The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 52

thomas
vinopal
doing to come to the
office to sign a timesensitive
document, "
he says.
The Los Angeles
native relocated to
Roanoke in 2018. He
doesn't regret the move at
all. " Los Angeles was too busy
for people to talk and socialize. I
love talking to people and having that
southern hospitality, " he says.
Prior to the move, he dabbled in several
T
wenty-two-year-old Thomas
Vinopal is one of those agents. Up
until just recently, the member of
Generation Z worked as the client
coordinator at The Joe Kraft Team,
which meant he served as the first point of
contact with prospective clients. He assessed
the client's needs, then partnered them with
the appropriate specialist.
His title was changed to realtor to more
accurately reflect the full scope of his
responsibilities.
" I'm Joe's right-hand man. We work really
close together, " he says.
Personability is something, he says, every
agent on the team embodies no matter their
age or level of experience. That means going
above and beyond, even driving a couple of
hours to meet a client so that they can sign
documents.
" We're known for buying or selling a
house with you, " he says. " Personally, I'm
adaptive to whatever the client needs. "
Despite his willingness to drive far
distances for signatures, technology like
DocuSign makes his life and his clients'
lives a lot simpler. " It definitely helps when
you're dealing with a working professional
who doesn't have time to stop what they're
different fields, including the running of
Italian markets and working as a mechanic.
It was during the weeks that his family
searched for houses in Roanoke prior to their
cross-country move that Vinopal first met
Joe Kraft.
" He kept wanting me to work with him,
but I didn't know a whole lot about real
estate. I kept saying 'No.' He kept bugging
me until I finally agreed to get into it, " he
remembers. " It has worked out quite well. "
Since the move, he has immersed himself
in the local market.
Despite his energy level and excitement
about the industry, Vinopal says his age
occasionally puts him at a disadvantage.
" Sometimes people don't take me
seriously. I really study contracts
and different aspects of home
buying so that when I meet
people I come across as very
kaitlin
sine
52 September/October 2021
TheRoanoker.com
knowledgeable, " he explains. " At the end
of the day, they're hiring us because we're
knowledgeable. "
One thing his experience has taught him
is that real estate is a demanding field. " I
don't think people realize how much time
and effort it takes to really be successful at
real estate, " he says. " You definitely can't do
this part-time. "
Vinopal plans to stay and be part of The
Joe Kraft Team for as long as possible.
As for what will happen to the local
market over the course of the next couple of
years, he believes things will continue to look
up. " The local market will stay strong because
we don't have quick rises and falls like other
major cities do, " he says.
R
oanoke native Kaitlin Sine, 25,
received her real estate license in
June of 2019. The millennial is
currently an agent with Wainwright
& Co. - REALTORS in Salem.
Prior to entering the industry, she put her
mathematics degree from Roanoke College
to use as a tutor at local middle schools.
Her decision to shift gears came from a
realization that investing in real estate is
about more than just being a homeowner.
" Real estate is an empowering tool for
young people and families, " she says.
COURTESY OF THOMAS VINOPAL / COURTESY OF KAITLIN SINE
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021

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