Stephanie's Blog

After almost one year of blogging about local community and supporting small business, it's about time I spend some time promoting my own husband, Kris Kleine and his band,Category 4.  Playing locally at the EF Lane Hotel in Keene, NH as well as at some home parties and The Woodmore Campground in Rindge, NH, their band was given the "best band around" by someone who is frequently in the presence of local bands.

After trying out for American Idol and learning all about how their system works, Kris decided forming his own band and playing locally was "good enough to start" for a family guy! Their band is available to play at graduation parties, rehearsal dinner parties, large cookouts, town celebrations and weddings. They play a good mix of originals and cover 5 decades of cover songs.

Kris also runs a DJ and Karaoke business on the side, what a busy Dad he is! "On-tap DJ and Karaoke Entertainment" travels within one hour or so from Keene, NH. He's DJ's weddings and held Karaoke Christmas parties. Kris knows how to entertain and loves the spotlight! He engages the audience and teaches them line dances.  He's able to read the crowd and keep them movin'!

If you're looking for a great entertainer to compliment any event, contact Kris Kleine at kriskleine@yahoo.com . His schedule typically books several months in advanced so call early!

www.stephaniejacques.com

I've been selling real estate for 8 years in the Monadnock Region, NH and this past year I actually didn't do so bad at all, but I've never worked so hard and so smart in my life.

Transactions are so complicated that, unless you can coach people through and help them see the final outcome is still attainable, it is easy for buyers and sellers to want to quit when it just gets too tough to handle.

To help buyers and sellers deal with the impact of a potential roller coaster ride they are sometimes on, my main focus is on keeping people engaged by providing them (all stakeholders involved) necessary information in a timely manner.

Who hasn't seen a client become worried and upset because of assumptions they'd made along the way? This can easily escalate if not addressed early on. To avoid fires from starting and to create a system which keeps everyone from getting edgy, the lines of communication must be open.

One benefit I've found in using social media is it enables clients to find me and to communicate with me where they are comfortable. I have one transaction that takes place mostly over a social network site (privately) and through texting, because this is where that client "hangs out" and spends their time online.

Our clients will be defining and shaping how we do business in the future. Keeping up with communication trends is key to sustaining our own business in the future.

www.stephaniejacques.com

I recently changed my Twitter name to something more relavant, now that I'm getting the hang of it. As KeeneNHRealtor (follow me if you'd like) I am now followed by MortgageMan.

His most recent post was titled "Do First Time Buyers Need Realtors?"  and, because I work mostly with first time buyers and sellers, it peaked my interest.

At first I thought this was going to be every reason in the book why they should not hire an agent, though I could not come up with any reasons myself. As a first time buyer, it seems most crucial to have a hired expert working for you, counseling you through the process. And so I read on...

He wrote a very good blog and it is evident he can attest to the value of working on a team, a team that includes the first time home buyer, the Realtor, and himself as the lender.

Unless the first time buyer is an agent, themselves, it is in their best interest to work with someone who works in the real estate industry on a daily basis. There are so many complex issues that arise along the way, especially in this market. In the past 6 months, there has been only one transaction I can remember closing that has run into few issues before its closing.

www.stephaniejacques.com

I just realized the connection between buying/selling a house and playing a game of field hockey.

I think anyone who's played in sports games before can understand this, but it's not until you're actually buying (or selling) a home in this complicated market that you truly appreciate their interconnectedness.

As your agent, I am your coach. 

Like a field hockey coach I must keep an eye on the goal, to help you as my client succeed with your move so that you can move on with your lives.

In this game are real people, real lives. These people have hopes and aspirations. These people play hard to score so they can move forward with their lives. These people trust me as their coach and, as a result, these people often find themselves taking risks that must be taken in order to achieve a final outcome, one that is attainable and achievable through persistance, trust, perseverance and YES, some dose of stress and fear.

I hope that my clients can trust I am going to coach them to that goal. With every hurdle we've gotten closer, yet with every hurdle they feel fear and have to remind themselves of their goal.

With every hurdle, however, I see more clarity that we will get there. A real estate transaction, just like a field hockey game, is not always so challenging. Sometimes the opponent's team is uncomplicated and it takes very little to score. Othertimes we are challenged and have to reposition our players, develop new strategies to win, and celebrate our successes as small increments as we approach  our goal.

I'm asking you, my clients, to trust me as your agent. I have your goal in mind, you've shared so many of your dreams with me and I'm asking you trust me to take you through this process. You have played this right in so many ways and now the ball is in someone else's court. You'll see it go back and forth. You'll see it come back in your court.

Remember what your goals are are know that you have already played your part in all the right ways. We will get there in a very organic way, but we will get there!

Sometimes you have to take a different perspective

Like the view of a swing from a one year old's eye.

Sometimes you have to take a moment to focus on the fine detail,

and look at something closer than you've ever looked at it before

To be grateful for all the beauty life has to offer

that goes unnoticed

to all but those who pay attention.

Sometimes you have to change your position to see the other side

And you wonder why you'd never looked at it

quite that way before.

Sometimes you have to ask for the support of others

To help you achieve your goals and dreams.

I'm not afraid to try new things

or use a different lens

When asked to share my experience at Antioch University, I didn't think I could

But through using a different lens above

I've found the way I should.

This blog is meant to thank everyone invovled in my life during the past two years.

I didn't think I would ever make it through grad school, but I did and it's because of all of your support!

Thank you, greatly!

Stephanie

It was wonderful, and I had the entire blog article well thought out including title title, links, images ...and it flowed.

But something happened.

On my way into work today I made some stops. First stop, daycare. Second stop, preschool. Then something distracted me and I found myself deeply into a parenting magazine left for me in my daughter's cubby. Very quickly, everything I had held in my mind was lifted away. In a way it felt good. I had a feeling, for a moment, of  not having any responsibilities. Nothing nagging at me, weighing on me. Nothing I had to do...but then as I began searching in my mind for that wonderful blog idea, I couldn't retrieve it.

As I sit here this morning, I'm having a tip of the tongue experience. Something will have to trigger it back. Next time I'll make some notes.

Writing a good blog takes emotion, passion, and a great story

I had it, trust me. It began last night while I was sleeping and I put together thoughts from events that had occured during the past few days. There is so much on my mind these days, graduating from Antioch University, an upcoming closing, several buyers quite active in the market, some short sale challenges and my family.

When it comes back to me, I'll be sure to post. Enjoy the day - maybe I should enjoy this carefree moment too.

www.stephaniejacques.com

I just went to a pediatric appointment with my son at Cheshire Medical in Keene, NH. Our pediatrician was curious about my degree at Antioch. Her inquiry led to an offering to join a committee involving parents and staff. One of their goals is to figure out what social media is all about and how to implement it to connect with their patients.  I begin to see how it can be used in their organization as I spoke with her and I handed her my contact information.

Point is, major businesses and organizations are "getting it" or trying to "figure it out" by now.

If not, they will soon.

In a Google world where being first to claim a certain niche market using certain keywords will keep you on top (if you're first at it and persistent), why not try and figure it out with the rest of them?  

By the way, analogy here, her inquiry to me as a client, led to her learning something valuable that could benefit both she and her organization and was aligned wtih my interests. If we are curious and open to learning what others can offer us, just think of how far we can go and how easy it can be to build relationships online.

Second analogy, she inquired about me offline- face to face, but what she's doing is what people are doing about us online using Google, finding out more about us on their own. Knowing who their potential agent is all about allows people to decide whether or not they wish to choose that agent.

This is why it's so important to take some time to learn about how social media is being used. It's not just the younger generations, trust me on this!

www.stephaniejacques.com

Something great has happened since I've started my blog, people who read it already know me- or so it seems when we first meet. Sometimes it actually takes me a little by surprised how open they are from the start. Whatever happened to developing rapport for trust? Much of it has already occured when they took some time to read what I've written online.

People are looking for ways to connect. By providing a little insight to the world about my interests, hobbies, and about interesting news or knowledge about my industry I give readers a reason to connect.

I was recently asked what the return was on the time I invest using social media. I have to say this is hard to measure. How do I measure success? For me, success is when someone chooses my service because they found me online. But it goes farther than that, success to me also occurs when something I've shared helps others achieve.  I strongly believe that building community relations and working together to help each other achieve success in our careers is what drives me to participate in social media.

I not only believe that, I've made it my mission. To see how I've included my mission on my website, visit www.stephaniejacques.com . Thanks for reading.

1. You can hike Mount Monadnock anytime, the second most hiked mountain in the world.
2. The annual Pumpkinfest draws 10s of thousands of people every year.
3. There are so many things to do for young families!
4. Skiing is 10 minutes away!
5. Are you a horse person? We have new england's best tack and feed shop!
6. Keene State College and Antioch University are both in the same town!
7. Voted one of the ten great places to raise a family!
8. Small city, large town feel with a village like attitude!
9. Affordable housing for the first time buyer.
10. Four Seasons!

Connecting through Social Media

Because of the high level of interest I received for my Social Media Marketing workshops through Hannah Grimes Center this season, I'm offering  classes on social media marketing through the KSC continuing education department in the late summer and again next fall.   

There will be two separate classes. 

Below are topics I will address.

Social Media and Business:

•Ø  Brand yourself on the web through the use of social networks and blogging

•Ø  Learn the culture of the Web 2.0 world

•Ø  Research and connect with your niche market

•Ø  Help you overcome the fears of the Web 2.0 technology!

•Ø  Examine social media tools being used by professional and large corporations

•Ø  Learn the importance of links and how to strategically create links

•Ø  Develop a social media marketing plan

Social Media and the Non-profit:

• Fundraising for the non-profit using social media tools.

Please email me or contact me directly if you have any questions about a class or if you would like a training held in your organization.

Stephanie Jacques