Success

Through

Collaboration

“Being a leader is not about being the greatest, but inspiring others to be their greatest”

In an industry that can so often be about sales numbers, awards, and competitive dynamics, Evan Johnson and Tom Bauer have taken an alternative approach. Leaving egos aside isn’t just chin music on their team; it’s the lifeblood of their culture. And, unsurprisingly, it’s working.

In 2020, the Wardman Residential team closed $77.7 million in business. The sturdy sales numbers are a testament to Evan and Tom’s success, but not the ultimate goal. “It is not about selling as much as helping our clients reach their goals, making the process as seamless as possible, and solving issues as they come up,” Evan says. “Team collaboration is one of our defined core values.”

“Our culture is the exact opposite of egotistical,” Tom adds. “We want people that are here to help each other and collaborate. We don’t pit agents against each other, numbers-wise. We don’t shame agents for sales. Your goals are your goals. That’s our noncompetitive part. If you have agents only concerned about awards, they won’t be team players. One of our core values is to be client-focused. If an agent doesn’t feel so much pressure, they can think more about their clients, they can act in their best interests”

This team atmosphere leads to another favorable result: working at Wardman Residential is fun. Evan and Tom enjoy their work, and they enjoy the people they have the privilege of working alongside daily.

Rewind: Beginnings

Tom is originally from New Orleans, and he’s had the opportunity to live in numerous places, including Hawaii. He spent time in Fairfax County as a kid, then returning to the area to attend George Mason in 1996. After graduation, he decided to stick around and has called the area home ever since.

Evan is from Anchorage, Alaska, and had the unique opportunity to move around the country due to his parents’ careers. Evan landed in Virginia in high school and stayed. “At the time, Tom was working as a teller at the bank, and I was involved in the bank as a client and investor,” Evan explains. “Pre-real estate, I was a general contractor, and one of our jobs was to build out the first branch of the bank, which was where we met.”

The couple met in 2000, and four years later, they got married in British Columbia. At the time, it was the only place in all of the United States and Canada where same-sex marriage was legal. “We went to Whistler every year,” Evan explains. “We felt married well before that but couldn’t get the sheet of paper.”

The road to real estate

Evan obtained his real estate license in 2000, and Tom joined him in business during the summer of 2004. For Evan, moving from building homes to selling homes was a seamless transition. When Tom had the opportunity to work with his husband and build a more robust real estate team, he jumped on board. The couple has now been working together for 17 years.

“One thing we do well is separate responsibilities and don’t get in each other’s lanes,” Tom says. “That’s crucial. We’ve been doing it so long: it’s second nature.”