Benjamin Franklin is credited with the famous quote, “Time is Money”. For realtors; this is especially true considering the amount of time spent on paperwork. On average, every realtor spends 20 hours on every contract from binding to closing.
Nicole Ptacek and her team at Dotted & Crossed provide peace of mind to realtors and allow them to focus more time growing their business. Local realtor, Cayla Cook said, “Having Nicole and her team assist in handling my transactions isn’t about making my job easier it’s about putting my clients first and insuring they have a successful and stress-free real estate transaction. I know that everything is being handled professionally and accurately with Dotted & Crossed!”
We wanted to learn more about these services and how they work and we’re excited to sit down with Nicole this month.
Tell me a little bit about your business?
Dotted & Crossed is a real estate transaction coordination business. We are subcontractors for realtors, taking their deals from contract to the closing table, making sure all the terms are executed and that the process goes smoothly and efficiently for all parties.
How did you discover and begin your journey in the real estate industry?
I started out as a personal assistant for a realtor 6 years ago. I did everything from paying her bills and pick up her dry-cleaning, to post her listings on the MLS. From that position, I became a transaction coordinator for a team of about 15 realtors within Keller Williams. That team grew to an expansion team (spanning multiple states), and I became the transaction coordinator for an entire region, spanning Tennessee, Georgia, and Maryland. I decided to start my own business when my salary no longer matched my workload and there was no more room for growth.
What excites you the most about your career?
Within the industry, helping people achieve their goals excites me. Whether that’s our clients achieving their career goals, my teammates achieving their personal and financial goals, or home buyers and sellers achieving their goals, that’s what it’s all about for me.
As a business owner, it excites me to create something much larger than myself that will continue to generate income whether I’m working or not.
What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs looking to break out and start their own business? What inspired you to take that leap?
Remember that you will never have all the answers. Being a
business owner is a roller-coaster of emotion, and as you become more
successful, the highs get higher and the lows get lower. When things are hard,
remember your “Why” – that is, the reason why you started in the first place.
You also have to have a good support system. Find 1-2 mentors you can trust and
surround yourself with people who believe in you and inspire you to grow and be
better.
My mentors and inner circle really inspired me to take the leap because their encouragement helped me realize that I wasn’t reaching my full potential in my old job.
What advice do you have for someone who may be interested in your career but may not know where to start?
Be patient and don’t give up. There is a massive learning curve before you can be a good transaction coordinator. Get experience by working for a team of agents or just one or two realtors. You have to get your feet wet with 1-2 years of experience first, then you can grow from there.
Why did you choose Green Hills Office Suites? How has your experience with GHOS been thus far?
So many reasons! The location, the price, and Green Hills Office Suites had everything we needed. We’ve had a great experience so far!
