616 REALTY’s Justin Wisniewski’s journey in real estate began long before he obtained his agent license. From growing up in construction, owning a Construction Company, to buying and flipping his first house at the age of 21, he has honed his skills and expertise in various aspects of property ownership, building, and renovation.
Despite holding a Bachelor’s degree and working for international companies and overseeing Sales and Operations Departments, Justin felt a deeper calling to pursue his passion for real estate and spend more time at home with his family. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted him to make a bold career shift, and he obtained his real estate license.
Being an agent has afforded him the opportunity to help others achieve their homeownership dreams. “I offer a unique perspective for my clients. I don’t just look at the aesthetic qualities of a home. I am looking at the foundational qualities.” Justin focuses on helping his clients find the best home for their budget and their needs while helping them understand the hidden costs that come with renovations.
“I love teaching people about owning a home, how to prepare a home, how to fix a home up. I encourage them to take a deeper look. I was able to learn a lot of skills in the trades early on. I can do pretty much anything mechanical, plumbing, electrical, roughing in, and finish work.” He passes that knowledge on to his clients so they know exactly what they are getting into. Justin adds, “Many want to do an HGTV renovation, but they don’t understand the cost of materials and cost of labor. They haven’t considered whether or not they really want to spend that much time on a project. Having done all that personally, it helps to be able to educate them on what it actually takes.”
Justin and his wife, Cait, are also what you might call serial entrepreneurs. Seeing their clients’ need for home repair services, they started a handyman service in order to help their buyers and sellers get work done on their homes from an experienced contractor. “We have a full-time employee who does all the work, so they know they are getting quality work. It has made a huge difference for our clients in the 5-6 years since we launched.” He added, “It started out with small projects from our clients on getting their home ready to sell, like can you paint this room? Or can you finish this trim work?”
They also acquired their own construction business. The knowledge they acquired from that before handing it over allows them to guide clients who are considering building or purchasing new construction. “Owning a construction business, handyman business, remodeling a Heritage Hill home, buying and flipping houses, it all helps solidify that I have a great deal of experience and a lot to offer my clients.”
Along with his real estate expertise, his commitment to honesty, transparency, and personalized service also sets him apart in an industry often characterized by flashy sales tactics. “I get a lot of referral clients who had bad transactions or bad experiences with agents. It is my goal to earn their trust. I cater to their needs so I can find them the right house for their situation.”
Justin explains that part of finding them the right house is asking the right questions. “I ask them what they like to do when they aren’t working, what they enjoy. Some think they want to own a house and do projects, but their lifestyle doesn’t work for that, so I help them uncover what they want along with what truly fits their lifestyle.”
Justin explains, “I really owe a lot to my team and my network for making us successful. My wife who is a Broker in both Michigan and Florida is the real trailblazer along with the inspiration for the team. Cait is simply magnetic when it comes to meeting new people and working with them, it’s amazing what she has accomplished in her career. We also have Rachel who joined us a couple of years ago, she has learned so much and advanced into an amazing agent that we are proud to have on our team. Halie joined us a short time ago and is also starting to learn the industry and what it takes to get offers accepted in this competitive market. Most importantly, we have Raphael who has been our right-hand man and really adding an extra layer of service for our clients and our team”. Justin also commented about his network, “It really takes a village to be able to do this job, we have amazing lenders that we work hand-in-hand with to better service our clients along with a home inspector that is someone that we can really trust giving our clients solid advice on home conditions and evaluations”.
Why 616 REALTY
Justin’s decision to join 616 REALTY was influenced by the brokerage’s supportive and inclusive culture. His wife, being an agent before him, unfortunately, experienced toxic brokerages where bullying, negativity, and sexism were commonplace.
“At 616 REALTY, Scot fosters an environment where we are empowered to succeed while receiving any support we need. He always has our back but also gives us independence.”
Advice for First-Time Home Buyers
Justin emphasizes the importance of thorough research and seeking guidance from reputable professionals when entering the real estate market.
“Make sure you talk to multiple lenders before you get started. Reach out to agents that focus on first-time homebuyers. They are going to know the market better than most other agents; they will know what your money can buy and guide you away from a money pit. Find a good agent, with a good reputation, who doesn’t push you into a house you aren’t really comfortable with, and where you end up getting into a bad situation.”
Advice for Sellers
“Picking an agent who is really going to market your home better than anyone else. We go in and can do staging, cleaning, and all those aspects that help with the sale of a house. We have a special team doing the marketing, and we use social media. We are doing a postcard for the neighbors asking if they know anyone who will want to sell their home in the future or is looking to buy a home.”
Advice for New Agents
“Join a team like 616 REALTY with a great reputation, or mentor under someone who has the time for you. Find a culture that you really jive with that has a team feel that will help you out and pick up where you lack; that is what the team aspect offers. They will cover you in time of need. If you want to do it all on your own, mentee with someone who has a lot of experience, especially experience with contracts and the transactional side of real estate. We see people mess up on that all the time.”
If you are looking to buy or sell a home and want the vast experience that Justin Wisniewski offers, give him a call today. Also, for all you Florida snowbirds, he and his wife, Cait Wisniewski, have experience in Florida real estate as well. Check out their team, NUABODE, for all your real estate questions and needs.