Sales Archives | APHW Windermere

America's Preferred Home Warranty, Sales, Blair Bishop, Ohio

Personality? CHECK.

Posted on August 6, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

Blair Bishop is a true people person. Both her personality and sheer joy at life draw people in, which is exactly how she got started in the real estate business. “I just really enjoy building relationships with real estate agents and all of the office staff,” said the America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) West Central Ohio Area Sales Manager.

Some History

Blair’s first forays into the real estate community came through family—a team leader at a real estate agency, a market center analyst (now loan officer), and a title company associate—but Blair made her own waves.

“I worked at my mom’s Keller Williams (KW) offices a lot after college (when I wasn’t substitute teaching), and I made a lot of connections,” Blair said. “Between meeting people like title agents and loan officers, and going to real estate functions, getting to know everyone is just fun for me!”

Why APHW?

So why did she choose sales with APHW over becoming an agent? “Because here I get to meet and really get to know more people,” Blair explained. “I was looking for a more social role because I’m just not one to sit and stare at a screen all day, and I like to be autonomous and communicate with a lot of people. Plus, as a licensed Spanish teacher, I also enjoy the teaching aspect. A huge part of my role is educating REALTORS® on what a home warranty really is, and how they can help their clients and grow their business while working with APHW.”

Beyond these aspects, Blair focuses on developing a relationship with her clients. “I can relate to most people, and that connection is important to me – I genuinely care about people and what they’re going through. I like to help whenever possible, because what goes around definitely comes around,” she said. Blair also likes talking to people to learn from them. “Every time I go to a restaurant, I ask what the servers’ favorite menu items are, because they’re the experts,” she explained. “And that’s what I do with sales: Be the expert for my clients. I’m ‘nitty gritty;’ I like to dot my i’s and cross my t’s. Because if you know how to take care of people—and you actively choose to do so—then they’ll take care of you.”

Contact

West Central Ohio real estate agents can reach Blair and her personality for more information at 614.570.2562 or [email protected]. For agents in other parts of the country, visit APHW.COM or call 800.648.5006 ext. 179 for information about your local area sales manager.

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America's Preferred Home Warranty, Sales, College Grad In Sales

College Grad Finds His Way at APHW

Posted on July 9, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

Fresh out of college and looking for a career, Colton Williamson found good footing in sales with America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) last August. Now he’s closing in on his first full year, and he’s certain it was the right decision.

“When I got to Georgia Tech, I originally wanted a degree in business with a concentration in marketing and a minor in industrial design,” Colton described. “But then I started taking college classes in real estate, and that’s when everything fell into place. I put everything else on hold to pursue it.”

The Paths Multiplied

What Colton didn’t know, however, was how many different ways those classes could lead him. It was only when his friend (and now fellow Area Sales Manager) Ted Fithian suggested APHW that he started researching it.

“I came to really like the company more and more, between what I saw on the website and what people told me through interviews,” Colton said. “I also noticed they had a really big Christian base, and that everyone seemed very lively, like they really enjoy what they do—which is something you definitely want in a work environment. It also interested me because it sounded like a good opportunity to build relationships with new people, which I honestly just enjoy.”

The easy-going Georgia Area Sales Manager continues to grow every day at APHW, and with a love for the good southern food and hospitality of his state, he definitely plans to stick around. “Let’s get to know each other,” he said. “I believe in this company—and I’d love to show you why.”

Want More Info?

Southeast Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida real estate agents can reach Colton at 912.660.5312 or [email protected]. Otherwise, call 800.648.5006 ext. 179 to find your local Area Sales Manager, or visit APHW.COM today for more information!

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Breaking Barriers & Taking Names

Posted on July 1, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

What a whirlwind! Michele Loker started at America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) in August 2019, both as a brand-new Area Sales Manager and in a brand-new APHW territory. After rocking that for about 6 months, APHW promoted her to a Senior Virtual Sales Manager training position. Suffice it to say, she’s had quite a ride breaking barriers and taking names!

Taking the Leap

“I loved the challenge of having a completely new territory,” Michele said, adding that over 25 years in the real estate industry contributed to her success. But Michele was quick to recognize her colleagues as well. “Everyone in this company was just such a tremendous help! There’s no one that I can’t just pick up the phone and ask a question of.”

Of course, APHW customers choosing their own licensed contractors made a good selling point. “Every time I mention it to an agent, I just pause and their jaw drops,” Michele said. “I knew it would be a big hit to get me started.”

A Greater Challenge

Building a territory from the ground up certainly kept her busy, but this is a woman who leaps at opportunity. “I have a background in real estate training, and I overheard a conversation about a new training role,” Michele said. So she leapt, applied, and gained the position. “Now I’m responsible for a virtual training world to train new real estate agents in all the ways APHW can help build their business,” she said.

“When I first hired in, I saw the opportunities to come with the growth of the company. Having that opportunity right now is just amazing, and I truly feel that they know who you are here—you’re not just a number, or just an employee. The family atmosphere is genuine, through and through.”

Michele loves her current role and plans to keep breaking barriers and taking names. “It’s fun, it’s exciting, and it’s challenging—there’s never a dull moment, that’s for sure,” she said. “And life is too short to be anything but happy.”

Call 800.648.5006 ext. 232 or visit APHW.COM today for information on job opportunities.

America's Preferred Home Warranty, In Good Hands, Customer Service

In Good Hands – Literally

Posted on June 10, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

Sometimes ‘snail-mail’ is the only option, so it’s nice to know when you’re in good hands. This was the literal case for a potential customer, when Elizabeth Sokol personally delivered an America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) brochure to her home.

As someone who typically works with real estate agents, the APHW North and South Carolina Area Sales Manager didn’t understand at first why she had received the request, or why APHW had mailed the warranty instead of sending it by email. “I couldn’t find her as a REALTOR® or a homeowner in our system, so I called her,” she said.

When ‘The Usual’ Isn’t Quite Enough

It turned out the homeowner wasn’t terribly computer savvy, so she was waiting for ‘snail mail’ to come through instead—but COVID-19 kept causing delays with the postal service. “And when I talked to her, I realized she was also an unaffiliated REALTOR®, who lives only about four miles from me,” Elizabeth said. “And she was so excited to have somebody local that she knew was attached to the warranty she was trying to purchase!”

Going the Extra Mile – Literally!

They discussed coverage options for a while, and the REALTOR® asked Elizabeth if she could come drop off a brochure at her home. “I said, ‘I’m almost at your driveway,’ and she just lit up over the phone,” Elizabeth said. “So I got there, stood on the front porch, and told her how the home warranty would pertain to her particular situation. She’s not selling right now, but she will be, and she wanted the best coverage.”

The REALTOR® originally discovered APHW through her Continuing Education training, where another real estate agent had recommended the company. “We’ve talked a couple times since then,” Elizabeth said. “And I’ll call her back again today with more answers about getting her registered as an agency.”

More Information

Are you a real estate agent? Call 800.648.5006 ext. 179 or visit APHW.COM for to see how APHW can help you grow your business—you’ll be in good hands.

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Recommendation to Real Estate professionals to try using fresh baked pumpkin pie at open houses

Open House? Pumpkin Pie!

Posted on October 22, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

Sometimes coming up with new ideas for an open house can leave you with a ‘been there done that’ feeling. You’ve done the fresh baked cookie smell enough to start hating cookies.

Why not mix it up?

Try catering your ‘fresh baked’ concept to the season with Pumpkin Pie Bites from SugarApron.com^*. These mini-pumpkin pie bites are small enough to carry on a napkin and nibble as they walk through the house—and just big enough to get that homemade taste and feeling.

Plus, if you throw another batch in after the first one has cooled, you get that ‘baking’ scent filling the house too! (Or you could just light a pumpkin spice candle nearby.)

Easy Pumpkin Pie Bites^*Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 24

^*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with SugarApron.com in any capacity.

We’re Just Not the Vendor Type

Posted on July 26, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

Hi, I’m Luke Brock. You’re probably thinking, “You’re the home warranty guys.” We sure are. But we’re so much more.

As the Vice President of Strategic Accounts at America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW), I can tell you that a ‘vendor’ is a passive relationship. When it comes to vendors, everything that drives decision making has to do with pricing, products, services, and promotions—it is purely transactional. Because of that, there’s no focus on helping each other to accomplish goals and create synergy. There’s no deep value.

APHW walks a different path—as your business partner—to help Realtors® and real estate brokerages discover great opportunities. Business partners spend time working on things of strategic value together, helping each other to achieve goals and create win/win scenarios that drive success. It’s an active relationship.

You have choices when it comes to home warranties—you can even buy them online without ever talking to a live person. But here at APHW, we strive to be so much more than just a home warranty provider.

We want to be one of the pillars of your business. We develop a very specific program with your company as a core service partner. That’s profitability, sound risk management, training and development—we want to spend our time with you, talking about how we can help you reach your goals.

Our ClientSecure® program reduces your liability exposure, and our Real-Pro® app provides a fast and easy way to order warranties, saving you time. APHW continuing education courses add value to your agents while helping them increase profit. These are just the tip of the iceberg of ways we can help.

It’s the best feeling in the world, and why being your business partner is so important to me.

If your experience with home warranties doesn’t sound like this, feel free to reach out to me. Let’s have a conversation and see how we can help you and your business.

Becker’s Bread the Sweet Tooth’s Dream

Posted on April 30, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

“I’ll be baking 192 loaves in the next six days.”

Throughout south-eastern Michigan, Jeff Becker is known for his delicious Amish Friendship Bread. As an Area Sales Manager (ASM) for America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW), Jeff brings it with him wherever he goes. Agents love him for it, agencies and brokerages have come to expect it, and even his work associates constantly ask for it. “People seem to really appreciate it,” he said with a smile, “and enjoy it.”

The cinnamon-sugar confection may bring out the ‘best’ in people, but making it is no easy task. “It’s a 4-hour process from start to finish,” Jeff said. “I make 32 loaves each time, on 5 out of every 10 days on average—and I get up at 4 or 5 in the morning to do it.”

So why does he do it so often? The 4-hour baking process is just the tip of the iceberg. Each batch has to go through a 10-day fermentation process as well. Rather than doing one batch every 10 days, Jeff keeps bags of dough at different stages in the process. At any given time, he has three roasting pans with anywhere from 18 to 24 bags of dough, which he frequently has to tend to. It’s a crazy process, to be sure.

“Insane is a good word,” Jeff said with a chuckle. “It’s driven from my gratefulness, that’s what it really is.” Gratefulness for his success as an ASM, and for the professional relationships he’s built over the years. “Whether they do business with me or not, I take the bread with me every time, just as a way to say, ‘Thank you for your time.’”

In the near future, Jeff will be giving up his position as an ASM to become a National Field Sales Trainer for other ASMs at APHW. “I’m going to miss sales, but I’m also looking forward to the change, and anticipating my new role,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to grow.” Jeff is also very grateful for the team behind his growth, from management to admin to claims representatives to marketing. “Having such a great team behind me has truly been the secret to my success,” he said, adding that his wife has been a big part of that, too. “These people have helped me in ways I can’t even begin to explain.”

John Rockey, one of Jeff’s real estate agents, has been a fan of his Friendship Bread for years. “It’s an unexpected extra,” John said, “and everybody always clamors over it.” John is sorry to see Jeff go, but knows the change is a great opportunity for him. “It’s our loss, the company’s gain,” John said. “I’m thrilled for him, and I wish him only the best. If people listen to what he says and take it to heart, America’s Preferred Home Warranty will grow as a result, without a doubt.”

Jeff will likely still be making his bread, just not quite as often as he does now. It still makes an excellent gift, but the thanks it offers are what mean the most to Jeff.

“I should change the bread labels to say grateful instead of thankful,” he said. “Feeling thankful is a passive emotion. Being grateful is an action—it’s doing something to show how you feel.” And he is grateful for every single day.