Emotions can run high whether you’re a first-time buyer eager to create a home filled with memories or an empty nester ready to pack up and down-size. For 12 years, Kristie Lohmann has walked clients through the highs and lows of buying and selling a home. Her savviness, knowledge and determination have kept her at the forefront of her industry, and her authenticity has made her a friend to clients she’s helped along the way.
“I do what needs to be done. It can take a month or a year, but I pour my heart into what I do,” says Kristie, a RE/MAX First associate who calls Chesterfield home. “My clients and I have shared laughter, disappointment, success and tears. You get to know them and they become part of your family.”
She has built a name for herself through a remarkable level of professionalism and performance. Her continued tenacity has also earned her esteem within the RE/MAX culture. In 2023, she placed in the Top 10 of approximately 900 agents in RE/MAX of Southeast Michigan, and landed at No. 6 among 196 agents within her brokerage.
The self-described perfectionist takes pride in managing all of the work on her own, with no assistant, so clients work strictly with her. “You get me from start to finish,” Kristie promises. Her personal touch has resulted in repeat clients and referrals.
As the 2024 real estate market heats up, she offers tips for those looking to either buy or sell.
Kristie encourages sellers to list their home early – that means now – so it stands out and earns top dollar, rather than wait until the warmer season when there is more competition. “It’s all about supply and demand,” she says, and inventory is still low. “I’m also telling my buyers to start looking now before the mad rush in the Spring.”
Another suggestion, Kristie says: “Clean sells! It doesn't matter what you’re selling, whether it’s your house or grandma’s house, clean it out.” She recommends clearing out the clutter and taking down one too many pictures off the wall. Go room by room and organize, she says. Make three different piles: Keep, donate and throw away. Temporarily store things in the garage or basement, and then accent rooms with greenery and simple decor. “You want a prospective buyer to walk into the entry of your home and say, ‘Oh, wow, I want to keep going.’ Sometimes you have to soften the look of your home if you want it to sell.”
Staging is another approach – and one of Kristie’s specialties – to make a house shine. “I step back and evaluate the room and find the best way to show off the beauty.” She rearranges furniture, moves decor from another room and swaps out a rug if needed. Kristie also has resources if the home is unfurnished and needs staging.
Kristie enjoys working with all clients, particularly first-time buyers, retirees, transferees and single parents. And while new construction is appealing, she often encourages buyers to embrace the idea of reviving an older home. “If all the big stuff has been done – the roof, windows and mechanicals – decorating is the fun part. Just picture what paint can do,” she says.
In her free time, Kristie enjoys boating on Lake St. Clair and spending time with her husband and kids. She also volunteers for Meals on Wheels, the Anchor Bay Community Foundation, which helps provide scholarships and grants, and the Barbara Richards Magic Wand Fund which helps local children in need.
You can reach out to Kristie at klohmann@remax.net or (248) 568-3602. You can also read her reviews on Zillow and at klohmann.soldbyfirst.com.
