Mark Meers, a lifelong resident of Will County, is approaching his 23rd year as a real estate agent. Mark thoroughly enjoys his occupation, and this becomes evident when you meet him. His clients describe him as honest, a hard worker, and committed to excellent customer service. These qualities, in conjunction with his in-depth knowledge of the market and effective negotiation skills, account for repeat customers and a referral rate upwards of 70 percent. “After 22 years,” he says, “I’m assisting some customers for the third time. Additionally, they are referring me to family members, co-workers, and friends. I’ve been able to earn their trust. That’s the foundation of my business.” Mark adapts his marketing methods to the type of home in the listing, first identifying the target audience for that particular home. “If it is a ranch house in an established neighborhood, I will focus the marketing to a specific buyer profile. If it is a five-bedroom, 3,700 square foot, two-story home in a school district people are gunning for, I will rely heavily on virtual tours with a description.” Mark utilizes websites and print advertising, relies on feature sheets, and hosts open houses.
When the transaction is complete, Mark is excellent at keeping in contact with his clients. His database contains every appointment since the year 2000. Each month, he utilizes a rotation to contact each former client. Because Mark lives in the community he serves, he often finds past clients at soccer games, the grocery store, and even social gatherings. “I embrace a fair amount of technology, but I am still old-school. I believe face-to-face contact will always be the most effective way to communicate with people.” Mark is happy when he earns the trust of his diverse clientele. “You can really impact someone’s life. It’s nice to be an integral part of helping your clients accomplish their goals.” Often when the sale of the real estate transaction is complete, Mark finds that he has gained a life-long friend.
As a side note, some might be surprised to learn that Mark was a highly competitive swimmer. He started competitive swimming at age 12 and continued through college at the University of Iowa, where he was team co-captain for two years. Since then, Mark continues to be a lap swimmer, swimming six to eight miles per week. He also does an occasional competition as well as the Swim Across America fundraiser for cancer research which he has been a part of since 1988!
When the transaction is complete, Mark is excellent at keeping in contact with his clients. His database contains every appointment since the year 2000. Each month, he utilizes a rotation to contact each former client. Because Mark lives in the community he serves, he often finds past clients at soccer games, the grocery store, and even social gatherings. “I embrace a fair amount of technology, but I am still old-school. I believe face-to-face contact will always be the most effective way to communicate with people.” Mark is happy when he earns the trust of his diverse clientele. “You can really impact someone’s life. It’s nice to be an integral part of helping your clients accomplish their goals.” Often when the sale of the real estate transaction is complete, Mark finds that he has gained a life-long friend.
As a side note, some might be surprised to learn that Mark was a highly competitive swimmer. He started competitive swimming at age 12 and continued through college at the University of Iowa, where he was team co-captain for two years. Since then, Mark continues to be a lap swimmer, swimming six to eight miles per week. He also does an occasional competition as well as the Swim Across America fundraiser for cancer research which he has been a part of since 1988!