LOCAL PROFILES
Real Estate Exec: Melissa Zimbelman—Dyson & Dyson Sotheby’s International Realty

Melissa Zimbelman of Dyson & Dyson Sotheby's International Realty in Las Vegas recalls how she happened to become a REALTOR®. "One of my instructors at business college in Colorado told me he thought I'd make a great REALTOR®," she remembers. "I wasn't even sure what the job involved, but he said they set their own hours, drive nice cars and make lots of money," she laughs. "I was 19 at the time and it sounded good to me!" So she switched over to the school's collegiate Real Estate program and got her degree.

Both Melissa and her husband grew up in Colorado, so when they got married they decided to spread their wings and create their life together somewhere new and exciting. "My mother-in-law suggested Las Vegas," she says. "We had been here on our honeymoon and loved it, but thought it was all about casinos and hotels. So we came back to look around and discovered a wonderful sense of community, with a city government that does a great job of diversifying." And after living here for 10 years, she still believes, "Moving here is probably the smartest thing we ever did."

Melissa's business is primarily residential, and about 90 percent of it is now referral. The rest of her contacts are through advertising, and even with the economic downturn, she says business is great. "Las Vegas is the smallest big city you could live in," says Melissa. "Six degrees of separation here really only amounts to about three degrees. I'm always meeting a new contact, only to find out that we have friends or acquaintances in common."

In a market as cyclical as Real Estate, only the tenacious and inventive can ride out a poor economy. Melissa points to her position as the oldest in a family of seven children as a benefit that keeps her from getting discouraged. "The dynamic of being one in a large family really prepares you for working hard and sometimes having to wait for what you want," she says. "Although none of us love the economic situation right now, it may just be the wakeup call we need in order to learn to be a little more careful and responsible with our finances."

In order to handle all the business generated by her office, Melissa has recently hired a buyer's agent and a transaction coordinator, giving her more time to focus exclusively on the specific needs of her clients. "I was just swamped with details that could easily be delegated to someone else," she says. "And that gives me more time for the little extras in customer service."

Melissa believes that the market is starting to move again, citing the fact that she sells about five to eight properties a month to investment groups from out of state. "The international market is strong, too, as the exchange rate has been very good all summer," she adds. "We've had a lot of buyers from Canada looking for second homes, and many Asian buyers as well. We've had to study international cultures, customs and etiquette in order to work successfully with everyone, but it's been a fun challenge."

"Financing has shifted, but it's still out there," Melissa says. "You just really have to stay informed and help your buyers to qualify." She believes that when people have worked hard to save a down payment and build good credit, they take more pride in the accomplishment of home ownership.

Melissa is currently preparing to take on a new role in the Real Estate arena as incoming president of the Las Vegas chapter of Women's Council of REALTORS® (WCR). Heading up the 150 members, including affiliates, involves duties like setting the programming for the year, overseeing membership, member benefits, fundraising, and being the overall "go-to" person for the organization. As spokesperson for the Women's Council, Melissa extols the virtues and benefits of membership in the organization. "This is a setting unlike any other, where professionals are willing to share their expertise in how they're making the business work while things are lean," she says. "There are always fresh ideas and good things happening here, even if they're not happening at each individual brokerage. If REALTORS® stay involved and informed, they'll get a new perspective and positive results to show for it."

In addition to her duties for WCR, Melissa is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS®, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, and Southern Nevada Better Business Bureau. She's also a WCR performance management network designee, and is listed in the 2006-2007 Cambridge Who's Who of Executives and Professionals.

As rental property owners, Melissa and her husband enjoy doing hands-on renovations and taking pride in offering attractive homes to prospective tenants. They also enjoy working on their own home. "We're just laypeople who do mostly painting and cosmetic repairs," she explains. "We leave the big projects to the professionals."

They also enjoy travel, and their favorite destination so far is Maui. Of course, with both their families in Colorado, they do some traveling in that direction as well. Melissa also travels three or four times a year for WCR and believes those trips enhance her enthusiasm for her business. "The camaraderie and exchange of ideas is refreshing to my perspective on my business," she says. "I always come back with new enthusiasm for what I'm doing."

To find out more about Melissa and her business, visit her Web site at www.melzhomes.com. Melissa can also be reached at Melissa@melzhomes.com or call (702) 376-0232.

Photography: Elisabeth Libby