Special Advertising Section
A conversation with Brant and Jen Nielsen. Founders of the newly formed NDG Home Team.
PL*: Brant what does the NDG Home Team mean to you?
Brant: As a division of NDG Solutions, Home Team is a natural extension of our construction and remodeling divisions. Add that expertise to a real estate team with 40+ years of collective experience and you get a group that’s uniquely equipped to serve every client’s needs. From A to Z.
PL: How are you differentiated from other realtors?
Brant: I think for most realtors, it’s just transactional. Churn and turn. For us it’s relational.
Jen: We recognize that for most people, buying or selling is an emotional decision that can be complicated and confusing, so we try to relate. We want to make clients feel part of the team. We want them to know that they’re not alone.
Brant: When I advise a client, I imagine myself in the situation they’re facing. I ask myself if it’s a deal I’d pursue personally. If I wouldn’t do it myself, I feel that the client shouldn’t do it either. If I see a red flag, I raise it. My goal is total transparency and integrity.
PL: You’d sacrifice a deal?
Brant: Absolutely! To me, trust is everything. The right deal will eventually show itself. By catering to our clients’ needs there is an ensured mutual benefit.
Jen: And because there’s so much that can go wrong, we sit down with clients at the start of the process and discuss things in granular detail. We have a 14 point list of questions; How do they feel about their decision to buy? What are their expectations of us? Do they understand the process and timeline? And once they are onboard, we outline a 19 point action plan, detailing every facet of the purchase. By the time we’re finished listening, we have a clear idea of what our clients want in their ‘dream home’ and are fully equipped to help them find it.
Brant: There are multiple areas of deep experience needed in the buying and selling experience. I’ve learned over time to surround myself with experts who can answer questions and solve problems I can’t.
PL: Give me a specific example?
Brant: I have a rolodex of people I can call on for any given issue. I have a specialist who deals with land and topography issues, a structural engineer, a mold expert, an architect.
Experts in every category who can provide an educated opinion on any topic.
PL: It seems to me you invest a lot of time and energy in serving customers you may never see again.
Jen: Actually, a lot of our customers are repeat clients. We form such a tight bond, they become like friends to us. Once they’ve worked with us, they won’t even consider other realtors.
Brant: Besides, many of our customers come to us through referrals from close friends or relatives.
Jen: I’d say 90%...people recognize we’re being totally transparent and authentic with them and they feel naturally inclined to share that experience with their friends and family.
Brant; And it’s a huge responsibility to honor. A poor real estate decision can ruin a friendship. We’re not about to let that happen.
PL: What’s the most meaningful endorsement you’ve received from a client?
Brant: Joe has been a long time friend and we got to know each other better through a long, exhaustive real estate building project. Working together on this project further developed our friendship and let us learn more about each other’s business style. He was so happy with the final product and our process, he asked if he could join our team.
PL: The Senior Executive from the Defense Department?
Brant: Yeah, that guy. He’s retiring and could make a killing as a contractor in his field or take any job he chooses, but he wants to work with the NDG Home Team.
PL: You think he’ll be a good fit?
Brant: Absolutely! We have the same values. He’s a straight arrow. He’s passionate about mentoring and training people. He loves cultivating talent and building careers. He’s a great listener and is a stickler for detail. I know he’ll be great with clients. So, he sees the culture we’re creating and wants in. Frankly, I feel honored to have a man of his caliber on the team.
PL: What will success look like for you four or five years down the road?
Jen: We’ve gathered a great team and our construction clients are beyond happy. Our goal is to deliver the same level of customer satisfaction in our Real Estate Division.
Brant: What matters more to me is bringing on talent, seeing them grow and excel and become successful in their own right. Five years from now I’d like to look back and realize that we’ve enjoyed success without sacrificing the values that have helped us get this far: honesty, transparency, communication and earning the total trust of our clients.
*Patrick Lee, President, Chesapeake Think Tank
The NDG Home Team is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Taylor Properties. Taylor Properties is licensed in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania and abides by equal housing opportunity laws.
