Colleen Gerke: How Wine Made Me A Great Real Estate Agent

Can Social Media Really Change the Game in Real Estate?

In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence podcast, host interviews Colleen Gerke. Colleen shares her fascinating journey from being a successful winery owner in Missouri to becoming one of the top real estate agents in Northeast Florida. Colleen discusses the intricacies of transitioning from agriculture and wine production to the competitive world of real estate. She emphasizes the importance of consistent branding, the role of social media, and the power of video marketing. 

Colleen is recognized by the Amelia Island Nassau County Association of Realtors as a Top Producer Realtor, recognized by the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors as a Real Producer, is a Top Residential Real Estate Agent on Jacksonville Business Journal’s Book of Lists, and is part of Engel & Volkers Diamond Elite Club. She also has a 5-Star rating on Zillow, Yelp, Realtor.com and Facebook.

Tune in to this episode as Colleen sheds light on her personal experiences, including the challenges and rewarding moments of her career changes!

Highlights

00:00 - 04:09 Colleen Gerke: How Wine Made Me A Great Real Estate Agent

·        We welcome Colleen Gerke to the show!

·        How she established herself as one of the top agents in the region.

·        Her dedication as a real estate professional in the Fernandina Amelia Island community.

·        Her decision to move to Florida, and her early experiences in real estate.

·        The appeal and growth of Nassau County as a prime location for new residents.

09:08 - 24:35 Transition to Real Estate

·        Colleen began with a career in agricultural communications and public relations.

·        Transitioning into opening and managing a successful winery in Kansas City.

·        Starting with small-scale vine planting, expanding the winery operations.

·        Creating engaging customer experiences through innovative events.

·        The sale of one winery and the contemplation of further life changes.

24:36 - 40:03 The Joy of Closing Deals

·        Colleen’s aspiration to live at a peaceful place like Amelia Island and devises a concrete plan to make it happen.

·        The process of selling their winery through a business broker.

·        The importance of not letting emotions affect business deals.

·        Transitioning from a winery to a simple life on a boat.

·        They face challenges brought about by COVID-19.

·        Homeschooling their children, and adapting to a new lifestyle.

·        Leveraging their skills in building relationships and educating clients.

·        Her ability to connect with people and adapt to new circumstances, despite initial plans being focused on simple property transactions.

40:30 - 51:31 Leveraging Social Media and AI

·        Colleen’s journey in real estate and entrepreneurship.

·        The joy of making clients happy with their first home purchase.

·        The importance of love, laughter, and joy in overcoming challenges.

·        Colleen shares personal anecdotes from the winery business and real estate.

·        Focusing on consistency and branding, as well as the importance of perseverance through difficult times.

·        The impact of global branding with Engel and Volkers and provides insights on handling higher-end cash transactions in real estate.

51:31 - 01:17:02 Advice for Aspiring Real Estate Agents and Conclusion

·        Utilizing social media and AI tools, specifically mentioning LinkedIn and ChatGPT.

·        Colleen shares how consistent social media strategies like 'Real Estate Tuesday' and 'Tip Tuesday,' as well as detailed monthly market analysis reports.

·        The benefits of using video content for real estate marketing.

·        The importance of maintaining an online presence:

o   The significance of collaboration,

o   Staying updated with market changes, and

o   Adopting new technologies in the real estate industry.

·        Colleen shares their positive experience at Engel & Volkers and how their professional environment aids in their success.

·        Conclusion.

Quotes:

“I knew from the get go, it needs to be consistent.” – Colleen Gerke

“I knew coming from that marketing side that you can build it but that's not necessarily going people to come.” – Colleen Gerke

“When I'm out in public and hanging out with friends not to talk real estate, if you want to talk real estate, they can bring it up. And I'm happy to talk about it with them.” – Colleen Gerke

To contact Colleen Gerke, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Email, and Website.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/close_with_colleen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/closedwithcolleen

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@closewithcolleen

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.closewithcolleen.com

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