Stacey and Jim Lambright are a husband and wife real estate team in Columbus, Ohio. And as most couples or business partners do, they complement each other’s strengths as well as seek out business opportunities together or separately.
So when Jim heard about eXp, he wanted to give it a try, but Stacey was fiercely loyal to her broker. During an eXp presentation he insisted they attend, she was not a friendly audience.
“I went to this lunch literally with my arms crossed, eyes glaring and stared at my watch every three seconds for the first 45 minutes of the lunch,” said Stacey. “Through the course of the next two hours, the more I learned about eXp, the more I realized that I loved my broker, but I loved my family more.”
Jim joined eXp in January of 2018 and Stacey, still not quite sure, waited until September 2018.
“Since there were only just over 100 eXp agents in Ohio, and none we knew of in Columbus, and the fact that it just sounded too good to be true, I was not sold yet,” said Stacey. “I needed to do more research — a decision I deeply regret!”
A few months after joining eXp, the Lambrights received a “comma check” for a monthly revenue share deposit from eXp. They were shocked because they were more familiar with a three-digit profit-share check.
“Stacey thought she missed a closing,” Jim said.
> Read why revenue sharing is better than profit sharing
The Lambrights are true entrepreneurs where the words “it can’t be done” are not part of their lexicon. Yes, their passion is helping people — as most real estate agents do — but this couple goes beyond, starting two non-profits: Faithful Forgotten Best Friends, which provides food, shelter and vet care to the pets of the homeless in Columbus and Drill4Life, which raises money to dig wells to help provide fresh water to communities in Zimbabwe.
Stacey laughs when realizing the exit plan she and Jim had.
“You get tired of cracking doors. Our retirement plan was to go sell homes in Florida. That’s it – that was our plan! We literally were going to sell houses until we died. We are still in production, but focusing more on mentoring and growing our sphere.”
Learn more about Stacey and Jim Lambright:
Years in real estate: Since 1997
Gross sales and transactions in 2019: 39 transactions for $9.8 million in closed sales.
Brokerage history:
- eXp Realty (Sept. 2018 – current)
- Edwards Realty (Boutique Broker 100% Broker) – (2014-2018)
- RE/MAX – (2012-2014)
- Obvious Choice – (2010-2012)
- Keller Williams – (2005-2010)
- M/I Homes – New Homes Sales – (1996-2005)
Main territory: Columbus, Ohio
Main focus: Stacey – Production with repeat and referral clients, first-time buyers and new builds and distressed properties. Jim concentrates on agent attraction.
Accolades, accomplishments & awards:
- Among top 3 in sales with national builder (M/I homes)
- No. 1 sales team in the United States for one year
- Top 10 sales team by the Building Industry Association of Ohio (BIA)
- Rookie of the Year for Keller Williams Mid-Ohio Valley Region (Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky) in 2005
- Served on Keller Williams Agent Leadership Council for five years
- No. 1 agent in Keller Williams office for two of five years and in top 2% of all KW agents for the Mid-Ohio Valley Region.
- In top 2% in production according to the Columbus Board of Realtors since 2005.
- Stacey named one of Sunny 95’s (FM station) Top Outstanding Women in Columbus in 2013.
- Jim has served as the district leader for the Humane Society of the United States for Central Ohio since 2014.
What makes eXp special to you?
“It’s the freedom of time, giving back and having an end game, which is being able to retire gracefully and with dignity from a long real estate career in the future.
“After 23 years, we didn’t realize how much we needed a change. We are energized again and eager to pass on our knowledge to new agents after 23 years of bumps and bruises. Combine that with an ever-changing technology world and it’s a win-win combination. The amazing thing with this whole new way of doing real estate is it has given us the freedom to travel and build our network outside the boundaries of Columbus, Ohio. That was never an option before, lifting the boundaries and expanding our opportunity globally!”
You are two-time ICON agents — what does making ICON mean to you?
“We just have a passion to help our clients, their family and friends and anyone we meet with real estate needs. We have always viewed people and their real estate needs the same no matter how small or prolonged the process is as equals.
> Learn what eXp’s ICON Agent status means
“We will treat a first-time buyer that may take six months to buy their first home at $150,000 as we do a seller that will sell a $500K home in 48 hours. Treat everyone the same, give the same level of respect and customer service and never associate a dollar value to a client or the level of care you give them. Business just flows to you when you give versus take in this world. Grow with your network. If you are selling first-time homebuyers today, one day many of them will become the luxury buyers you seek.”
Is there a significant experience you can share since you joined eXp?
“It’s not just one experience but an accumulation of gratitude from our network! From our new agents to our seasoned agents, there is a true family feeling like nothing we’ve experienced before. Everyone cares about everyone else’s success. That really moves you and now after two years we are seeing duplication with this giving and caring. It’s such a “safe harbor” for our tribe to experience every day or through seasonal ups and downs. The support is amazing.”
What is one thing about eXp that surprised you?
“That’s easy – it’s our revenue share account. It’s simply amazing when you are rewarded for just doing what you’re going to do anyway, which is sell real estate! We’ve been in this business for more than 20 years and have never had an opportunity like this. Companies always dangle stuff out there, but it never comes to fruition. We never would have had the ability to do this at any other brokerage.”
What kind of collaboration have you experienced at eXp?
“There was an agent in San Diego that we worked with here in Columbus before she moved to California. We called her up to talk about eXp and we found out she was moving to Portugal. We were very excited because eXp is opening in Portugal, but we knew nothing about Portugal. Fortunately, the President of International Growth (Michael Valdes) was willing to take the time out of his busy schedule to meet online with our agent and she is going to be joining eXp with us! What kind of company has that kind of support from the upper echelons of the corporate office? None we’ve ever seen.”
Best tip to share with other agents:
The best advice we can give to new agents is to start from the beginning to keep an over-the-top-database of everyone you meet. Enter as much detail as you can about them, their family and real estate history.
“The other tip is to make sure that you build equity in your own real estate business. Don’t spend decades building someone else’s retirement and business. We tell renters all the time, ‘you need to buy a home because you are building equity.’” eXp provides that opportunity without the need to become a broker.”
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