Jack White Company.

• Author: Mehner, Bonnie
• Position: Company Profile

Bonnie Mehner

Hundreds of people moving in or out of Anchorage over the last 19 years hear one suggestion when they decide to buy or sell a house: "Call Bonnie Mehner at Jack White Company."

Why? "I have a lot of empathy with my clients," Bonnie states. "A home is where a family lives, where its heart is, where people want to raise children, have a wonderful relationship, entertain friends and make memories. I respond to that."

Empathy comes easily to Bonnie. She grew up bouncing around the country with her military family. Upon graduating from Alaska Methodist University in Anchorage in the 1960s, she married Bill Mehner, who joined the Army -- and took her traveling again.

"Moving and buying or selling a home puts us in a very emotional state," Bonnie says. "I understand that, not just intellectually, but heart-wise as well."

Always fascinated with real estate, she entered the industry in the mid-1970s after moving back to Anchorage. She gravitated to Jack White Company in 1978 because of its excellent reputation.

"The average agent here has been selling 13 years," Bonnie says. "They're good people -- people you can work with and trust. That's a wonderful situation in which to work."

Within months, Bonnie became one of Jack White's top agents. To satisfy her clients year after year, she consistently relies on a few down-to-earth strategies.

Bonnie listens to her customers. "People can give me a brief sketch of what they want. Instead of sending them out to look at dozens of houses on the market, I can tell them there are two or three houses that will be perfect for them," she says.

Once she knows what her client wants, Bonnie spends hours covering all the facets of a residential real estate transaction. She discusses financing and resale value, details about improving the property, and terms for closing the contract.

"I'm very frank with my clients," Bonnie says. "I don't evade issues or questions that might be of concern to them. It's important to me that my clients understand I want to make them happy and not waste their time."

During her 19 years of real estate experience, Bonnie has earned the reputation of being one of the best real estate agents in Anchorage. She meets complete strangers who've already heard about her. Most clients arriving at her office today come from these word-of-mouth recommendations.

One satisfied seller, Sandy Frye, a former relocation coordinator for Arco Alaska Inc., says, "When faced with the challenge of...