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Haunted Homes: Sandra Medina’s Story
Sandra Medina ain’t scared of no ghost!
When Sandra moved into her 1849 home she was not anticipating that the home’s former occupants would make themselves known. Throughout the years she lived there, there were multiple instances when she noticed a ghost’s presence.
One night, after a long day, Sandra was looking forward to a peaceful night of rest; She crawled into bed, laid down, and closed her eyes. Before drifting into sleep, the hairs stood on her neck as she felt a presence right behind her. Sandra froze waiting for the spirit to move along, her breath deepened. As she lay in angst, with her back to an empty side of the bed, she felt her mattress sink. It was exactly like someone was climbing into bed to lie next to her. A chill ran down her spine, she lay frozen. Was someone in her home? Sandra mustered up the courage to look behind her. She slowly turned her head glancing over her shoulder to find she was alone.
That was the last time Sandra experienced a spirit get that close to her but other spiritual activity continued. It became a common occurrence that Sandra would wake in the night and feel a presence standing over her as she slept. After many nights of these ghostly visits, Sandra noticed a pattern. This spirit would only come and watch her sleep if she left her bedroom door open. Additionally, on nights her door was left open Sandra would sometimes see a figure pop its head in from the hallway. Almost like it was playing peek-a-boo with her before bed. Unbeknown to Sandra she wasn’t the only one experiencing these nightly games. Her daughter was getting nightly visits from a shadowy figure as well. Neither of them felt afraid of the spirit and didn’t want to scare the other so they kept it to themselves.
Sandra and her daughter kept quiet about their experiences until one day when Sandra spent the morning cleaning out a spare room and placed an old music box in the hallway. This hallway is where she and her daughter always saw the apparition playing “peek-a-boo”. Sandra got distracted and had completely forgotten about the music box. Sandra and her daughter were saying their goodnights in the hallway before going to bed when suddenly they heard music playing. They stood frozen and turned their heads at the music box that still sat exactly where Sandra had left it that morning. They had long suspected that there was a ghost in the hallway and this confirmed it.
Years after Sandra had moved from that home she ran into the new owner’s son. After talking for a bit about the house itself Sandra decided to ask if they had noticed anything spooky. Right away without Sandra sharing any of her experiences he told her, “Yes, in the hallway”.
Thankfully not every spirit is negative. Some of them just want to be seen and experience some of the fun they had in life. If you want to read more creepy experiences from our agents take a look at Krissy Many, Barbara Tesa, and Barbara Matchett’s stories.
Agent Spotlight on Krissy Many
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln
This is a quote that reminds Krissy Many to strive to be her best every day.
A top-tier Agent
Krissy became a realtor in 2015 and since then has created a very successful career for herself.
Out of all the agents we have at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Green Team Krissy has been in the top 10 for the last 3 years and counting. She is very proud to have ranked 2nd in 2022’s 3rd quarter sales volume. Additionally, she has accumulated over 85 Five Star reviews on her website. This is the most that any agent in her brokerage has ever received before.
An Expert in the Business
Krissy’s BS in Economics and Masters in International Business and Marketing gives her an extra level of expertise to bring to her clients. Furthermore, while in real estate she has gone above and beyond to acquire knowledge to better assist her clients. Going on to become a Graduate of Dr. Karrass’s Effective Negotiations, Associate Broker, Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA), and a Military Relocation Professional (MRP). As well as receive her Commercial & Investment Real Estate Certification.
Krissy holds a lot of respect for Veterans as they have given so much for our country. The desire to be able to better serve Military and Veteran clientele is what inspired her to obtain her MRP. To ensure she could give them the possible representation when buying or selling real estate.
Pride in Her Work
As a Real Estate Consultant, Krissy’s main focus is to help her clients achieve their real estate goals. She provides expert coaching and teamwork and places heavy importance on communication and results. Krissy continues to be a trusted source of referrals and information for her clients long after the deal is closed.
Krissy enjoys working with many different types of clients and the challenges and problem-solving that accompany this career. The joy that comes with seeing her clients achieve their goals is unmatched.
A New Experience
Recently Krissy was presented with a new challenge, assisting an overseas buyer with their purchase and relocation to the Hudson Valley.
When asked about this experience Krissy told us:
“Due to the time difference; we mostly communicated via text & email with a few calls when we could manage it. The buyer viewed homes via video and purchased site unseen. We closed, she moved in and loves the home! But I still have no idea what she looks like.”
If Krissy can successfully take on a deal like that she can take on anything!
Furever Homes for Pets
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Green Team loves helping people find their perfect home. This time we wanted to help pets find their Furever homes as well.
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Green Team decided to host Furever Homes for Pets, a fundraiser for the Warwick Valley Humane Society. Our goal was to help get these loving animals seen and hopefully find their forever families. In addition, we aspired to raise funds and collect supplies for the shelter.
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- Adoptable Kitten
After much anticipation, the day finally came and the weather couldn’t have been more beautiful. We had so many people come out to join us and show their support! Adults and children alike were able to enjoy balloons, pictures, face painting, and goody bags for their pets. Maddie Schloika and her pup, Sven, from Warwick Wags were the star performers showing off Sven’s amazing tricks. Of course, the adorable animals from the Warwick Valley Humane Society stole the hearts of everyone there; some of which received applications for adoption! Many people who came out for the fundraiser were also kind enough to donate blankets, food, and other necessities. In addition to these donations, Furever Homes for Pets was able to raise a total of $1,530 for The Warwick Valley Humane Society.
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- Facepainting
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- Volunteers from the Warwick Valley High School
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- Picture Time
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- Furever Homes
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- More Face Painting
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- Carol & Brian
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- An Adopted Pet and his Family
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- Furever Homes
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- Sven & Maddie
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- Maddie & Sven
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- Sully and his Humans
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- Sully
Looking Sharp!
Every pet looked fabulous as they posed for portraits in front of a beautifully crafted faux house, made by Valentine Home Builders. The “house” was decorated with branded pumpkins and other stylish fall decor. The portraits were taken by Cesar Done from Home Tour Vision who donated his time and skills for this amazing cause.
We had over 40 adorable pets have their portraits taken and enter our pet portrait contest. People were able to vote on our Facebook page, @bhgregreenteam, for which pet they felt was the cutest. It was amazing to see the number of people interacting and helping choose our winners. The winners would receive a gift basket for their furry, or feathery, friend. These gift baskets were generously donated by Northern Bear Pet Food & Supplies, Coat Tails Pet Grooming, Track 7 Postal Center, and Ellen’s K9 Dog Grooming.
After one week of voting and anticipation, it was the moment everyone had been waiting for, time to announce the winners!
First Place and recipient of a Pet Basket from Northern Bear Pet and Supplies and a Gift Certificate for Dog Grooming from Ellen’s K9 Grooming was the very handsome pup, Monty! Our very adorable second-place winner Sully took home a Pet Grooming Gift Certificate from Coat Tails Pet Grooming. Last but certainly not least was our Third Place Winner, a fine feline friend, Freddie took home a 9×9 Canvas Portrait Print donated by Track 7 Postal Center!
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- Monty
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- Sully
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- Freddie
BHGRE Green Team loved being able to host such a rewarding fundraiser. It’s always important to us to interact with and support our local community. We would also like to thank all of our sponsors for helping us make this day possible. Furthermore, a big thank you to our amazing team members and awesome high school volunteers, Ryan McCormick, Melina Garby, Carrington Mask, and Keegan Armistead who came out to help this day run as smoothly as possible!
Haunted Homes: Krissy Many’s Story
Krissy Many’s Chilling Experience
Krissy Many is often asked if she has ever experienced a haunted house throughout her many years of real estate.
While Krissy believes that houses have feelings and different energies, there have been some that stand out more than others. On occasion, she has visited homes that felt so heavy she couldn’t wait for an excuse to leave; One of these experiences she shares today.
A few years ago Krissy got a request to show a new property to one of her clients. Just by looking at it, Krissy didn’t notice anything unordinary about the house. It was a flipped home that had recently been renovated and was now sitting vacant. To avoid tracking dirt through the newly finished home, Krissy and her client removed their shoes at the front door. When they started their tour Krissy took note of the minimal staging. The only furniture in the home was a kitchen table where plates, silverware, glasses, and cloth napkins were all neatly placed. It looked as if the home was waiting for a family to sit down for dinner.
As they concluded the viewing Krissy and her client returned to the front door for their shoes. While they were putting on their shoes, making small talk, a noise made both Krissy and her client freeze. They heard the clanking of dishes and the sound of silverware on glass! Krissy glanced at her client as they hesitantly made their way back to the kitchen. Alone in the home, they couldn’t think of anything which could have been making all that noise.
Upon entering the kitchen, a shiver went down her spine; one of the place settings was now amiss. The napkin had been unfolded and the silverware, that had been so neatly placed on the table, now rested on the plate. It was almost as if she and her client had interrupted someone in the middle of their lunch. With no desire to experience any more hauntings for that day, Krissy and her client quickly made their way out of the home.
Krissy isn’t alone in these experiences. She has had clients tell her about spirits that have followed them home. These clients have experienced many unexplainable events like exploding candle jars and flickering lights. While viewings can leave an impression it may not always be in a good way.
Meet Renee Williams
Renée Williams is bringing her expertise to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Green Team!
Renée began her career as a political analyst in London’s Parliament. Following that she spent nearly a decade in Private Equity as a Financial Analyst. She worked in Midtown, Manhattan, at a global real estate-oriented merchant bank, asset management, and investment company. This company was the industry leader in distressed and value-focused real estate investing. This position earned her unrivaled experience across the real estate industry.
At the end of 2019, Renée relinquished her role at C-III Capital Partners to devote more time to social impact matters. Following this, she became a part of a minority-led, technology and social impact company in SoHo, New York. Providing top millennial, corporate professionals access to philanthropic, board leadership opportunities within well-known nonprofits and foundations. While a part of this company Renée led Corporate Relations, Diversity Training, and Partnership Engagement.
An expert in her field
Renée now works as a licensed real estate advisor. With extensive experience across mixed-use commercial and residential real estate. Additionally, she has firsthand property development and interior design experience. Thanks to her nearly 10-year career in private equity investment real estate she has lots to bring to the table as a real estate advisor.
“I enjoy all the different aspects of real estate and it doesn’t feel like work.” Say’s Renée when asked about her experience as an agent.
Additionally Renée is a Political Science Graduate of Boston University and Foreign Language Studies at London School of Economics. She is also an active member of the prestigious Alumni Society. This elite network is composed of senior-level Latinx leaders who graduated from the country’s top universities.
Making a house into a home
Four years ago Renée and her husband made the decision to leave Brooklyn and to relocate to the Hudson Valley. While house hunting in Greenwood Lake, they found a hidden gem in the form of a small lakefront bungalow. This home had recently gone into foreclosure and was in desperate need of some TLC. Thankfully Renée and her husband had a vision and were ready to make it a reality. After some hard work, they had completely transformed this property. They were now proud owners of an idyllic, three-story, contemporary-modern, designer lakefront home.
Renée’s dedication to her community
Now Renée is a proud member of the Warwick Valley Rotary Club and recent graduate of Leadership Orange Class of 2022. She is happy to go above and beyond for her community and serves monthly at the Greenwood Lake Food Pantry. Furthermore, she is honored to sit as the Chairwoman of the Rumshock Veterans Foundation.
As a former nationally ranked Rhythmic Gymnast and New England Patriots Cheerleader, Renée enjoys an active life. She can often be found on new adventures and traveling with her husband and two young children.
A new team to call her own
When it came time for Renée to leave her previous brokerage she wanted to find a group that would help her achieve her goals. When she met with us at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Green Team she could tell she found her new “home”. With our entire team ready to support her every step of the way she was ready to begin her newest adventure.
When asked why she picked Green Team she said: ” I chose to make a move because I feel that at BHGRE Green Team I would receive support. I also knew that they would truly focus on my success and help me to achieve my goals. That kind of support and personal touch is difficult to find in this industry.”.”
We are so happy to welcome Renée to our team and can’t wait to see all her future accomplishments.
Green Team Celebrates our affiliation with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.
Celebrating Our New Team!
After 17 years of being an independent agency, Green Team Realty made the decision to affiliate with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. This was a huge opportunity for us to expand our horizons and take advantage of everything this amazing company has to offer. The marketing tools, as well as the special training that they provide to our agents, are hard to beat. Additionally, these tools will also help to make the real estate process all the better for our clients.
After such an exciting change we wanted to take some time to celebrate joining this fantastic company. To do so we decided to host ribbon-cutting ceremonies at both our New York and New Jersey offices.
Our Warwick offices ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by numerous members of the community as well as many of our agents and administrative team. Mayor Newhard, Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton, Assemblyman Karl Brabanec, and Executive Director of the Chamber Stefanie Keegan all came out to show their support.
Afterward, at our Vernon offices ceremony, we were joined by Mayor Howard, The Vernon Chamber of Commerce, our administrative team, and many of our sales associates. While there our CEO Geoffery Green, made a wonderful champaign toast to our new affiliation and the future of our team. Following Geoff’s speech, Mayor Howard also made his own fantastic speech congratulating us.
We are so very thankful to everyone who was there with us for this exciting occasion. Our team looks forward to showing our communities everything we have to offer.
Geoffery Green’s Speech:
Mayor Howard’s Speech:
Agent Spotlight on Tammy Scotto
“It will all work out in the end”.
Tammy Scotto is a big believer that even when there are some bumps in the road throughout a transaction, it will all work out in the end.
Having many players at the table throughout a deal can sometimes be challenging but staying on top of everything can definitely contribute to a smoother transaction.
What separates Tammy from other realtors is her communication and responsiveness to clients. She is big on communication; whether there is information to be relayed or a period of time while under contract she always keeps the line of communication open.
23 Years and Still going strong!
Tammy obtained two licenses in 1999; her real estate license and her marriage license. She is happy to report that both are still thriving. Tammy initially became a real estate agent as she had always had a passion for sales and working with people. With her marriage and the thought of children on the horizon, she knew this career enabled her to be a stay-at-home mom while working part-time. As her children grew, so did her business moving into full-time real estate.
Now with two children off to college, she has ample time to dedicate to her clients. Tammy works long days and always tries to be available for calls, from early morning right through after dinner time. Regardless of whether a client is buying or selling, it’s stressful; Tammy feels that having the ability to connect with her clients and answer questions or concerns as they arise is “priceless” and helps ease their worries.
A memorable deal.
When Tammy was asked about her most memorable real estate transaction this is what she told us:
“I recently worked with a single woman moving to Warwick from another area. We met during the summer of 2020, in the midst of covid, with a home price range of $350-450K. When we finally found a home, we had inspections done and it turned out there were structural concerns that made her uncomfortable with moving forward. My client then saw a house for 700K and asked me to show it to her. She wound up closing on that home and said to me ” See what happens when you double your budget?””
-Tammy Scotto
Pride in her work.
Tammy is proud to be able to say that each year her sales volume grows. She loves to set goals for herself every year and while she might not hit every goal, each one helps her improve her business. Tammy has her CIREC (Commercial & Investment Real Estate Certification) and while she may not have one specific specialty she does work a lot with first-time home buyers as well as many sellers. Tammy has lived in Orange County her entire life and has a vast knowledge of the Greenwood Lake and Warwick areas as well as the surrounding towns. Working with an agent who knows the area as well as Tammy does comes as a huge advantage.
While Tammy has been in the business for over 23 years she attributes the success of her current business to all the training and support given by Geoff Green. Now that we are affiliated with Better Homes & Gardens she is excited to grow her business even further.
Should I Rent or Should I Buy? [INFOGRAPHIC]
![Should I Rent or Should I Buy? [INFOGRAPHIC] | MyKCM](https://files.mykcm.com/2022/07/14124050/20220715-MEM-1046x2129.png)
Some Highlights
- It’s worth considering the many benefits of homeownership before you make the decision to rent or buy a home.
- When you buy, you can stabilize your housing costs, own a tangible asset, and grow your net worth as you gain equity. When you rent, you face rising housing costs, won’t see a return on your investment, and limit your ability to save.
- If you want to learn more about the benefits of homeownership, let’s connect today.
If You’re Selling Your House This Summer, Hiring a Pro Is Critical
It can be tempting, especially with how hot the housing market has been over the past two years, to consider selling your home on your own. But today’s market is at a turning point, making it more essential than ever to work with a real estate professional.
Not only will a trusted real estate advisor keep you updated and help you make the best decisions based on current market trends, but they’re also experts in managing the many aspects of selling your house.
Here are five key reasons why working with a real estate professional makes sense today.
1. A Professional Follows the Latest Market Trends
With higher mortgage rates, rising home prices, and a growing number of homes for sale, today’s housing market is showing signs of a shift back toward more pre-pandemic levels. When conditions change, following the trends and staying on top of new information is crucial when you sell.
That makes working with an expert real estate advisor critical today. They know your local area and follow national trends too. More importantly, they’ll know what this data means for you, and as the market shifts, they’ll be able to help you navigate it and make your best decision.
2. A Professional Helps Maximize Your Pool of Buyers
Your agent’s role in bringing in buyers is important. Real estate professionals have a large variety of tools at their disposal, such as social media followers, agency resources, and the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to ensure your house is viewed by the most buyers. Investopedia explains why it’s risky to sell on your own without the network an agent provides:
“You don’t have relationships with clients, other agents, or a real estate agency to bring the largest pool of potential buyers to your home. A smaller pool of potential buyers means less demand for your property, which can translate into waiting longer to sell your home and possibly not getting as much money as your house is worth.”
3. A Professional Understands the Fine Print
Today, more disclosures and regulations are mandatory when selling a house. That means the number of legal documents you’ll need to juggle is growing. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains it best, saying:
“Selling a home typically requires a variety of forms, reports, disclosures, and other legal and financial documents. . . . Also, there’s a lot of jargon involved in a real estate transaction; you want to work with a professional who can speak the language.”
A real estate professional knows exactly what needs to happen, what all the paperwork means, and how to work through it efficiently. They’ll help you review the documents and avoid any costly missteps that could occur if you try to handle them on your own.
4. A Professional Is a Trained Negotiator
If you sell without a professional, you’ll also be solely responsible for all the negotiations. That means you’ll have to coordinate with:
- The buyer, who wants the best deal possible
- The buyer’s agent, who will use their expertise to advocate for the buyer
- The inspection company, which works for the buyer and will almost always find concerns with the house
- The appraiser, who assesses the property’s value to protect the lender
Instead of going toe-to-toe with all these parties alone, lean on an expert. They’ll know what levers to pull, how to address everyone’s concerns, and when you may want to get a second opinion.
5. A Professional Knows How To Set the Right Price for Your House
If you sell your house on your own, you may over or undershoot your asking price. That could mean you’ll leave money on the table because you priced it too low or your house will sit on the market because you priced it too high. Pricing a house requires expertise. NAR explains it like this:
“A great real estate agent will look at your home with an unbiased eye, providing you with the information you need to enhance marketability and maximize price.”
Real estate professionals know the ins and outs of how to price your house accurately and competitively. To do so, they compare your house to recently sold homes in your area and factor in the current condition of your home. These steps are key to making sure it’s set to move quickly while still getting you the highest possible final sale price.
Bottom Line
Whether it’s following local and national trends and guiding you through a shifting market or pricing your house right, a real estate agent has essential insights you’ll want to rely on throughout the transaction. Don’t go at it alone. If you plan to sell, let’s connect so you have an expert on your side.
Give Your Career a Boost With Green Team Realty
Why joining Green Team Realty will Benefit your Real Estate Career.
Whether you are a new real estate professional or someone who has been in the business for years, choosing the right brokerage is crucial. Finding a brokerage that provides its agents with top-of-the-line technology, support, and advanced training can give you an advantage in the field and make it easier for you to create a successful business. Green Team Realty ensures that each of its sales associates receives all of those benefits and more.
Build your online presence with Green Team’s Marketing Support.
In this day and age, social media plays an important role in how a real estate agent connects with their clients. When a new agent joins the team, they receive a Welcome Blog posted to our agency’s social media platforms. Alongside the initial Welcome Blog, our agents also have the option of Meet The Agent or About Me blog. Both of these will help you build your social media presence and SEO right out of the gate.
In addition to the blog posts, Green Team continuously offers its agents a great deal of social media advertising throughout their careers, including: New/Sold Listings, Client Testimonials, Awards and Achievement blogs, designation blogs, and more. Amongst many other things
Teamwork makes the Dreamwork!
Along with a friendly atmosphere, Green Team Realty provides each agent with an extensive support system. The Agent Service Managers (ASM) and Help Desk are available every weekday to assist with any questions you may have
Green Team offers monthly social events and Small Groups which were created to allow Sales Associates an opportunity to connect with and learn from their peers.
To ensure that agents have everything they need to be successful Green Team Realty offers an extensive training program that includes:
- Sales Associate Foundation
- Video Training tutorials
- Technology Training Weekly
- Training Sessions
- Mentor Program
- Activity, Meeting & Transaction tracking
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How Green Team can give you an advantage in Lead Generation and Client Management.
One of the most important parts of starting your Real Estate career is generating leads and managing your clients. At Green Team Realty, you will be provided with many opportunities to find new leads, including Lead Routing and Uptime Shifts.:
Lead Routing allows you to receive new leads sent directly to your phone. All that you would need to do is hit accept and start getting to know your new client.
Additionally, Uptime Shifts are a great way to build your clientele. Uptime shifts are in-office hours which give you the first opportunity to speak to any potential clients that may call or stop by.
Green Team believes that it is essential to give their agents everything they need to successfully manage their client base.
Examples of some of the tools offered are:
- CRM Mobile UI.
- Email Marketing
- Event Tracker
- Google Calendar Sync.
- Projects & Transactions
- Instanet – e-doc signing right through commission statement processing.
An Office built on Support and Respect
You often hear that real estate is a cutthroat business and in some cases that may be true. Green Team Realty has worked hard to create a space where its associates can develop strong bonds and learn from their peers.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming part of the Green Team please connect with us. We would be excited to get to know you and talk about how we can help you grow your Real Estate Career.
