Ria Carroll and Tara Hubbard of Exit Real Estate Gallery's Avondale office have been partners for about a year and a half. "We work well together and kind of have opposite schedules and different lives that complement each other," said Hubbard. "We feed off each other really well and communicate well. There's no girl drama or bickering."
How did they become a team?
The two met at Zip Realty and had planned to be a team at some point, but it wasn't until a year and a half ago the pieces finally fell into place. "She [Carroll] went into property management and I was having my third child while investing in houses," said Hubbard. "We were doing two different things, but always kept in touch and helped each other out on deals. I'd send her rental leads and if something was on my side of town, she'd send it to me. I came over to Exit Real Estate Gallery and about a year later, Ria joined me."
Hubbard told Carroll that she had all these leads and really needed help.
"We were always looking for that right time, but couldn't find it," said Carroll. "Finally I just called her one day and said 'I'm coming'."
Hubbard's history
Hubbard started her real estate career at Zip Realty four and a half years ago and then started investing in properties. She has a bachelor's degree in criminology from Florida State University. She was a teacher for six years before entering the real estate field. Hubbard has been married to Jonathan, an officer with the Army National Guard, for nine years and they have three children, Bryson, 7; Avabelle, 5 and Kenadee, 2.
Carroll's history
Carroll started her career with Zip Realty four years ago and then went into property management and sales with Weichert, Realtors for a year and a half.
Before real estate, she was in the restaurant business. She has been married to Brian, a personal trainer and pro power lifter, for three years. They have two dogs.
Strengths they each bring to partnership?
"Tara is really good with networking and lead generation since she has three kids, which are like lead magnets," said Carroll.
Hubbard said Carroll is very detail oriented.
"I'm good at putting all the details together and structuring everything to make sure the people on the team have what they need and training them," said Carroll.
Carroll and Hubbard have six agents under them and a full-time assistant, Holly Gentry, who helps with lead generation and booking appointments.
"The way Exit works is you can run a business within a business," said Hubbard. "So, we have agents that we have sponsored on and we feed them leads and Exit pays residuals back to us on what they do. Our job is to feed them while still feeding ourselves."
How's business?
Very busy and a constant hustle. "Forming a team really has helped get things together by helping us get one deal done and then moving on to the next," said Hubbard.
What is their secret to success as a team?
"People ask us all the time how we do it," said Carroll. "They think because it works for us, it will work for them, but we are like, no, it's like getting married to someone. I talk to Tara a hundred times a day. Paperwork-wise, we are probably more married to each other than to our husbands. You really have to find someone that it works with, that has the same work ethic and your schedules go together one way or another. It takes a lot of things to align to really make it happen."
How does the team concept work?
Whenever they meet a new customer, they explain the concept to them so they know it's not just one agent, it's "Tara and Ria". If they can't get one, they can always call the other and each of them will know what is going on with their deal.
Best professional advice?
"Don't give up on a deal," said Hubbard. "When you think it's going to fall through, don't just give up on it. There is some way, somehow that it can be worked out for all parties."
Carroll said that is one thing they are known for.
"Not to say that a deal is never going to fall through, but we are pretty creative in finding a way to get things done," said Carroll.
What do they like about each other?
Hubbard said Ria keeps her in line and Carroll said Hubbard is upfront and honest.
Best way to network?
You won't see Carroll and Hubbard at many real estate gatherings. They feel the best way to network is social media, getting involved in community/school events and doing cross sales.
Fun agents?
Their slogan is "Getting real estate done and making it fun." They sponsor events at Hubbard's children's school and hand out packages of Fun Dip with their slogan and information on them.
"I think it puts more of a smile on adult's faces than it does kids," said Carroll. "It's not something you see every day and it makes people smile."
— by Michele Gillis