Statistically, the average Realtor® sells between 6 and 8 homes a year. Dionne Malush has had her sixth year of selling nearly 10 times that for her clients. The secret of her success, she said, is marketing, something that other Realtors can’t bring to the table like she can, and that is the topic of a chapter she co-authored in the new book, The New Rise in Real Estate.

“Basically, one of the keys to selling a home is aggressively marketing the home,” Malush said. “The days of a real estate agent just putting a ‘For Sale’ sign in the yard are gone. Marketing and knowing how to price your home are two of the most important factors.”

Graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1989, Malush, later, entered the real estate business with a flair for creativity and attention to detail that many others aren’t able to approach, and she uses her degree today to offer her clients great photography, better design and better aesthetics when it comes to their homes’ marketing materials. She has created an aggressive online marketing campaign as 92% of buyers search online now before ever driving down the street. It is too easy for the buyer to hit the NEXT button, so she utilizes the internet to her advantage. She also has incorporated social media into her marketing campaign which has really put her listings in front of many potential opportunities. You can friend her www.facebook.com/dionnerealtor

As for listing a home, Malush says, “Before my clients even take me on as their representative, I give them a presentation on pricing, marketing and show ability, so that we’re on the same page. Beyond that, I find that my clients appreciate my sense of humor and my willingness to listen to them to really hear their issues and what they’re looking for. It’s because of that that I tend to do really well with expired listings – the ones that have been listed by other companies and didn’t sell. People come to me to finish that stalled process.”

Malush has made a move to become an owner of Realty ONE Group in Pittsburgh. They are the #5 Real Estate Company in the US.

Dionne is the author of "25 Tips on Selling a Home in Pittsburgh".