About David and Nikki
By Philip Haldiman
Photography by Thompson Photographic
It’s summer time again, which means tubing down the Salt River, 100-degree temperatures and expensive air conditioning bills.
But to David and Nikki Kupfer this summer means finishing up on a raffle that they are spearheading to raise money for one of their favorite organizations. First place wins a 2005 Harley Davidson, second place takes home a Honda dirt bike and third place wins $500 in cash. Approximately $30,000 in proceeds will be donated to the Hospice Family Care Foundation.
“We’ve had family members go through Hospice so it is a charity that is near and dear to our hearts,” David said.
But probably even more importantly, summer to the Kupfers means baseball. Not only trips to see the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, but trips to see their sons perform on middle school and little league fields.
The day always begins with the Kupfer family eating breakfast together in their kitchen. Next their three sons, Greyson 13, Gunnar 10, and Gannon 8 are off to school for the day and David and Nikki are off to work. The specifics of each family member’s day may vary, but a summer day almost always ends with David and Nikki on the bleachers at one of their sons’ baseball games or practices. With three sons and each one on a different baseball team, playing on different fields, that can add up. But David and Nikki wouldn’t have it any other way, even if it means skipping our early from work…oh yeah, work.
David and Nikki Kupfer are founders of The Kupfer Group under Keller Williams Realty Ahwatukee Foothills. They also have ownership in the San Mateo (California) and the Sonoran Living (Tempe) Keller Williams. After contributing much of their time to friends, family, and charities, they have managed to receive the Platinum Award for Keller Williams in 2002, 2003, and 2004 and be consistently ranked in the top 5 percent of Keller Williams International. David also obtained his CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designation in 1999, which is the highest designation for residential REALTOR.
The Kupfer Group serves several markets throughout the valley working primarily with referrals from past clients, with their team of real estate agents handling all advertisement calls and most of the buyers. David works with sellers and buyers and focuses on lead generation for new business. Nikki spends most of her time in the office running the team and handling the day- to- day affairs, finances and property management.
They have acquired success in business because they believe in giving the same effort and dedication to each and every client as they would give to one of their own family members or friends.
“Our business philosophy is to treat every client like they are our only client regardless of price range. We believe in facilitating the education process for all of our buyers and sellers we work with so when they make a decision, they are completely comfortable with their choice. We work very hands on throughout the entire transaction and we train our agents to the same.”
The Kupfer Group consists of eight agents each of whom undergoes a strict regiment of training before they are released in the field, including but not limited to scripting, buyer consultation, contract training and private coaching and consulting. The Kupfer Group also employs Sophie Gutierrez, their full-time Executive Administrator. Sophie plays a large role facilitating the day-to-day operations for David, Nikki, and the agents.
“We believe that our agents should have written goals to protect themselves from getting sidetracked. One of our most rewarding accomplishments is being able to train and mentor agents and then watching them become successful.”
It is this learning based way of doing business that attracted them to the Real Estate industry in the first place. In 1988, David decided that the Kupfer family business, construction and plumbing, wasn’t for him, and joined a small brokerage firm. Nikki joined him in 1991 bringing with her banking and savings and loan experience. They formed their own real estate company, Arizona’s number 1 Home Team three years later.
Beginning in 1994 (and continuing presently), one of the ways David and Nikki were able to generate business for themselves was through a television show that they produced on the Cox Cable Communications Network. It is a 15-minute show, playing seven days a week, four times a day, running on the “Real Estate Channel” (channel 108).
“On the show we feature home listings throughout the valley. The spot enabled us to open our own business and go out on our own because of the huge amount of leads that it generated. The show has been with us ever since.”
After experiencing success funning their own company, David and Nikki began searching for a “higher level of achievement.” This desire and the encouragement from owner, Barry Kramer, led the Kupfers to join forces with Keller Williams Realty. It was Keller William’s business principles that attracted David and Nikki the most.
“Upon joining Keller Williams in 1999, we learned how to expand our real estate business and run it like a Fortune 500 company, by implementing systems and models, coaching and consulting at a high level and being involved with local and international mastermind sessions with other highly successful agents.”
Keller Williams Realty is constantly raising the bar. It is a wealth building company like no other. The Kupfer’s were number 1 in the Southwest Region for total profit share received in 2004. “The profit share we receive from Keller Williams far exceeds the cost for our annual company expenses and is growing steadily,” they said.
But the Kupfers’ journey in the real estate industry was not without setbacks and pitfalls.
“When I first joined the industry, everyone was saying how great the market was. Then, when I received my license, the savings and loan crash immediately kicked into high gear. At the time, Nikki was in banking working with builders at the savings and loans. Then, a few years later, shortly after opening our own company, we purchased two duplexes for our first investment. Within 30 days we were evicting two tenants,” David said.
But Nikki said that they learned a lot from the hard times.
“We struggled but have adapted our business to changing markets. We had to fight for business during the savings and loan bailout, so we focused on the government HUD market because we were in a declining market and there were literally hundreds of HUD homes coming on the market each month. The bad market created repossessed homes, so we went with what the market was providing. It forced us to focus on the needs of the industry. Business was difficult but knowing no other market, through hard work and perseverance we made it work. We have always known real estate was our passion and there was never and choice but to make it work. Now we have 13 investment properties, two vacation homes and our home in Club West,” Nikki said.
Diana Bergthold is a close friends and colleague of the Kupfer’s and is not surprised by their success in the real estate industry. She would be the first to admit that their strong work ethic sets them above most other realtors. But after years of spending time with Nikki and David, she said that there is something that sets them apart from the crowd, something more than just hard work.
“Over the years, countless friends and family members have come together to share fellowship and great food at David and Nikki’s home. The love that they share for friends and family is no different than the love that they have for their work. Nikki and David share a strong passion for the real estate industry. This includes the gift of successful business experience and mentoring with other real estate professionals,” Diana said.
