Speaker: Mark Kotch, Compass • Pleasanton, CA
How many years have you been an SRES® designee, and what inspired you to earn the designation?
Mark Kotch: I've been a SRES® Since April of 2013, and what inspired me to become an SRES® is that over 90% of my database, my clients, are over the age of 50. Like me, they're getting old, and I saw it as a great way to better connect with them to help with their real estate needs.
Do you have any other designations or certifications? If so, which ones?
Mark Kotch: The other certification I have is an e-PRO®. I got that early in my business. As everything was changing, Social media was becoming more important the power of email and video to be able to communicate with clients. I wanted to make sure that I was doing the best job I could for my clients and that I understood the current technology that was available. So I also have my e-PRO®.
How do you actively promote real estate options for seniors?
Mark Kotch: I actively promote the real estate options for seniors. Several ways, I try to meet with my client base at least once a year to sit down to do kind of a real estate review kind of look at where they're at. And what makes sense in the next coming year for them? Is the house getting too big? Is the house getting too small or are the bedrooms upstairs? They need something downstairs, Do they need to downsize? So I have that conversation with them once a year. I also use a lot of the Moving on Guide, which is a brochure from SRES® and I have a feature on the back with my information on it, and I use that at open houses. So I'm always constantly trying to keep in front of my people and my client base, past clients, that I'm an SRES® And I can help them in their transitions.
What is your favorite aspect of working with seniors?
How do you use the SRES® marketing materials or member benefits in your business?
Mark Kotch: as I said earlier, I used the Moving On Guide to be able to connect with my clients. That piece of literature I could not reproduce. For the cost that SRES® charges me, and I can use the back of it. It's well written. It's well done. It is first class. I use it at open houses. I use it during my real estate reviews when I meet my seniors for lunch or coffee. I use them during listing presentations. If I'm working with a senior on buying, I also use it then. So that is a great piece of literature. The other thing that I have found very helpful is the SRES® newsletter. The SRES® Professional. Early in the year it had talked about a podcast for seniors. So I've invested in doing a podcast now for my seniors and I try to have a guest every time I do one because they don't want to just listen to me. So I've had people who talk about since the market has changed how that affects them, Getting your house ready, I plan on having a real estate attorney. Home inspectors, pest inspectors, that's an upcoming podcast that I will be doing. The newsletter also challenges me to do different things in my business. And so far the materials have just been awesome. The information is awesome. The suggestions have been awesome and I've seen great deal of impact on my business in a very positive way
