The Alimond Show
Welcome to The Alimond Show --join us as we share our entrepreneurial guests' stories, uncover their secrets to success, and explore the unique paths they've taken to build thriving businesses in our community.
In each episode, our host, Aliyah Dastour, sits down with a diverse group of local business owners, from the corner cafe to the boutique shop, from tech startups to family-run enterprises. We peel back the curtain to reveal the trials, triumphs, and transformational moments that have shaped their entrepreneurial journey.
Discover the passion, perseverance, and innovative thinking that fuels these businesses, as well as the challenges they've overcome along the way. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking inspiration or simply a curious listener interested in the stories behind your favorite local spots, The Alimond Show has something for everyone.
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Join us every week as we celebrate the unsung heroes of our local business community and explore the vibrant tapestry of entrepreneurship in our area. Tune in to The Alimond Show and get ready to be inspired, informed, and motivated to support and nurture the businesses that make our community thrive.
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The Alimond Show
Margaret Halseth of Keller Williams Dulles - From Retail Career to Real Estate Triumph: Mastering Client Relationships, Investing with Confidence, and Pursuing Continuous Growth
Can you imagine transforming a demanding retail career into a flourishing real estate profession? This episode features the inspiring story of Margaret Halseth, an associate broker at Keller Williams Dulles, who did just that. Margaret shares her transformative journey, highlighting her client-centric approach and the significant role of personalized communication and events in building lasting client relationships. You'll hear how a friend's encouragement and a desire for independence propelled her into a new career, and how her dedication to continuous learning and involvement with the Dulles Association of Realtors keeps her ahead in the industry.
We also gain unique insights from a real estate agent with a military background, who underscores the importance of finding the right agent through interviews and honest communication. Discover tips on managing rental properties and the intricacies of real estate investment, including the negotiable nature of fees and the critical understanding of financial goals. Our guest's passion for education and her future aspirations, such as transitioning to a broker role and eventual retirement, offer invaluable lessons for anyone in the real estate field. Tune in for an episode filled with practical advice and heartfelt stories that showcase the emotional rewards of the profession.
My name is Margaret Halseff. I'm an associate broker for Keller Williams Dulles. I've been in business for approaching 20 years now. Real estate I help people buy and sell and invest in their homes.
Speaker 2:I love that, and do you specialize in anything in particular like residential commercial?
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely I do residential. I leave commercial to the professional commercial agents to do that.
Speaker 2:Okay, perfect, and before we get into the nitty gritty stuff, can I have a background about yourself and how you got started in the real estate industry and what led you here?
Speaker 1:Oh, that's a long story and we are all full of stories. Clients have stories, we have stories, stories. You know, clients have stories, we have stories and I just I love to hear them. And my story is that I was working full-time at Macy's in, you know, in Alexandria, and you know I was working somewhere around 60 or 70 hours. I was commuting and I thought, well, you know, I could work for myself and possibly do as well. And I had a friend that went into the business several years before and she said, margaret, I think you'd be perfect for that. So I took classes in the basement of Long and Foster building and graduated At that age, I was in my 40s. At that time I thought, oh gosh, am I going to graduate? How am I going to do? But I have never looked back. I love this business. I love what we can do for our clients, I love how we can help. It's just a business that involves so many different aspects.
Speaker 2:Absolutely yeah. Talk to me about your client-centric approach. I'd like to hear more about how you're engaging with your clients and building those relationships.
Speaker 1:Well, I've always had this fear that people wouldn't remember me, and you know we I not we but I personally do business by referral and it's pretty much a hundred percent referral.
Speaker 1:So, and I always want to do and keep up with my clients to make sure that they remember who I am, and I also like to give back. So my I do four events every year. This year I took my clients to go see Dune 2, which I'm a sci-fi buff, so I love to do things that I enjoy doing. I'm about to do, on November 3rd, a Pottery Barn event at the Mosaic District and one of my favorite things that I did, and we were able to tie in with Blue Frog Vineyard. But in July, myself and a couple of other agents did Lost Dog and Cat Rescue charity event and we had the blue teak at the vineyard and we had a professional photographer and if you came and donated, we took a picture of you and your pet, or you and you, or you and your significant other and then sent it to you with a note of thanks and appreciation.
Speaker 2:How lovely.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, I try to do something, at least four things every year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, that's so cool. Why is that so important to you? In order for them to remember and not forget you.
Speaker 1:Well, since we do business by referral, you know I don't want to have anybody ever say, oh, you know she was really good, but you know I can't remember her name. So I consistently call. I send my clients information about what's going on in the market. I have a YouTube channel. I do social media. I wish I could do better at my social media.
Speaker 2:Hey, you're doing great. You say, you just got here.
Speaker 1:And you know I try, you know, to. You know communicate through different means to different clients, because we've got different age groups. You know, some people just love a note, Other people want to catch up with you and live vicariously through what you're doing on Facebook and you know other things.
Speaker 2:So yeah, no, I love that. And now talk to me about your unique business.
Speaker 1:Our business is unusual because we are intimately involved in people's lives, from anywhere from one to three months. We're calling them every day, we're keeping them posted on what's going on, we're keeping letting them know you know who's visited their property. So we're through that entire transaction and listing process. We could be moving furniture at the beginning of the process and then comparing contracts at the end of it, and then you know after we've closed, whether you're buying or you're selling. You know we want to make sure to keep in touch with those. Our clients and so many of my clients have turned into good friends and I can just pick up the phone and say hi and hey, I'm going to be at, you know so-and-so vineyard, join me.
Speaker 2:I love that. No, that is great. That is so great. Tell me about the effort and time that you put into your clients, your work, everything in your industry.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm involved with the Dollar Association of Realtors and I have been greater and lesser degrees. I was on the board. I was chair of the you know charity committee. I'm now with budget and finance. I try always to give back and keep up with what's going on.
Speaker 2:And you know, did I answer that? Yes, you did, you surely? Did Learning is growth.
Speaker 1:You know, I really feel that in our business we are constantly evolving and we're evolving with our clients and you know the generation. We're evolving with contracts and the different forms. We're evolving with media tracks and the different forms we're evolving with media. We're evolving with you know what's going on with the Department of Justice. We're evolving through all kinds of things and I think you know to keep yourself active and involved and up to date for your clients because that's what we are client-centric we need to make sure that we are informed and keep up with everything.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. And what are some of the resources that maybe you can share with other people who are listening that you use to help you better understand certain things that are going on or new things that are changing?
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, Well you know, keeping up with the media. You know everything from Inman. I try not to watch, you know too much. You know formal news but I like to listen to know what's going on. I'm again through our Dulles Area Association of Realtors, or NBAR, Through our Dulles Area Association of Realtors, or NBAR, keeping up with that. We also, virginia Realtors, sends out bulletins, you know. And then keeping up with what's important for my clients. I like to touch base with them and see what's going on with them. And then also our local you know districts and what's going on politically and stuff here. Local, yeah, and politics is local, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's right, it is All right. And then talk to me about media portrayal.
Speaker 1:Well, our industry. This goes back to uniqueness again and you know it always troubles me a little bit about how realtors are portrayed in the media. I have yet to meet one of those realtors that I see portrayed in the movies or in TV shows, the ones that I know. You know I'm in a suit today, but you know normally I'm in tennis shoes, travel pants and a ponytail to help my clients. You know, because you know we don't know really and truly what we might need to be doing. And the realtors that I know are actively involved, responsible, and they're not necessarily always on the phone, blonde or wearing three inch heels.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, you're right, there's all kinds. No, I love that. And then talk to me about relevance. Relevance.
Speaker 1:You know, in our industry we've seen a lot of different other industries try and impact us because they I feel that they see dollars or they feel that perhaps there's something to gain. And yet I still see our relevance in what we do as far as representing our clients. An example would be I had clients one time that really wanted this particular model home but they didn't think that they could have it built in this other subdivision. So, you know, through effort and you know, time which happily that you know, I, I did we were able to build that home in that community and that community the growth rate for that was so much better than where they originally would have built, which the houses would have been so much closer together. Anyway, so our relevance again, by keeping up with what's going on and making sure that we can inform our clients. And if you think about this industry now, we've had such a steady growth in this industry that a lot of the agents that are in this business or recently in this business haven't really seen difficult markets.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, and you know the pendulum always swings and it will eventually get back there and we will see where, you know, properties might take three months to sell and how do you communicate with your client? You know when they haven't had a visit in a week to show their property. So I think relevance is. We've seen the pendulum swing. We know it will swing Now. Will I still be around? Then've seen the pendulum swing. We know it will swing Now. Will I still be around then? I don't know. But you know interest rates. You know the Fed just met yesterday. Interest rates have started to go down, so we'll see what's going to happen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm sure it's going to be exciting either way right. All right. And then change is always constant, so talk to me about how that is in your industry. Right.
Speaker 1:So we probably are going through the biggest change that we've ever experienced, although in Virginia, a lot of the policies that are being instituted throughout the United States where we've been, you know we've been practicing for I don't know somewhere what 12, 13 years now already. So you know it's not anything really new. And I think if we get down to basics, you know that, and we do the homework and do the net sheet for our clients, they're going to know what their net is going to be and then if they want to appeal to most of the buyers in our area, they'll know that if the contract comes in a certain percentage, that this would be what their net is, and any good agent would be doing that anyway. So you know, it's just something we have to adapt with.
Speaker 1:And you know, change keeps us young, change keeps us on top of everything, and how we tackle it really is mentally how we, you know, live our lives. So, yeah, and it's always good, absolutely. And this business is such a strange business too, because everyone is different, every transaction is different and it's very difficult to go in a straight line from A to B. So a lot of agents really especially when the pendulum does swing back to be able to address that little hiccup that comes through. That's where they might know they might need as older agents.
Speaker 2:Yes, and now I want to talk about consistency, because everybody's situation is different. How do you make sure that you stay consistent with what you're doing?
Speaker 1:I try to keep consistent by treating everybody the same, but I also have forms that I use within my business so that you know, if I'm selling a home or if I'm helping somebody buy a home, that I prepare them, I give them information regarding what's going to occur or what possibly could occur in the future, and by consistently preparing your client and giving them knowledge, you're giving them a better ability to be a better buyer and to know you know when that hiccup does occur. Oh, she told me about that, so you know that that's part of the consistency.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, absolutely. Thank you for sharing that. And now everybody has their own stories. You have your own stories, so talk to me about your clients and their stories. Have any of them impacted you in any way?
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely Everybody does. And you know, when you look at somebody, you know you see their face, you see, you know what they do in that time second. You know what they do in that time second. But you don't know their story and everybody has one and I find them just absolutely fascinating. You don't know that two years ago I was inside the pyramid of you know Khufu. So I mean you know these are things. And when I my clients, I mean you know these are things. And when I my clients, I have clients that moved here from California, that you know are exploring all of the areas you know in our DC. And it's opened my eyes again because I've lived here since 2003. And you know I, oh man, it's been so long since I've been there I've forgotten what a great you know, you know great city that we do live next, to yeah, right, no, that's incredible.
Speaker 2:And now, talking about stories, I want to get to know you a little bit. So, when you're not doing things like for other people, such as your clients, or working with other real estate agents, what do you like to do to unwind yourself down and make sure that you can perform at a hundred percent?
Speaker 1:Well, um on uh, maybe just to unwind would be a nice glass of uh rosé on a Thursday, uh, um, you know, at Fleetwood.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love that. No, I love it.
Speaker 1:They have a rosé champagne and I hope I'm saying it correctly that I just absolutely love. And then I love spending time with friends. But I love to travel. My background is military and my dad, we've been stationed from Okinawa to California to New York, stationed from Okinawa to California to New York. I traveled to Europe and Japan and I've been to Hong Kong. But you know, it's been. That was many years ago, but I love traveling, absolutely love traveling.
Speaker 2:Do you feel like having that background has helped you in any way with your clients, just like being in different environments, different places? Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and you know also, age makes you a little bit more comfortable with things and you know, talking about things and having that upfront conversation at the beginning of something instead of at the end of something, yeah, I just. When you're alone in a city or if you're, you have to not be shy. Yes, yes or yeah yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:And then I'd like to ask you, in your opinion, what are some of the most important factors that buyers and sellers should consider when choosing a real estate agent to work with?
Speaker 1:Well, I think they should interview. I find that people have a tendency. You know I'm a huge believer in referral Please refer me. But you know, I do believe that everybody should interview an agent. Maybe personalities don't click, you know. Yeah, so it's definitely a possibility. See what their format is. How are they going to communicate with you? How do you want to be communicated with you know, recently, you know, there's a lot of conversation about how, all of a sudden, you know fees are negotiable. They've always been negotiable that's what I hear. You know they've always been negotiable. So talk to your agent, be upfront. Everybody should know how everybody is paid and it's an important aspect of the contract. And if you've got a good agent, they're going to earn every single nickel of what they. You know what they put in their listing agreement or their, their buyer's agreement.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, their buyer's agreement? So yeah, absolutely. And then how do you help your clients understand and manage their real estate investment goals, whether they're buying a primary residence or looking for rental properties?
Speaker 1:Well, I absolutely love doing that, have done it and I help my clients consistently with rental properties. Just helped a client rent a beautiful condo in Arlington. And part of looking for an investment property is knowing that you need to have time knowing exactly what your financial goals are. Do you want it long-term and for the rent to, you know pay that long-term, or are you looking for short-term and you know to rent it and then you know, make a profit? So it depends upon what you want to do with the property. As to how and you have to communicate that to your realtor you know a common keyword these days is Delta, you know. So you want to have. Will the rent cover the mortgage and perhaps any fees? So that's the ideal rental or investment property and you know that's hard to come by in this market. But if you have a diligent agent we can absolutely find that for you.
Speaker 2:Love it, love it. And now I'd like to know if you have any plans to maybe make like a workshop, because you have so much knowledge and I feel like you could help other up and coming realtors with everything that you just know and that you've seen while being in the industry.
Speaker 1:Well, part of my own growth is I'm taking the Virginia Realtors Broker Premier classes right now and you know I feel that any knowledge and my door is always open in my office and you know I have agents all the time call and say what do you think about this? Or you know I'm happy, you know, to share information and our industry. We should be open and share with both our clients and our fellow realtors Because through successful negotiation and successful communication we have all parties come to success.
Speaker 2:Yes, and now for your team. How many people do you have working with you? Are you just solo? I'm solo, okay, have you? Ever considered getting some help.
Speaker 1:I had a partner at one time but no, I'm, and I was when I first started. I joined a team and then you know, when you're off on your own, it's like taking a running jump off a cliff. Sounds fun, but I did it and I haven't looked back since.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, amazing. And where do you see yourself like as a person and with your business in the next five years, if you've given it some thought?
Speaker 1:Well, in the next five years I'd like to grow, perhaps be in a broker position within a business you know, within a real estate business, and you know and consider retiring. But you know I think you've had Sue Smith on here it's hard to retire in this business. But you know, I think I'd like to maybe transition out, but that's a ways away. Yeah, maybe transition out, but that's a ways away. I really and truly love what I do. I've been at the table where clients have cried because they didn't think they were going to get that property and it's a blessing to be able to do what we do and I think that if I can share a few more years of that, that would be awesome.
Speaker 2:No, I love it. I'm sure some of your clients will be like please don't go, Don't leave me. Yeah, I still need you. I still got this property Right. Is there anything that maybe I have not touched on or anything that you would just like our listeners to know in regards to yourself or your business?
Speaker 1:Well, I think in our business, you know, again, communication is the key to success. And you know, communicating with your realtor, you know what exactly your needs are and what you're looking for, and they might evolve. You know, and I find that that's actually what really does happen when you're out there and you're, you know, actually seeing a property, you know what you might have originally set out changes, and I think if you communicate that with your realtor and if your realtor communicates with you on a regular and consistent basis, then you know that's a realtor to keep, then that's a realtor to keep. And I think that that goes back to interviewing. Again, I think hiring, that's the difference between an amateur and a professional.
Speaker 2:There you go right there.
Speaker 1:Thank you All right, and now I'm going to ask my last question that I like to ask everybody.
Speaker 2:I'm sure you know what it could be, but do you have a mantra, a quote or a saying that you like to live your life by or has inspired you in any way throughout your career or life?
Speaker 1:Well, in my email signature it's integrity, experience and service, and I truly live by those words. I have a website and I got my getting you home trademarked and truly it's. You know. Those are the words that I live by. You know experience by learning. Integrity by making sure we're always doing the right thing. And then knowledge you know just by learning.
Speaker 2:Absolutely yeah. And where can people find you? On your Instagram, youtube? Plug those in for people who want.
Speaker 1:Oh absolutely Go to my. I just on Instagram. You'll love this. I just posted about, you know, cleaning my car. I love that. On Saturday I, with my sister and a couple of friends, we cleaned our cars, which I can do, and then yesterday I posted on Instagram. You know, it rained and it was beating so nicely.
Speaker 2:Love it, so they can check you out all there, right.
Speaker 1:Facebook, Instagram and YouTube yeah, so they can check you out all there, right, Uh-huh? Facebook, Instagram and YouTube Perfect.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you so much.
Speaker 1:I'd love for you to sign up on my YouTube channel.
Speaker 2:Yeah, go ahead and subscribe y'all for Margaret, please. Well, thank you so much for being here and sharing all of your wisdom and insight and how just loving you are with your clients and how you like to communicate and help them out.
Speaker 1:Thank you so.