05/02/2023
I realize this is a long post, but it's two-fold... The first half is introducing my new company, and the unique services we're bringing to our community, and the last half is a list of positions I'm seeking to fill. If you have a spare 5 minutes, give it a read... I'd truly appreciate it. Feel free to reach out with questions. 💜
For the better part of the last 9 months, I have been diving in to some pretty crazy and exciting new adventures. One of them is an expansion to my Real Estate Team, which I've recently made a HUGE change to, by leaving my brokerage of nearly 13 years and moving to Compass, to better accommodate this exciting change!! The Move Whidbey Team now includes an Interiors Company!
Mid-2022, I stumbled across opportunity to purchase an interior staging/styling company that offered a few different services. Wanting to bring another option into my company to help my clients further maximize their potential profit, without spending a lot or having to outsource, I took a business that offered staging, interior styling, and some vacation rental styling/startup services and decided to take it all to the next level. I have revamped (well, mostly, I'm still working on finalizing everything) the company and now have Island Interiors by Move Whidbey (*head on over a L I K E my page*) to service my clients, the clients of other agents and our community!
After purchasing, I quickly realized my staging inventory was limited. I was given a 10x20 unit, literally piled 6-8’ high, in a complete disorganized mess. As I sifted through it, to try to get it all organized and inventoried, I knew I wouldn’t have enough to do the level of staging I wanted to do. I needed more inventory, décor options and space, and needed to put it all into a system that would help me keep track of what I had, where it was, and what it looked like/its measurements. I have been buying furniture, home goods and décor over the months, and currently have two 10’x30’ units FILLED (but now in a nice, organized manner). I am still on the hunt for more, so please keep me in mind, and REALLY still need a bigger space to store it all (hoping for a large warehouse/garage-style shop with a large door – sliding, rollup, swinging… doesn’t matter as long as I don’t have to twist things sideways and/or stand them on end to get them out)! I have nearly every bit of my items photographed and measured and am working on getting them into the mobile software I’ve been using to track each item, add tags, photos, etc. to help make staging each home a breeze.
My staging services are free, or very little cost, to my Real Estate Clients and are also offered to other agents in the area. Island Interiors works hard to keep on-brand for my Real Estate colleague’s clients, so they are confident when hiring us that I will leave my Real Estate Team completely out of it, when we go to stage. When we walk through those doors, it is Island Interiors ONLY, and we stay focused on the task at hand, which is helping to transform your client’s home into a space that will net the most amount of money. Because I have the knowledge of the market, what works, and what money is best spent where, agents can trust that they are in capable hands when making the game plan. I will ALWAYS strive to ensure that agents (and their clients) feel great about using our services, so that we can build relationships, rapport, and return staging clients! After all, the staging aspect of the company will only be successful if agents are confident hiring us.
Some of you may know, but I’ve been working with clients to get their homes all fixed up, before we list, to get them the maximum in-pocket amount at closing. I’ve been paying for materials, labor and other expenses upfront, so my clients don’t have to stress about coming up with the funds, then I reimburse myself at closing. I don’t charge interest or fees for the loan and have been working hard to spend as little as possible while creating a BIG final product. I shop for the best deals I can find on materials and for hired help, have done a lot of the work myself and/or have enlisted the help of the homeowners – showing them how to do things themselves, if they don’t know how. I’ve been seeing *in-pocket* (after repayment) returns of at least 100% of what we’ve invested (spend $20k, get an in-pocket return of over $20k). The smallest return I’ve seen, so far, has been $15k and the largest being over $100k – money the client would not have seen if we listed the home without doing the work, and without clients having to invest a penny prior to closing. The word got out about this, and I’ve been getting a LOT of inquiries, so I decided to become a licensed/bonded/insured contractor!
Not only do I want to continue to help our clients, prior to listing, but I want to help my colleagues’ clients, and even those who aren’t selling at all! The company I purchased offered interior styling, but I want to incorporate more into this service – I want to help the client do more than just decorate. We will help with renovations, sourcing and purchasing the perfect furnishings and décor at the best possible prices, and decorating your spaces to transform them into exactly what you’ve always dreamed. We also offer this service, on a higher level, to our investors! If you have a space/home you’re wanting to turn into a vacation rental, we will come in, discuss your vision, budget, and goals to give you an instant income maker, without you lifting a finger – I call this the Purchase to Profitability Model. After we discuss the details and plan, you hand us the keys. We first come up with the home’s name, theme, and story. We then get to work on doing any discussed repairs/renovations, while sourcing and purchasing all furnishings, décor, home goods and extras. We finish by assembling, staging, decorating and stocking the entire home to ensure your guests have everything they need to have a comfortable and accommodating stay. We do everything! We write and put together the home/rule book, leave a guest book, include any extra information/local activities, provide an access solution that makes sense to you and your clients (whether it be by lockbox, code, app or remote), install security systems/cameras (if desired), smart TVs/devices (including setup), board games, bonus kitchen utensils/small appliances that are above and beyond the normal stock, labels/signs for various items/areas that may need identification, instruction and/or rules, hire a professional photographer/videographer to give you stunning visuals for your ad(s), provide you the advertising content to present potential guests with clear information and make your space stand out as one that people want to book (and re-book)! We put your desired personal touches and bonus items in, and ensure you have extras of whatever you provide – linens, pillows, towels, cleaner, laundry soap, k-cups, creamer, condiments, water/beverages, cotton balls/swabs/pads, toothbrushes, toiletries, feminine products, etc. We will hand you over an organized, meticulous, beautiful, fully-stocked space that is ready for IMMEDIATE bookings and income. All you will have to worry about is getting it listed, hiring the manager/cleaners (we have suggestions for those), and making the income!
We already have SEVERAL jobs lined up, more inquiries coming in, and I am in DIRE NEED of amazing employees. I am a legit business, in the State of Washington, registered with L&I, DOL, DOR, and carrying policies that more than cover the required minimums. I just need help in making this into an organized, fully functional machine. I am seeking all types of positions including (but not limited to) all the following positions:
Marketing/Social Media Specialist – I need someone who is creative, enthusiastic, QUICK and efficient with creating video content and eye-catching social media posts. If you are good at this (OR KNOW A TEEN WHO IS AMAZING WITH THIS), come to me with your ideas and some videos you’ve done. Tell me what platforms you know, what your strategy(ies) would be and what you can provide for my Team, as a whole (Real Estate and Interiors). I have a bunch of photos and videos that I want put into TikToks/Reels, and some ideas of my own, but it takes me FOREVER to create content.
Staging Professional/Interior Stylist – For staging: this person will meet with the client and/or agent to see the home and the current furnishings and décor (if any). They will then discuss their goals, desired services, budget, timeline, determine what they’re willing to do, and work with them to come up with a plan and price. Organize, track, catalogue and obtain new inventory as needed/as opportunities come up. Get contracts signed, then plan, pull, move, and stage inventory into the client’s home. Decorate, clean, and return unused inventory to storage. De-stage when ready, keeping track of damage and/or repairs needed.
For Styling: Meet with the client to discuss what they envision for their space, budget, timeline and goals. Research, create a quote, discuss reality with client and sign the contract when/if they decide to move forward. Shop for the best deals, order and collect all items. If any renovations are included, assemble, stage, and decorate spaces as renovation completions allow. Ensure receipts are sent to appropriate person/folder and track all time and materials.
I essentially want this person to run, manage and make Island Interiors their baby – and the profit shares will be reflective of that!
Office/Business Assistant – Expense tracking, employee management, invoicing, contact organization, timeline and task management, file organization, client communication, etc. Someone who will ensure the day-to-day operations run smoothly. Must be organized, focused, detailed, reliable and stay on task. I need someone with a great attitude, who will take my instruction, but who will also keep me and the team on target.
Carpenters/Handypeople – Seeking meticulous, detail oriented people who are skilled, knowledgeable, creative and take pride in their work. I need someone who will take the time to ensure proper/thorough prep is done to protect surfaces in the home from damage/overspray and who will use this same care in finishing the work – ensuring seams and holes are filled, sanded, painted and material transitions/gaps are filled/covered/disguised to make the final product beautiful. The person(s) MUST be reliable, punctual (especially with occupied homes), respectful and kind to clients, and keep a clean, organized workspace to minimize the inconvenience to the client.
Laborers to assist Staging, Styling and/or Carpenters – If you possess the drive to learn and/or have some hands-on experience in these areas (but not enough to do the work completely solo), I am looking to hire people to work alongside the others. Must possess the same attributes as previously listed, but also be willing to learn, take feedback and direction from the person(s) you are working alongside.
Real Estate Assistants and Licensed Agents – I need people who are familiar with and/or want to get familiar with the Real Estate field to assist in day-to-day operations of the team, transaction coordination and management. Must possess great people skills and be more focused on the CLIENT’S bottom line than your own. Because I want my agents to worry less about the expenses of being an agent, so it doesn’t affect their urgency/financial NEED to make the next check, I negotiate fair compensation, pay the agent’s overhead (dues, renewals, monthly fees, cards, signs, advertising, office space, etc.) and provide the agents access to everything I give to my clients, such as renovations, staging and finances to cover the work.
I try my best to create a SHARED team environment so it isn’t just about me, or a competition – it’s about us working as a TEAM and for our clients. I currently have SEVERAL upcoming projects and listings that I’d love to co-list and/or have an agent take over. I have 13 years of experience, closing several hundred transactions, and want to share my knowledge and continue to foster a healthy environment for a team of driven, professional, big-hearted agents to work together and GROW their business. I have had two really amazing, licensed assisting agents who were taken by the military, and my most-recent replacement left the team, so I’ve been left managing all of this, mostly alone.
Lately I’ve been working 16-20 hour days, 7 days a week, to ensure everyone is taken care of, and really want to have help so that I can breathe a little easier – especially since I have my back surgery coming up. I’ve still had some help from Germaine, but she’s clear over in Virginia, 3 hours ahead, with 3 young kiddos and is trying to focus on transferring her license and business to take her knowledge and passion she learned here to continue being an agent over there. I’ve also recently been lucky enough to have my sister-in-law come in to help me catalogue my inventory and start working alongside me to fill in where she can, so I’ve had some much-needed help with the tedious stuff, lately and am planning to have her start taking on more. I have one great set of hands helping me with renovations on a project I have going, and a friend of mine was helping me, when she could, with the project I’m donating to the Christian School… But I’m still not done with it and would LOVE if I had others to help me out.
I’m sure there are other positions I could fill… perhaps you have an idea of something you could offer? Regardless, I have so many upcoming and in the works jobs, and could REALLY use the employees. I want to offer fair wages, to ensure that people are getting paid what they’re worth. It will all be dependent on experience and the position you fill. I am also one who takes notice of hard work and will increase pay/give bonuses without being asked. You cannot have a successful business without amazing employees, so I firmly believe in keeping them happy and rewarding those who are working hard and helping to grow the business in the ways I am striving for! HOWEVER, please remember that I am in the VERY beginning stages. I am unsure exactly what is going to be feasible to offer, at this point, and I’m SURE there will be room for growth on my part. I need grace and any help/knowledge people can offer. I am open to any suggestions, criticism, and constructive feedback, and am willing to work with my employees to create an environment that makes us ALL happy. Help me build this into something great, and, when I can get this smoothed out and have the company generating a good pace/income, you will be the first to receive increased compensation for your generosity and patience up front!
God bless any and all of you who may be willing and able to jump in! Even if it’s just temporary, or on a limited basis, if you are able, I will gladly take the help you have to offer. Thanks for reading!! Love to you all, if you made it through this post.
Message either page, text/call 360-672-0058 or reach out below 👇
movewhidbey.com
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islandinteriorswa.com
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