“It’s not just business, it’s Personal”
Well I guess it’s my turn to give this blog a shot. Sabrina was a little reluctant to begin her first blog because she was afraid of what she should say and topics she should discuss. I, on the other hand, have no problem typing and seeing where it goes. So I will wait until I am finished to actually name the blog. I guess I could start with introducing ourselves. As you probably know by now we are a mother daughter real estate team in Georgia. We are affiliated with Keller Williams Realty and specialize in Cobb and Paulding County, however, we have closed deals all over the Atlanta Metro Area. We work with both buyers and sellers and have found that we each have strengths that benefit both types of client.
We discovered on our first appointment together that our interactions with the client were very different from one another. My belief is that we were there for a job interview and providing the client with credentials about our experience, documentation on neighborhood statistics, and how we will work for them is very important to me. I make sure that the client has a complete understanding of the process and what they can expect from us. I know from personal experience that buying and selling a home can be overwhelming and I want to make sure I have answered all questions and have been thorough in explaining the important aspects of why they are hiring us. My “business first” approach is probably why mom refers to me as the BOSS. I organize and handle most of the paperwork, find the most effective ways of advertising, integrate the latest technology into our business, schedule appointments and showings, and create all marketing material. Most of these everyday tasks I perform are a product of my past work experience and directly related to listing a home which is probably why I assume the responsibility of working with sellers. Trust me when I say that I love my job and I love my clients. I keep in contact with everyone I have done business with and have close relationships with them for years after the transaction has closed. Before Sabrina and I partnered up my business was based on 90% referral. I do the job I say I will do and when it’s done I’ll take you out to celebrate. :) Sabrina (mom), on the other hand, has her own approach when working with clients. For instance when we go to a listing appointment she will walk into a seller’s home and comment on the color of paint on the walls, or a beautiful piece of furniture. She will get down on the floor and play with the children or ask about the vegetables you’re growing in the garden. Although our styles of business are very different they compliment each other to serve our clients in the best way possible. The important thing about Sabrina’s approach is that she is already gathering important information about your family and style that will enable her to find you your next home. Sabrina’s strengths are most evident when working with buyers. She has the ability to translate what you are saying into what you want. That may sound like a silly concept. You’re probably thinking, “If I tell her what I want then she will know. What is there to interpret?” This is where experience comes into play. Working with many buyers over the years, you come to learn that the home a buyer purchases ends up being very different from what they originally said they wanted. It may be that they absolutely had to have a basement but when it came down to it all they really needed was additional space for their pool table. Or maybe a buyer says that they only want to look at homes with a 3 car garage but then purchase a home with a 2 car garage but has a separate shed for storing lawn equipment. It’s our job as realtors to read between the lines and find out the reasoning behind your needs. I’m sure you have seen the commercial where the real estate agent keeps showing their client ranch homes when they keep telling her they want a 2-story. This is a typical stigma agents get by not understanding their clients needs. The difference between an agent that hears you and a realtor that listens to you takes experience and a natural gift. Yes mom you are gifted!
So you see, we each balance each other’s strengths so that we can provide our clients with a strong real estate team. And being in business with my mother and best friend makes our “team” not just about business, it’s personal.