several brokerages in the area. I’ve never seen anything like it. Everyone here wants to see everyone here succeed.” With a career volume of over $400 million, $100 million of which the brokerage generated in 2018, agents at Dwellings are definitely succeeding, thanks to Rudy and Hall’s vision and leadership. Rudy describes Hall as the “Yin” to his “Yang” and notes that their agents benefit from working with “two totally different people and personalities because they see totally different approaches and can adapt what works best for them and their personality.” Rudy teaches agents how to use social media to grow their business, handles all the marketing and focuses on developing plans to foster their agents’ success. Whereas, Hall handles the

Rudy and Hall built Dwellings with all the pieces that were missing from their previous brokerages: accessible brokers who are up-to-date with market and training trends, personal training, group training, a non-cutthroat environment where everyone helps each other and a stellar professional digital marketing company. “We take being a broker seriously,” Hall said. “We oversee every transaction, all paperwork goes through compliance and www.realproducersmag.com • 29


create our own reality. We cannot let the past take us down. We must persevere. I want anyone to know that if I can do this, so can they. It just depends on whether they’re willing to give up their sob story and labels and work for it. If you fear ‘success,’ this is not the place for you,” Hall said. Hall has been a REALTOR® for 10 years and a broker for six. Prior to working in real estate, she owned a small fashion accessory business for five years, flipped and built houses — she’s had her builder’s license since 2010 — and worked on the first round of NSP1 at Wayne County via a HUD money management company. “I always worked from the time I was a young girl, and after I got divorced (again), I decided to pursue real estate just for my own needs, and it eventually led into a full-time career,” she said. face-to-face interactions and training and focuses on motivating agents to put their plans into motion. “Boyd is the master of marketing. That is not my forte,” Hall said. She describes Rudy as “the Wizard of Oz,” doing marketing behind the scenes and generating leads and ads. “I like to be present for our agents and get into the problem-solving side of things. He likes to be online; whereas, I like to be in-person. We stay in our own lanes and don’t cross over. I deal with the day-to-day, legal, practice, motivational, and training aspects of the business.” Rudy and Hall both have a knack for reading the markets well in advance and for identifying and setting trends. “We are typically way further ahead than anywhere else. When other places think they have us figured out, we are way beyond it,” Hall said. Rudy and Hall are patient, but in different ways, and both possess a passion for people. “We both want and require our agents to be the best, and we love making it that way,” she said. Rudy has been a REALTOR® for 19 years and became a broker in 2018. He initially planned to pursue a career in culinary arts, but his mother kept buying him real estate investment books and encouraged him to get his license so that they could flip homes together. Rudy eventually de30 • January 2020

cided that he didn’t want to spend his career in the kitchen, and he wanted to build and own a business like his parents. “Watching them gave me that entrepreneurial spirit and the courage to make the leap and open a new business,” Rudy said. “When I was young, my dad drilled one of his favorite phrases into my head: ‘You gotta pay before you play.’ That phrase gave and still gives me the fire to put in the long endless hours it takes to build something special.” Rudy has been married to his wife Brandi for 15 years, and together they have four boys: Zachary, Brennan, Aidan and Mason. Boyd has coached football, basketball or baseball for all four of his sons, and he enjoys spending time playing catch or working on cars with them. In the summer, the Rudy family spends as much time as possible on their boat — for Rudy, there’s nothing more relaxing than being on the water. Hall grew up in the Cleveland area and was the third of eight children. “Being in a huge family, you learn to fend and fight for yourself,” she said. As a child, Hall remembers feeling “really invisible,” and is grateful for her grandmother who always made a point to notice and accept her and make her feel valuable. “I would say these things shaped my tough core and have taught me that we all

Hall has two daughters, Jacque and Sammy, and four grandchildren, Wyatt, Kevin, Katie Jo and Declan. She also has Ron Poland, her amazing boyfriend who understands her and the demands of being a high-level professional. “I love anything that has to do with housing, whether it’s getting my hands dirty doing rehab or design/decor,” Hall said. She also enjoys reading and listening to books, celebrating holidays and entertaining. “If I am not in town, I am typically on a trip somewhere I have never been before because I tend to get pretty nomadic,” she said. Hall is a very high-energy person who doesn’t put up with any “BS.” “I will always call it like I see it,” she said. “That said, I am loyal to a fault, and I have my agents backs. I am never going to be their BFF, but I will be their mentor. I take their success personally, and I am willing to invest in them if they are willing to invest in themselves.” Rudy may be more reserved, but he’s equally loyal to his agents and to engendering their success. “This business can be a very lonely and frustrating one, but it doesn’t have to be,” he said. “We are proof of that. All our agents are like family. They help each other out, cover each other’s showings and build each other up.”

We Transform Your Vision into Reality

“We really have something totally different and unique here,” Rudy said. “There is not one single place like ours,” Hall said. A business partnership like the one that Rudy and Hall share is rare, and maybe even a bit unconventional. Through their partnership and their vision for change, Rudy and Hall are intentionally disrupting the status quo. Dwellings by Rudy & Hall isn’t just different or unique; it’s a game-changer — for clients, for agents and for brokers.

DRONE • PHOTOGRAPHY • RENDERINGS • 360 TOURS • MARKETING We know first impressions matter; especially when it comes to purchasing real-estate.

248-910-1754 • info@wolfvre.com www.wolfvre.com www.realproducersmag.com • 31


RECAP

OF THE

MIXER D!

“

“The Real Producer events are so well attended by our industry’s best and brightest, it’s honestly the best networking event I’ve attended in over a decade in the business. At the last event I was able to connect with an old colleague and put together two offers totaling $5m. Where else can you make that happen?! Looking forward to the next Real Producers event!” - Matt O’Laughlin - Alexander Real Estate Detroit “Another great event!” - Kelly Anderson, Alliance Title of Michigan “Great environment for making deals happen- high producers, great space, and an open bar! Looking forward to the next one!” - Jimmy Saros- Jim Saros Real Estate Services

“The Real Producers event hosted by the Detroit Shipping Co. was outstanding. The venue was extremely cool, the food was amazing and the partners I met were quite impressive. I left the last RP event excited about the agents I met and mingled with. I left this event thrilled about utilizing some of the preferred partners I met. A few of them gave me some incredible ideas which will definitely set me apart from other agents. I actually plan to take one partner I met on my next large listing appointment. Learning about his technology gave me A LOT of ideas. Thank you for your efforts, not only are the events fun, they are career building.” - Kathy Schaumburger- eXp Realty

IN THE

These are just a few of the accolades we have received about our recent networking event - “Mixer in the D”, which was held November 13th at The Detroit Shipping Company - located in the historic and upand-coming Detroit hot spot in the Cass Corridor. The venue, the food, the energy...all were electric as over 150 of Wayne County’s best in the business enjoyed time away from the office to meet and build relationships. Inside Real Estate’s live, remote podcast from the event added to the excitement, including interviews with Jonathan Hartzell- Event Sponsor and Owner of Detroit Shipping Company, as well as Matt O’Laughlin from Alexander Real Estate Detroit and John and Sara Goodman from Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel- Top Producers in Wayne County. Special thanks to all of our sponsors! Detroit Shipping Company, Alliance Title of Michigan, Omega Lending Group and Title Solutions Our next event will be in March at Lombardo’s Model Home in Canton! Follow us on social media to hear about details!

Photo Credit: Stylish Detroit and Eugen Muntean with Square Tangerine Productions

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WAYNE COUNTY REAL PRODUCERS! Untitled

1

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DOWN 1. An app where in you can view current and past issues of the magazine 2. The recent event held at the Detroit Shipping Co. where people in the Real Estate world come together to meet and greet each other 3. Mindi worked this kind of job in downtown Plymomuth prior to becoming a real estate agent Across 5. According to Paul, this is one of those three 4. This has been business Jeni's goalroad-bloccks for her husband aside from personal biggest finance goals.

6. Shannon's description to Rudy for doing marketing behind the scenes and generating leads and ads. 42 • January 2020

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Down 1. An app where in you can view current and past issues of the magazine 2. The recent event held at the Detroit Shipping Co. where people in the Real Estate world come together to meet and greet each other 3. Mindi worked this kind of job in downtown Plymomuth prior to becoming a real estate agent 5. According to Paul, this is one of those three biggest business

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ACROSS 4. This has been Jeni’s goal for her husband aside from personal finance goals. 6. Shannon’s description to Rudy for doing marketing behind the scenes and generating leads and ads.

Wayne County.

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