Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Natalie Hanna. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Natalie, appreciate you joining us today. Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?
I believe support from friends and family is earned. When I started out, I was only 22 and I looked like a teenager! Everyone knew I was a brand new agent which made it hard for people to trust me just yet. Which I get – who wants to hire someone new to the business? I faced constant rejection all the time. Also, asking people to support my business has always been awkward for me! I never want to constantly nag the people I know and love for business. Also, people may be closer with other agents or never want to work with friends or family at all – that’s okay. That’s something we as real estate agents just have to accept as part of the business. I’ve learned that you can’t ever expect friends or family to support your business, but you can work to earn their support!
To do this, I took a knowledge-based approach. I started using social media to prove my knowledge and expertise. I started sharing success stories, reviews, my transactions, information, and helpful tips. People would complement my social media when they’d see me and began to trust me over time. Along with social media, I started having serious conversations with everyone I know about real estate rather than directly asking for business. I provide advise to people all the time and let them pick my brain about the market. I love talking about real estate! I was able to show how much knowledge I have and in time, this helped me earn that trust from friends and family to get those referrals.
When friends and family use me as their agent or send me a referral, I am extremely grateful! I strive to do the absolute best job I possibly can for them because I’m just so thankful for their support. This is another thing I believe is so important. A lot of people think when you use a friend for a service, they’ll slack off. I want people to know with me this will NEVER be the case.
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 got into Real Estate in 2020. I was 22, we were in a global pandemic, and I had just been laid off from my first job out of college in the Interior Design industry. I moved back home to Pittsburgh from Florida and I was feeling very lost. I had a lot of time on my hands to think about what I really wanted out of life. I was looking for a change that would better my future. I always wanted to work for myself just like my parents did. My parents had a successful business, so that really inspired me to be my own boss one day. I began taking on freelance Interior Design work designing people’s homes who wanted to renovate. Then one day I thought, what if I sold them their houses too then we worked together remodeling them? Real Estate was something I was always around when I worked in Interior Design, so I had a lot of transferable skills. I love talking to clients and helping people, so I love that aspect of Real Estate. When I started really working in Real Estate, I realized I loved it even more than Interior Design. So I decided to become a full-time Real Estate Agent.
Something that sets me apart is my attention to detail. With my design knowledge, I can certainly help you figure out how you’re going to build or renovate your new house. If you’re a seller, I know how to give your home the best possible presentation on the market so it stands out and I can get you the best deal possible.
Another thing I want people to know about me is that I provide a high standard of service to my clients. This is something instilled in me by my business-owning parents. They taught me to focus on taking care of people first and the business will follow. I value long-term client relationships over single transactions. My goal is to be your go-to real estate professional forever!
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Social media! Tik Tok and Instagram are a great way to engage with people you already know, meet new clients, and network with other agents in different cities for referrals. I treat my social media like a resume by providing helpful information about real estate and my city. I also post fun content that I love to watch as a way to attract new followers. I love connecting with new people over social media and I have a lot of fun making my content! I’ve met some really cool, interesting people and have a great referral network for when I have clients moving out of Pittsburgh to a new city or state.
What’s great about social media is when clients approach you, they’ve already decided to work with you and trust you. They may have looked at a few other accounts, but they chose you! They also maybe have some of the same interests you do and you can really connect with them!
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Being as organized as possible with both my business and my clients. My company provides agents with an amazing CRM so we can keep track of all our leads, their info, what they’re looking for, and make sure to follow up with them when we need to. I provide helpful guides to my clients so they understand the entire process and feel comfortable. I have email templates that I send out at every point in the transaction so I can keep my clients on top of everything. When I provide an organized, easy-to-understand process for my clients, they’re so happy they send me referrals – which grow my clientele!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @pittsburgh_realestateagent