C21 Relentless Archives - CENTURY 21 MarketLink Realty

5 Minutes at Home with Katie Riedeman

May 20, 2020 By C21 Communications

Brand new first-time mother, a division 1 athlete and an award-winning real estate Agent? Seems like there’s not much Relentless Agent Award winner Katie Riedeman cannot do. We checked in with Katie recently to learn how she’s evolving her business, supporting her community and the unexpected benefits of shelter in place.

Are you doing anything differently to push forward with your day-to-day work in helping your clients during this time? How would you describe your new “normal”?

Learning is key! I’ve had time to be more engaged in developing and perfecting my systems behind the scenes which will definitely be beneficial to future clients. With current clients I am still showing homes but once they go under contract with their new home, I am checking in weekly with them and their lender and updating everyone with where we are in the process.

My new normal hasn’t changed a lot in terms of client outreach and showings. I do a more virtual showings than before to slow foot traffic through homes but that isn’t necessarily a new thing for me. I have sold a lot of homes to clients over Facetime in the past so now I’m perfecting that craft and navigating how I can get better. I also supply sanitizer and gloves when my clients want them for showings and do what I can to ensure safety in taking healthy measures during home showings. This isn’t only important for my buyers but also important for us to do everything we can to keep the homes that we are touring clean.

Is there anything that you’re doing now to work on your business that maybe you haven’t done before?

Because this is my 6th year in the business I feel like I now have a true grasp on what it takes to be successful in real estate, I have been working on my systems and client outreach to ensure when the market begins to normalize once more that nothing falls through the cracks. I want clients to receive the service they deserve, and solid systems is the key to clients having successful transactions. If I have good systems in place, I can spend my time with my clients and supporting them rather than spending so much time with behind the scenes work.

In addition, I’m making sure I am up to date with all of the current market information so I can give my honest and educated opinion based on data, research and what I am seeing first hand as I am out in the market helping other clients.

Are there ways that you or your team members are helping your community get through this crisis?

We have been trying to keep our community updated on the housing market with real time stats, so they feel educated in making one of the biggest purchases of their life. Our company has created a community outreach program called Impact where we can donate a portion of our commission toward a cause. Every quarter that money is given to someone in need in the community. We all get the opportunity to nominate a deserving person or cause and a committee decides who gets the funds.

On the personal front, staying up to date on the latest news in supporting local businesses is important to me. I recently connected with a local bakery for pastries that I dropped off on the front step of some friends, clients and community members.

What is one thing that you DON’T miss about pre-coronavirus life?

Some of the fast pace… I have been a competitor all my life and was a Division 1 athlete, so I thrive in the pace of competition. It has been good for me to be forced to slow down a bit. In real estate we can get really caught up in the go go go and forget to slow down and enjoy the things around us. I have had a TON of change in my life since the beginning of this pandemic so having the time to reflect and not just jump back into the fast lane after having my first child has been nice. I am learning new norms and systems to protect the health of my family and clients as well as embracing the change.

What’s your top tip for being relentless during this time?

Communication, honesty and support. I think having open and honest communication with clients during this tough time is essential. Supporting their needs and making sure they know that I am here to serve them whenever they decide the time is right to buy or sell as well as support their needs in between is really important.

BONUS: What is the first thing you’re going to do once the local shelter in place orders have been lifted?

Get together with family and friends! One of my favorite things to do this time of year through the summer is invite people over and grill, play yard games and hang out on the patio.

The Relentless Agent Awards celebrate all of the ways that C21 Agents deliver extraordinary experiences to their clients and make the home buying or selling process a memorable one. Are you a client who recently has an amazing experience with a CENTURY 21 Agent? We want to know! Click here to submit a nomination for a deserving Agent today.

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5 Minutes at Home with Lisa Mills

May 20, 2020 By C21 Communications

From virtual catch-ups to porch drops, Relentless Award Winning Agent Lisa Mills shows that even the most extreme situations can open a space for creativity to allow entrepreneurs to not just survive – but thrive in any market condition. We recently sat down with Lisa to check in on how she continues to deliver the extraordinary, all while serving a very specific market in her area, the senior community.

Hey Lisa! We’d love to know, what are some things that have helped you clear your mind and stay positive these days?

Yoga, walking and connecting everyday with several friends, family members or clients. In some ways there are more opportunities to reconnect because my contacts are also more available and primarily working from home or simply hanging out at home. This is a great opportunity to make something good from a bad situation!

Are you doing anything differently to push forward with your day-to-day work in helping your clients during this time? How would you describe your new “normal”?

We have to be creative! No showings or open houses are allowed currently in the community I serve. Videos, photos and good pricing are key to moving homes into escrow. For those clients who are stymied with the timing of these new restrictions, I do my best to give positive reinforcement to their situation. I think it’s important to make them feel that I’m more than an agent. I can be a friend, a coach or a delivery person in addition to keeping them apprised of the real estate market and situation.

Are there ways that you or your team members are helping your community get through this crisis?

I have reached out to all my clients with this email: “These are crazy times and we are all adapting. I’m here to help you any way that I can… whether it’s a face mask, gloves, toilet paper, sanitizers, cookies, groceries, handyman services, chocolate or just someone to bring a chair and sit six feet away for a social distance visit, let me know!”

Thankfully, most of my clients are doing well. One needed a face mask and sanitizer wipes which I delivered the next day. One client asked for a visit. Cookies and/or chocolate have gone to many of these same clients. I just feel that it’s important for them to know I can help in more ways than just the business transaction of their real estate needs.

What new concerns are you hearing from your clients right now? How are you helping address them?

Each situation is different in a senior community. Overall, my clients are concerned about people taking advantage of the crisis and submitting significantly low offers. If the home is priced right and they can wait, the homeowner shouldn’t worry since the inventory is low.

What’s your top tip for being relentless during this time?

Stay positive and communicate often, it helps ease anxiety.

Never get too comfortable with the present situation and always have a backup plan for the “what ifs” that life might throw at you.

BONUS: What is the first thing you’re going to do once the local shelter in place orders have been lifted?

Try to reassess what the new normal will be and ensure that I’m fully equipped and sensitive to lingering concerns about contamination and exposure. My car will be fully stocked with personal protection materials to use and give out. Whether I am representing the seller or buyer, I will reinforce the notion to respect all concerns about hygiene and exposure. I will also do whatever I can to eliminate paperwork and rely more on the digital opportunities.

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5 Minutes at Home with Misty Dowling

May 20, 2020 By C21 Communications

Over the past couple of months of shelter-in-place in Quincy, IL, Award-winning CENTURY 21 Agent Misty Dowling has celebrated three family birthdays, a graduation and the adjustment to what “normal” is for the majority of us. Despite these challenges, she has not stopped finding new ways to deliver the extraordinary to her clients and in her community. We caught up with this recent Relentless Agent Award winner to learn the ways she’s working through this current pandemic.

So, tell us Misty, how are you staying connected with your community right now?

Our nurses are working extra-long hours and don’t always have time to eat full meals. I donated snacks to every nurse’s station in our local hospital. The nurses all took pictures with the snacks and sent them to me, they were so grateful for the smallest gesture! I also deliver groceries to the elderly who shouldn’t or can’t get out due to risk of COVID-19.

Do you have any stories that are particularly memorable to you from the last few weeks that you could share?

I ran into a client I sold a home to at the store. She had her four children kids (all under the age of nine!) with her. I could see she was frantic and overwhelmed trying to find Lysol. I told her I would go to a few stores so she didn’t have to drag her kids in and out potentially exposing them. I found 2 cans of Lysol and dropped them off on her porch. She was so appreciative. It goes to show, it’s really the little things we do for each other right now that matter more than ever.

Are you doing anything differently to push forward with your day-to-day work in helping your clients during this time? How would you describe your new “normal”?

We can all use a good laugh right now. I have added videos and market updates into my weekly routine on all of my social media platforms. Instead of just dull market numbers I have added humor! Last week was a Tiger King skit where I dressed my dog up as a lion.

I have also had clients ask me about the spread of corona virus and how that effects showings at their home. We are taking every precaution possible using COVID-19 forms and following guidelines from the association. I explain to sellers and buyers the new way we have to show homes. We use gloves, masks, and sanitizer and remove our shoes at the front door.

Productivity continues for us, despite the current circumstances. I am thankful our office had electronic filing and signatures through Dotloop even before COVID-19 life. This has been a lifesaver in our current stay at home situation.

What is something that you’ve learned during this unique time that you’ll incorporate into your life moving forward?

I touch everything and touch my face!! I had no idea how much I did this until I actually had to think about it. I will keep sanitizer with me and use it more. I also realize I need to slow down and enjoy walking our beautiful parks with my family. I will absolutely make my family continue to take a break from technology and spend more time outdoors. Discovering this has been a huge benefit to come out of the stay at home orders.

What is your top tip for being relentless during this time?

I think the coronavirus has made me as an agent look around and ask how I can help more. I have always approached business by putting people first and the money follows. Living through the coronavirus pandemic will prove even more so that we have to be human and love our neighbors and put people first to then be successful when this pandemic is over.

BONUS: What is the first thing you’re going to do once the local shelter in place orders have been lifted?

I love stopping into TJMaxx for a little retail therapy between showings. I can’t wait for normal life! Besides shopping I just can’t wait to hug my parents at some point. We have practiced social distancing to protect them.

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