EXECUTIVEAGENT MAGAZINE
HEATHER & MARK
STEVENSON Executive Agents of the Month
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HEATHER & MARK
STEVENSON Written by Haley Freeman - Ian Wiant Photographer
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ogether, Heather and Mark Stevenson are a force of nature. Their high energy, breadth of industry knowledge and ability to connect authentically with people make them some of the most celebrated professionals in the industry. They bear the one, truly defining mark of successful people – they can suffer setbacks without losing their enthusiasm! Heather grew up in a real estate family. With a father who is a successful real estate developer, and a mother
who was a Realtor® specializing in the sale of new home developments, as well as an interior designer, it is no surprise that Heather learned the family business and made her own mark as a leader in new home sales with three different home builders. She repeatedly exceeded sales records while finding ways to increase corporate efficiency, finally earning herself a seat in the vice president’s chair. Mark studied exercise science at Arizona State University and set out to help others be their best selves as fit and healthy individuals. Early in their marriage, however, Heather and Mark experienced the tragic loss of their first child to a genetic disease, epidermolysis bullosa. They were blessed with two more children, a son and a daughter, but once again, fate handed them an unexpected challenge. Their son, Caleb, was diagnosed with moderate-to-severe autism at the age of 3, so Heather and Mark made the decision for Mark to remain at home as the full-time family caregiver. Mark embraced his calling and put his professional training to an unanticipated use, taking care of Caleb and being present to supervise his ABA therapy. Eventually, the demands of caring for Caleb lessened, and Mark went back to his profession as a personal trainer. A genuine people person with a love for helping others reach their goals, Mark also loved real estate. “When I was in new home sales, he’d want to go out on the weekend to look at open houses,” Heather remembers. “She’d joke with me, ‘You know, you can actually get paid to do that,’” Mark says. “Even today, Heather jokes with me because I like looking at the MLS. I’d rather do that than watch TV.” A Championship Team So, Heather and Mark devised a plan to build their own real estate business. While Mark got his real estate license, Heather began building a website and developed a marketing plan. Finally, on November 1st, 2010, Heather executed their plan and left her corporate position to join Mark to build a real estate empire. Their mission was simple, and their success was immediate. The clients’ needs always come first and foremost in their day-to-day operation. In their first year, they closed 25 transactions. “I thought that was terrible, since I was used to new homes where we sold 2000+ homes a year,” Heather says.
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The duo went on to build an award-winning team, leveraging Heather’s experience and contractor’s licenses (both A and B) along with Mark’s phenomenal people and sales skills. By 2013, they were recognized in the top ½ of one percent of all real estate agents nationwide, closing a staggering 107 homes that year! A New Challenge Introduces Itself They were on track for another record-breaking year in 2014, when misfortune again disrupted their welllaid plans. Mark had been at an open house all day, but came home believing he had a groin pull. By the next day, Heather was rushing him to the hospital, where they learned that Mark had a life-threatening blood clot. Always healthy and committed to fitness, this diagnosis was in conflict with both Mark’s personal identity and previous experience, as he had never been seriously ill during his lifetime. After his body betrayed him, Mark spent many months submitting to treatment both in and out of the hospital. But their community of friends, colleagues and clients stood unitedly with them, offering support, encouragement and assistance wherever they could. The couple chose to share their ordeal on Facebook, hoping to be a source of inspiration to others in similar circumstances. In spite of these challenges, Heather and Mark closed 54 transactions in 2014, more than a house every week! In addition, they consistently received 5-star reviews from their clients, earning them a ranking in the top 1% of agents in the nation by Trulia. The Stevenson Team are a part
of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and won the Coldwell Banker President’s Circle Award in 2014. Their office is in Yorba Linda and led by their branch manager, Brad Pearson. “I’ve known and respected Heather and Mark Stevenson for several years before they affiliated with Coldwell Banker,” Brad says. “They’re reputation for massive customer satisfaction, professionalism, as well as their consistent ranking as one of the top real estate teams made them a perfect match for the Coldwell Banker brand. As their manager, I have been extremely impressed with their high level of success in our office, and I consistently receive positive reviews from their extremely happy clients! It is a pleasure working with them on a daily basis, as they epitomize the term excellence when it comes to everything they do in their business practices.” “Our decision to work at Coldwell Banker is one of the best decisions we have made,” Heather says. “The marketing and support that we receive is unparalleled, and we are honored to be a part of one of the most respected real estate brands in the real estate industry. They truly care about our success and are vested in our future.” Jamie Duran, Coldwell Banker President for Southern California, stated, “The Stevenson Team is truly a powerhouse of energy, execution and skill. They are masters in digital, online and social media marketing. Heather and Mark honor our brand and company with their association, stellar reputation and professionalism.”
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“NEVER GIVE UP” Words of Wisdom It is said that you learn who people really are when you meet them during times of adversity. Heather and Mark have consistently not just survived life’s challenges, they have excelled in spite of them. They have stood together when others would have been broken apart, giving testament to their mutual character and commitment to shared values. Clients are drawn to them for their integrity and shoulder-to-shoulder dedication to customer service. “Mark has amazing people skills,” Heather says. “People meet him and instantly love working with him. His love language is acts of service. He will kill himself to make sure he gets the job done for someone, and he has a great sense of humor.” “I think Heather’s overall knowledge of real estate and the marketing aspects of the industry are her greatest strengths.” Mark says. “She’s definitely fearless. I’ve learned that if she feels she can do it, then I’m not going to stand in the way.”
Sometimes, life requires that we take a step back in order to move forward. Over the past year, Heather and Mark have chosen to simplify their business model, scaling back the size of their team to create a more streamlined system. Their team includes Thelma Morales, who speaks fluent Spanish, and James Mulyadi, who speaks Mandarin. Christina Clark is their full-time assistant, as well as the office manager, making sure everything happens smoothly and their clients have the best experience. Heather explains, “Instead of a big team, we want to keep it lean and mean and bring people on who fulfill specialized niches. We spend over $10,000 a month on marketing, and we are determined to take what we’ve learned and make 2015 our best year ever. We want to increase our current referral business from 40 percent in 2014 to over 50 percent for 2015 (the industry average is less than 20%). We know that our clients are the reason we get up every morning. We want raving fans, and for them to have the best experience possible.”
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Raving Fans Indeed The Stevenson Team’s clients are extremely happy and have boasted about their experience in social media and via online reviews. With over 40 reviews online and 1500 people following them in social media, it is clear that they really care about their clients.
for him by his teammates and coach, Jaz Myerly, and described by The Press-Enterprise as “a double tight end set with the 10 biggest and best players in the lineup to block as Stevenson attempted to score.” In addition, Caleb is now considered high-functioning and has excelled due to their focus on his needs in the early years.
A client who used the Stevenson Team to sell their home in 2014 had this to say, “I knew Heather Stevenson from working with her in the new home industry and was excited to see if her talents in that space translated to resale. From the moment I met Heather onsite to review my property, I was extremely impressed. Her energy and passion, coupled with her knowledge of the local area, were second to none. Her professionalism in having a distinct marketing plan already in mind for our home was impressive. Her grasp of local values and tactics to make sure our home sold in a brisk time frame was impressive.”
“Never give up – that’s our motto,” Heather says. “I know it sounds simple, but it is very true. Life can be a struggle, but getting up every day with the right mindset is the key to success and happiness.” “Our clients’ needs and satisfaction rule what we do each and every day,” says Mark. “If that ever is no longer our focus, then that is when we need to stop selling real estate and go into another career. Do the right thing for the right reason, and everything will work out.”
Another, who purchased in 2014, said, “Our experience was amazing! Heather and Mark were there for us every step of the way, and their team was there for us no matter what happened. I was extremely comfortable and would highly recommend them to my family and friends!”
“You learn not to take the little things for granted,” Heather says. “You realize what is a priority in life – it’s easy to lose sight of that when you’re ambitious about work. You have to stop and smell the roses, enjoy family dinners, and never take for granted every day that you wake up healthy.”
The Lessons Learned Together, Heather and Mark have learned that where you are in life is largely a matter of perspective. When their son, Caleb, was born and then diagnosed with autism, they never dreamed that he would be playing football in a high school of over 4,000 students. Or that he would score a touchdown on a 3-yard run in a play designed especially
According to Mark, “Life’s challenges may change your perspective, but not necessarily change your goals. You may just have to find a different way of achieving them. I am glad every day I wake up and get to be a real estate agent. It is my dream job. I really believe in the old adage that says if you love what you do you will never work a day in your life.”
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Heather Stevenson & Mark Stevenson Coldwell Banker Previews International 21580 Yorba Linda Blvd. Yorba Linda, CA 92887 Tel: 714-749-2179 - 951-496-9340 Heather@thestevensonteam.com Mark@thestevensonteam.com www.TheStevensonTeam.com CalBRE # 01478413 - 01896951
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