Growing Up in Real Estate
Much like our own Staten Island real expert CEO James Prendamano, Kajaal grew up around the real estate industry; however, she admits that she never thought she’d become an agent. She graduated from UC Irvine with the hopes of landing a cool corporate gig. Shortly after graduation, she landed a marketing job with Wrigley in Chicago, but was terribly bored with the 9-5 routine. In fact, she left Wrigley after just six months. However, while there, she earned her real estate license in and started off as a buyer’s agent in 2002 in Chicago. She closed 36 homes that year and says it was the most fun year she’s ever had, saying that downtown Chicago was a great place to start her career. She was there for three years, got married, and then headed back to Fremont, California in 2006 to work alongside her family, which included her mother, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The East Bay Market: A Different Animal
Kajaal says that California buyers/Silicon Valley buyers are a completely different beast. Buyers are very analytical and have a different mentality. Whether it’s a first time home-buyer or someone purchasing a second property, the investment-property mentality abounds. Everyone sees their purchase as an investment property. Kajaal started working with both buyers and sellers when she moved back to California and her clients are split about 50/50. In the unprecedented year of 2020, a year when real estate was nearly halted due to the pandemic, Kajaal closed 46 homes, which James Prendamano notes is absolutely incredible. Now in her 18th year of real estate, she has closed 51 deals so far in 2021, again, about half of them buyers, half sellers, as she previously notes.
Price Points
Kajaal Shahani firmly believes in pricing a property where it should be, as if we were not in a hot sellers’ market. She says you price the home where it should be under normal market conditions and let the market dictate and drive the price up. This will yield better results. Overpricing a home in this type of market could easily backfire and it frequently does. James Prendamano couldn’t agree more with the Staten Island market.
Social Media Tips & Social Tips
Kajaal Shahani is as genuine as they come. She is open and honest with her clients, and the proof is in the dozens upon dozens of five-star reviews and impressive testimonials she receives on Yelp and Zillow. With regard to social media, she has one account, which reflects both her personal life and her real estate business. In fact, she notes that when she tried to create a separate business account, she actually posted less content on Instagram. She keeps it real in both social media and in “real life.” Kajaal says she doesn’t like using the word “transaction” because she’s not very transactional when it comes to her clients. She says that her goal is to become part of her clients’ journeys and the changes they make in their lives. She continues, “Once you buy or sell a home with me, I will truly be open and honest with you about purchases you may make in the future. If there’s a property that I think is not a good fit for you, I will tell you and tell you why.” Kaajal connects with her clients in a deep and meaningful way. She says she is always reachable and able to provide feedback on real estate matters. That is the way she turns customers into repeat clients. Kajaal says text message is her preferred method of communication. Looking for real estate the East Bay/Silicon Valley market? Be sure to check out Kaajal’s site.
Want to learn more from this podcast? Why hand-holding is absolutely necessary for first-time buyers — and even second-time home buyers in this market??
Leave a Comment