Page 100 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2022

HOME & GARDEN
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
A CATALYST FOR
Change is inevitable, but it’s how we respond to change that defines us.
“Everything is changing,” says Holly Lemoine-Raymond, the face of HL Raymond Properties. “The market is changing, the way we do business is changing, but it's up to us how we move with that change.”
COVID-19 has created a ripple effect within every industry. A surprise to many in real estate, the pandemic caused a dramatic uptick in home sales – a direct contrast to the stagnant market that many feared was on the horizon in early 2020. “Faced with an increase in demand and a decrease in one-on-one communication, we, like many others, learned to adapt to the new normal.”
For those in real estate, that “new normal” meant a distinct lack of the personal touch that Raymond and her agents
are so well known for. “We like getting to know our clients, spending time with them, and catering our services to fit their individual needs,” Raymond said. “But with restrictions in place, we realized we needed to change the way we communicated with our clients without losing that personal connection.”
During the pandemic, HL Raymond Properties shifted gears and began offering tours virtually. “With this kind of technology in our back pocket, we were able to continue showing homes safely, while still giving our homebuyers the positive experience they deserved. After all, a home is one of the most important purchases they will make, and we wanted to ensure that process was still special for them.”
While it wasn't perfect, going virtual was the best way to help people through the home buying process for many
100 | March 2022
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