Sellers find success with client-focused company: ‘It’s about helping people’

Selling a home is a process that often uncovers unexpected challenges ranging from costly repairs to emotional attachments that can make it difficult to leave a home. Whatever situation sellers find themselves in, they can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from working with the House Buyers KC team and their easier, more efficient and client-focused approach to real estate.

Denise Canon and her husband, Milling, read about House Buyers KC in the Kansas City Star and reached out to them about selling their longtime Lenexa home.

“I was really moved by [the Star stories] and really liked the make-up of the company,” Denise said. “I felt comfortable that they would be in charge of the home we raised our kids in.”

The House Buyers KC team doesn’t take the responsibility of selling a home lightly. The process begins with an in-person meeting in which House Buyers KC learns more about the seller and any possible challenges. During that initial consultation, the team also conducts a thorough evaluation of the property to determine any repairs or updates that need to be made.

This is often a huge relief to homeowners who are worried that the current condition of their home may prevent it from selling. Two Overland Park clients recently found themselves in a similar situation. The home needed to be sold quickly to finance the homeowner’s move to an extended care facility, yet the process came to a halt when their real estate agent discovered some possible issues with the home.

“The agent reached out to House Buyers KC because of the condition of the home,” said Kyle Walchshauser, sales acquisition, House Buyers KC. “The foundation had quite a bit of settlement. And the roof was two layers of shingles and one layer of shake. The homeowner had been there awhile — since 1979.”

Once the evaluation is complete, the cost of a home’s repairs and updates — along with an analysis of the selling price of similar homes in the surrounding neighborhood — is used to create House Buyers KC’s offer to the seller. Once the offer is accepted, closings usually happen in less than a month, compared to the more than 45-day closings that are a typical part of the traditional selling timeline.

Then, the House Buyers KC team oversees any repairs or updates that are made to the home. Typical projects include modernizing kitchens and bathrooms, creating more open layouts and, in the case of the Overland Park home, making foundation and roof repairs. Then, the updated home is listed for sale.

House Buyers KC’s incredible success rate, commitment to each client and willingness to work with sellers in challenging situations has been a big hit with sellers throughout the Kansas City area. As a result, House Buyers KC Manager Chad Lower has expanded the team throughout the year, starting last December with Katie Mason, office admin. She’s thrived in the family-like atmosphere and loves an opportunity to juggle different roles and responsibilities.

“We get down to business, but we also have a great time,” she said. “I’m glad I get to be part of something that’s growing.”

Walchshauser joined House Buyers KC in February and continues to make an immediate and memorable impact on the company’s clients. The House Buyers KC team also includes Brent Smith, a project manager who joined the company on May 1; and Jane Boyd, a part-time office admin and University of Missouri-Kansas City student, who joined House Buyers KC in June. Tom Bell, sales acquisition, became a part of the team in August to professionally pursue a longtime interest.

“Real estate investment is something I’ve always wanted to do, but it’s risky to go out on your own,” Bell said. “I talked to similar investors and felt Chad was transparent about the business — honest and upfront. There’s been a lot for me to learn, but it’s easier with an office full of people.”

Despite the flurry of growth, Lower and his team have maintained a laser focus on delivering an exceptional client experience, which includes working closely with each client to understand their challenges and concerns, then doing what they can to alleviate them.

“People want to know that their homes are cared for like they did or wanted to,” Lower said. “It’s about helping people, doing something we love and making a difference.”

That approach not only delivers successful closings to sellers, but also leaves a lasting impact.

“It’s nice to work with people with hearts and souls who care about my home,” Denise said. “We had talked to other companies before House Buyers KC, but they were all transactional. They don’t have the emotion and heart of House Buyers KC.”

This story was originally published November 10, 2017 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Sellers find success with client-focused company: ‘It’s about helping people’."