Can you believe 2024 is here? Neither can I! From Rihanna's halftime performance at the Super Bowl to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's budding romance taking over the mainstream, to the year of Barbie and Beyonce, 2023 flew by in what feels like a few months. I guess time really does fly when you're having fun.
Speaking of fun – do you know what else feels like it flew by in just a few months...? My first year working for Steve McKenna & The Home Advantage Team. Yes, today is my one-year work-iversary! After just one year of working with this team, I can honestly say it's been a fun, entertaining, busy, educational, enjoyable whirlwind of an experience. From January 5, 2023 to January 5, 2024, Steve, Mitzi, Annie, Tracy, Carolyn, Mike, Kristen, and Mark as well as our marketing interns, Rayann, Sam, and Lauren, have supported me, helped me grow and kept me busy, having a blast along the way. We had so much fun, in fact, I think it would be unfair to not provide y'all with a 2023 recap. So, here we go...
January
Thankfully I started my new job immediately after the end of the holiday season, so I was able to get a good grasp on anything and everything Steve McKenna & The Home Advantage Team of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty (that sure is a mouthful) before the busy season arrived. Although I had a lot to learn, I was continuously supported along the way. During this month...
- The Arlington Gibson Sotheby's office hosted a clothing drive in partnership with Second Chances, a "program providing free clothing, shoes, accessories, and gift cards to hundreds of homeless and lower-income Somerville and Cambridge residents annually while keeping more than 300,000 pounds of textiles a year out of landfills."
- I attended my first Steve McKenna & The Home Advantage Team open house. And let me just say — you haven't attended a proper open house until you've attended a Steve McKenna & The Home Advantage Team open house.
- Our team launched our 2023 luxury campaign, Where Luxury Lives, Locally. This campaign included the launch of our online resource dedicated to the luxury market. Through our resource, you're able to browse listings, view market reports and access exclusive Sotheby's International Realty resources.
- Steve McKenna & The Home Advantage Team was ranked #1 Team/Agent in Arlington & Medford; #1 Team at Gibson Sotheby's International Realty; #1 Independent Company in Massachusetts; #13 Agent/Team in the state of Massachusetts.
Through these experiences and spending time in the office with the team, I began to truly understand what makes this team so successful. Their success derives from their values, their processes, their relationships with their clients,commitment to their community, and so much more.
February
Spring preparation continued, but it was as if the busy season was already here. Postcards were being sent, the phone was constantly ringing, and the agents were out and about. I was still soaking everything in that I could and our first major event (that I was in charge of – woof) was fast approaching. All I could do was buckle in and prepare myself for the busiest season of real estate — the spring.
March
Spring had officially sprung – and what a crazy time it was! I was finally well-acquainted with the team and my tasks. I also started to incorporate my new ideas, from blog posts to how to better utilize our social media accounts, to planning a new event. Moreover, March was a particularly crazy month, as Sotheby's International Realty hosted its annual Global Networking Event (the GNE) in Las Vegas.
For the first time since 2019, thousands of Sotheby’s real estate professionals from around the world gathered to collaborate, learn, communicate and elevate their real estate game. Our team had a front-row seat, with Steve presenting on a panel discussion that covered real estate strategies. Our team left feeling appreciative of the many opportunities we received to cultivate meaningful relationships and referral connections within our organization, which will benefit the growth of our business and improve our clients' experience.
While March was truly madness, it was also quite enjoyable and educational.
April
The busy season persisted, and so did we. Quarter II consisted of many listings, countless meetings and two local events.
The women of The Home Advantage Team hosted a 'Sip & Shop' at Helena's (sponsored by Steve McKenna, of course), a local boutique who "believes in the unique power of an independent retailer to delight customers, connect neighbors, and dramatically improve the community." Our clients were treated to delectable charcuterie cups by Olive & Fig, a selection of wines and beverages, and a one-on-one personal shopping experience from the knowledgeable staff at Helena’s. All attendees walked away with trendy insights and a complimentary gift, courtesy of Steve McKenna.
Our team also hosted a Spring Cleaning Event at the Ed Burns Arena parking area on April 15. It was a highly-attended and successful event with more than 1,700 pounds of clothing donated to Second Chances, a community organization that collects and distributes used clothing, shoes and accessories to those in need. These donations help individuals as they take their first steps toward brighter futures, aiming to minimize the amount of apparel going into local landfills. In addition to donations, many people took advantage of our shredding services to further tackle their spring cleaning tasks. Everyone was treated to free lemonade from Del’s, and the kids had a great time playing in the bounce house, courtesy of Small Town Amusements.
May
May arrived and so did the summer, along with the heat of a sizzling real estate market. The agents continued to grind in the real estate world as I became more and more comfortable with my role as Marketing Coordinator. At this point, our marketing team hired not one, but two absolutely amazing interns: Rayann Fatahi and Samantha Cabot.
Senior Marketing Intern, Sam Chabot
Born and raised in Melrose, Massachusetts, Sam is a current senior at Bentley University. She is a marketing major with a minor in data technologies. As the Senior Marketing Intern, she utilized her skills to assist in all of our team's marketing initiatives — from print media to video marketing, to examining analytics. In her spare time, Sam loves to spend time at the beach catching some waves surfing. When she’s not at the beach, she loves to visit different cities with friends.
Junior Marketing Intern, Rayann Fatahi
Rayann Fatahi joined our team as a Junior Marketing Intern. Born and raised in Arlington and a recent graduate from Arlington High School, Rayann has an in-depth knowledge of the local community. She had previously taken a marketing course at Lesley University and is now furthering her education in business and marketing at Lesley University. When she is not working, Rayann enjoys playing basketball, soccer and volleyball.
At this time, our team began to dive deeper into video marketing — the 'It Girl' of the moment. We learned the pertinence of video, not only from a marketing perspective but as a useful tool for our clients to utilize along their real estate journey. Additionally, Steve McKenna & The Home Advantage Team was recognized by Boston Magazine as a Top Real Estate Producer of 2023. To create the Top Real Estate Producer of 2023 list, Boston Magazine asked the real estate community within their readership area (towns within, or partially within, I-495) and the Cape and Islands to fill out an online survey reporting individual agents' (or teams or groups of agents') residential sales volume for the 12 months ending December 31, 2022. In addition, a panel of local industry experts reviewed the submissions for accuracy and inclusivity.
June
Fun in the sun continued in June for our team as we kicked off the month with another achievement. Our team is still proud to share that we were recognized as one of the 2023 RealTrends America’s Best Real Estate Professionals! America’s Best Real Estate Professionals honors America’s finest real estate agents from across the country. Over 23,000 U.S. real estate sales associates from every state are featured in America’s Best. Those ranked are among the top 1.5% of 1.6 million real estate professionals in the United States. Moreover, we are honored to rank as the #3 team in all of Massachusetts – expertise matters, and our knowledge of the local real estate market continues to shine in Greater Boston.
Then, on Saturday, June 17, our friends, family and clients joined us for Arlington's Porchfest. Porchfest is a community music festival where local musicians play on front porches and attendees can stroll or bike as they enjoy free music and local color. This year's local grassroots community organization had over 200 participants!
July & August
Throughout July and August, our team continued the summer fun with Arlington's Summer Concert Series in Whittemore Park. We were excited to sponsor and host an evening of live, local music featuring the talents of Backpocket, a Boston-based band known for their eclectic mix of blues, soul, funk and rock. The concert provided the perfect opportunity for our community to enjoy a beautiful New England summer evening together. However, the fun did not stop with Arlington’s Summer Concert Series.
Adding onto the fun, our team shared the joy of a local sweet treat, Del’s Lemonade. Our team sponsored one hour of free Del’s Lemonade at the Arlington location once a month in July and in August. As a matter of fact, we loved sharing this sweetness with our community so much that we might bring it back for the Summer of 2024 (*wink-wink*). Be sure to sign up for our eNewsletter to stay tuned for details about our community events.
September
As summer began to wind down, the autumn real estate market began to wind up. Along with the start of the fall market came the beginning of our newest team member's time with the team – Lauren Smith.
Lauren joined our team as our fall marketing intern;, as a current senior at Emerson College studying writing, literature, and publishing, she made a perfect addition to our team. As our marketing intern, Lauren brought a fresh perspective along with her particularly wonderful writing skills. Her passion for writing and editing coupled with her experience as an editor equipped her to create compelling content that resonated (and continues to resonate) with our clients. Her radio hosting experience gave her a unique edge in understanding how to connect with people through different forms of media. The team and I couldn't be more appreciative of Lauren's time with us. With her diverse skill set, she's a valuable addition that promises to bring creativity and fresh ideas to anyone who looks to hire her after graduation – we can't wait to see everything she accomplishes in the future.
October
As 2023 was coming to a close, the preparation for 2024 was only just beginning. However, amidst our planning for the next year, the current year was still underway — and October was filled with big achievements and a lot of community engagement.
Our team was honored to be recognized by Sotheby's International Realty as one of the Top 100 real estate agents and teams across 81 countries and territories worldwide. Being ranked alongside some of the industry's finest professionals is a testament to our commitment to excellence. To celebrate and connect, Sotheby's International Realty invited the top 100 agents to New York City. The long weekend was filled with lots of fun, making meaningful connections and memories along the way.
Once back from NYC, our team hosted a donation drive in collaboration with two remarkable local nonprofits, Second Chances and Arlington EATS. From October 2 to October 16, we collected clothing and non-perishable food donations at our Arlington office. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we were able to give back in a big way.
November
November arrived along with the groggy weather, and what's better than going to the movies when it's rainy and cold outside? Absolutely nothing.
On November 18, at the Somerville AMC, our team hosted a screening of Trolls Band Together. It was a great gathering with familiar faces and snacking on popcorn and soda. Additionally, our team spent an afternoon volunteering at the Arlington EATS food pantry. For those interested in joining our efforts or supporting the cause, more information can be found on their website (https://www.arlingtoneats.org/) and social media platforms, including Instagram (@arlingtoneats) and Facebook (@ArlingtonEATS). Together, we strive to make a positive impact in our community, both through charitable contributions and hands-on involvement.
December
If you know anything about residential real estate, you know that the holidays tend to be a quieter time of year for agents and teams. However, at the end of 2023, our team was busy at work putting the final touches on our plans for what's expected to be a busy 2024. I'm sure I speak for the entire team when I say we're ecstatic to share with you what we've been so tediously working on.
So, stay tuned and stay in touch!
We extend our sincere gratitude to our valued clients who continually trust in our services. Our dedication to providing exceptional service remains unwavering, and we invite clients to work with advisors who can guide them through the real estate market with confidence, experience and expertise. The team and I want to wish you a Happy New Year and we cannot wait to see what 2024 has in store for all of us. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions about real estate - no matter where you are in your real estate journey.
