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With a team of only 20 agents, Amy Stockberger Real Estate commands around 10 percent of her Sioux Falls, South Dakota, local market share and is nationally recognized among the nation’s leading teams.
Her secret, in part, lies in a trademarked support model designed to “redefine real estate as a lifelong service relationship, providing comprehensive support before, during, and long after each transaction, with a system tailored to every stage of the homeownership journey.”
According to broker-owner Amy Stockberger, 90 percent of her company’s business is fueled by repeat and referral clients, and agents stay onboard longer, with an average agent tenure of more than seven years.
“We’ve created a service-driven environment that fosters stability, growth and exceptional loyalty,” she said. “Our VIP Club provides clients lifetime access to exclusive amenities — moving trucks, party supplies, tool rentals and valuable discounts — making us a constant, trusted partner in [clients’] lives.”
Find out how this broker and innovator helps agents build “legacy businesses” through efficient scaling, increased profitability and resilient, service-centered practices.
Name: Amy Stockberger
Title: Broker-owner
Experience: Over 25 years in real estate (started in 2000)
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Brokerage Name: Amy Stockberger Real Estate
Rankings:
- No. 1 team in South Dakota since 2017
- Ranked No. 52 in the U.S. by Real Trends
Team size: Around 20 agents
Transaction sides: 364 units
Sales volume: $132,180, 219
Awards:
- Voted “The Local Best” since 2009
- Entrepreneurial Excellence Award
- Featured Real Estate Expert on HGTV’s My House is Worth What?
What’s something you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
In 2014, I found the hole in my business. At that point, we had built a solid, systematized process for taking care of clients before and during their transactions, but something wasn’t clicking. We had happy clients, yet the repeat and referral business wasn’t flowing in at the level I expected.
That was the wake-up call — I realized that I had built a great business for the transaction, but I hadn’t built a business plan that authentically took care of my clients’ needs, wants, and desires before, during, and forever.
That was the missing piece. I wish I had recognized from the beginning that real estate isn’t just about buying and selling homes — it’s about being a trusted resource for life. That’s when I created a system that ensures we’re not just here for our clients on closing day, but for every stage of homeownership.
From moving trucks and home maintenance to vendor partnerships and lifestyle resources, our goal is to serve first and stay in their lives forever.
If I could go back, I’d build my business around lifetime relationships from day one, rather than just focusing on the transaction. That mindset shift changed everything — it skyrocketed our repeat and referral business, increased client loyalty and turned our brokerage into a true community.
What do you wish more people knew about working in real estate?
I wish more people understood that real estate is a long game, and the only way to win is by building real relationships.
Too many agents get caught up in chasing the next lead, constantly looking for new business instead of nurturing the goldmine that’s already in front of them — their past and current clients. The real key to longevity and success in this industry isn’t just about closing deals; it’s about creating a repeat and referral business by authentically taking care of people first.
When you focus on serving instead of just selling, you build trust, credibility and an unshakable foundation for your business. My clients know I’m here for them, not just during the transaction, but for every stage of homeownership and life. Whether they need moving trucks, vendor recommendations, home maintenance support or just someone to guide them through their next big life transition, we’re here.
Playing the long game means putting people first, and when you do that, sales take care of themselves. If you want a business that lasts, relationships are the only way to get there.
What’s your top tip for freshly licensed brokers?
Grow your business with your sphere, set up your systems from day one, and treat your database like your DataBANK.
I don’t call it a database — I call it your DataBANK because what you put in is exactly what you get out. If you nurture it, add value and consistently engage with the people in it, it will pay you back in repeat business and referrals for life.
Too many new agents focus all their energy on chasing new leads instead of maximizing the relationships they already have. Your sphere of influence is your best source of business — people who already know, like and trust you. But the key is systematizing your follow-up so that staying in touch isn’t random or reactive — it’s intentional and repeatable.
From Day One, you should have:
- A structured system to stay top of mind with your sphere (calls, texts, social engagement, client appreciation events).
- A process for providing ongoing value — not just market updates, but resources, solutions and perks that make their lives easier.
- A plan for referral generation — teaching your clients how to send you business and rewarding them for it.
But beyond your DataBANK, here’s something else I wish every new agent knew: get in bigger rooms with high performers as often as you can. You don’t grow by staying comfortable.
Surround yourself with people who are thinking bigger, doing bigger and pushing you to level up. Whether that’s a mastermind, a coaching program or just building relationships with top producers — proximity to excellence will change your trajectory.
When you combine a well-nurtured DataBANK with the right people in your circle, you create an unstoppable business built on relationships, referrals and continuous growth. Play the long game, serve first and success will follow.
