We're Giving Back With Our 100th Sale!

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report.  

Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale.

Today, we have the pleasure of announcing our newest staff member! Her name is MacKenzie and she’s our new Client Concierge.

What does this role entail? A Client Concierge ensures clients are happy and ready to go. Essentially, MacKenzie’s new position serves clients first and foremost, in case they need anything from us or have any questions. She even has a vehicle specifically to drive to clients directly!

MacKenzie is also wearing an interesting piece of jewelry today. She has a key around her neck, that was passed on to her by someone else. It’s called the giving key, with all proceeds going to the homeless. The tradition is to talk about your key every opportunity you have and then pass it onto someone in need. To learn more about this mission, visit thegivingkeys.com.

“

The profits from our 100th sale are going directly to charity!

”

This year, our goal is to help at least 150 families buy and/or sell a home. Additionally, the Ames Group decided our proceeds from our 100th sale in 2016 will go towards a charity. The Giving Keys organization might be an opportunity to pursue. However, we’re opening up to suggestions from the community. What Wichita charity would you like to see the proceeds go towards? We want to hear from you!

If you’re thinking about buying or selling in the surrounding area, reach us by phone or email. We’d be delighted to help you with any questions you might have!

Why Hire a Local Lender?

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report.  

Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale.

Today I have the pleasure of being joined by Lauren Pelfrey, our in-house lender from Pulaski Bank. She’s here to answer a few questions about mortgages that we’ve been getting asked lately, and we’re excited to have her.

Why should you use a local lender?
It’s important to use a local lender because this is oftentimes the most important transaction that anyone will have in their lifetime. It’s especially convenient to use a lender that’s in the same place as your agent because you can come meet with Lauren, in-person, each time you visit us.

Why is a pre-qualification letter important?
Before you get approved for a loan, you’ll need a pre-qualification letter. This is where your lender will speak with you, get all of your financial information, and let you know what kind of home you can qualify for. They will pull your credit scores, income, and more to make sure you are looking for homes at a price point that you can comfortably afford.

Why do you need to get a pre-qualification before looking for homes?
When you get a pre-qualification letter before you start looking at homes, you are setting yourself up for success. Lauren has often seen people start looking at homes first, then end up disappointed when they find out that perfect home they found isn’t in their price range. Getting this done up-front will save you a lot of time and stress, and makes the process a whole lot smoother.

How do Lauren’s rates compare to national lenders?
Yet another benefit of using a local lender is that they can oftentimes get you lower rates than the national banks. They keep their overhead costs down, so their rates are often better. They can save you money on closing costs as well.

Thanks to Lauren for joining us today. If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to reach out. We would love to hear from you via phone or email. Talk to you soon!

How Can Photos Help Sell Your Wichita Home?

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report.  

Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale. 

Did you know that your home’s first showing is actually on the internet? It used to be that the first showing was when someone walked into your home for the first time, but that’s no longer the case.

In today’s market, people weed out the homes they don’t like on the internet. The NAR says over 90% of people start their home search online, sometimes looking at hundreds of homes before they decide on the right one. Because of that, your home has got to really shine. How do you do that? By using professional photography.

As you can see in the video above, professional photos work wonders. We use them to give the buyer a full view of the property instead of just a snapshot of the front door. Professional photos are one of the reasons we sell our homes in less than half the time of the average agent. We can save you a monthly mortgage payment and keep that money in your pocket.

Those are just a few of the reasons why we suggest you use professional photography. It’s becoming the standard and if you don’t adapt, you’ll be left behind and your home won’t sell. If you have any questions for us or want to see what professional photography can do for your home, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!