Site agents Kim Worbington and Christine Steeghs have worked together at ICI’s new community Old Mill Branch, located off Gate Parkway, for seven months.
HOW DID THEY BECOME A TEAM?
Steeghs had been with ICI for about three months and was looking for a partner to share responsibilities with at the Old Mill Branch model. “Kim was the perfect candidate,” said Steeghs. “We met her at ICI function and got to know her. She made a very good impression and someone that I really liked. We actually hunted her down to come work for us.”
BEFORE ICI?
Worbington had been with Watson for two and a half years in the corporate relocation department and Steeghs was with Bestcon Inc., a private builder at the beach. She did a lot with the engineering and getting the house ready to be built. “I learned a lot about the building industry from that job plus I have a sales background before that,” said Steeghs. “I have over 10 years in sales. I used to do outside sales for child development programs and then I worked in jewelry for over five years.”
HOW DO YOU LIKE BEING A SITE AGENT RATHER THAN GENERAL SALES?
“We have a set schedule, but the best thing about it is since we are partners, we can work with each on days off and we are able to have somewhat of a life,” said Steeghs. “We get to meet a lot of different people and work with the general sales agents as well. General sales agents are generally on call 24 hours a day for their buyers and we have business hours you are able to have a family life. There are benefits to both, but for me, this works best.”
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“When I started looking into site sales and real estate it seemed like such a cushy easy job, but there is so much more to it,” said Worbington. “We do all of the marketing for our community which is a lot of work. We do all of our flyers, calling real estate agents to let them know what times we are out here and distributing the flyers on a monthly or bimonthly basis. One will stay in the house and hold the fort down, while the other is out networking and getting the flyers out.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“One of the things I like is being able to work with customers one on one,” said Worbington. “When I was with Watson, I was on the phone counseling with people and never got to meet them in person. I actually had to match them up with a real estate agent and let them take them out and at the end I would find out what happened. So, I wasn’t in the most important process where they actually get to make that decision on which house they are going to buy. Here, I am part of that most important process and get to help them find the perfect house.”
STRENGTHS EACH OF YOU BRING?
“I would say I am strong in marketing from my past experience with Watson,” said Worbington. “I also have a degree in marketing and business from University of North Florida. I’m a very personable person, have good people skills and am very detailed oriented.”
“I would also say marketing, because of my sales experience,” said Steeghs. “I love sales. I love the challenge of getting the sale and convincing them and proving to them that we are better than our competition. We do have a lot of competition out there.”
STEEGHS: HOW DOES YOUR CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND HELP?
“When the buyers are out there on the site and the house is in framing, the buyers have questions on why hasn’t my house been started. I can tell them that it’s in engineering and what that means. When they are not seeing action out there, they want to know what’s going on. I know the process before it actually starts being built and can tell them where it’s at and what’s going on.”
WHAT PRICE POINT DO YOU SELL?
$214,000 and up.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT SELLING AS A TEAM INSTEAD OF ALONE?
“I think everyone should work as a team in site sales because there really is no competition between us,” said Steeghs. “We are one. When I am working with someone and I’m off for two days and they come in and buy, it’s our sale. We share commissions. There are a lot of benefits to being in a partnership including scheduling and income.”
“It’s good because if you are off one day, you don’t have to worry about losing the sale,” said Worbington. “You are both involved in everything. It’s an awesome way to work. It really is balanced. I’ll do a contract and then she’ll do a contract. It has just worked out that way.”
HOBBIES
Steeghs lives in Ponte Vedra. When she’s not working, she enjoys going to the beach and collecting shark’s teeth while spending time with her family. Worbington enjoys spending time with her husband and taking their yellow Labrador on walks and to the beach when she is not working.
FAMILY
Steeghs is married and has a daughter, Lauren, who is six. Worbington also is married.
FAVORITES
Steeghs’ favorite movie is “Curly Sue.” A book that she would recommend is “Building Wealth.” When relaxing at home, she enjoys tuning into “Ally McBeal.” When traveling, Steeghs likes to go to her husband’s homeland, Holland and when dining out she enjoys Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Ruth’s Chris.
A recent movie Worbington saw and would recommend was “The Sweetest Thing.” A book she would recommend is “Raving Fans.” When relaxing at home she enjoys reruns of “Seinfeld.” Worbington enjoys visiting the Caribbean while on vacation and when dining out locally, she enjoys Outback Steakhouse.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis