Giving Back to KC: Supporting Community Causes

One of the pillars of Cami Jones Collaborative is giving back and supporting local causes that we care about. We know we are blessed beyond measure with family, friend and a successful real estate business. What better way to celebrate our successes than by giving back? We thought we’d profile a few areas and organizations where we have chosen to spend our time.We have supported the Shadow Buddies Foundation, participated in Red Nose Day and fed the homeless at Micah Ministry. Most recently, we are looking forward to sponsoring the Callyn’s Course for Hope.

Supporting a Cure for Childhood Cancer: Callyn’s Course for Hope

Callyn’s Course for Hope is special evening all about wine and raising money for childhood cancer. On August 25th, attendees will receive the Riedel VERITAS tasting set which features four grape varietal specific wine glasses. Bar service and light hors d’oeuvres to follow.All proceeds to to Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. The event takes place on Saturday, August 25, 2018, from 7 until 10pm at Ironhorse Golf Club in Leawood, KS. Cami Jones Collaborative is honored to be a presenting sponsor of this important event.

Supporting KC’s hungry: Micah Ministry

Micah Ministry provides dinner and essential personal articles to more than 700 people on an average Monday evening. This urban ecumenical feeding program relies on volunteers to serve the poor and needy in the historic Northeast area of Kansas City, Missouri.There are no lines to stand in here — guests are invited to sit at a table and be served their meal similar to a sit down restaurant. In addition to waiting on tables volunteers also shop for guests from the clothing pantry. For examples if they need toiletries or footwear you’ll go to the pantry and bring the items back to the guest.It was our team’s pleasure to spend a Monday evening at Micah Ministry. There were many different job assignments for the volunteers to choose from! It’s so rewarding, we will be going back.

Supporting Childhood Illness: Shadow Buddies

Since 1995, The Shadow Buddies Foundation has been bringing smiles, hope and companionship to medically challenged children across the country and around the world in the form of cuddly, plush Buddies.Shadow Buddies are a representation that your child, regardless of any illness they may have, is never alone, that they can proudly proclaim they have a friend “just like me.” We were able to provide 200 children at Children’s Mercy with a personal “Buddy.” Each Buddy mimics the child’s illness, i.e.) a Buddy with an insulin pump will go to a diabetic child or a Day Surgery Buddy will go to a child having outpatient surgery. They are valuable when used as teaching tools as well useful for friends and family.Hope, compassion and friendship is what this is all about! We had the pleasure of working to create these one-of-a-kind buddies which would find their way into the arms and hearts of sick kiddos. We will continue supporting our local neighborhoods and schools and look forward to being visible community partners. With Cami Jones Collaborative our commitment to community doesn’t stop when the sale closes!

Meet Sara Noble: Our Featured Design Partner!

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Sara Noble and the Noble Designs team! Sara will be guest blogging for us each month on things like up-to-date design trends, decor and more. We’re excited to pair up with one of the best designers in town! Sara has been designing for lucky Kansas Citians for 16 years and has grown her company to include a team of five designers plus additional staff. We absolutely love her modern classic design aesthetic. Sara says, “I think it’s important to ground your space with some classics but equally important to add in a fresh twist so it stays current.” We couldn’t agree more. Think classic with a punch, simple but elegant. Another thing we love about Sara’s sensibilities is that even though she adds fresh twists to stay current, her designs are really timeless and her homes and spaces are designed to last.

Sara Noble’s Inspiration

We asked Sara where she draws her inspiration. She said, “Inspiration is everywhere. I am a certified Instagram junkie. Pinterest has good ideas as well. And then we travel for fun and for work. The market at High Point (North Carolina) is always inspiring and builds up our enthusiasm!” She also notes being inspired by fashion, photography and style icons Jacqueline Kennedy and Kansas City’s Kate Spade.

Sara’s Family…in her own words

“I have two kids who are currently racing around preparing for finals which kills their mother who would prefer they didn’t wait until the last minute. My daughter, Eleanor, will be a senior next year and is heavily involved in volleyball. My son, Andrew, will be a sophomore and loves soccer. They are good kids and most days I’m happy to not only claim them but show them off. My boyfriend Vince works as an appraiser. It allows for a good mix of conversation on design and finance and how the two affect each other. My parents are two doors down, and I’m happy to report that I love it! They are easygoing, supportive and always ready to make cocktails. My brother and his two kids aren’t far away either, which is great.”

Tell us about YOUR home!

It goes without saying that everyone want to know about the designer’s home! What does it look like? (Same thing goes for chefs…everyone wonders what they cook when at home and what sort of appliances are used!) “I built a home in Olathe 4 years ago near my kids’ school. I love it. It’s not huge, and like any home, I have things I wish I could have afforded, but the style is all me. I have a white colonial home on the outside and made the inside more modern with an offset fireplace that has sleek marble floor to ceiling. I have some bright wallpaper on the kitchen wall and fun, interesting lights everywhere. My next move will be downtown when the kids are out of high school. I’m excited to build something for a different life phase.”We also asked Sara to tell us 3 inexpensive things that homeowners can do to transform or update a room. Here’s what she said:

Paint – One of the cheapest and most dramatic transformations. We are seeing light colors becoming more and more popular.
Fresh Flowers – Trader Joe’s is my secret weapon. You can buy a cheap bunch of flowers and then snip some greenery from your bushes at home to mix in.
Lighting – Really this should be #1, lighting is the most important thing you can do to transform a room. However I’m not sure I would put this in the inexpensive category. Lighting is so important I think it’s where you should start with your budget and it’s where you should be willing to splurge. (See our previous post on lighting.)

She said that if she had to come with another inexpensive update, she would go with new kitchen towels! “There are so many fun patterns now and people forget how gross their old ones get.”

How Sara will help Cami’s clients through our blog:

“I am thrilled to be working with Cami and her team. We love the homes she sells. So anytime we get to peek at one, we get a good look at the Kansas City market and those who care about their homes. I hope to share some fun tips with everyone and remind them that sometimes it makes sense to bring in a professional. We are ready to share with you what we can do!”Be sure to bookmark our blog and check back often as Sara will be contributing content each month and give us tips and trends on all things decor and design! Like what you see? Follow Noble Designs on Instagram at @nobledesigns! Look for the crown!

Welcome to Cami Jones Collaborative!

As a principal of Jones-Plattner & Associates, Cami Jones has been instrumental in creating a $100 million-plus powerhouse comprised of the area’s top-producing real estate professionals. The team was one of ReeceNichols’s most successful. Fast forward to today: Cami has created a new boutique real estate experience for Kansas City. Cami Jones Collaborative promises a flexible and dedicated team working together to ensure that every property garners the attention it deserves.Through innovative marketing strategies, professional photography, first class staging services, and fearless negotiation skills, we handle every step of the transaction, working quickly and efficiently until your goals are met.You’ll recognize familiar faces on our team; we bring decades of real estate experience to the table and are anxious to help you with your purchase or sale. We have an intimate understanding of the housing market and will be with you every step of the way!

Our team:

Cami Jones:

As a principal of Jones-Plattner & Associates, Cami Jones has been instrumental in creating a $100 million-plus powerhouse comprised of the area’s top-producing real estate professionals. Cami is please to bring youCami Jones Collaborative, ReeceNichols. You’ll find:A Boutique ExperienceA small team focus means a one-on-one relationship with Cami and her entire team throughout the transaction. You’ll have six of the city’s top-producing power-players taking care of you from beginning to end.Concierge ServiceCami offers more in-depth services than the average agent. She sets up every detail your transaction requires to deliver a bespoke, full-service experience that is quick and efficient, minimally stressful, unbelievably fun, and achieves stellar results.Kansas City PrideCami Jones’ deep Kansas roots allow you to work closely with someone who is woven into the fabric of the community. She knows the area and she knows how to find your perfect fit.Contact Cami directly: camij@reecenichols.com

Rebecca Kyger:

Becca’s considerable business and sales background has earned her numerous accolades that speak to her matchless business savvy, tenacious work ethic, and the meaningful relationships she builds with every person she meets. Becca credits her professional experience with having taught her the finer points of providing value to customers, a personal mission that can be summed up as service, service, service!Becca’s enthusiasm and dedication to the wants and needs of her clients gives them the confidence to call her again and again, even if it’s many years down the road. They know exactly who to call when they have a need.Becca lives in south Overland Park, Kan., with her husband John, her two sons Paxton and Briggs, and dog Tito. Contact Becca here: rkyger@reecenichols.com

Mandy Doull:

Real estate is in Mandy Doull’s genes. Raised in the Kansas City area by parents who both work in the industry, Mandy was exposed to the complexity of the real estate world from a young age. She can proudly say real estate isn’t solely her job—it’s her calling.“I love my hometown and truly want my clients to feel the same way when they find a home in a community that is perfect for them,” Mandy says. “My goal is not to just sell you a house. It’s to find you the right house that I know I can sell for you again.”Mandy lives in Stilwell, KS, with her husband and four children. Contact Mandy: mandydoull@reecenichols.com

Missy Hutton:

The consummate entrepreneur with a brilliant eye for both style and substance, Missy brings something special to the Cami Jones Collaborative team. Whether it’s working behind the scenes of a staging, managing a marketing campaign or assisting a family with the final details of their closing, Missy does it all and she does it with flair.“Throughout the years, my commitment to providing exemplary service and focus on building long-lasting relationships have been the keys to my success,” Missy says. “My focus will always be listening to my client’s desires to help them achieve the happiness that comes with finally finding their perfect home in this great city.”Missy lives in Overland Park, Kan., with her family. When she’s not working with you on your transaction, you can find her on the sidelines cheering on Kansas City’s sports teams, singing along at concerts or jetting off to her next travel destination. Contact Missy: missyhutton@reecenichols.com

Stacy Vollmar:

A self-proclaimed detail-oriented person, Stacy’s expertise also lies in providing you with the education you need to make the best decision possible for your life and family. Her attention to detail does not end after the papers are signed. It’s her job to not just to get you to the finish line—it’s to help you find your happily ever. And help you find it she will.With an extensive background in sales, marketing and entrepreneurship, as well as over 15 years of experience in real estate, Stacy’s philosophy revolves around passion, new beginnings, and opportunities.Stacy lives in Overland Park, KS. When she’s not stopping by for one of her famous “pop-by’s”, you can usually find her hopping a plane to her next big travel destination, sipping on a latte in one of her favorite coffee shops, and generally enjoying everything the thriving Kansas City scene has to offer. Contact Stacy here: svollmar@reecenichols.com

Christine Carlson:

Christine Carlson is the unfailing backbone of Cami Jones Collaborative.As your official transaction coordinator, Christine is responsible for making sure that every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed, ensuring that, when it comes to your home, every detail of your transaction is carried out impeccably.“My goal is to be the person with the answers,” she explains. “And if there aren’t any, I’ll be the one to find them.”Christine lives in Olathe with her husband and two daughters. Contact Christine: christinec@reecenichols.com

Happy Thanksgiving 2017

Thanksgiving is a great opportunity for us to reflect on how grateful we are.We are blessed with the best clients in the world and we are honored to share in your most important and memorable moments! The day you close on and move into your new home isn’t one you’ll ever forget. Thank you for trusting us to help you, whether you are buying, selling or both. Your home purchase is likely the biggest purchase of your life and we’re honored to be a small part of it. We have many repeat clients, and it truly is fun seeing you move to different properties as you enter different stages of your lives!We are blessed with the hardest-working real estate team around. Each person on our Cami Jones Collaborative team demonstrates on a daily basis how she will go the extra mile to make it all happen. We support one another and cheer on each other’s successes — what a team! If you’re new to Kansas City, just ask around. People know that with Cami Jones Collaborative, you’ll get knock-your-socks-off customer service from the first time we meet until long after your closing date!We are thankful for our amazing city. Kansas City is home to so many wonderful people, unique neighborhoods, awesome restaurants, terrific sports teams and so much more. It’s so much fun introducing out-of-town transplants to KC- we know you’ll love it as much as we do!We are thankful for good health, families and friends. Without these, nothing else matters!Wishing you and yours a wonderful, restful holiday and a great long weekend! Happy Thanksgiving! Congratulations to our local high schools that are playing for football state championship titles! Good luck!

5 Things You’ll Love About Overland Park, Kansas

Whether you already live in Overland Park or are planning to move there in the near future, it’s a terrific city and we move a lot of real estate there! It’s no wonder- the city ranks high on many lists for livability, affordability and culture. With an estimated population of 187,699 and a location only 20 minutes from downtown Kansas City, it’s easy to see why so many call on us to help make Overland Park their home!

The Schools. Overland Park residents enjoy a high quality of life. As the city grows older, it is becoming increasingly diverse, and that diversity adds to an amazing public school system. The Blue Valley School District serves most of Overland Park, and all 5 Blue Valley high schools made it onto the Washington Post’s list of most challenging high schools in the U.S., as well as onto the Newsweek list of top American public high schools. Blue Valley SAT scores routinely exceed the national and state averages—sometimes by as much as 300-400 points (ReeceNichols.com).
The Sports. Overland Park is home to the nationally-recognized Scheel’s Soccer Complex, which boasts 12 lighted, regulation size synthetic turf fields and offers a cooling system to control the temperature of the turf plus many more amenities. The city hosts tournaments year-round. Topgolf is a new golf entertainment experience, and folks can enjoy the 102 climate-controlled hitting bays, a restaurant, and 3 bars year-round! Blue Valley Recreation recently opened a new Recreation Center at Hilltop on 143rd Street. The 100,000+ square foot facility offers fitness classes, basketball and volleyball leagues, practices and open court, dance classes, special populations activities, enrichment programs, pickleball, and 55 GO (ages 55 and up) programs offered along with drop-in facility usage.
The Business Opportunities. It’s home to many large employers (think Sprint, YRC Worldwide and Black & Veatch, for example). Technology continues to drive the make-up of the businesses in many different industries such as healthcare, financial services, and marketing, with College Boulevard serving as a main artery for many businesses.
The Outdoors. Overland Park has a wonderful Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, which even has spectacular programming in the winter. In addition, there are many biking and walking trails, and many neighborhoods boast their own paths and lakes. Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is a real highlight, and draws visitors from all over the metro. The Farmstead is open daily, April 1- October 31, and has nearly 200 animals and birds of prey, vegetable and flower gardens, a one-room country schoolhouse, an old-time fishing pond, pony rides and more.
The Food. Overland Park (like all of Kansas City!) has become a destination for foodies. The city boasts a ton of delicious Indian restaurants and ethnic markets, and other favorites include Jack Stack Barbeque (95th & Metcalf), J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks (92nd & Metcalf), SPIN Neapolitan Pizza (multiple locations) and Q39 (second location coming soon to College Blvd and Antioch).

There’s lots to love- give us a call today and we’ll help you find your dream home in Overland Park!

JPA- delivering the best experience for our clients, every time!

Don’t just take our word for it, we have received some pretty wonderful comments and testimonials from our clients over the years! We love receiving your feedback, and it helps us to know what we’re doing well (and do more of it!) and also where we need to make adjustments. In the end, it’s all about giving you, our clients, the absolute best home buying or selling experience imaginable. Period. See what your fellow Kansas Citians have to say about #JPA!J.C.: “We love #JPA and love working with Amy Loehr who will hopefully help us find a great new home this year! Our mortgage lender is pretty nice too!”V.C.: “We had the best experience with Gwen…she helped us find the perfect plan and lot for our family, and was there throughout the building process. It helps to have someone so sweet and fun to be around during a sometimes stressful process!”C.M.: “So many wonderful things so say about our experience with JPA. Rebecca Engel Kyger worked so hard during the purchasing of our dream house, we felt like we were her only client! She hand-held us through every step and was always there with recommendations and suggestions when we needed help or got a little lost. Becca and JPA are rockstars!”C.G.: “Rebecca Engel Kyger was a superstar! She went above and beyond selling our house & getting us into our new home. We would highly recommend her and the JP&A team:)”G.D.: “…in an expedited cycle, she found 3 homes that all fit my criteria, including the perfect house for me and my girls. She did an awesome job during the search and all the way through to my eventual purchase and closing.”K.L.: “Thank you #JPA and Mandy Linsin Doull for helping us sell our home and purchase our beautiful new home! Mandy is amazing and made the experience so easy!”C.M.: “#jpa when I’m ready there is no one else I would use. You ladies rock!”C.B.: “We had a great experience! Love Cami Brazil Jones!”R.M.: “We had a great experience with Cami & Jen building our new home! Simple and easy…”Let us put our experience to work for you! Kansas City’s spring housing market is hot and properties are moving fast. We are seeing multiple showings (and offers) on Day 1– so it pays to have an experienced real estate professional on YOUR side! Make your dream a reality and we’ll be there every step of the way. Give any one of us at Cami Jones Collaborative a call today and we’ll get to work! Like our blog? Click here to see past posts on buying, selling, staging tips and much more!

2016- Quite a year for the Jones-Plattner & Associates team!

The numbers are in, and 2016 was quite a year for all of us at Cami Jones Collaborative! The listings, purchases, referrals…we couldn’t have done any of it without YOU! Thank you to our loyal clients, friends, family and colleagues. Thank you for trusting us to help you, whether you are buying, selling or both. Your home purchase is likely the biggest purchase of your life and we’re honored to be a small part of it.We know we have the hardest-working real estate team around. Each person on our Cami Jones Collaborative team demonstrates on a daily basis how she will go the extra mile to make it all happen. We support one another and cheer on each other’s successes- what a team! So- how did things shake out in 2016?

- 166 homes sold by our team!
- $66 million in transactions posted by our team!
- We added new members to our amazing team in 2016.
  - Adriene Marks joins us as a new Realtor.
  - Christine Carlson is a Transaction Coordinator for our agent team members.
  - Stacy Vollmar is our new Team Leader.
  - Jen Weaver serves as Team Trainer.

We are thrilled with our new additions and know that they will make a huge impact on JPA in 2017 and beyond.REALTrends.com listing of America’s BEST Real Estate Agents has our JPA team listed at #10 by volume for Kansas: $48,428,052 for 2015! REAL Trends is a consulting and communications company for the residential real estate industry and has been widely known as the trusted source for data, news, and trends for the residential real estate industry.

Happy Holidays from Cami Jones Collaborative

It’s hard to believe that the holidays are upon us…this year has Hanukkah beginning on Christmas Eve…and the New Year isn’t far behind! We’ve got many team members, clients, family and friends who will hit the road for celebrations, so please be safe, everyone! Our messages of Thanksgiving still ring true:

To our clients, thank you for trusting us to help you, whether you are buying, selling or both. Your home purchase is likely the biggest purchase of your life and we’re honored to be a small part of it.
To our team- we are blessed with the hardest-working real estate team around. Each person on our Jones-Plattner & Associates team demonstrates on a daily basis how she will go the extra mile to make it all happen. We support one another and cheer on each other’s successes- what a team!
To our amazing city– Kansas City is home to so many wonderful people, unique neighborhoods, awesome restaurants, terrific sports teams and so much more. It’s so much fun introducing out-of-town transplants to KC- we know you’ll love it as much as we do!
To our family and friends, thank you for supporting us in what can be a crazy, hectic and fast-paced career that we all love!

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season filled with good health, family, friends and endless joy!

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Cami Jones Collaborative

Thanksgiving is a great opportunity for us to reflect on how grateful we are.We are blessed with the best clients in the world and we are honored to share in your life-changing moments! The day you close on and move into your new home isn’t one you’ll ever forget. Thank you for trusting us to help you, whether you are buying, selling or both. Your home purchase is likely the biggest purchase of your life and we’re honored to be a small part of it.We are blessed with the hardest-working real estate team around. Each person on our Jones-Plattner & Associates team demonstrates on a daily basis how she will go the extra mile to make it all happen. We support one another and cheer on each other’s successes- what a team!We are thankful for our amazing city. Kansas City is home to so many wonderful people, unique neighborhoods, awesome restaurants, terrific sports teams and so much more. It’s so much fun introducing out-of-town transplants to KC- we know you’ll love it as much as we do!We are thankful for good health, families and friends. Without these things, nothing else matters!Wishing you and yours a wonderful, restful holiday and a great long weekend! Happy Thanksgiving!