No. 1 Small Company
First-Time Winner
The folks at Monument Realty believe in star power.
Slackers and whiners need not apply.
“We look for people who are positive, productive and professional,” said Eddie Burns, who founded Monument with his broker wife, Tiffany, in 2017. “It’s a very difficult interview process with us.”
Monument’s swank offices in The Star in Frisco highlight the culture it hopes to cultivate, he said. “The Cowboys are the most valuable franchise in the world, and they do amazing stuff. We’d like to be known as the equivalent of that in real estate in the Dallas area.”
Tiffany said the company offers competitive commissions for its real estate professionals. “These include bonuses, trips to Las Vegas and other fun sales contests,” she said. “We like to highlight and give bonus opportunities for real estate professionals who go above and beyond.”
Its 80 D-FW workers get charged up by those vibes, too.
“I am able to implement ideas quickly,” one agent told us. “I have support and collaboration with the other leaders. I am able to have a great work/life balance. My role is based on my strengths. We have a strong culture that is energizing.”
Monument holds events at The Star — movie nights, The Star’s Christmas tree lighting and parties at Jerry Jones' private club — for agents and clients.
It also doesn’t hurt that the agency enjoys a high-profile clientele that includes Cowboys players.
Such positive thinking pushed Monument into first place among our small companies in its first outing.
Monument — named after the street in Frisco where the co-owners first lived as a couple — scored highest with the statement: My manager makes it easier to do my job well.
“The environment Monument has created allows its agents to thrive in a place where they are supported both physically and with intangible assets,” an agent said. “That allows me to take care of my clients at a level that is elevated beyond that which I was able to do before — despite the fact that I have been a top-producing agent for over 20 years.”
When the pandemic temporarily shuttered its offices, the Burnses had to make some immediate changes.
“Our work culture was built on connection,” Tiffany said. “When that was suddenly taken away, we were surprised to see the level that connection influenced the performance of our agents.”
The couple created weekly check-ins with agents to see how they were doing and ask what additional support they needed.
“We had to constantly reset expectations and support levels to meet the individual needs of each agent,” she said. “As an essential business, we had to constantly innovate to keep our agents both working safely and supported emotionally in an extremely uncertain time.”
On a lighter note: “During COVID, we did a weekly happy hour where everyone would get on Zoom, have a drink and chat it up,” Eddie said.
Sales are bustling and spirits are soaring now that the office is back up and running with health measures in place, he said.
“Everybody likes to be around each other. It builds energy,” he said. "Our agents are so mentally tough. Whatever the challenge is — COVID or dealing with the emotions of closing on a home — it’s in our culture to have a strong, positive attitude.
“We had that mentality of, ‘We’re going to help other families out. We’re going to stay positive and do whatever we can and not let the situation get us down.’ That’s the mindset that we have within our small business and the people that we hire.”
Agents and employees enthusiastically agreed.
“I am able to implement ideas quickly. I have support and collaboration with the other leaders. I am able to have a great work/life balance.”
"It’s the only sales environment I’ve been in where everyone is given lots of opportunities and everyone wants to see others succeed.
“A positive attitude is a must, and hard work is appreciated.”
“Monument Realty gives me the chance to maximize work life while balancing other important aspects. I am surrounded by positive and upbeat team members, and each day provides an exciting opportunity.”
