Baltimore’s Nakia Evans saw and felt her roads for opportunity blocked. While working for two and a half years as a brokerage manager for a Coldwell Banker office in Baltimore City, she could not advance her career into new territory or new roles, despite applying and despite being well qualified, having recruited 131 agents and then training, onboarding and supporting them.
Frustrated with the lack of growth opportunity, she decided enough was enough and attended a call hosted by North Carolina eXp agent Rich Tomasini. She joined eXp in July 2020.
“eXp allows me to be Nakia,” she said. “I love to have fun, collaborate, assist, lead and build teams. I love the diversity at eXp. Everything feels different. Everyone is happy here. The opportunity at eXp is far greater than any other brokerage I have been affiliated with.”
Rich was intrigued by Nakia after reading a Real Trends article about her in 2019, “Recruiting: How One Agent Recruited 50 Agents Her First Year as a Manager.” So he reached out, hoping she would someday bring her rock star abilities to eXp.
For 2020 and part of 2021, Nakia’s been sidelined from recruiting due to a non-compete agreement, but in the meantime, she’s been doing what she does best, which is supporting agents.
“I have a non-compete, which prevents me from recruiting within 50 miles of Baltimore, but that’s the beautiful thing about eXp — it opens up the world for us. eXp gets you unstuck,” said Nakia.
She says she loves supporting agents and has a daily 8 a.m. conference call with her network of 40 agents via Zoom to “get them up, out of bed and motivated.” She picks a topic to cover each day (e.g., lead generation or how to make a video) and says the daily conversations instill a sense of camaraderie and promote leadership.
“The desire to help other agents becomes contagious,” said Nakia. “You didn’t have to be here for a long time to succeed,” said Nakia. “Whether it’s five days or 305 days, you have the opportunity to win. You don’t have to be a rock star to hang around with rock stars here at eXp.”
Learn more about Nakia Evans:
Years in real estate: Since July 2002. Currently licensed in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.
Brokerage history:
- eXp Realty (July 2020-current)
- Coldwell Banker (August 2015-July 2020)
- Zip Realty (2014-2015)
- Urban Living Realty (2003-2014)
- Tenant Buyer Homes (2002-2003)
Main territory: Baltimore, Maryland
Main focus: Listings and helping agents restructure their real estate business.
Number of people on team: Individual agent, supporting a revenue-share group of 40+ agents.
Accolades, accomplishments & awards:
- Realtor of the Year 2020, Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors
- Distinguished Salesperson of the Year 2019, Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors
- Rising Star – 2018, Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors
- President-Elect, Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors (2020-2021)
- President, Women’s Council of Realtors, Greater Baltimore Network (2019)
- Graduate, Realtors Institute (GRI Designation)
- Currently serving as a committee member at the Maryland State and National Association of Realtors Housing Opportunities Committees, since 2019.
- Realtor Designations:
- Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB)
- Graduate, REALTORS® Institute (GRI)
- Performance Management Network (PMN)
- At Home With Diversity (AHWD)
- Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA)
- Maryland Housing Opportunity Certification, (HOC)
When and why did you join eXp?
“I heard about eXp through Rich Tomasini. He read about me in Real Trends Magazine because I was featured for recruiting 56 agents in my first year as a Brokerage Manager at Coldwell Banker. He suggested I take a look at eXp and see if I did the same thing as an independent contractor, would it be more beneficial for my future. He invited me to his weekly call. I listened in and loved the benefits. It was different and interesting, especially since my background is team building, networking and leadership.
“I wasn’t ready to become an independent contractor, just yet. Later, after having a bad experience with someone at my job, I had to make a tough decision and resign for my health and sanity. eXp served as my backup plan and has quickly become the place I should’ve been years prior.”
Is there a significant experience you can share since you joined eXp?
“Winning the eXp Sprint (an agent growth exercise) and having the same opportunity available to me, as everyone else who was here before me.”
What is one thing about eXp that surprised you?
“Collaboration among everyone, no matter location.”
What kind of collaboration have you experienced at eXp?
“I have received referrals from agents in five different states. I have been on many three-way calls with agents to assist them with agent attraction efforts. Hosting joint coaching meetings with agents all around the world. Agents from all over the world are appreciative when you share and post in Workplace.”
Best tip to share with other agents:
“Be authentic, stay plugged in and duplicate the systems by eXp leaders Brent Gove and Gene Frederick. Know your ‘why.’ Track everything and everyone. Always know your numbers. Remember relationships mean more than anything.”
10 Fun Things About Nakia Evans
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
“Being able to do whatever I want without any permission or feedback from anyone. And having the financial means to support it.”
Who is the person you most admire?
“Patty Kallmyer. She’s my former manager. She led me to know and believe that I could be a leader in the real estate industry by just being myself. She never asked me to change anything about myself. She believed in me and my wildest ideas. She suggested that in my downtime that I begin volunteering at our local board of Realtors and that would get my career restarted. I didn’t understand, but I did it anyway. After 5 years, I am now serving as her president-elect at our local board of Realtors.”
One thing you can’t live without?
“Help! Assistance, Collaboration, Coaching, Constructive Criticism and Communication.”
One trait that has led to your success?
“Relentlessness and consistency when it comes to education and training.”
What celebrity would play you in a movie or TV show?
Taraji P. Henson
Pet peeve?
When people ask questions before they use Google.
Little known fact about yourself?
“I was a teenage parent of three children by the age of 19. Now, I’m a grandmother of a 2-year-old girl, Serenity. My first son, James, does construction work and my twins, Shaun and Shaunae are both accountants at large firms.
Song you never tire of?
“Big Rings,” by Drake/Future
Favorite meal?
Steak & baked potato (with sauteed onions)
Your epitaph will say:
Let’s Keep Moving. (Because I always say Let’s Get Moving)
__________
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