What led you to your current profession?

I had been involved in the real estate industry since 2009, not just as a real estate agent, but also in leadership positions with the Women’s Council of Realtors. I reached a point in my professional career where I wanted to do more and give back to the industry. I had seen and experienced first hand the lack of coaching, mentoring, and training as a newly licensed real estate professional enters the real estate world. I searched for a company that truly provides this support at no cost to agents to ensure their success. That’s when I found EXIT Realty and fell in love with the model and culture. Joining EXIT Realty has opened the door to the opportunity to lead their expansion in Colorado and today, along with my husband, I am the regional owner at EXIT Realty Colorado. My job is to identify entrepreneurs in the real estate industry who would like to own an EXIT Realty franchise in Colorado.

What’s your favorite thing about what you do?

My favorite part of being a Regional Owner is when we meet with a potential franchisee for the first time. Most of them want to grow their brand and business but feel constrained in the ability to control their financial future. After our brief overview covering what EXIT Realty offers, we typically see the same thing over and over: relief and excitement! I love seeing them realize that yes they can build a scalable, financially viable business by joining EXIT Realty. Nothing is better than empowering a fellow entrepreneur!

In the past, what was your biggest obstacle in business?

The biggest obstacle in my current career was in 2016 when we moved to Colorado. I had lived in CT for 31 years. I had left all my friends, family, and professional associates and had to start from ground zero to grow my roots and start a business at the same time.

What gets you up in the morning?

Knowing that I have the opportunity to make a huge impact for the better in someone’s life and career.

How would you like people to describe you or see you?

I hope everyone who comes into my life walks away knowing how genuine and caring I am and that I live my life with integrity.

Are there any myths you’d like to bust about your profession?

The myth of real estate! Everyone thinks real state professionals earn unlimited income and only work a few hours a day. The reality is that real estate is a full-time 24/7 hard work with commission-based compensation. If you don’t sell, you don’t make money. That is why newly licensed agents should immerse themselves into learning the business, otherwise, they will likely accept defeat and move on from the industry within 12-18 months. The next myth is when you own a real estate office you are making big $$$. The average independent real estate broker works with only a very small 14% profit margin. That is why many independent brokers are interested in joining EXIT Realty because we can help them raise their profit margin.

What advice do you have for those starting a new business?

For new brokers who are thinking of opening their own brokerage, my best advice is don’t do it alone. Find a large real estate company and join with them. Hopefully, it will be EXIT.

Do you have any exciting ambitions for the future?

Yes! The next big step will be an expansion of our territory to neighboring states and growing the EXIT Realty brand into 60 new offices in Colorado.

And finally, I like to end every interview by hearing what your favorite Boss Babe quote is. What’s yours?

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” –Teddy Roosevelt

Margaret and Kevin Hamilton are the regional owners of EXIT Realty Colorado. They work with Brokers in Colorado that want a better way of doing business and wish to own their own brokerage.