ExEcutivEAgEnt Magazine

John Williams and Dot Hammer are both Brokers, together with more than four decades of experi-ence in the real estate industry. The dynamic duo

has been working together for more than 15 years and are recipients of numerous local and national sales and service awards. Yet despite all of the accolades they’ve received, the one thing that matters most to them and is their ultimate measure of success is client satisfaction. Their knowledge of finance, the local market and vast transaction history may be why clients call them the first time, but they keep coming back because of the level of service they provide and the lasting friendships they develop.

John has a master’s degree from The Wharton School of Finance and spent four years in the Air Force as a Contract Officer while also working as a White House Aide. He later started his own management consulting practice and managed the business for 13 years before deciding to follow his parents’ decision to move to California. John caught a glimpse of the shortcomings of the real estate industry through the process of his parents buying a home in Orange County. “I wasn’t impressed with the whole process so it motivated me to get a real estate license,” says John. “I wasn’t sure how long I would practice real estate but it seemed like a good way to get to know the business and Orange County.”

Dot received a degree in marketing from the University of Connecticut and was in training to become a department store buyer when she decided to move across country. Her sister moved to California and Dot went with her thinking it would be a fun place to live. She worked as an executive assistant before deciding she wanted a career that offered more flexibility. She earned her real estate Broker’s license and went to work for a few years before taking time off to raise her three children. When her kids got older, Dot returned to the real estate industry.

John and Dot met 15 years ago at an industry event and decided to join forces to work for a company that evolved into Harcourts® Prime Properties where they still are today. The two have built a successful business around the motto “clients first.” If you take care of the client, then everything else will take care of itself, according to John. It’s the small details like previewing every property before you show them to a client that make a difference for the duo. “We really listen to our clients needs,” shares Dot. “We’re not in the business to just make a sale, we do what’s right.”

EXECUTIVEAGENTTM

MAGAZINE

By Julie Brown

JOHN WILLIAMS & DOT HAMMERCLIENTS FIRST

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ExEcutivEAgEnt Magazine

The team also works hard to maintain relationships with other agents. “We received 21 offers on one property and I called the 20 agents who didn’t get the deal to tell them why,” explains John. “They were shocked that we even followed up with them, but that’s the way we choose to do business.” Having close relationships in place with other agents also enable the duo to maintain a competitive edge by getting early notifications on properties for sale. By the way, John was elected twice to be President of the Laguna Board of Realtors® and was voted Realtor® of the Year by his real estate peers.

John and Dot’s commitment to client service is the reason why 95% of their business is generated from referrals and repeat business. They’ve had clients that have stayed with them for their real estate needs over the course of their lives and many big events. “As people’s situations and finances change, so do their needs and we are there for them,” shares John. “Buyers and Sellers can pick any agent and they choose us. There’s no higher compliment than that.” Their extensive knowledge of the Orange County market is also a big factor in their success.

With experience gained in more than 1,000 transactions under their belts, John and Dot are transaction experts who understand the complexities both of being a buyer and a seller. “We bring a vast knowledge that not many other agents have and guide clients through the entire transaction,” says Dot. Despite his tenure in the industry, John believes that you can never stop learning or know too much. “I learn something new from every single transaction,” adds John. “Having that base of knowledge and experience helps us to anticipate any challenges before they arise.” They also work closely with Rob Gillon at NewAmerican Funding® to ensure that their buyers understand not only loan options, but also the lending process. “Having that financial expertise on our team has helped many buyers to get into a home they didn’t think they ever could,” says John. “We also work aggressively to lock in competitive interest rates. We’ve seen rates rise a point overnight which can disqualify buyers and kill the deal.”

The duo, who were recently ranked fifth nationally in sales for Harcourts, hopes to keep growing their business but don’t ever plan to lose sight of what’s most important to them. They don’t aspire to have assistants or big

teams because they don’t want to give up the personal relationships they have with clients according to John. “We don’t have to be number one,” adds Dot. “The way we work just works and we have fun doing it.”

John L. Williams, BrokerDot Hammer, Broker

Harcourts® Prime Properties27372 Aliso Creek Rd.Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

John Tel: (949) 510-1400Dot Tel: (949) 295-9611

Fax: (949) 272-4076JohnLWilliams@fea.netwww.johnlwilliams.com

BRE # 00917563 - BRE # 00419396

John and Dot work closely with Rob Gillon at NewAmerican Funding®