Growing up, Keller Williams’ Amy Lester Jones had a special relationship with her grandparents. That relationship fostered a lifetime of appreciation for seniors. Hearing their stories, the history, the lessons — she has a connection and has turned downsizing seniors into her specialty.
We always have to pause and say, “Hey, World! Lester Jones doesn’t work EXCLUSIVELY with seniors. She can help anyone buy and sell, but she has created something special in working with seniors.”
Downsizing Seniors
First of all, she understands their needs.
“I like helping people, that’s what drives me, and when I’m working with someone who has lived in their house for many years, who feels overwhelmed and not sure where to start, I really enjoy walking alongside them and assisting every step of the way with whatever they need,” Lester Jones said. “To me, it’s about more than selling a house, it’s about being a trusted resource, and I can be that more when working with seniors. I find it rewarding to make their lives easier, get them the most money possible, and make selling a longtime family home as stress-free as I can.”
A lot of seniors Lester Jones helps are downsizing, some are headed out of state, and others are moving to an independent living community. Lester Jones helps all her clients sift through all their furniture, home goods, and personal items to decide what to keep and what to sell. She also has connections with estate sale companies to set seniors up for success and get the most out of what they part with.
Lester Jones said she’s stood by her client’s side and gone through spice racks, pantries, linen closets, all of it. She’s sat with them as they interview Estate Sale companies and walked their next home to help them plan their space. She knows what they’ll need if they are headed to a retirement community and is familiar with restrictions if there are any.
Once they get rolling, Lester Jones creates checklists and has even placed Post-It notes throughout the house to remind her clients of what needs to be done next. She works with a professional organizer and stager to get their home looking picture-perfect. If a house needs painting, she knows who to call. If there are things that need to be brought down from the attic, she knows a guy. It’s her husband. It’s not uncommon for them to spend the afternoon bringing down things that have been stored away for their clients.
It’s The Little Things
With any move, there are little things that come up and sellers are never quite sure who to call. With Lester Jones, it’s easy. Just call her and she’ll get it set up for you if she can’t do it herself. It’s a bit of a project manager role and Lester Jones is happy to help.
When she first gets the call to meet with the seller, and often times, their families, she sits down with them and helps them understand what exactly they need. There isn’t any singular solution so Lester Jones assesses everything and creates a plan specific to that client.
Lester Jones absolutely loves her job, but she said the one thing she loves the most is the relationships she creates along the way.
