Story by Ann Butenas | Photography by Matt Anderson | Sponsored Content
You’ve heard location, location, location when it comes to real estate, but you should also bear in mind that agent, agent, agent is an equally integral part of the equation.
Originally from Brazil, Carol Rossi-Zabielski has called Kansas City home for 20 years. During her time here, Carol has gained considerable prominence within the real estate arena. A Realtor® who runs the award-winning RZ Team at Compass Realty Group, Carol is on the fast track to helping clients have the best experience possible when it comes to their real estate needs.
Carol first came to Kansas City to learn English and earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business and Marketing. Inspired by her experiences here, she subsequently pursued an MBA in Entrepreneurship at Park University. Although she resided in the Parkville, Missouri area throughout most of her college days, Carol relocated to the Kansas side of the state line after she married Matt Zabielski, who is also a part of her team.
Carol’s resume is as deep as it is wide, with professional experience across multiple platforms, including finance, construction project management, education, accounting, business management, and she hosts an Emmy nominated TV Show called “Selling Kansas City” for American Dream TV. When she found real estate, she felt a true sense of purpose in an arena that allows her to use all of her skillsets. Now a part of the top 1% of agents in the metro area, Carol is an in-demand Realtor® for many reasons, most notably for her tenacity, authenticity, hustle, and commitment to each and every client.
As a Realtor® and Team Leader, Carol enjoys giving clients the top-notch experience they deserve. Her style and personality are something to which so many can relate. She truly enjoys people and goes to extraordinary lengths to ensure clients’ complete satisfaction when buying and/or selling a home.
“Providing an amazing experience for clients is what I always strive to do,” she stated.
Carol’s first listing was actually her own home. Her objective was to make certain renovations to get the highest return on her investment (ROI). After putting $10,000 worth of renovations into her home, she achieved the ROI she desired and realized then that her aptitude with numbers, getting a good ROI, and her keen eye for design would work to the advantage of her clients.
“When it comes to making certain renovations in a home before listing it, many people are uncertain as to what to do,” emphasized Carol. “To me, this an area where other agents lack expertise. So many people need direction in these matters. Should I change the flooring? What rooms should I remodel? Those are the types of questions many clients have, and I can help guide them through the process to achieve the best ROI.”
In addition to helping people renovate their homes, Carol is an expert house flipper. Being an investor herself, she has a vast list of contractors for just about anything, and really enjoys guiding her clients towards building wealth through real estate.
“I accompany clients from finding the right property, through the renovation process and then list the home,” she said. “I give ideas on trends and colors, for example, giving them a design consultation, but I am not an interior designer by trade. I simply tell clients what they should do in terms of renovations in order to get multiple offers and the best ROI.”
Further, once a home is ready to sell, Carol will effectively stage it.
“For homeowners still living in the property, I do what we call a ‘room refresh’, moving furniture and adding small details to make it more appealing,” she expressed. “I have staging inventory, which is all included with my services, but can also help with professional staging.”
Unique to Compass Realty Group is the Compass Concierge program. This is a unique no-interest loan program offered only to clients. It essentially fronts the cost of all renovations and professional staging, including painting and cleaning, and the clients do not have to pay anything on this loan until they close. There are no added fees or interest payments for up to one year.
One particular client story highlights the success this program brings. This client was tasked with selling his family home of 30+ years after his mom moved out when she retired. The owner had listed her home with another agent/brokerage, but after six months, everything remained at a standstill. When the owner’s son approached Carol and her team, the program was explained to him. Carol also provided design suggestions for the listing to ensure it received the best possible ROI.
“The client applied for the Compass Concierge program and was approved,” said Carol. “They used only $5,000.00 of the approved funds to make some minor changes in the flooring, paint colors, and cleaning, We managed the contractors for the client, picked the colors and materials, and staged the property.”
The end result? After applying her unique marketing plan, Carol listed the home, which received multiple offers in the first weekend.
“Using our team and this program really works,” she said. “It’s amazing what some small updates combined with our strategic marketing plan can do. Our clients have seen incredible results.”
No matter what her focus, Carol always puts the client first. Her passion shows in everything she does.
FOR SALE: $279,950 – 2823 Wabash Ave, Kansas City MO 64128
5 bd | 4 ba | 2,850 sq ft
“I love what I do, and helping clients get the best return while also having the best experience is super important to me,” smiled Carol. “To me, it is not about the transaction. It’s about the relationship.”
Working off nearly 100% referrals, Carol is truly on the winning path. Finding solutions is her strength, no matter the situation at hand.
“I always give my clients a price as is on the market, a price to sell to investors, and a price after they make a few updates,” emphasized Carol. “Then, I allow them to determine what would be best for them and how much return they should expect. With our concierge program, it makes it easy on clients to make that decision, as they do not have to spend their money upfront and there are no fees.”
