How To Find A Home With Your Dog? – Mikala Breen

On this episode of The Closing Table, we sat down with Mikala Breen!

To watch the full episode, check it out on YouTube below. In the meantime, here’s a summary of the conversation…

Here’s what you missed from Mikala Breen…

The conversation began with a fill-in-the-blank icebreaker on what would make the real estate industry better, how to add value to your home, and more. Mikala then introduces herself as a wife and a proud dog mom to two fur babies, revealing a glimpse of her life beyond the realm of real estate. Her primary market centers around the bustling Grand Rapids area and its surrounding locales. The region boasts notable landmarks, attractions, and a vibrant community. On average, properties in this area fetch around $290,000, and the turnover is remarkably swift, with properties typically spending only about 10 days on the market. However, Mikala also acknowledges the challenge posed by a limited inventory, with just 0.4 months’ worth of available properties, a figure even lower than the previous year.

As a devoted dog mom, Mikala holds a special place in her heart for clients with pets. However, she remains committed to treating all her clients with equal care and attention, regardless of whether they have furry companions or not. She takes the time to understand their specific requirements, ensuring that the properties she presents cater to their unique lifestyles and preferences, providing both her clients and their pets with a comfortable and happy living space.

Mikala acknowledges that, while they strive to avoid it, there are times when the closing day needs to be pushed back for various reasons. One such instance involved a client who couldn’t provide the necessary documents to the lender in a timely manner. This experience taught Mikala and her team the importance of clear communication and being on the same page with all parties involved in the transaction. To ensure a smooth closing, Mikala emphasizes daily communication with her clients, addressing any questions or concerns they may have. If she encounters a question outside her expertise, she promptly seeks assistance from her team members who can provide accurate answers. She also highlights the significance of being understanding and patient with clients, recognizing that they rely on her expertise and often turn to her for guidance throughout the process. However, Mikala also makes sure to educate her clients about the limits of her expertise, such as in lending or appraisal matters, while still being a reliable resource for all other aspects of the real estate journey.

Next, Mikala stresses the immense value of a buyer’s consultation, both for her as a realtor and for the client. Not only does it allow her to understand the client’s needs and motivations better, but it also helps the client gain clarity on the complex home buying process. During these consultations, Mikala delves into a range of questions to truly get to know the clients and their unique preferences. She takes the time to thoroughly explain the entire home buying process, addressing any doubts or queries they may have. By providing this comprehensive overview, Mikala ensures that her clients feel more confident and informed about the journey ahead. These consultations serve as a foundation for a successful and fruitful partnership between the realtor and the buyer, fostering better communication and understanding throughout the entire home buying process.

Reflecting on her past experiences, Mikala shares that she once encountered a particularly challenging and demanding client, which proved to be a significant learning experience for her. While going through that situation, she even questioned her decision to continue in the real estate field. However, with a couple of years’ hindsight, she now appreciates the valuable lessons gained from that encounter. It was undoubtedly the most difficult client she had ever dealt with, leading her to recall the advice she received at the beginning of her career: not every client may be the right fit. At the time, she didn’t fully grasp the significance of this advice, and her enthusiasm led her to believe that working with anyone would be a positive experience. However, this challenging situation humbled her and taught her the importance of setting boundaries and managing client expectations.

Throughout the process of dealing with the difficult client, Mikala learned the importance of being firm yet professional. She communicated clearly that she was the expert hired for the job, and her clients needed to place their trust in her and the process. While handling a demanding client was tough, she stressed the significance of maintaining professionalism and reminding them of her role as the expert guiding them through the real estate journey. Mikala also emphasized the value of feedback and constructive criticism from clients, as it fosters open communication and helps her continually improve her services.

The conversation wraps up with Mikala reflecting on her own experience as a first-time homebuyer. She remembers being relatively clueless about the process but eager to learn. Mikala advises aspiring homeowners to be proactive and ask as many questions as needed to gain a thorough understanding of the homebuying journey. Having experienced the benefit of asking questions herself, she encourages others not to be afraid of seeking information from various sources, such as title companies, lenders, and real estate professionals. By shopping around and gathering information, aspiring homeowners can make well-informed decisions and feel more confident about the process of purchasing a home.

Check out Mikala Breen:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikala.manley

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