Interview with Wendy Wiltz – Real Estate Agent

She’s a true visionary when it comes to helping clients create the perfect scenario for their goal in mind whether it’s buying or selling.

New Orleans, LA

Exp Realty

Wendy Wiltz | wendywiltz_realtor | Wendy Wiltz | ywiltz.exprealty.com

What inspired you to start in real estate and how did you motivate yourself to keep going?

When I purchased my own home, it was a seamless transaction. However, I didn’t rely on my Realtor® for much information. I had already done a lot of research on my own and was confident it was going to be a great move for myself and my daughter. It was through my conversations with friends purchasing homes that I realized there is a lot of gray area for someone either unprepared or not as knowledgeable about the process. I began sharing my experience and was able to provide helpful information to increase the confidence of others within their own homebuying journey. I then realized this was something I had a natural passion for. What keeps me going is knowing there will always be someone that is in need to create a better situation for themselves. To know I can have a hand in that is such a rewarding feeling.

Comparing your business from back then to now, what has been the main thing that allowed you to expand your business?

Keeping in touch with my own sphere of influence in regards to real estate has allowed me to expand my business. Whenever I speak to someone I like to provide value to our conversation, discuss trends, news, and ask about their upcoming plans regarding real estate ventures. It also makes them aware that my commitment extends far beyond showing up at the closing table. As a result, I received repeat business from clients as well as referrals in and out-of-state.

What’s the most profitable aspect of your business, why do you think this is and how can others apply this to what they are doing?

Marketing is the most profitable aspect of my business. I obtained a Master’s Degree in Business and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing long before I knew I would pursue a career as a Realtor®. But because of it I realize it’s necessary to utilize more than one avenue of marketing when it comes to reaching potential clients. Pay close attention to the results and repeat what works for your brand! Keep in mind not all results will be immediate.

When did you realize you were successful/made it and how did you feel/celebrate?

I realized I was successful when other Realtors® of different brokerages started coming to me for advice and help. Sometimes it was regarding transactions, others it was in regards to marketing or social media efforts. I knew then that my work was speaking for itself. I consider it a compliment and am truly grateful when someone asks for my input.

What should other real estate entrepreneurs reading this be focusing on to expand their own business?

Take the time to plan your marketing. Don’t market on a whim. Identify your goal, know who your audience is and target them through an effective channel.

How has social media and online marketing affected your real estate business? How much more success have you had now after implementing social media and online marketing efforts?

I can honestly say that I have gained majority of my clients from social media platforms that I participate in. I became licensed during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, so the opportunity to hand someone my business card in person was non-existent. The city had shut down all non-essential businesses. Of course I first contacted everyone I knew, whom I had a working phone number for via phone. But because there was no option to attend events and reconnect with previous acquaintances, I relied heavily on social media to announce I was a Realtor® and to create relationships with vendors, partners, and prospective clients. I consistently set aside time to plan content and campaigns for social media. It may be my most profitable form of advertising yet and it’s completely free!

Did You Experience Failures? If So, What Did You Learn From Them?

I have experienced failure. I once accepted a listing from a seller who was unrealistic about the actual value of the property and thought because it was a seller’s market it could sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars above value despite its condition. I treated the listing like any other. I obtained professional photographs, held open houses, and marketed online and in print publications. In the end it was money and time invested that produced no return. From this I learned that it’s okay to turn down a listing that is not likely to sell. If I don’t place value on my own time, how can I expect anyone else to? Nevertheless, it was a lesson learned and I wouldn’t take back the opportunity to have learned from it.

What do you consider the main differences between those people who have been successful in your industry and those who have failed?

I consider consistency the key between those who have been successful and those who have failed. Working in Real Estate can not be seasonal. You have to consistently work on building relationships and providing value to those relationships. You also have to produce a good quality image of your brand. People often make decisions based from what they have seen first, before you can even give them your sales pitch.