The Kasey Group's Blog

Keep in touch!   It's something we say all the time...but do we?  

I had the most interesting conversation with a client who I ran into at the grocery store.    She said to me that she appreciated me calling, mailing and emailing all the time.  She said she likes the updates and she felt special.  She also said that because of my many reminders, she always mentions my name to people who she knows who are looking for homes.  The best part is, she has sent me referrals.

I took a moment to think.  What was I doing that was working for her?  I specifically checked my notes, I had reached out to her about 4 times in the last year.   Was that really enough to warrant her excited reaction?   I didn't think that it was SO frequent that she felt we were always in touch, but realized that perhaps the way I was reaching out was working. 

I always try to reach out in a variety of ways...here's just a few suggestions: 

1. Be timely, send an anniversary card each year, the warm sentiment will go a long way.
2. Send valuable information, email is great for this.   If a home comes on on their street, let them know about it..they will appreciate the heads up and they may have a friend looking to get into the area who they can refer to you!
3. Keep your records up to date by mailing out yearly requests in the form of a mail-back card or letter asking for changes in email, phone or cell information.
4. Call.  You can't underestimate the value of the voice on the other end of the phone.  Even a message on an answering machine works.  Remind them you are always looking for new clients and would love to work with their family and friends.

Don't send your clients daily emails, you will end up in their spam.   But don't let too much time pass between contacts.    It's easy to come up with some reason to reach out a few times a year, your best clients will enjoy hearing from you and the referrals they send will pay off.

By Megan O'Connell Albright on September 3, 2010

The Kasey Group Sells...

Good Luck and Happy Staging!

By Karin Stocknoff on August 27, 2010

Ladies,  can we talk?...  

I cannot believe that I have just had yet another conversation with a client who found out to her horror her fiance's credit woes.  This woman has really put her ducks in order, she has spent the past year saving for a down payment, paid off her car loan, paid down credit card bills and would you believe this, negotiated a lower rent with her landlord in order to continue socking away cash.  In addition, she has a fabulous 740 credit score and a stable well paying job in the healthcare industry.  This gal has a plan, she is engaged and hopes to have her new home just in time for the wedding.   She looked into a price range that, based on their income she felt they could afford.  She was excited and so was I.  

I recommended she call a mortgage broker, who had to break the news to her.    Her fiance' has a 605 credit score and a report filled with charge offs, a history of late payments and more.  What seemed like a great plan now presented a bleak picture.   Now what to do, on her income alone, they could not afford nearly what they had hoped and repairing his credit report was not only going to take time...it was going to cost money.

Gosh I felt sorry for her, but couldn't help but wonder...how did she not know? It may seem impersonal, but you need to know about your future spouses financial stability, this includes knowing their credit score.   If for no other reason...poor credit habits rarely go away.  Most people who don't take it seriously, spend their whole lives doing so.  If you are responsible with your money, don't you want you spouse to be also?   Don't be afraid to ask, throw it in there with 'where did you go to college' and 'what do you like to do with your spare time.'   

Ladies, you may think your man is a 10, but really he needs to be at 710...or better.  By the way guys this goes for you too, make sure your pretty girl, has a pretty credit score.

By Megan O'Connell Albright on August 25, 2010

The Kasey Group Sells...

YADDA YADDA YADDA...Remember that Seinfeld episode when Elaine is recapping a date and she says something like, "We had the bisque and then yadda yadda yadda."  Jerry says, "Hey you left out the best part of the story", to which Elaine replies, "No.  I mentioned the bisque." 

Think about your home....what would someone who comes to see it at an open house say was the best part?  

Here's some comments I've heard:

• "The colors here are just beautiful"
• "Obviously, this is the boys room"...decorated with pictures of half naked girls
• "Are these owners smokers?"
• "What is that smell?"...oh, just a dozen different Yankee Candles all opened, some lit.
• "Do they have dogs or cats?"...not a good sign that people are afraid of your pet's smell!
• "This house is so neat and clean"
•  "Come over here, honey...look at the pictures....doesn't this look just like Sue?, or what a pretty wedding dress!, or Do we know these people?"
•  "This closet is huge!" 
•  "Clearly this is a bachelor pad."
• "It's very dark in here"...some higher wattage bulbs or an open curtain can go a long way. 
• "Aaahhh, it's so cool in here"...on a broiling summer day or "It's nice and toasty"...as they shake the snow off of their jackets. 
•  "I love it how they decorated it!"  

If someone was leaving your home and only had a few words to describe it, what would those words be...hopefully not, "I went to an open house today and Yadda Yadda Yadda."

By Karin Stocknoff on August 10, 2010

The Kasey Group Sells...

WANTED: Responsible Renters

Dedicated, full time real estate professional seeking responsible renters.   Qualifications include: good payment history, high credit scores and steady income.   Call now, you will receive sought after real estate advice and information, care and attention which will wisk you off to a pleasant and successful home closing.

Some days, I just think, maybe it's just that simple.   Good renters make great home-owners. 

By Megan O'Connell Albright on August 10, 2010

The Kasey Group Sells...

Change..It can be a good thing but it can also be a little scary.  There are few changes bigger in life then moving our family to a new home.  This could involve changing schools, communities, and even states.

Here are a few tips that can ease the stress when moving out of the area:

Involve the kids-  Let them see some homes, talk about their rooms with them, and highlight the amenities the new home/area has like pools, playgrounds, etc...

Explain the process- Let them know why this move is a good thing.  Maybe it means more time together as a family and less commuting time for mom/dad.

And most importantly, if your nervous they will be too.  So stay calm, stay positive, and the whole experience will go smoother.

Happy Moving!

By Stacy Pfannkuch on August 9, 2010

The Kasey Group Sells...

You ask your friend who cuts their hair but not who sold their home?  

I am always surprised that buyers sellers would just call an office and work with whomever is on floor(meaning whoever answers the phone).  Agents on floor time can be really great, but is the only criteria for picking an agent the one who happened to answer the phone when you called?   

With hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line, specific criteria for the job to be done is important.   

• Does the agent have an aggressive marketing plan?
• How many homes has the agent sold?
• Are they a full time agent?
• Are they knowledgeable about the inventory and the area you are interested in?  

I have a list of at least a dozen questions I've been asked while interviewing for the job of selling a home and working as a buyers agent... What do you think the most important question to ask is? 

By Karin Stocknoff on August 4, 2010

The Kasey Group Sells...

The Kasey Group Sells...