Certain agents epitomize hard work and determination. Marketa Pospisil, who entered real estate in 1998 as a 23-year-old immigrant, is one such agent. After just two years in the country with no sphere of influence, she worked her way up before struggling through the economic downturn and later reinvented herself. The proof is in the way Marketa provides great client service while simultaneously caring for the agents she encounters during transactions. “We REALTORS® need to treat each other well to create win-win situations for everyone,” she says. Factor in Marketa’s humor and blunt honesty, and clients or partners have an ally for life. A principal broker and agent with Better Homes and Gardens Realty Partners in the Portland, OR, area, Marketa loves getting to know people. “Every personality is different; I don’t try to mold myself into what I think people might want me to be.” She is herself, through and through. “I also insert humor. It brings down barriers, builds trust, provides opportunities to educate them about the process, and leads to smooth transactions.”

Marketa at first sought a role as a real estate assistant. But in her initial interview, the broker said, “I won’t hire you as an assistant, but I’ll mentor you; you’ve got what it takes to be an agent.” That mentor, Rex Rickard, pushed her to get her feet wet. “He had me do all the old-school things to prospect for clients. I did things most agents these days don’t enjoy or don’t practice regularly, like door-knocking; cold-calling; hosting open houses; calling for-sale-by-owners and expired listings,” she says. “I’m so glad he did that. It was the only way for me to get traction!” She also decided early on to get as much additional education as possible and obtained several industry designations.

An attitude of gratitude also propelled Marketa to success. If not for the support of her mentors who believed in her, she believes she would not be where she is right now, earning such trust with clients that 90% of her business comes from referrals. People like Rex, who sadly passed away three years ago, and Eric Post, who owns the office she currently works for, saw promise in Marketa. “I have tremendous respect for Eric. I joke that when I grow up I want to be Eric Post!” Marketa’s gratitude for clients also resonates. She recently heard from a couple whose house she sold 12 years ago. “They’ve moved a lot, but remembered me and called from Japan,” she says. Marketa sold them a waterfront condo for their now-grown son. “It was fantastic to know I left a good impression and they sought me out again.”

Although she is beginning to take advantage of her office’s CRM program, face-to-face and natural communication come most naturally to Marketa, whether through client appreciation parties or social media. “I engage with everyone on my personal Facebook page, not a business page. If someone posts that they need and HVAC guy or have a fundraiser for a good cause, I help them without hesitation.” Marketa’s mission of creating “Raving Fans” feels complete when people leave comments on her personal page, she’s “the best REALTOR® on the planet” or “awesome in dealing with us crazy buyers.”

She’s also awesome with listings. “I treat every listing equally, whether a $200,000 or $2 million,” she says, describing her printed marketing materials, heavy online and social media presence, professional photography, slide shows, and video and drone photography. On each sign, she incorporates various ways of reaching her or learning about the listing, such as business-card-sized “mini house cards”, glossy flyers and a PermaFlyer with QR code. “Our listings are everywhere, no matter the type or price.”

Marketa, too, is everywhere. An expert in the Tri-County area, she happily goes wherever her referrals take her. The future holds continued growth for Marketa, who is finalizing plans to roll out an innovative networking business to link community members with necessary services. “I have a great team of partners,” she says, “Nothing builds rapport and repeat business better than surrounding yourself with like-minded, trusted professionals such as a good mortgage broker and escrow officer who support work ethic and customer experience.”

To learn more about Marketa Pospisil, visit
RealEstatePuzzle.com,
email Info@RealEstatePuzzle.com or call 503.267.1395.