While the real estate world constantly evolves, its underlying principles have remained constant throughout generations. Goodwill, good service, and a thorough market understanding are all key markers of a high-quality agent. In other words, if you’re searching for someone to market your house to potential buyers, you want their head and heart to be in the right place.
But, in every industry, there’s room for growth, improvement, and innovation. Often, entrepreneurs breathe new life into a business by rediscovering the principles of the past and renewing them for the modern age. Melanie MacDonald Arthur, the Owner and Broker-In-Charge of MacDonald Realty Group, fits into that category with youthful energy.
Founded in 2021, her firm is entirely female-operated yet wholly inclusive at the same time. It’s not just inclusive of people, either. Her ideas are subversive while embracing unity, rather than rivalry, between agents. As an emerging leader in the industry, she has shared the behaviors that agents, buyers, sellers, and investors should all seek out to make real estate better for everyone:
1. Expel your ego
After making the tough decision to sell their home or put an offer on a property, nobody wants to wade through the noise of a self-obsessed realtor. Likewise, real estate firms like MacDonald Realty Group only prosper if they’re made up of people with good intentions and value to offer. When all the promotional language fades away, an effective agent needs to separate their success from themself to secure seamless client satisfaction.
“Leave your ego at the door when you arrive at work each day,” MacDonald proclaims. “Agents shouldn’t make business decisions with emotions, but with clarity and insight. Doing so often means taking a step back and a deep breath, and making an effort to see others’ perspectives.”
The real estate firms that are currently thriving have turned away from the tunnel vision philosophies of the past in favor of transparency, honesty, and detail. The Broker-In-Charge invests more energy into the MacDonald Realty Group team than herself because she recognizes that clients want a competent agent, not an effective salesperson.
2. Grow through authentic connection and teamwork
Many real estate agents go it alone, convinced of their own tried-and-true practices. This method might work for a while but increases the risk of missing market trends and industry developments. In short, their echo chamber comes at their client’s expense.
To disrupt, cutting-edge real estate firms create more collaborative atmospheres where insight flows through flourishing relationships. Agents can grow their businesses faster and more sustainably while their clients receive more consistent, high-quality service. Also, everyone is happier, which stimulates success.
“Find your tribe,” MacDonald states. “The people you surround yourself with in this industry can make or break your entire career. Working with people that match your energy and core values is like the sun to a daisy—you need it for growth.”
3. Brandish your brand
Marketing might seem like noise to a homeowner or an up-and-coming realtor, but it plays an essential role in the property puzzle. Entrusting a real estate agent with the sale of a home is one of the most important decisions a person can make. Think about it: one person is solely responsible for how much money a property sells for.
And to get the maximum price, an agent needs to be a pretty influential marketer. So, while sellers should sift through the jargon while finding their chosen realtor, they should also take note of their presence and how convincing it is.
“Focus on your database and marketing skills,” the all-female firm owner says. “Why should a client trust you to market their home if you can’t market yourself adequately?”
MacDonald’s message isn’t just that branding, self-awareness, and collaboration are essential for real estate agents. They are also values that buyers, sellers, and investors shouldn’t compromise. Under her vision for MacDonald Realty Group, agents realize their connections to other agents, and clients become equal partners in the equation, not just dollar signs. Only by recognizing their shared values can everybody in real estate grow together.
