Trisha Slater Shares How to Become a More Enlightening Agent

Real estate is rarely an industry you’d associate with goodwill and positive vibes. But that could be an oversight. An agent’s job is to make buying or selling homes as easy as possible. In short: more happy people move into more thriving communities. Sounds good, right?

An agent’s role doesn’t have to end there. At least that’s the view of Trisha Slater, the owner of Southern Luxury Group Realty. The licensed broker was recently named a Top 10 Agent in the state of Georgia, while her brokerage won Medium Business of the Year from its local chamber of commerce just over a year after it began trading. Yet its focus was never on doing business at all.

The company’s head has bigger ideas for her brokerage and the wider real estate industry. “I love to give back, but it’s not just me that’s passionate about it,” she says. “All my agents are the same because they know it’s part of this company. I see it tenfold by watching them, and it does the heart good.”

Trisha’s example is not just of a broker doing things differently but a business leader inspiring change in her industry and beyond. Nonetheless, she believes that a shift in real estate culture starts with each agent playing their part. Here, she breaks her philosophy down into three simple pointers:

1. Making a mentor

“My number one piece of advice for anyone starting in real estate is to find a good mentor,” the broker says. “Taking a class means nothing when you start working as an agent. So find a good broker who will help you make tough decisions.”

“Then, work with a good brokerage that cares more about people than the money in their pockets,” she continues. “They’re going to be the ones that care about you and make sure you and your family are taken care of.”

While it might seem a practical step for any up-and-coming agent, this tip is also the key to the Southern Luxury Group owner’s entire philosophy. She believes the best mentors will always answer your calls and drop what they’re doing to help you close your sales on time. In an ideal world, those who have walked the path pave it for those behind them.

2. Community over a commission

‘People before profits’ is an admirable approach for a brokerage to take toward its agents and clients. But to make a positive change that transcends real estate, be selfless in every aspect of your business. As a real estate agent helping people move into their homes, you are also responsible for enhancing the community around them.

“What you give up today comes back to you tenfold,” the business owner proclaims. “Often, we will forgo our whole commission to help a person in need get into their home. Any of my remaining profit goes back into lead generation to allow our agents to get more business, whether they are a single mother or belong to a military family.”

But community values aren’t just about giving money. Like you’d want your mentor to, always be on hand to offer assistance to the likes of schools and local charities. And if nothing jumps out, ask around town for the best ways to give back. Ultimately, any improvement to the community will benefit you, your family, and your career.

3. Collaboration and kindness

Like an aspirational agent and a benevolent brokerage, collaboration and kindness go hand-in-hand. Where charity contributes to the community, cooperation with your fellow agents makes real estate a better place to build a career. And a more welcoming environment means more well-intentioned people enter the industry and make a change.

“Just because you’re on the listing side and another agent is on the buyer’s side doesn’t mean you’re at odds,” the Georgia and Florida-based broker says. “You’re both trying to accomplish the same thing: to make people happy. If you can’t get along, it won’t make for a smooth deal.”

As well as the ethical purpose of raising everybody’s spirits, being a cooperative agent means you’re more likely to lay the foundations for a productive relationship. You might need to rely on these connections in a more complex future deal. But if that doesn’t get you excited, then Trisha points out that it’s easier to smile than be a grouch.

By entering the real estate world, you’re not just making a career decision but a life choice. So when you go to bed at night, would you prefer to think about all the money you’ve made or the impact you’ve left on others? Trisha Slater believes as long as you try to better the world, all of its beauty is there to enjoy.