Month: December 2019

Archives for December 2019

Faces of Weston with Iliana Cardentey of Title Authority

Buying and selling a property takes time and involves many different people such as real estate agents, buyers, sellers, mortgage brokers but also a title agent.  But what does a title company do?

Title companies play several key roles in common real estate transactions. Title companies generally act as the combined agent of the insurance company, the buyer, the seller, and any other parties related to a real estate transaction, such as mortgage lenders. The title company reviews title issues, insurance policies, facilitates closings, and files and records paperwork.

Recently we sat down with Iliana Cardentey of Title Authority to learn more about her company, how she got started, why she chose Lakeside and what she enjoys doing when not working. 

Tell us about your company and what you do?

Title Authority is a bilingual South Florida Title company that specializes in real estate closings, title insurance, title searches and escrow services. Our goal is to provide quality customer service at a competitive price.

How did you get started in your industry?

I became a Licensed Title Agent 18 years ago. I wanted not just a job, but a trade where I could help individuals reach the American dream. 

What is something about your business that most people do not know?

Our personal touch of going that extra mile to make sure that the transaction closes.  Whether it is at a Starbucks Coffee Shop, a Senior Living facility, or on the hood of a car, we will make it happen.  We take the initiative and get it done. 

Where do you see your business in 5 years?

In the next 5 years, I see myself revealing the grand opening of two additional offices in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County and to become a very successful female entrepreneur.

Tell me about yourself?

I was born in Havana Cuba in 1967. I am the youngest of 3 siblings. I left the Castro regime in 1969 with my family and was raised in Paterson, New Jersey.  At the age of 13, I moved to Florida with my family and have been here since then.  I graduated from Hialeah Senior High School in 1985 and attended Miami Dade Community College after graduation like most graduates. I attended Florida International University afterward to obtain my Paralegal Certification. I worked at numerous different jobs from Retail Stores, Fitness Centers and a personal injury firm. It was not until I was exposed to the Real Estate Industry that I knew what I enjoyed and what I wanted to do. Especially educating individuals on what I know best. Which is Title. 

When the market crashed in the year 2008, I attended Keiser University and majored in Health Services Administration. I was not sure if the real estate market would ever be the same and wanted to prepare myself for the worst. I negotiated Short Sales for a while until I finally was able to return to what I enjoyed and did best. Using my knowledge and experience as a Title Agent to close transactions and manage many offices. I worked at many different agencies and law firms and took a lot of abuse from bad employers and hoped that someday I would be able to open my own. That dream came true in August of 2019. After all these years I finally accomplish the dream I had for such a long time. My very own agency. 

Other than work, what are you passionate about?

I work as a volunteer for the elderly. Also, spending quality time with my son and elderly parents.

What types of activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?

I enjoy reading romantic novels and espionage and military-science novels. My favorite authors are Nicolas Sparks, Tom Clancy and Danielle Steele.  And by the way one of my favorite places is Disney World in Orlando.

Why did you choose Lakeside and how has working here helped your business?

We choose Lakeside Executive Suites for the location along with the concierge-like services they provide which allow for a happy work environment.

Time Management Tips to Help Your Grow Your Business

Effective time management is, arguably, the single most critical skill you can cultivate to advance your business objectives. If you are not managing your time well, there is little chance you will hit your marks either in the office or away from it.

No matter who you are and where you are at in the journey of life, time is of great concern. Existential arguments aside, nobody has more time than the next person, and there’s really nothing you can do to get more of it. However, there are ways you can manage the time you have to make the most of it.

Time Management Tips for Business Professionals

There are lots of habits you can cultivate to make your time more productive. Here are a few of our top tips to get you started:

Time Management Tip #1: Meditate, Exercise, Me Time

Every morning before you dive into your work, take time to balance yourself with 20 minutes of meditation or vigorous exercise. Go for a run, have a workout, take a shower, and get ready to rock the day. Your mental focus will be heightened, and your energy will be focused, and you’ll be prepared to hit the ground running.

Time Management Tip #2: Jump on High-Priority Tasks First

People tend to either do what’s easiest first or go directly to what’s most difficult. For more effective time management, use a priority system, and be sure you’re tackling those tasks first. Once you’ve got the hotlist out of the way, it’s okay to return to your easy/hard default, but you’ll never be behind the eight-ball.

Time Management Tip #3: Use the 80-20 Rule

Some people call this the Pareto Principle, but whatever you call it, the philosophy is that 80 percent of the results derive from 20 percent of the effort. The trick is to identify what that 20 percent is that’s driving the results and put the focus on those tasks.

Time Management Tip #4: Schedule Your Email Time

One of the easiest ways to tank your time management efforts is by allowing email to get in the way. While it’s important to jump on critical communications right away, try to prioritize what must be responded to and leave the rest for later. Schedule a specific time in your day for reading and responding to email and don’t get caught up in distraction.

Time Management Tip #5: Turn Social and App Notifications Off

It’s not relevant to your business objectives to know what your social connections are up to, who friended you, or what’s trending on Twitter. Turn off notifications completely during your working hours by enabling “do not disturb” on your smartphone. If you’re concerned with missing business-related calls, you can set specific contacts as VIPs, and then their communications will always come through.

What time management tips work for you? We’d love to hear about them! Share in the comments section below or reach out today to speak to us directly.

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