10 Questions With Mark Slade Of Keller Williams Real Estate

Mark Slade of Keller Williams Real Estate hopes to make every client a friend for life. With experience in not only real estate but also architecture and interior design, Mark covers all the bases and is making the home transaction process easier for both buyers and sellers.

Along with his impressive team, Mark closed almost 100 transactions totaling $44 million in 2018. Mark gives us the rundown on how loving what you do can make all the difference in your success.

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?

Mark: I have been a Realtor since late 2009, working for Keller Williams Midtown Direct Realty, LLC. After becoming the number one individual agent in the office in 2013, I started building my team. The team consists of a diverse group of people, and this is representative of the communities and clientele we serve. As a team, we are able to offer a range of specialties and areas of expertise.

Patch: What attracted you to the real estate field, and how did you get started?

Mark: Going back to my college days, I ended up majoring in economics and fine arts, and minoring in urban studies. I never would have thought that I was preparing myself all around to be the best type of Realtor I could be, but I did always love architecture and once considered becoming an architect. I even went to Parsons for interior design and also Harvard's Graduate School of Design for a summer program in architecture. Now I get to combine all my interests and skills as a Realtor, and I couldn't be happier.

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?

Mark: My mission is, "Changing Lives One Home at a Time."

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?

Mark: The biggest challenge is that, although this is ultimately a business transaction, buying or selling a home is something very personal. Clients often get emotional. Understanding their needs while working to move a transaction forward sometimes requires a balance between being a businessman and being a shoulder to lean on.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Mark: The most satisfying part of my job is when I get to take my buyer's pictures in front of their new homes and/or getting that lovely testimonial from a seller.

Patch: What sets you apart from other Realtors?

Mark: When it comes to the customer relationship, we care so much about our clients and make ourselves available 24/7/365, not only during the transaction but also after the transaction. We hope to make every client a friend for life. As for the point of difference between us and other Realtors, we have an edge in terms of offering technological services to make the home-buying process more understandable. We like to make it as easy as possible, from town-specific open house websites, over 350 domains set up as quick links, a blog that serves as a micro Wikipedia and a YouTube channel as a resource complete with instructional videos.

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?

Mark: LOVE WHAT YOU DO! I love what I do so much that it shows in my clients' testimonials, but I also teach and mentor Realtors on how to do a better job.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?

Mark: As a purveyor of marketing technologies, I am constantly looking for the next great app or service that will help make real estate transactions that much more enjoyable and easy. We are always working on new strategies and methodologies that range from simply providing booklets that help to explain the steps involved in a real estate transaction to offering up websites, apps and quicklinks to make the process smart, easy, and user-friendly.

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?

Mark: We are well known for our mission to "Give Back to the Communities We Serve." We sponsor everything from small school plays, to sports team boosters, to local events, wellness classes, etc. We also donate money to organizations like the YMCA and Inter Faith Hospitality Network to help less fortunate individuals through tough times (especially after once being someone who greatly benefited from my own challenging life experience back in 2008/9).

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

Mark: Give us a call or text us at 917-797-5059. Or visit one of these sites:

• http://www.goodhomesforgoodpeople.com/
• http://www.njluxhomes.com/
• http://www.unioncountyproperties.com/
• http://www.searchessexcounty.com/

Additionally, Mark was the agent selected out of a field of over 1,000 agents, to give the NY Times the Tour of Maplewood in 2014. Mark also coined the expression Brooklyn West, which he had made into custom license plates (pictured below).

Image Credit: Mark Slade

This Patch article is sponsored by Keller Williams Real Estate.