ICONic Talk: Recent Episodes
ICON Real Estate
Join Mark Francis and Nici Hoffman as they chat about their local community, real estate, all things Winchester, Virginia!
Mark reflects on the history of the Labor Day holiday and also spotlights the top 5 organizations in the Winchester/Frederick County area and how they help strengthen our community.
Local event links:
Hungry for History:
https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/hungry-for-history-food-history-event/
Patsy Cline Block Party:
https://visitwinchesterva.com/event/patsy-cline-block-party/
Mark has local football expert, Josh Kirby, in the studio to chat about the upcoming season of our local high school football teams, giving run downs of each team along with some predictions.
Mark chats with local appraiser, William Orth, to get his take on the status of how the real estate market is in our local region.
Mark chats with the owner of True North Group, Tom Stamulis, as he shares practical tips to protect yourself and your business from cyberspace criminals.
Mark welcomes back Megan into the co-host seat as they chat about ideal ways to “interview” a realtor to ensure they are a good match and will get the job done for you!
Jon Eye from Mover Dudes shares tips on how to best coordinate a large move from one house to another, while Madison shares an announcement of a move herself.
Mark and Madison find the positives in the stats for the 2023 year so far as they give their take on our current real estate summer market.
Mark and Madison chat with West Oaks Farm & Market family member, Levi Snapp, who shares the story and the vision behind the creation of the marketplace as we know it today.
Listen to a conversation that Mark had over 18 months ago with local attorneys, Doug McCarthy and Matthew Akers, as they unpack all of the behind-the-scenes details that goes into a real estate closing - plus get fresh upcoming local event promotions for this coming weekend of July 8-9.
Mark and Madison reminisce about the first 100 episodes of ICONic Talk and also answer questions from the listening audience.
Mark and Madison chat with Operations Manager of National Settlement Services, Zach Hoopes, as he breaks downs ideas of how to go above and beyond providing value to customers in order to grow business, specifically with a quality social media presence.
Mark shares his thoughts on the value of living every day like it’s your last…and reminds us all to embrace Father’s Day this coming weekend.
Guest co-host, Madison Kilmer, asks Mark questions about what it means to be a real estate broker and how a broker can help shape the success of agents.
Ross Lehman joins Mark and Megan to share his strategies of how to build wealth in owning investment properties one house at a time.
Mark and Megan share their thoughts on Thanksgiving and give insights on current market as we lead into the holiday season.
Key Question/Theme/Fact/Quote: “I had family members on the Mayflower who became one of the first couples in America” - Mark
Mark and Megan meet with Noelle Callas of “Super Splasher Aquatics Swim School” as they hear how she has become the premier swimming instructor in the region.
Key Question/Theme/Fact/Quote: What are Mark and Megan thankful for this week?
Mark and Megan chat with VP of Recruitment and Chief Creative Officer of Shenandoah University, Scott Spriggs, as he discusses the relationship and partnership that SU brings to the local Winchester community.
Mark and Megan get a chance to take a look behind the scenes in the Frederick County Planning and Zoning department by chatting with Wyatt Pearson and John Bishop from that office.
Mark and Megan chat about the unique history of Winchester and share details about some of the older homes and locations in the area.
Mark and Megan break down the age old question of whether it makes sense or not to hold an open house when trying sell your home.
Mark and Megan reminisce on what it’s like to be a local business owner - the highs and the lows!
Mark shares the current stats of the area’s real estate market…what do the numbers say? Listen for the details!
Mark and Megan have a conversation about the rental process - both from a tenant perspective and a landlord perspective.
Mark and Megan learn about the opportunity FASST offers to student athletes, sports teams, and even parents to enhance their athletic performance as they chat with owner, James Frisby.
Mark and Megan share their personal stories of what brought them to Winchester and what caused them to stay when other opportunities to relocate were possible.
Mark and Megan break down the process of selling home home, including how to alleviate stresses, concerns, and challenges that may prevent you from making that momentous decision!
Mark and Megan hear a powerful story from Winter Brooks, the local chapter representative of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention organization, where they discuss suicide awareness and how to support our local community.
Mark and Megan have an engaging conversion with Josh Hummer, a local estate and elder law attorney, where he unpacks his care for our community through his legal services.
Mark and Megan break down the steps it takes to buy a home in a way that can put your mind at ease when the time is right for you!
Mark and Megan share stories of the areas of town where they’ve lived and give insights on other neighborhoods that stand out in the area.
Mark and Megan catch up on life and also describe the benefits of working for a company that promotes teamwork and helping one another out.
Mark has a couple of guests from the ICON Real Estate world, Mike Sprague and Zoe Ackerman, as they discuss the idea of "relational marketing" and how social media can best be utilized to promote a local business in a personal way.
Mark and Megan chat with the partners from the accounting firm of Hottel and Willis, as they share some tips for buyers and sellers to help prep for tax season.
Mark and Megan unpack their week and share stories of recent appraisal dilemmas and how to best navigate those somewhat confusing waters!
Mark and Megan chat with local musician, Jim Snedeker, as he helps gives some insight to the musical world around the Shenandoah Valley.
Mark and Megan reflect on the current status of the real estate market - Is it slowing? Is it in decline? Should I wait to buy? Listen for all the answers and more with this episode!
Mark and Megan chat with long-time home photographer, Matt Lofton, as they chat about the craft of making homes look their best through the skill of photograph…along with a few local insights thrown in the mix, as well!
Mark and Megan connect once again to chat about the unique qualities of this ICONic Talk podcast along with some real life scenarios of how to get max values out of your listing.
Mark and Megan chat with Elizabeth Albert of Shenandoah Summer Music Theater where she shares all the details of this coming season’s shows, including all kinds of behind-the-scenes fun facts!
Mark and Megan catch up since the previous episode to unpack local news, share some personal stories, and the describe the challenge buyers face with the decision to ask for home inspections with offers in today’s market.
Mark and Megan get a chance to sit down with Ross Lehman from Integrity Home Mortgage Corporation to discuss the rise in interest rates and the impact to home buyers.
Mark chats with guest host, Megan Eanes, once again to recap last week’s Apple Blossom Festival along with looking forward to Mother’s Day this coming Sunday.
Mark is joined by his real estate colleague, Megan Eanes, who brings a wealth of knowledge in both the foreclosure and short sale process, and they discuss similarities/differences of today’s market verses the mid-2000’s.
Mark shares what’s new in his world, and the town of Winchester is anticipating a full Apple Blossom festival once again!
Get a chance to meet a true “townie” who shares her passion for the local businesses as well as her passion for the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, as Mark chats with Della DeHaven.
Mark and Nici cover a variety of topics, everything from sharing the latest trends in the Winchester real estate market to unpacking the pop-culture news that has social media buzzing!
Join us as we chat with Becky McGraw about Habitat’s new “Aging in Place” program and how it can benefit the local community.
Mark and Sarah host this week’s episode where we will hear from Jeremy Linaburg of Wholesome Media as he dives deep into the world of social media networking and marketing.
For the first time in studio together, Mark, Sarah, and Nici get together to talk about local happenings and real estate market trends. Take a listen to see what’s going on as we get close to entering a hot spring real estate market!
Mark gets a chance to chat with Trae Tinsman from TNT Landscaping to help you learn how to prepare your yard for the spring…and also hear a personal story from a client who experienced the ups and downs of the crazy real estate market, Denise Steyaert.
Mark and Nici get a chance to reunite and have a fun chat with a “hidden gem” of Winchester - a local “escape room” in downtown Winchester and its owner, Ariel Sloan.
Hear from local staging and designer professional, Elizabeth Moseley, with E-Decor. Listen to how staging helps sellers and buyers in real estate and commercial sales. Stay on trend with all the design trends and hear tips on how to hire her services to help transform your spaces.
Learn how to connect your business with hundreds of others, as Mark and Sarah chat with Hannah Stewart, the Membership Development Specialist from the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Mark and Sarah Abderrazzaq get a chance to chat with Melissa Kauffmann from Vostrikov’s Academy of Ballet and learn about how they bring the art of Russian ballet (and more) to our town of Winchester.
Join us this week to hear from ICON Real Estate’s own Matt Kilmer. Matt is sharing how he has grown his real estate business over the last 3 years and how he utilizes social media to stand out from the crowd!
Mark briefly chats about the state of the market in Winchester for buyers along with a few other ICON updates.
Mark gets a chance to have a chat with Brandon Thomas of the Winchester Rescue Mission to gain a better understanding of the homeless community in our local area.
Join us as we chat real estate and all things Winchester, VA. This episode we’re catching up, recapping 2021, and breaking down some predictions for the real estate market in the coming year. You’re gonna want to listen to this one! We’re excited to see what 2022 holds for our community! If you’re thinking of buying or selling in 2022 this is a must-listen.
We welcome Joel Yocca of Absolute Altitude Aerial Productions to talk about the rise of drone videography and photography in real estate and the other services his business offers to help realtors market homes, as well as helping entrepreneurs and small businesses market themselves!
Join us this week as we sit down with Jen Spataro-Wilson, Director of Career and Professional Development at Shenandoah University. She discusses how SU is helping students and alumni further their career goals and maximize their impact in the community.
We hope you’ll walk away from this episode taking a little less for granted and with a newfound sense of joy and respect for life! If you haven’t heard Katie’s story, this is a must-listen episode. Katie was a powerhouse of a young woman who battled breast cancer, losing her battle only a few short months ago at the age of 28.
We sit down with Katie’s mom Julie Teets and Katie’s brothers Brandon and Michael, along with Katie’s Comfort House fundraising executive officer, Jonna West to learn more about Katie and the organization she inspired. They have huge goals, and have made tremendous strides in a VERY short time, toward building a facility to care for patients and their loved ones in their final days.
They are proving that legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people.
Scott Santmier, Pastor of Local Outreach at Fellowship Bible Church, joins us to share the different ways FBC gives back in the community. Their biggest event of the year is coming up and you don’t want to miss the Follow the Star Drive thru Nativity!
Doug McCarthy and Matt Akers are part of the team that helps get you to closing day. Mark talks with them about how McCarthy & Akers PLLC makes sure your real estate transactions are smooth and successful.
ICON’s own Sarah Abderrazzaq sits down and shares how she’s built and grown her business through networking and relationship building.
Kelly Botta PA-C of SmartyPants Medicine joins us to talk about her small business and how it can help bring more accessible healthcare to our community.
Mark and Nici dive deeper into the 5 ICONic questions as they give their own responses, along with added details and updates from around town.
Mark takes a moment to respond to listener’s questions about items related to real estate sellers, buyers, and other industry related inquiries.
Patrick Bankemper and Zach Santmier of Trumble Insurance join us to talk about their local connections and the different insurance programs their team provides!
We’re getting back to our roots on this episode! Mark and Nici catch up on the local real estate market and what’s going on in town this week!
Josh Kirby of the Kirby on Sports Podcast brings his sports knowledge and love of frisbee golf to the ICONic Talk studio for this week’s episode! Join us for a feel-good conversation between the voices of 2 local podcasts.
Shawn Rider brings all the knowledge when it comes to starting and growing a small business. Shenandoah.Fit is serving up the best hour of your day, Winchester.
Mark Stickley of Runner’s Retreat has such an awesome story that he shared with us on ICONic Talk! Learn about his background and how he turned his passion into a business that has stood the test of time!
John Eye joins Mark and Nici to talk about his trajectory as a business owner and all the ways that Mover Dudes can help to make your move seamless and stress-free!
Want to know if you have what it takes to be a landlord? Listen and learn with Anna and Carter Fox of Fox Brothers Properties and Construction.
Interim Winchester Commonwealth’s Attorney, Heather Hovermale, sits down with Mark and Nici to talk about her connection to Winchester, the duties of her office, and her candidacy.
Listen as we get the breakdown on custom building and remodeling with Stacey and Anthony Rowe of Skyline Remodeling and Construction. If you've considered building in the area and want a full-service general contractor they are committed to providing superior services in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley area.
Join us as we welcome local appraiser William Orth to the ICONic Talk podcast! We’re talking all things related to home appraisals and explain why your appraiser is actually protecting you during your home buying experience!
Carrie Kern Luebcke joins us and shares her experience as a small business owner in Winchester and tells us about the evolution of her store, Scarpa Alta. You won’t want to miss this one!
Mark and Nici sit down with Ben Morehead, home inspector and owner of Old Towne Inspection, to talk all things home inspection.
Join us as we learn all about the history and future of the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum with Dawn Devine and Tammy Stevenson. It is truly a downtown Winchester treasure!
ICON Real Estate website
https://www.iconsells.com
Facebook
ICONic Talk: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069979005239
ICON Real Estate: https://www.facebook.com/ICONRealEstateLLCva/
Mark Francis: https://www.facebook.com/MarkFrancisICONRealEstate/
Nici Hoffman: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070125912358
Instagram
ICONic Talk: https://www.instagram.com/iconictalk/
ICON Real Estate: https://www.instagram.com/iconsells/
Mark Francis: https://www.instagram.com/markfrancisrealtor/
Nici Hoffman: https://www.instagram.com/nicihoffman/
Twitter
ICON Real Estate: https://twitter.com/ICONRealEstate3
ICON Real Estate website
https://www.iconsells.com
Facebook
ICONic Talk: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069979005239
ICON Real Estate: https://www.facebook.com/ICONRealEstateLLCva/
Mark Francis: https://www.facebook.com/MarkFrancisICONRealEstate/
Nici Hoffman: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070125912358
Instagram
ICONic Talk: https://www.instagram.com/iconictalk/
ICON Real Estate: https://www.instagram.com/iconsells/
Mark Francis: https://www.instagram.com/markfrancisrealtor/
Nici Hoffman: https://www.instagram.com/nicihoffman/
Twitter
ICON Real Estate: https://twitter.com/ICONRealEstate3
There are plenty of podcasts out there that teach you how to be a smart real estate agent, but not many on how to be a smart homebuyer. This intro delves into what we will hear from Mark and Nici on future episodes!