Personal Touch Leads to Real Estate Excellence

When someone is described as being down to earth, the phrase usually means that the person is dedicated, personable and honest. In other words: Debbie Zois. 

This congenial REALTOR,® with Keller Williams Realty, LAS VEGAS has achieved industry success, but not because she has an aggressive sales personality. Instead, Debbie's courteous, caring nature earns her relationships with clients and friends who inevitably seek her expertise in real estate.

Surprisingly, although Debbie was a natural at sales and marketing, a real estate career was never in the picture. Raised in Canada, she originally worked as a regional supervisor for a chain of retail stores that specialized in leathers and furs. Las Vegas was home to one of the retail stores, so Debbie visited the city often.

To Debbie, Las Vegas was just another town. She didn't care for the brown desert overtones, and the retail store was troublesome. People don't usually want to purchase leathers or furs when it's 110 degrees, she says.  But soon, the contrast between icy Canadian winters and the warm Southwestern climate made its imprint. Leaving the fur and leather business behind, Debbie relocated to Las Vegas in 1984.

A friend in Canada had encouraged me to become involved in real estate for a long time. Debbie says. Every time I came to Las Vegas, I liked it more. I considered going back to school and studying genetics, but I studied real estate instead. I achieved 100 percent and 98 percent on my examinations, and that's when I knew the move was right.

Debbie joined the American Group after earning her license. She recalls that the first few months were difficult because she didn't know anyone in the city. I thought the phone would ring off the hook, but it didn't, Debbie says. Mark Miscevic really encouraged me, and I respected him a lot. He helped me to grow and start networking. I've never been a pushy salesperson; I simply enjoy people. So I started working hard to build my business, making friends and acquaintances, and soon the leads started to blossom. One client led to another, and then to a few referrals, I was on my way.

Debbie wasn't just on her way; she was on the industry fast track. Her personable demeanor, combined with a compassionate attitude and tenacious follow-through technique, awarded her a burgeoning clientele base, and the pride of becoming a million-dollar production her first year. And that was just the beginning. Her subsequent 11 years with Americana saw consistent prestigious awards and top sales accolades.

But one day, Debbie learned about a national real estate firm, Keller Williams Realty, expanding into the Las Vegas market. Unexpectedly, she yearned for a ground floor opportunity in a smaller office and the chance to get back to basics.

Debbie believes the basis of her success with Keller Williams is the company's win-win motto, which inherently has been her sales style. She offers clients a high degree of integrity and feels that every transaction must have positive and comfortable results for all parties involved. This level of honesty also translates into solving potential problems for buyers or sellers before they exist.

Part of my job as a Realtor ® is to save my clients time and hardship, Debbie says. I try to use my years in LAS VEGAS to help advise buyers about such things as location, conveniences and resale values. I have to be the advisor; the one who looks at all the possibilities.

Since Debbie is flexible in price range and location of town, she adds that keeping a keen eye out for incredible buys is also her duty. A few years ago, I found a two-and-a-half-acre parcel of land available in the middle of nowhere for $35,000. Debbie says. I emphasized to my clients that the growth was heading to the Northwest part of town. Eighteen months later, my clients were able to sell the property for $140,000. They were very thankful.

After 20 years in real estate, listening to clients and determining their potential needs is Debbie's forte. She is a trusting REALTOR® who has no problem allowing clients to drive through different neighborhoods before going out with her or her team. She is also accommodating with clients desiring tract homes, or clients seeking an older home surrounded by more land. 

I have a sixth sense about people needs, and I'm usually on target,ä Debbie says. I listen to what people are saying, and also what they're not saying. I find out about their lifestyle, such as if more children are in the picture, if they entertain a lot or have other special needs. Since I do learn about my clients and take great care to stay in touch with them after the transaction, it's very common for me to assist in their real estate needs throughout different stages of their lives.

The key reason Debbie earns so much repeat business is her willingness to remain connected with her clients. Her aptitude for computers and technology greatly helps in this regard.

Real estate can be scary for a first-time buyer or seller, Debbie says. But information is powerful, and that's why I have specialized computer programs which help me mail out letters at different steps of the transaction explaining the process. People are more nervous when they feel uninformed, and I am attuned to that.