Let me introduce Jacob & Deana Calvert, the husband-and-wife duo who make up The Calvert Group at Keller Williams Realty. This power couple is one of Rome, Georgia’s top-selling and listing agents. They are passionate about helping people make their home dreams a reality by going that extra mile.
Getting to know Jacob and Deana, we not only learned a lot about what it takes to be a real estate agent but also what to look for in a real estate agent when you want to sell or purchase a home.
What To Look For In A Real Estate Agent
A good realtor doesn’t just sell and buy houses; they sell themselves. Your realtor’s personality is critical when working and responding to people. You want a realtor who has a great attitude, is confident in what they do and can do for you, and is relatable and honest.
Experience
The first thing you want to look for in a real estate agent, whether you are buying or selling, is their experience. An experienced realtor can provide information and advice you can’t find by searching the internet. Some benefits of using an experienced realtor are connections with other realtors, knowledge of changing market trends, and referrals.
Jacob and Deana are Romans through and through. Jacob moved to Rome, GA when he was nine years old, and Deana was born in Rome. Now they are raising their family here. They love their hometown and are very involved in the community.
Being in real estate in Rome, they have seen the highs and lows and trends in the market in the area.
Jacob has been in the real estate business since he was a teenager. He learned about the business from his father. Being immersed in the industry, Jacob has learned every aspect of the real estate business. Getting his start in the business at such a young age has given him years of experience that most agents won’t have.
Deana began her career in real estate by learning under the same expert, Jacob’s father. Deana and Jacob quickly became a power team, with their different styles and personalities complementing each other, resulting in them working well together.
At the beginning of their real estate career, they worked with HUD homes. When a house was being foreclosed on, they would go in, fix the home, and get it ready to go on the market. As you can imagine, this gave them tremendous experience in home repairs and knowing how to properly fix issues with homes to get them ready to sell.
When the housing market crashed in 2008 and 2009, they had plenty of work to keep them busy. During the Trump administration, the government pulled a lot of excess spending from foreclosures, and lenders sold homes as-is. This change shifted Jacob and Deana into selling in the new booming real estate market.
Personal Touch
Real estate is such a huge purchase that it is the little things that matter. When working with an agent, you want to feel that personal touch. You want to work with someone that makes you feel like they are going above and beyond to help you.
Jacob and Deana are hands-on and get to know their clients by listening and understanding who they are, their needs, and why they are selling or buying a home. That way, they know where their client is coming from, where they are going, their goals, and how to help them achieve them.
Attention To Details
On each listing, they will add special touches such as flowers and greenery to make the listings feel like home. They will “stage” the house if it is empty so potential buyers can envision the space. They also understand the importance of good photography and videos when promoting a property, so they have professional photos and videos taken of each listing.
Jacob and Deana have bought and flipped several homes during their career, so they understand what it takes to get a home ready to sell. They can work with buyers to know what is important when navigating a home inspection.
Knowledgeable
When working with a real estate agent, you want someone knowledgeable in every market aspect. There are many aspects to selling and buying a home, and a good realtor knows the ins and outs of the real estate market. Much more goes into being a real estate agent than knowing how to complete the paperwork.
You want someone that can negotiate. Jacob prides himself as an excellent negotiator. He can get you the deals you deserve. You also want someone knowledgeable in the real estate market’s latest trends. Real estate rapidly changes, and if your realtor isn’t current on trends and education, they could give you wrong information that could cost you money.
Jacob and Deana also value continued education. They believe the agent must be the expert when dealing with somebody’s home. You must be the most competent person in the room. This is why they are always learning and taking classes to sharpen their skills in the market and real estate contracts.
Has A Network
You want a real estate agent with a network of connections specializing in the real estate market. A well-rounded list of contacts would include all the people involved in real estate.
When you work with the Calverts, you get a husband-and-wife team. They also work with their own specific lenders and a professional photographer. They have about ten people they work with on each property. So, you are not hiring a real estate agent, your hiring a network.
Being in business for over 20 years, Jacob and Deana have many connections they work with. People that they can depend on and reach out to, such as contractors, other real estate agents and brokers, potential buyers and sellers, appraisers, home inspectors, and mortgage loan officers.
Having a network of people shows that they go the extra mile and work well with others. Ultimately, it is about taking care of you as the client.
Good Work Ethic
A good work ethic is the one trait or habit every realtor should have to be unstoppable. You want a real estate agent that doesn’t hesitate to pursue every lead and will hustle to market your property. It is not just about working long hours; it is about effectively putting in the time to do what is necessary to get the job done.
One of the biggest misconceptions is a lot of people think a real estate agent doesn’t have to work to get a listing and that the deals come to you, but that’s not true. You must actively seek and connect with people and look for business.
As an entrepreneur, people need to realize you must always treat it like a real job. When you have that drive, you are never satisfied. So, you are always looking at how to be better. It’s like a hunger you are chasing.
Self-Motivated Entrepreneur
Any time you work with a realtor, you want someone with the desire and mindset to face challenges head-on. You want someone with a high degree of self-motivation, a drive for success, and who can make good decisions.
The Calverts have done some incredible things in their business. As entrepreneurs, they know what it takes to be successful. They have an internal drive that helps them overcome challenges. Their experience and expertise enable them to make wise decisions and negotiate on your behalf to get what you need.
After getting to know Jacob and Deana, we asked them deeper and more personal questions. The following are their responses.
If you could go back to when your started and give your past self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Keep going, and don’t give up. It’ll be worth it all. Show up.
What do you enjoy most about working as a real estate agent?
Making people’s real estate dreams come true and the relationships.
What is the most challenging part of working in real estate?
It is finding the deals, the next sale, or the challenge of a market that is constantly changing. You can never be complacent because the market will completely flip three or four months from now. That’s why finding an agent who deals in all four quarters of the year is crucial.
What is one piece of advice to someone wanting to make a difference in the community?
Provide value. People appreciate the value and hard work.
What is your go-to source for inspiration and encouragement?
We have worked hard to surround ourselves with powerful leaders and coaches with industry experience. We are constantly working to better ourselves to provide top-notch service and value to our clients.
If you want to learn more about how Jacob and Deana Culvert can help you make your dreams come true, contact them at 706-591-8813 visit their website CalvertRealtyGa.com or email calvertgroup@kw.com and don’t forget to follow them on Facebook to keep up with all their listings @CalvertGroupGa.
