8 minute read
Susannah MacKay
5Volunteering Tips for Successful
BY SUSANNAH O. MACKAY
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Volunteering in the community is an amazing, positive outlet and such an uplifting way to spend your time. But, for many people, it can be hard to know how to get started. Time constraints make it difficult, and sometimes it is hard to find an opportunity that is a good fit. But, with so many organizations doing good work in our community, there is sure to be a great opportunity for you. Here are five tips for making volunteer service a regular and enjoyable part of your life:
1. Give yourself some credit. You may feel compelled to get involved in the community but also feel guilty because of how little you feel you can take on. Don’t play that game! Doing even a little bit of something is better than a lot of nothing. Over time, tiny drops of water fill a glass. 2. Double dip! Volunteering doesn’t always have to be some “other” thing you do. Incorporate it into the patterns and schedule of your life. Want to find more social time? Invite a friend, or meet someone new while you’re there. Need a way to connect with a struggling family member? Go together, and serve. Looking for a fun activity for co-workers? Plan a service project. Want to do something productive during downtime at home? There are opportunities for that as well. Service can be the avenue for making other things in life better, too. 3. Keep it simple. If you are just getting started, keep it simple. You don’t have to commit to something huge. Just commit to something! Look up an organization that needs donations, and invite your neighbors to contribute, or sign up for a single shift at a one-time event. Then, you can build the habit from there. 4. Consider your passion. Be creative — find something that really sparks your interest. Is there a cause you feel strongly about or something you love to do? Consider how you could turn that skill or interest into a way to give back. From soccer to knitting, and cooking to writing, there is an opportunity for just about everything. 5. Make it automatic. The best way to keep community involvement easy is to make it automatic. Schedule a specific time in your week or month to remember to look for an opportunity. Or, when you are ready, commit to something regular you can look forward to. The less effort you put into maintaining your goal, the more likely you are to succeed.
Ready to Get Started?
Those who are active in service have been shown to have better health, greater joy and even longer life. You truly have nothing to lose. Check out justserve.org to find opportunities near you. Here are four opportunities to consider:
• Volunteer online with the Smithsonian Institution.
Looking for a way to volunteer from home? There are so many virtual options. Check out this opportunity to help the Smithsonian with their research: https://bit.ly/3hn0izf.
• Pack lunches for kids.
Looking for another way to help from home? Gather supplies and decorate lunch bags to support at-risk kids. All you have to do is drop them off when they are ready. https://bit.ly/3poU6Li.
• Help with a cemetery cleanup.
Sign up to help with a cemetery cleanup day near you. The outdoor event offers a chance to meet new people, and all ages can contribute. Beautify the community, and honor families in our area. https://bit.ly/3M9MRRj.
• Volunteer at Rise Against Hunger.
This organization works through many channels to eliminate hunger. Volunteer for a shift to help pack meals, or run a fundraiser to sponsor meals. Bring your family or co-workers for a group experience. https://bit.ly/3vlro1Q.
Justserve.org is a free, nationwide website and app that works to match volunteers with nonprofit organizations and service opportunities. If you run a nonprofit or are looking for ways to make service a regular part of your life, check out justserve.org. You can sign up for regular updates and learn more about organizations nearby, too. JustServe makes it easy to just go out and serve!
Susannah MacKay is a local JustServe specialist. She grew up in Marietta and loves helping strengthen her community through service! Follow her on Facebook @JustServeGeorgia.
PHOTOS BY RED BARYL PORTRAITS
Setting the Stage for Success
Realtor’s experience in the current market results in higher off ers, happier clients.
Lindsey Haas has grown her business to the point where it is selling almost 100 homes per year, with more than 95% of her business consisting of repeat clients or referrals. She is proud to be one of the top real estate agents in Cherokee County and, with the added numbers from her small team, one of the top in the north Atlanta market, according to MLS data.
While the numbers are impressive, it’s the personal experience that she prefers to focus on.
“We aren’t about the quantity of homes sold. It’s more about the quality of the experience,” Lindsey said. “We have truly mastered the ne art of real estate and, without our amazing back o ce, we would not be able to smoothly close all the homes that we do, with precision, and have happy clients for life. Once they go through the process with us, we have them for life as a client.”
e experience of one client sums up that Haas Team di erence. Homeowners who initially decided to sell their home to a large investor switched to the Haas Team when they learned how much money they were giving up. than they were being o ered from the investors,” she said. “ e nal closing price, minus fees and required repairs, was going to be $508,000. Using the Haas Team as the listing agent, the closing price was $575,000 and, after commission, was $547,000 — almost 15% more.”
Lindsey sold the home in one day, with one showing. And, because they used Lindsey to purchase their next home, they got a discount on the commission on the sale of their home, netting them 7% more — almost $40,000.
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
homeowner chose, Lindsey suggests homes be listed for 4-5 days, to take advantage of supply and demand. at strategy results in higher o ers, an advantage that Lindsey o ers her clients because of her level of experience.
“I understand what works in the current market; that’s why it's important to choose a Realtor with experience and production,” she said. “One great thing about Zillow is that it tracks the production of each real estate agent automatically from the MLS data, so you can truly see what they are selling and the areas they focus on. Don’t miss this critical step when choosing the right Realtor for your home.”
The Haas Team Advantage In 2017, Lindsey and Jeremy, her husband and business partner, took their successful real estate business to the next level by acquiring a warehouse, a moving truck, investing tens of thousands in decor and furniture, and hiring a full-time stager.
e experience and strategic shift immediately began to pay o for their sellers. Ordinary homes — occupied and vacant — were transformed into a canvas for buyers to visualize their dream spaces. Proper presentation makes a di erence for the seller, Lindsey said, bringing in more o ers at higher prices. at’s why they decided to o er free staging for homes priced under $800,000.
“After years of working with buyers and sellers, we saw an opportunity to elevate the experience, and maximize pro ts for our sellers,” she said. “Buyers watch transformations on HGTV; that wow factor is what they’re looking for when they shop for a new home. With our team, staging doesn’t cost anything; it’s a complimentary, vital service we provide, and it always delivers a higher sales price.”
Setting the Stage for Success Lindsey walks room to room with each client and creates a plan of action that could involve anything from necessary updates to staging. No detail is overlooked in this process, which can require bringing in just a few pieces of art, or larger pieces of furniture. Everything stays through showings, professional photography and the appraisal process.
Lindsey Haas in her warehouse of staging furniture.
Operati ons Director Shannon Bieberich has been with the Haas Team since 2017. e Haas Team’s full-time stagers and interior designer visit each client and determine what’s needed. ey visit the team’s 3,000-square-foot warehouse in Woodstock, load up the moving truck and make the delivery, putting everything in place.
“Sellers have no idea what they are missing out on with our team. We go the extra mile by helping with proper furniture placement, recommend contractors to help take care of inspection deal killers, and bring in items to transform their home to a showstopper. Everyone needs some level of staging and preparations, to maximize their return. Furniture placement and color pops are key,” Lindsey said.
Online ads generate tra c to their newly staged listings. “We draw many people to our open houses and to our listings by ads,” she said. “Many of our homes sold to someone that was not in the market to buy, but saw our ad and jumped on it. Open houses do work, and we know how to bring in the tra c and market them properly. We do them every weekend.”
Dedicated to Clients in Service Relationships are especially important to Lindsey and her team. eir desire is to treat each client like a family member, and to take every measure to assure their success. Lindsey’s team is integral to their success; she is adding more agents to provide the ultimate experience for sellers.
Operations Director Shannon Bieberichwas recently promoted. She has been working with Lindsey since 2017; Lindsey said she is the equivalent of ve employees.
“Shannon is amazing. She has a whateverit-takes attitude, and is a major part of our success in the back o ce and making our clients happy,” Lindsey said. “Shannon is key to taking the business to yet another level. We are so excited for 2022.”
