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“I know you are going to kill it,” Zander replied. “Make sure you call me when you’re done. We can celebrate.”
“Thanks, babe. I will.”
Zsanine carefully listened to the directions from her car’s GPS. She had a good idea of where the new subdivision was, but she wanted to be sure to follow the directions and arrive on time. She hated being late. It was unprofessional, and Zsanine was the consummate professional. First meetings were critically important. The foundation of a business relationship was often determined in the first few minutes of the meeting, whether you and the client jibed well, whether there was something unsundry about the potential relationship, and whether there was a mutual benefit both parties could recognize. That’s why punctuality was critical.
GPS indicated that Zsanine had arrived. She knew she was there because there was nothing else around. The new subdivision was on the outskirts of town, which made sense depending on how broadly the company wanted to expand. Space was required. Although Las Vegas proper was prime real estate for businesses, those in the real estate business understood that areas surrounding Las Vegas were optimal for living.
There were only three houses in the subdivision that were complete. They sat right near the entrance. As Zsanine looked around, she saw several houses in various stages of construction. They already had sold signs in the front yard indicating that the development pre-sold lots, a good indication of high interest in the property. After finding a place to park, Zsanine rechecked the address as she exited the vehicle. The house in the middle was the sight of her appointment. Zsanine checked her watch. She’d arrived ten minutes early, which for her was right on time.
She noticed there was one car in the driveway of the house she was entered. The landscaping in front of the house was immaculate and precise, which was a significant selling element for those interested in buying a new home. It helped potential clients visualize what their property could look like. The house itself was substantial and nicely appointed from what Zsanine could see on the outside. There were two women there to meet her after she rang the doorbell, and the door was opened.
“Good afternoon. Ms. St. Laurent?”
“Yes,” Zsanine answered. “Ms. Smith?”
“Yes, Claudine,” she replied, stepping slightly back. “And this is my sister and business partner, Clarissa Smith.”
The three ladies shook hands.
“Nice to meet you both,” Zsanine smiled.
“Please, come inside,” Claudine invited. Both sisters cleared the doorway creating a path for Zsanine to follow inside the residence. The door closed behind her.
“I thought before we officially started the meeting, we would tour the houses that are completed so you can get a sense of the layouts before we sit down and discuss the details,” Ms. Smith suggested.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Zsanine agreed. “I’ll follow your lead.”
The ladies were cordial and obviously proud of what they’d accomplished with the development and the appointments within the residences. And rightfully so. Zsanine noted the stylistic choices that were made as well as some of the more practical applications that would make living in and cleaning the residence easier. Zsanine paid attention. The kind of flooring impacted cleaning time. The square footage of the home impacted cleaning time. That was the perspective from which she viewed the residences.
“Do you have a sufficient team to take on a subdivision of this potential size along with the other contracts you have?” Claudine asked as the women toured the last home.
“I do,” Zsanine replied. “And have the ability to increase my team if required.”
“Good to know,” Clarissa added.
Zsanine noticed that for most of the tour, Clarissa was relatively quiet, taking a backseat in conversation with Claudine. The ladies returned to the first home, and Zsanine was invited to have a seat with them at the dining room table.
“So, what do you think about what you’ve seen?” Claudine asked.
“The property is beautiful,” Zsanine commented. “I was just doing some mental calculations considering the square footage of each home and what would be required to clean them properly. What is your expectation for frequency of cleaning?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Claudine replied. “I was thinking for the model homes at least twice a week when traffic increases. For the other homes that are being finalized, we were thinking of offering once-a-month cleaning as a part of the attractiveness of the property. Can your team handle that?”
“We can,” Zsanine answered confidently.
“And do you participate in the cleaning of the homes, or are you solely management?” Claudine asked.
“I consider myself a hands-on owner,” Zsanine replied. “If there is an absence, vacancy, or additional work, I like to step in and make sure the client’s needs are met.”
“That sounds like a lot,” Clarissa commented. “Running the business and doing all of that sounds like a lot of work.”
“I enjoy it, though,” Zsanine affirmed. “Besides, being an entrepreneur means you do what is necessary to ensure your business thrives. I’m sure as businesswomen, you understand?”
“We do,” Claudine chimed in, “but we also try to keep the work-life balance in balance.”
“Understandable,” Zsanine commented.
“What about you, Ms. St. Laurent? Do you like to keep the work-life balance a part of your overall plan?” Clarissa asked.
