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How To Stay Connected to Clients in a Crisis

These days, it’s trial and error for many businesses when exploring the best approach to stay connected to clients. Due to the sheer number of unknowns brought about by COVID-19—with every day offering new challenges—it can be difficult to uniquely respond to your client base with marketing that doesn’t feel pushy. Clients want to feel cared for, not sold to; clients want to be treated like people first, not consumers.

It doesn’t sound like something that needs to be said once you say it—to treat people the way you want to be treated—we are all familiar with the golden rule, but it’s a good reminder to pay close attention to your approach; to recognize the sensitivities everyone is feeling in this pandemic.

We also want to see our local businesses bounce back from this economic blow, so for those of us with the ability to assist and rally around the communities we care about, the show must go on. Over the past several weeks, I have found a few methods that have allowed me to stay connected to my community.

Videos with BombBomb

Produce short videos with a service like BombBomb. You can text, email, and share the videos on social media for greater reach. Don’t use it to advertise what you’re selling though, use it to advertise who you are. People connect with people. Be a person, be vulnerable.

Texting with Reach

And, speaking of reach, the texting app, Reach, has been great too. It allows for group texting but individualizes each text so you can connect with a greater amount of people in a personalized way.

Staying in touch with so many people can feel overwhelming. The pressure to be there for all your clients, all the time, is heightened in a crisis. Use the tools at your disposal and find apps you enjoy operating within to relieve that pressure.

Email & Handwritten Letters

Email is a quick and easy go-to, but emails can easily be lost and forgotten. When is the last time you opted out of emailing someone and picked up a piece of paper and a pen and wrote them a personalized letter? Handwriting carries the weight of care where technology fails.

Client response during a crisis is based on a high level of trust, and now is the time to check-in.

  • Many people are experiencing financial struggles, assure your clients there is nothing to be embarrassed about.
  • Stay personable, don’t be salesy. It’s not about investing in real estate, it’s about investing in people.

At Metropolist, we make things personal.

If you need help talking through a personalized approach to stay connected with your client, please join us for our weekly production meeting. We meet virtually, every Wednesday at 10 am, and we are here to support you through COVID19 and beyond. Email me at [email protected] and I will respond with an invitation. Let’s connect and stay connected.

By Chad Zinda

CategoriesHome selling, home values, info for buyers, info for home owners, Metropolist, Real Estate, Seattle, Seattle neigborhoods, Seattle Real Estate, Seattledigs, Selling your home, Washington real estate

A Surprising Shift to the ‘Burbs May Be on the Rise

While many people across the U.S. have traditionally enjoyed the perks of an urban lifestyle, some who live in more populated city limits today are beginning to rethink their current neighborhoods. Being in close proximity to everything from the grocery store to local entertainment is definitely a perk, especially if you can also walk to some of these hot spots and have a short commute to work. The trade-off, however, is that highly populated cities can lack access to open space, a yard, and other desirable features. These are the kinds of things you may miss when spending a lot of time at home. When it comes to social distancing, as we’ve experienced recently, the newest trend seems to be around re-evaluating a once-desired city lifestyle and trading it for suburban or rural living. George Ratiu, Senior Economist at realtor.com notes:

“With the re-opening of the economy scheduled to be cautious, the impact on consumer preferences will likely shift buying behavior…consumers are already looking for larger homes, bigger yards, access to the outdoors and more separation from neighbors. As we move into the recovery stage, these preferences will play an important role in the type of homes consumers will want to buy. They will also play a role in the coming discussions on zoning and urban planning. While higher density has been a hallmark of urban development over the past decade, the pandemic may lead to a re-thinking of space allocation.”

The Harris Poll recently surveyed 2,000 Americans, and 39% of the respondents who live in urban areas indicated the COVID-19 crisis has caused them to consider moving to a less populated area.A Surprising Shift to the ‘Burbs May Be on the Rise | MyKCMToday, moving outside the city limits is also more feasible than ever, especially as Americans have quickly become more accustomed to – and more accepting of – remote work. According to the Pew Research Center, access to the Internet has increased significantly in rural and suburban areas, making working from home more accessible. The number of people working from home has also spiked considerably, even before the pandemic came into play this year.

Bottom Line

If you have a home in the suburbs or a rural area, you may see an increasing number of buyers looking for a property like yours. If you’re thinking of buying and don’t mind a commute to work for the well-being of your family, you may want to consider looking at homes for sale outside the city. Let’s connect today to discuss the options available in our area.

Categoriesfinancing, Home selling, home values, info for buyers, info for home owners, Metropolist, Real Estate, Seattle, Seattle neigborhoods, Seattle Real Estate, Seattledigs, Washington real estate

7 Costly Mistakes You’re Making in Your Home

Homes cost a lot of money to maintain. But are you spending extra money unnecessarily on upkeep? Here are seven of the most expensive mistakes you could be making in your home:

1. Using Traditional Light Bulbs. If you still have incandescent light bulbs in your home, you could be throwing a lot of money away every month on inflated electric bills. Over its life span, an incandescent bulb can use almost $200 worth of electricity. A CFL will only use about $40 worth of electricity over the same time period. Even better is the LED bulb, which only uses around $30 per bulb. Think what replacing every light bulb in your home could do to your home’s bottom line!

2. Letting Faucets Leak. A leaky faucet that drips one drop per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year, which is enough water to take more than 180 showers. Some people live in areas where water is plentiful, but for others in areas plagued with drought, this could be costing a fortune. Fix or replace your leaky faucet, and save a ton on your water bill.

3. Using the Wrong Air Filter Size. We all sometimes forget to change out the air filters for our HVAC systems or accidentally buy the wrong size. But using the wrong filter or a dirty one can increase your power bill and cause expensive problems for your furnace down the road. Use the correct filters for your system, and set a reminder to change them after the recommended amount of time. You won’t regret it.

4. Not Customizing the Temperature. Invest in a customizable thermostat. If you’re away at the office all day, you can program your heater to shift down a few degrees while you’re gone and then shift back up shortly before you return home. Heating or cooling an empty home wastes a lot of money in energy costs.

5. Not Adjusting Air Vents Properly. Is one room in your home hot, while the others are cold? Oftentimes homeowners will crank up the air conditioning in the whole house to combat hot temperatures in one area. Instead, adjust air vents to direct the flow of air more evenly throughout your entire home. Professionals will come regulate this to ensure your entire home is receiving the same amount of air conditioning or heating.

6. Overwatering the Lawn. Many homeowners have their sprinkler systems programmed to come on in the early morning hours for optimum lawn health. This can become a problem, however, if you’re never around to see what you’re actually watering. A broken sprinkler head could be causing a fountain, or the trajectory of your sprinkler may be directed at a fence instead of your lawn. Periodically run your sprinklers during the day so you can see how they’re performing when you’re not around.

7. Ignoring Leaky Windows and Doors. Leaky windows and doors are great places for cold winds or hot air to enter your home. Many homeowners simply ignore them and crank up their heaters or AC. Caulk leaky windows and put rubber seal around doors to maintain your indoor climate.

Use these tips to cut maintenance costs on your home today.

Photo by Moja Msanii on Unsplash

Categoriesfinancing, Home selling, home values, info for buyers, info for home owners, Metropolist, Real Estate, Seattle, Seattle neigborhoods, Seattle Real Estate, Seattledigs, Washington real estate

Buying a Home Right Now: Easy? No. Smart? Yes.

Through all the volatility in the economy right now, some have put their search for a home on hold, yet others have not. According to ShowingTime, the real estate industry’s leading showing management technology provider, buyers have started to reappear over the last several weeks. In the latest report, they revealed:

“The March ShowingTime Showing Index® recorded the first nationwide drop in showing traffic in eight months as communities responded to COVID-19. Early April data show signs of an upswing, however.”

Why would people be setting appointments to look at prospective homes when the process of purchasing a home has become more difficult with shelter-in-place orders throughout the country?

Here are three reasons for this uptick in activity:

1. Some people need to move. Whether because of a death in the family, a new birth, divorce, financial hardship, or a job transfer, some families need to make a move as quickly as possible.

2. Real estate agents across the country have become very innovative, utilizing technology that allows purchasers to virtually:

  • View homes
  • Meet with mortgage professionals
  • Consult with their agent throughout the process

All of this can happen within the required safety protocols, so real estate professionals are continuing to help families make important moves.

3. Buyers understand that mortgage rates are a key component when determining their monthly mortgage payments. Mortgage interest rates are very close to all-time lows and afford today’s purchaser the opportunity to save tens of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the loan.

Looking closely at the third reason, we can see that there’s a big difference between purchasing a house last December and purchasing one now (see chart below):Buying a Home Right Now: Easy? No. Smart? Yes. | MyKCM

Bottom Line

Many families have decided not to postpone their plans to purchase a home, even in these difficult times. If you need to make a move, let’s connect today so you have a trusted advisor to safely and professionally guide you through the process.

Photo by Wynand van Poortvliet on Unsplash

Categoriescommunity service, Home selling, info for buyers, info for home owners, Metropolist, Seattle Real Estate, Seattledigs, Washington real estate

Why Brokers Are Joining Metropolist During a Crisis

Real Estate is profound work; a noble offering to the community we live in. When I do my job, the city I love thrives because the families I serve thrive. The trajectory of lives and generations is altered when we help people become homeowners for the first time, or sell property to move them into a new chapter of their life story. This pandemic-induced pause is offering us an invitation to think creatively and support one another. Seattle will be revived, and I am extending an invitation for you to join Metropolist for us to grow collectively.

Why should you consider joining Metropolist during a crisis?

Metropolist cares about the health of your business because we care about the health of Seattle; we care about you. As a broker myself, my job is to serve you so you can continue serving the people you care about. When I’m healthy, I have more energy to offer my family and my clients. I want the same for you.

Seasoned broker, Sarah Georger-Clark joined Metropolist in February this year. We asked her what the transition has been like for her.

“Here, I am energized. I have the freedom to express my personal brand and infuse who I am into the work I do. Metropolist is first about relationships; they are generous with their time and encourage collaboration to foster success, so every agent is able to best serve our clients.”
Read more from Sarah

Did you know that 42% of brokers with 6+ years experience make less than $5OK?
Brokers at Metropolist with 6+ years experience make $142K.

Unparalleled support.

At Metropolist, we operate at a high level of connection and collaboration. I don’t know about you, but I need the accountability–more some days than others!

  • Join our weekly Production Meeting on Zoom, Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. Email our concierge for your exclusive access to all of our broker-community-at-large learning opportunities.

We welcome vulnerability; that means we want you to come as you are–crisis-exhausted and looking for a place to refuel–and discover new ways to show up in your business despite current stressors.

To quote my favorite thought-leader, Brené Brown, “I define vulnerability as emotional risk, exposure, uncertainty; it is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.”

Education like no other.

What are you currently missing in your business? What are your struggles?

  • Education at Metropolist is customizable.
    The Metropolist Method is our approach to broker support. Every Monday, we offer virtual Skills and Contracts classes where we dive deeply into the minutiae of real estate’s necessary evils—that industry paperwork that can overwhelm us time and time again.We dissect topics so they are easy to understand and provide plenty of support to navigate with ease. I can guarantee a room of cheerleaders to encourage you when you want to throw your hands up. We won’t let you give up.
  • Clock hour classes at no cost to you—ever.
    Our Learning Lab is a Washington State accredited real estate school that offers a variety of clock-hour classes to area brokers. Metropolist agents receive access to these classes for FREE, giving you countless opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive in your business.Check out our upcoming, unboring Real Estate classes in our Learning Lab and sign up today!

Metropolist is focused on you. We will not capitalize on your fears. When you join us, we encourage you to bring who you are to the table so we can provide the best tools and resources just for you.

“Metropolist is there for agents the way I am there for my clients. For me, it was a big decision; a refreshing change for my business and personal life.”
-Sarah Georger-Clark

We stand out.

Don’t join Metropolist because of the crisis. Join us because of a change of heart; because you are ready to grow your business and yourself in new ways. I don’t want you perpetually worried about finances, wondering how your business is going to survive a crisis, because I don’t want that for myself. I am here to help you. We all are.

Learn the method. Join the madness.

Come to Metropolist if you want to connect with new and seasoned agents, sharpen your skills, add more resources to your toolkit, and stay accountable and excited about the business you love. Email me today and let’s chat about what’s important to you as you consider the next steps in your career.

We are agents of change, and we’re here to help you make a move.

by Chad Zinda, Designated Broker

Categoriesfeatured listings, Metropolist, Real Estate, Seattle neigborhoods, Seattle Real Estate, Seattledigs, Washington real estate

A Classic Farmhouse in Hillman City

Classic farmhouse with a custom kitchen remodel, soaring ceilings and a country garden beyond.

Imagine long summer days on the covered back porch, tending chickens and long established garden beds. Hosting dinners in the giant dining room and enjoying the friendly neighborhood and nearby Columbia City. Freshly painted sunny spaces await your vision.

Plenty of room for a master bath and a bonus room for art, library, dressing room, nursery… So many possibilities in this move-in ready gem. Click here to see more!

Or take a virtual tour right now!