HEATHER MANSY
Make Social Media Marketing Your Calling Card
These days, it’s no secret that buyers begin their home search online. As the industry continues to take a digital turn, Realtors in the know must learn to utilize a whole new range of tools available to them—and for good reason. Social media is a dynamic hybrid of personal contact and targeted marketing. To make the most of this new medium, agents can’t settle for the occasional post and expect results. Instead, let’s consider a few techniques that will make your social media presence
interactive, unmissable, and effective in generating business.
Your Profile is a Portal
Ideally, you’ll have profiles across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and otherwise—but no matter what portal you’re utilizing, make sure your profile page is up-todate, well-curated, and easily navigated. Consider your profile a landing page.
Your photo, location, contact information, homepage, and a brief bio should all be readily visible so that potential clients can get an immediate sense for who you are and what your voice is. If a client wants to connect with you, it should be obvious how to do so. You might also incorporate a few savvier tools that make your profile more engaging—like hashtags. These searchable tags can help you lure potential clientele and give your audience a chance to explore deeper. #DreamHome #JustListed and #HomeInspiration are popular, existing tags to choose from, but you can cultivate your own hashtag by consistently tagging posts, which gives clients an extensive thread to comb through.
Interacting with Your Audience
Posting regularly is great way to appear in feeds, but engaging with your audience is just as important—and it helps you reach a new audience in the process. It’s a positive start to like your audience’s posts, pictures, and statuses, but commenting takes your engagement a step further and separates you from typical respondents. It’s also important that you diversify your engagements. In other words, don’t center every communication around your business, propositioning your services, or trying to sell. If applicable, present your value-add, but otherwise steer your engagement towards the personal. Let your clients know that you’re there, you’re human, and
ready to work at their pace. Which leads us to our next point...
Blending the Professional with the Personal
Engaging with your audience is one thing, but what about generating original content? How do you strike the right balance between a Call to Action, industry updates, and a personal touch? Think of it this way: any post you create should provide a point of connection for your audience. Sometimes, you might be sharing a family photo, or commenting on some unifying current event—like the Super Bowl! Other times, you may be sharing a Coming Soon listing, or providing tips to spruce up a home for spring. Regardless, you should focus on quality. Is your copywriting engaging? Does it express your unique voice and personality, while maintaining clarity? Are you giving your audience something to connect with, even if you are sharing property photos or advertising an open house? Instill some fun and some personalization to every piece of content you make, so that clients can picture the voice and person behind the post.
Things are always changing on the social media frontier, but some rules never shift. Adding clarity, consistency, and personality to your online presence are three surefire ways to grow your business and make social media second nature.
How to Speed Up First-Time Homebuyer Transactions
Working with first-time homebuyers can be among the most rewarding real estate transactions an agent can embark upon. Not only are you helping guide newcomers into the housing market, but you’re also witness to the excitement and triumphs along the way, including handing over those keys for the first time. While
helping first-time homebuyers navigate the transactional process can be a reminder of real estate’s benevolent power, it can also come with its own bumps and bruises. So, what’s the best way to streamline the homebuying process for first-timers, while maintaining the magic and keeping your sanity along the way?
While helping first-time homebuyers navigate the transactional process can be a reminder of real estate’s benevolent power, it can also come with its own bumps and bruises.
Set expectations upfront and often.
It’s no secret that communication is a cornerstone of a successful real estate practice and client relationship. Amidst a transaction as complex as buying (or selling) a home, it’s important that no wires get crossed, no questions go unanswered, and no information gets lost in translation. To accomplish this, create communication parameters with your clients up front. Inquire about the communication medium they’re most comfortable with—a text, a call, an email, etc. Then, tailor your outreach accordingly. Also, consider setting a weekly time to check in, even if no official progress has been made. This helps clients and agents touch base, float questions and concerns, and get ahead of any problems or developments. Another helpful tool is to draft a transaction timeline for your client that outlines the major milestones along the way, what sort of information will need to be gathered, what steps taken, and what outcomes are possible. This might seem like exhaustive work, but in the era of digital research, clients will come to their own conclusions and biases
whether you like it or not. To stay on the same page and timeline, be the foremost resource for your client, and don’t leave their questions up to chance.
Know your first-time homebuyer programs and perks.
There are a variety of national, state, regional, and local grants and programs that aid first-time homebuyers as they pay their down payment, shop for home or mortgage insurance, and otherwise deal with the financial implications of becoming a homeowner. Sometimes these programs are neighborhood-specific in certain cities, with incentives to buy in up and coming areas. In some cases, there are grants that support underrepresented minority communities breaking into homebuying, and these can go a long way in making the burden of a down payment and associated fees doable. In other words, do your research. The right program or grant could make the difference in nabbing a dream starter home for your client, while setting them up for future financial success.
Get pre-approved for a mortgage—and shop around for the best rate.
Not all mortgage rates are made equal. As an agent, you likely have good relationships with area lenders that you trust, but it’s still important to complete your due diligence when helping first-time homebuyers find the rate that suits their longterm housing goals. Also remember that first-time homebuyers are new to this process, and while real estate transactions are complex in their own right, the borrowing and lending processes can be alienating in their complexity. As an agent, it’s your job to play intermediary and teacher, ensuring your clients know their options, are prepared to make an educated decision, and
feel confident that they’ve chosen correctly. Talk with your preferred mortgage partners to best outline options for your clients’ understanding, laying out a framework that’s informative, projected into the future, and allows them to feel empowered by knowledge.
All in all, working with first-time homebuyers can be an exciting and joyous occasion, as long as you’re adequately prepared for some hand-holding and instruction along the way. Aside from the enthusiasm of successful first-timers at the closing table, you’ll also enjoy the lasting benefit of strong referrals to their friends and family, many of whom will be shopping with you for their own first dream homes.
H
EATHER M ANSY
With nearly 40 years of award-winning sales experience, Top Agent Heather Mansy’s Mansy Real Estate Group is a powerhouse of expertise serving southwest Washington and northwest Oregon.
If you talk to Heather Mansy for even a few minutes, you’ll understand why she’s a force in the real estate world. With nearly 40 years of award-winning sales experience, Heather’s career has been defined by unwavering dedication to superior customer service and a commitment to mentoring the next generation of REALTORS®.
Her professional journey began when she was just 13. Out of necessity, she worked a
sales job to help out at home. “Even at that age,” she recalls, “I learned that if I spoke well and treated people kindly, I could help put food on the table.”
Heather’s early sales experience led her through successful careers in advertising and media before she transitioned to real estate in 2008. “Real estate had the best proand-con list compared to other options,” she says. It was this balanced approach to life
and career that allowed her to prioritize family, travel and work. By 2018, Heather’s drive led her to establish the Mansy Real Estate Group, a powerhouse of expertise serving southwest Washington and northwest Oregon. With 17 agents and a robust support staff, Heather’s team embodies her motto, “Service with Excellence,” as more than a slogan—it’s a shared core value. Today, this principle shapes everything they do, from their initial client meetings to the final closing.
Heather’s other motto is, “We keep the dream alive until we hand you the key.” She wants clients to know that she will bring the “full weight of all of my years in real estate” to get the deal to the closing table. Her commitment to client service extends beyond transactions as well. Heather’s team hosts annual events such as pumpkin-patch outings and Cinco de Mayo celebrations, designed not only to celebrate her clients but to maintain long-lasting relationships.
With 17 agents and a robust support staff, Heather’s team embodies her motto, “Service with Excellence,” as more than a slogan—it’s a shared core value.
Mentorship is Heather’s great passion. “I went from educating the public on real estate to mentoring agents, which is now my greatest joy,” she says. Her dedication to training is evident. Heather’s weekly training sessions aim to “collapse the learning curve,”—a testament to her dedication to excellence and growth. “My mother always said, ‘knowledge is power.’ I want my yearone agent to be at a year-three level.” She continues, “My job is to be the best coach I can be for all my agents, and the best
mentor. Then we can provide service with excellence at every stage of the transaction.” By empowering her agents, Heather accelerates their path to success and raises the bar for real estate in the region.
Now a certified real estate business coach and public speaker, Heather wants to empower others to pursue their path in business to excel in life. “Success is transformational, and the downstream effect of that to our children, our community, is
powerful. I see myself as a guide for others on that path.”
Heather is not only a real estate leader but also a dedicated advocate for the community. She has served on multiple boards, including a governor-appointed position on the board of Lower Columbia College, and as the Legislative Action Coordinator for the state’s 34 community colleges, traveling to DC and Olympia regularly to advocate for community college students, embodying her belief that “if you level up someone’s knowledge, you can transform their life.”
As for the future, Heather is optimistic, buoyed by what she sees as a shift in the real estate market’s energy. “Our current market is like a shaken soda bottle, with repressed activity waiting to be released,” she says. Her recent decision to form a branch office of eXp Realty and purchase a new office location in Vancouver, Wash., solidifies her vision for growth. By creating new profit-sharing opportunities and fostering a forward-thinking, collaborative environment, Heather continues to innovate, positioning her team as the premier real estate group in the region, recently
placing 10th in Washington State for Sales volume among EXP teams. “I want people who want to be part of something bigger than just a career.”
Heather Mansy stands at the forefront of the real estate industry as a powerful advocate, skilled mentor, and dedicated community leader. Her commitment to
“Keep the dream alive until we hand you the key” reflects a dedication to excellence that her clients and agents alike have come to trust. With her deep expertise, strategic vision, and genuine care for those she serves, Heather Mansy and the Mansy Real Estate Group continue to shape and elevate real estate in southwest Washington and northwest Oregon.
To reach Heather for help in Real Estate, public speaking, or to apply to join the team, contact her at (360) 953-3453, email heathermansy@mansyrealestategroup.com, or visit mansygroup.com
24-Hour Touch-ups to Maximize Your List Price
Sometimes it takes a full-scale overhaul to prepare a house for market. Other times, only a series of small adjustments are required to make a listing’s true potential shine. Whether you’re gearing up for an open house, assessing a list price, or maximizing a property’s appearance prior to photography—the devil is in the details. However, touch-ups and refreshes don’t have to dominate your schedule or break the bank. For a few ideas of where
to begin, consider our handy check-list below for quick home projects that will fortify your bottom line.
Refresh grout for a sparkling clean look.
Perhaps the quickest and most cost-effective way to make bathrooms, kitchens, and other tiled areas shine is to refresh grout until it looks
good as new. Specialty grout stain removers and cleaners are inexpensive and sold at most home improvement stores. Plus, the project only takes a bit of elbow grease and an hour or two for a major makeover effect. Suddenly, dark, stained, and worn-down bathrooms gleam as if tile has just been placed.
Create mood lighting with soothing bulbs and fixtures.
A warm white light from specially chosen LED bulbs creates a welcoming environment when potential buyers come calling. If outdated fixtures are bringing down a home’s otherwise modern styling, consider more design-neutral replacements that won’t
detract from the property’s charms. These are inexpensive but highly noticeable and impactful upgrades that shift a home’s ambiance for the better.
Repaint doors for an updated and inviting entryway.
It may sound like a hassle, but repainting doorways with a fresh coat signals a wellkept property—and that’s before prospective buyers even pass through the threshold. You can also change out generic doorknobs and switch-plates to add an updated flare while on a budget. Color-of-the-year trend choices can turn heads, while neutral paint choices signal less hassle for future homeowners.
Make windows shine— both inside and out.
Cleanliness goes a long way in communicating a well-cared for home in which buyers can imagine themselves. Cleaning the inside and outside of windows not only refreshes a room, but it allows light to infuse the space while appealing to the move-in ready crowd.
Closet spaces are not an afterthought.
Every prospective buyer wants storage options, and you’ve surely led a home tour where guests inspect closets and pantries. Don’t let these hidden spaces go overlooked. Make sure they’re clean, cleared as much as possible, and you can even touch them up with fresh paint, a good
scrub, or with the addition of new shelves or styled bulbs.
Remove tough appliance stains with a bit of elbow grease.
If you’re packaging appliances with the sale of a property, you’ll want to make sure those big-ticket items are also in top shape to showcase their value. Stainless steel polish, electric cooktop polish, and stain removing pads for the kitchen sink can make your appliances look five years younger with nothing more than an hour or two’s labor.
Organize garage and basement areas to maximize storage and hint at bonus space.
It may take a labor of love, but organizing and decluttering these special storage spaces
can add significant value to a property. Instead of telling prospective buyers how much storage space there is—let these areas speak for themselves by giving them a neutral, airy bout of cleansing. That way, craft-lovers, car aficionados, and buyers with interest in renovating basement areas can witness the potential immediately.
Individually, these bit to-do list items might seem like extra work without the promise of
a major return. But combined? These small tasks go a long way in crafting a home’s image and projecting pure potential. After all, prospective buyers imagine their lives unfolding inside those walls. That’s why cobbling together these small-scale projects can have a big payoff in the end. Not only will a home present itself in a cohesive, attractively-packaged form, but it can also translate to higher interest and a significant pay-off—in more ways than one.
USING CLIENT FEEDBACK TO ELEVATE YOUR REAL ESTATE BUSINESS
For real estate professionals, publishing your client testimonials is a key strategy for establishing trust, enhancing your reputation, and drawing in new clients. Through the strategic use of positive
client feedback, you can demonstrate your expertise and the exceptional value you offer in real estate transactions. Here are key strategies for maximizing the impact of real estate testimonials in your business:
Diversify Your Testimonials
Collect feedback from a broad spectrum of clients, such as first-time buyers, sellers, investors, and those facing unique challenges. This approach offers a comprehensive view of your capabilities.
Promptly Request Testimonials
Aim to obtain testimonials soon after closing a deal. Prompt timing ensures clients’ memories are fresh, enabling them to share detailed and impactful experiences.
Enhance Your Website with Testimonials
Develop a section on your website dedicated to client testimonials. Display them attractively, including clients’ names, photos, and specific transaction details if possible.
Utilize Testimonials in Marketing Efforts
Embed powerful testimonial excerpts in your marketing materials, including brochures and flyers, to catch the eye of prospective clients and underscore your track record.
Broadcast Testimonials on Social Media
Publicize your client feedback on social platforms, using engaging visuals or property photos to accompany the testimonials.
Innovate with Testimonial Videos
Elevate your client feedback with video testimonials. Short, engaging videos can make a lasting impression on potential clients by showcasing genuine satisfaction.
Incorporate Testimonials into Email Marketing
Utilize testimonials in your email campaigns to underscore your expertise and encourage engagement from potential clients.
Present Testimonials to Prospective Clients
Integrate client success stories into your presentations to illustrate your track record and reassure potential clients of your ability to deliver favorable results.
Feature Testimonials in Your Blog
Share client success stories in blog posts, integrating testimonials to lend credibility and a personal touch to your narratives.
Create Detailed Case Studies
With client consent, develop case studies that explore specific challenges and your successful interventions, offering deep insights into your problem-solving prowess.
Highlight Testimonials in Your Online Presence
Feature client testimonials in your profiles on key real estate and social media sites to bolster your online reputation and attract new clients.
Promote Third-Party Platform Reviews
Encourage clients to review your services on esteemed real estate platforms, enhancing your visibility and credibility.
Engage Through Testimonial Events
Host webinars or events where clients can share their experiences, providing a dynamic forum for potential clients to learn and interact.
Advertise with Testimonials
Use testimonials in your advertising campaigns to spotlight positive client experiences and foster trust with your target audience.
Keep Your Testimonials Current
Regularly refresh your testimonials to maintain relevance and demonstrate your continuous commitment to excellence and client satisfaction.
By strategically publishing real estate testimonials across various platforms and marketing channels, you can build a compelling narrative that resonates with potential clients. Authentic endorsements from satisfied clients serve as a powerful tool for establishing trust and differentiating yourself in a competitive real estate market.
