Before she completed her college studies, Melanie Stern took a job as a copywriter for a prominent real estate company in Southern California. It is where she learned the art of writing property descriptions for sales listings, sparking her initial interest in the business. But it took more than 20 years working as a marketing and broadcast professional before she realized her background would serve a real estate career well. From advertising and editorial campaigns, in-depth research, social media, and photography, as well as set design, her work experiences provided a “pre-wire” for real estate marketing. It is about knowing how to engage consumers on an emotional level to the point of eliciting a response. Sure, she can set up an automated listing distribution for you. But it leaves room for other property choices that might get lost in the cracks of digital flaws. Melanie has a pet peeve about missed opportunities. While she encourages you to do your own online searches, she prefers to conduct her own manual listing searches, as well, based on your given criteria. It is how Melanie and her team ensure that no stone is left unturned. She became a real estate agent in Phoenix, also serving Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, and Queen Creek to serve others. This entails connecting with clients on a deeper level. It is not for the faint of heart. She has done deals in flat lackluster markets, the uncanny escalations after 9-11 and the subsequent fall in 2008, the listing of foreclosures, and back to the current status quo, always noting the lessons of the past as indicators of best practices for the future. Through it all, Melanie noticed something missing, and it is detrimental to our livelihood. Quality has taken a backseat to convenience. A quick click is favored to a long-winded discussion. In this change of consumer behavior spurs the rise of commonplace complacency. And then comes the anxiety. This is not just happening to other people; it can happen to you. Elevated stress lessens our ability to exercise patience, process information correctly, and plan for what happens next. Marriage. Life partnerships. Divorce. A growing family. Empty nesters. The passing of a loved one. A global pandemic. These circumstances will change the way you see your real estate. A Realtor must care about where you have been to better help facilitate where you are going. Life events, the good and the bad, bring about fear, uncertainty, and overwhelming thoughts. After her recent years’ work, in addition to real estate, writing for mental and behavioral health businesses, Melanie realized how personal history helps shape the way we see ourselves and how we react to what happens around us. This is the crux of what can keep a deal together or tear it apart. The numbers for buyers and sellers must make sense. But we cannot ignore the emotional rescue in each transaction. Often, it is the glue. She studied and obtained her CTSS, the Certified Trauma Support Specialist designation, to bring a higher level of care to the real estate clients she serves. This helps minimize stress, ease discomfort throughout the process, and provides more insights into identifying the right property characteristics for you.
