Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Marbet. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Ashley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Showing clients you appreciate them is something I think most folks want to do – but it’s not always clear how to do it in a meaningful way. What’s one of the best examples of client appreciation you can share with us?

To me it’s the little things. One thing that I have incorporated into my daily routine is writing handwritten notes. There is nothing like the art of a handwritten note or going through your mail and finding a letter addressed to you. We all live busy lives so it really says something to me when someone sits down and takes the time to put their thoughts to paper.

Another kind gesture that I appreciate and try to practice is gift giving. If a friend or client is celebrating a milestone, or dealing with a difficult situation, a personal gift is a great way to bring a little joy to their day. It doesn’t have to be grand. A couple weeks ago I gifted a friend a flower arrangement that looked like dog. It was the silliest thing and we both shared a good laugh over it!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida and have a deep appreciation for community, historic architecture and design. While I can service anyone with their real estate needs, I specialize in marketing historic or architecturally significant properties to highlight their charm while using modern-day marketing to attract the perfect buyer.

My joy for real estate sparked 10 years ago when I purchased my first ranch home in Allendale Terrace. As a native to the area, I pride myself on knowing the area only as a local can with it’s hidden gems and what makes each area neighborhood special. Since most of the homes in our neighborhoods were built between 1920s – 1970s part of my expertise is preparing a home for market, educating home buyers for what to expect when owning a home of this era or what to expect when purchasing in a historic district.

Everyday I wake up feeling fortunate to be in this role and serve my community. I have a genuine passion for real estate and supporting my clients, which translates to the services I provide to facilitate a smooth transaction, educate, and take some off the stress of the process to make it a memorable experience. My highest priority is to get to know my clients on a personal level to develop a strong relationship, listen to their needs and offer the highest level of service for their unique real estate needs.

This year, I am proud co-leader of the Women’s Business League, Tampa Chapter and look forward to building relationships with women in business in the Tampa Bay area.

How did you build your audience on social media?

The greatest advice I can give for social media is to have fun with it! When I first started my instagram looked more like a mood board than an actual real estate page. I had a lot of initial engagement because people genuinely enjoyed looking at beautiful historic homes and Old Florida inspiration. Unintentionally, I was building my brand identity and quickly learned that to build an audience or create engagement, you have to provide value to others.

I posted a reel about the history of the “Pink Streets” in St. Petersburg. This is one of the oldest neighborhoods in St. Petersburg and pink dye has been added to the concrete to create these beautiful wide pink streets. It was video of my boots walking on the concrete, maybe a 6 second video, and was hesitant to post it because I thought most people wouldn’t find it interesting or already knew about it. To my surprise, over the course of a week it got 130,000 views and everyone was sharing stories of growing up there or couldn’t believe these streets were in the city they lived. Don’t overthink it! Share what you enjoy and those that appreciate those same things will find you.

Lastly, I would say genuinely engaging with those in your community is a great way to build your social media. Comment on your favorite small business posts, show appreciation to other people in your industry and use it as a way to go to know other people.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Do the right thing when no one is looking. Real estate can be a cut-throat industry. I have been fortunate to work with many experienced and professional agents and on the other side of it, you encounter agents that clearly don’t have the clients best interest at heart.

At this point a majority of my business comes from my personal contacts, referrals and word-of-mouth. I feel I have built this reputation by being 100% transparent and honest with my clients. If you’re buying a historic home or waterfront home — I will advise you to get a very thorough inspection and to understand what type of maintenance, expenses, taxes and insurance costs you’re facing. I set the expectations upfront and take the time to do our due diligence. By doing the right thing, I have created relationships with clients that has resulted in friendships, repeat business and referrals.

Education is another great way to build your reputation as the expert in your industry. I’m a forever learner. At the moment I am taking the course to get my broker license. I am involved in local government serving on the Community Planning and Historic Preservation Commission and keep current with local news and legislation regarding our industry. I’m involved in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and take classes at my local board, Pinellas Realtor Organization. There are tons of resources out there. Get involved, be the subject matter expert in your craft and share your knowledge with those around you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ashleymarbet.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleymarbet
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleymarbetrealtor
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleymarbet