No matter how much things change, people want to work with someone who listens to them, who is knowledgeable and who knows how to get things done.
John Mentis, of Long & Foster Real Estate in Arlington, was attracted to real estate because he saw that the rewards would be commensurate with the effort he put in. He could set his own schedule, and there would be a constant demand for buying and selling property. He celebrates 20 years in the industry this year, and approximately 550 successful transactions.
“I find that the amount of effort I put into my work today is greater and more intense than when I started,” he says. “Today’s consumers have more real estate knowledge, and the market has become more competitive. Control over my schedule has gotten more challenging with advances in technology that allow us to be in touch anywhere, anytime.”
No matter how much things change, people want to work with someone who listens to them, who is knowledgeable and who knows how to get things done. Mentis considers real estate to be like any small business, in which success comes from delivering great service in any type of market so that clients keep coming back. His clients and other agents feel so strongly about his expertise and manner that over 90% of his annual business is from repeat clients and their referrals.
“The greatest satisfaction I get from being in this business,” he says, “is helping clients shift their mindset from doubt to confidence, seeing the proverbial light bulb go off as they realize they can achieve their goals with my help.”