Just 2 Minutes - Interviews by Kamil Sarji

29-Real Estate Meets Wellness: How Ashley Sarji Reduces Stress for Buyers and Sellers

• Kamil Sarji • Episode 29

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Discover how Ashley Sarji, a yoga instructor and real estate agent at Gold Door Realty, brings wellness into the world of buying and selling homes. Learn how techniques like breathwork, yoga, and mindfulness empower her clients to navigate one of life’s most stressful processes with ease. Ashley shares how she left her 20-year financial career to build Haven and Harmony, a unique blend of real estate and wellness, creating a calming and focused experience for her clients. If you're curious about reducing stress and finding balance in real estate, this episode is for you!

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Overall, it just kind of helps people to regulate their nervous system to, you know, take stressful situations and kind of alkalis them in their body to be able to handle them from a place of choice and a place of control. How can you make that happen? How can we oh, how can we tell the future? Yeah, we can't tell the future, all right. But we just have to have peace that what's meant for us is going to be there for us. And that's I really I mean, I fundamentally believe that. And to my very being, it's just don't get this house and the kids like, I don't care what you say I'm going to get this house because I love it. Yeah. And you know, five years later, they've redone the place. It looks awesome. Yeah, I guess they just always try to invite people to remember how they feel. Welcome, everybody. I am Camille Sergie, your host, today of just 2 minutes. And I have Ashley here. Ashley, you want to tell us about yourself? I'm ashley sergie. Cool. Last name, by the way. Same as yours. Because I'm your wife, and I love you. I am the owner of Haven Harmony, which is a business that works to combine real estate and wellness. And I do that as a real estate agent with Godo Realty. And I incorporate wellness and empowerment techniques to try to make buying and selling a little less stressful for people. Which is very unique because real estate is a lot of stress. Buyers are like, Oh yeah, I want to buy a house, so want to sell their house, but they don't know what's involved. But there are a lot of steps and it can be really, really stressful. So I'm a certified yoga instructor, also a certified breathwork coach and facilitator, and I try to help people incorporate those types of techniques into their process while they're going through home buying and selling to make it a little less stressful. Awesome. Yeah. Ashley, you're here today because the show is called Just 2 minutes. Mm hmm. And just for the viewers, if you're seeing this and you're not listening, I mean, if you're listening, you won't know what's going on. But don't worry. We are still in Gold Door headquarters. The room I'm in is Ashley's office. Yeah. So if you go into MySpace. Yeah. If it wasn't in gold or I wouldn't have you come to my place. The pink couch. So this is my character. This is. This is a representative of me and my. Yeah, Fuchsia, this is. This is the color of my. For my business. My main color for my business. And. Yeah, and that's why I picked the timer today. It matches purple color and the timer is now. Ashley, if you were to be a flower, what kind of flower would you be? Oh, that's a really good question. What kind of flower would I be? So at least, like, what color you envisioning? A flower? Yeah, I. I really connect with Queen Anne's lace. It's kind of a weird one, but it can grow. I'm from West Virginia, and it grows abundantly in my home state. Like on the side of the road. It feels like it can grow everywhere. And it's just always beautiful. Even though it's not my favorite color. But it's because it's white. But it looks like lace. And it's just always. It always feels fancy, even though it's right by the side of the road. All right. Love it. I'll have to look that one up. I have it tattooed on me. Correct. Charlotte's. What's your favorite arcade game? Arcade game? I like I actually at an arcade. I prefer, like, the competitive games. Like where two people can play at the same time. I like skee ball. I could do that one. Okay. I like the basketball I like. And then I'll play, like, shooting games or something. As long as it's more than one person are playing at the arcade. Okay. If you were to have a cup of tea with anybody in the world and people that lived in this world in the past don't have to be alive. Who would who would be Who would it be? Well, the first person that popped into my mind is my mom, because I don't get to see her very often because she was far away. Well, what kind of tea would you have with her? Any kind of tea would be lovely. Wow. What do you think of those questions, Ash? Those are good. Is it okay to call you Ash? Yeah, of course. I'm trying to be professional here. You're my husband. You don't have to be professional. I have to be professional for the audience. So they're watching this. They're like, this is a very professional man doing his professional just to look really professional. And I do. I enjoy your choice today, too. You have really good game. I do want to say that. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. And you did. And I know you do that on your own, too. That's the other thing that people should know about you is that you dress yourself and you were very like a lot of wives dress their husbands. You dress yourself, and you were very stylish. So, yeah, I love. That's important for people to know. Yeah. Thank you. All right. So, Ash, very exciting. You're combining wellness, yoga, breathwork, all these different things into real estate because, like, how did you create this? Did you just see a need for it in the market or being an agent? And so I got my yoga certification last year, and I also found Breathwork to be really interesting. And just for my own personal practice, both yoga and breath work, and they both made a tremendous difference in my own wellbeing. And as I've shared those practices with other people, those practices have have made a difference in the lives of others. And ultimately I think my life purpose I think is I don't know exactly what it is yet, like what I'm supposed to be doing. I don't think anybody I mean, feels like what the purpose that back up for a second. We should also say that like I was at Fidelity Investments in a financial services career for nearly 20 years. Okay. And so last year, I decided to not let even that even last year and within six months really, that I decided to leave my corporate career, like jump off a cliff and start a real estate career full time real estate career, and incorporate these yoga and breathwork practices into it. So. So it's still we're so I'm like very, very young phase of of this business as a whole and I've tried hard as I'm kind of creating the business to validate whether or not that need exists for people. And I have worked with my clients to kind of validate the concepts of, of this idea to incorporating yoga and breathwork into buying and selling. And it does seem to be resonating with people. And so I'm just going to I'm gonna keep going. Yeah. And hope that I can continue to call in the type of clients that I want to work with, which hopefully are people who are open to, you know, receiving these kinds of techniques and where as they work through their process. And I think overall it just kind of helps people to regulate their nervous system to, you know, take stressful situations and kind of alchemy of them in their body to be able to handle them from a place of choice and a place of control, not over the outcome necessarily, but over control over what they're able to control, which is their self themselves ultimately. So let me ask you this. You've worked with buyers and sellers. Yes. As far as the emotion, because it's it's a lot of emotion. What do you let's let's talk about buyers and what do you think buyers both don't know what they're getting into. Right. So let's talk about buyers. Like, how do you think that happens as far as like there is the stress that's about to happen. Like, how can you let's talk about the buying process as a as a whole. Like so let's just start like at the very beginning, right? You decide that you want to buy a house and you're like, okay, I really want I really want to buy a house. Okay? Right off the bat, that's like it's a big investment. And anything having to do with money is also has a lot has a big emotional impact on a human being. Right? You enter into the process, you work with a lender, you get pre-qualified for a house. So you know what you're qualified for. You walk into, you know, you start in, you find a real estate agent. You hope that it's somebody that you like, but you're not really sure, because I've seen as know, maybe some social media stuff or maybe you met them at a networking event, or maybe your friend there, a friend of a friend. You don't really know who the person is or they watch the show. Oh, they walk. Right. Hi. I'll help you. Yeah. You're not really sure about the person's. You're trying to get to know the person that you're working with. You want always you want to choose somebody who's going to act in your best interest and protect your this this emotional financial investment. You you want somebody who's going to represent you well in the transaction, but you're not sure because you don't know the person, right? So then you start hanging out with them because you go to open houses or you go to, you know, you hopefully find somebody, find an agent that goes with you to all of your showings. Right. I know that's not always the case. So we'll say that aloud. I'll always go with you is going to be there and who's going to support you through the process. So you find houses that you like, you start to narrow it down. You know, this is a house that I could see myself in and then you have to put an offer in and it might be competitive. So there might be multiple offers on the table for a house that you really love, you know, And you you're you've already envisioned yourself there. So it's a really big emotional thing because you've already envisioned yourself there. Then you might get it. You might not, you know, So how do you work through that experience and not And what I tell the buyers that I work with is, you know, we we're not going to be connected to the outcome. Whatever happens, the house that's meant for you is going to be there for you. And we're going to find that house. It might not be this one. You know, I know you can see yourself here. And then we we deal with it as it comes. And and we work through it with all the techniques that I have in my tool kit. So I feel like some buyers there, like they see houses and they're like, Oh my gosh, this is the one. I love this. I want to put an offer in. And then they don't get the house and they're crushed and they just give up on their goal. Yeah. What? How do you work with that? It can be really challenging. It's just a reminder that the one house that they've envisioned themselves in is not the only house that's there for them in the house that is there for them. We'll still be there for them. We just have to find it. So we go back to the drawing board and we just make sure that we're refining their search, that we're, you know, and getting in as many houses as we can to make sure that they're seeing and seeing everything because they might think that they love everything about this one particular house. And it's the house that's meant for them. But there's there's something else out there that's got that's probably an even better fit. You know, It's just we have to get out there and see it. Yeah, it's crazy like, too bad you can't look in the future or show them their future. Like, this is what your life looks like in ten years in this house, right? That would be cool. Yeah, it would be really cool. How can we get. How can you make that happen? How can we. Oh, how can we tell the future? Yeah, we can't tell a future, all right? But we just have to have peace that what's meant for us is going to be there for us. And that's I really I mean, I fundamentally believe that. And to my very being, it's just like if it's meant for you, it's going to be there for you. It's just a matter of matching up the time and, you know, doing the next best thing to advance toward that goal, you know? Okay. So it's hard to be patient, though, but, you know, we've seen it. We've seen it. People get to the house that that's meant for them and that ultimately they're over the moon. Happy, right? Like you. That's that's how it that's how it always works. Which brings me to my next thing. Yes. They fall in love with the house. They get the offer. Yes. Awesome. Now it's like the inspection, right? More stray parents, different kinds or other influence owners who are telling them this is a bad idea. Oh, my gosh. So like, out. This is their dream home. This is like, I want this house. I want to I see a future in this. And then all of a sudden they're like, they get the inspection back and there's a million things on the list. Yeah. And they doubt they doubt the house, right? Yeah. I mean, every house is a million things, right? Every house that. So that's where I was headed. But outlets missing a screw every that's on the report. But that's a thing that people should always keep in mind is that every inspection has a million things. Just because it has a million things does not mean that the house is broken. I just want to make sure that you're connecting with this. Watch this. Just because the inspection has a million things on it doesn't mean that it's a broken house. Every inspection has a million things. Yeah. And trust your agent when they say, Hey, these are like big items you should worry about. And the agents going to negotiate? Yeah. Then the agent takes that inspection list and says, These are the things that really matter. Let's ask the seller if they'll fix these things and see if they're receptive to it. And then you leave it to your agent to again, the reason you pick your agent is so that they're going to represent you well in those conversations and that they're going to look out for your best interest in that and those conversations. So what's up with the doubt? Let's say they pass the inspection, everything right? And now they're doubting they should have got this house. What's up with that? Why some people, not everybody like one. So after they get the inspection and they're like, there's a million things on this or and they like let like lots of family members and friends have opinions that often happens too. And I, I, I mean, I know that that's an important part of the process, but I really advise against like letting too many people in on the information, because the more opinions you have, the more confusion it creates in your mind. And I know like parents going with their with their kids to see the house, I know the parents want the best for them and are afraid and nervous. They are emotional, too. Right. And they're going to be like, oh, no, don't get this house. Seen that before. Like, I don't get this house. And they're like, Oh, yeah, I don't want it. And they get something else or don't get this house. And the kids, like, I don't care what you say, I'm going to get this house because I love it. And you know, five years later they've redone the place. It looks awesome. Yeah. And I'm like, I guess they just always try to invite people to remember how they feel when when they are in the house, like why they chose it in the first place. And if they were not aligned, if they were in that house and they were like, I just need a house, that's, you know, and maybe it's not the right house for them, but if they walked into that house and they were like, Oh, this feels like home to me. This feels like a serene environment that I can live my life in and be really happy. And they envision themselves in that. And now they're letting the inspection or not even inspection, other people's opinions influence that piece. That space created. And then then I just kind of invite them to remember where where they how they felt and hopefully make the decision that's right for them. Because ultimately it doesn't mean it doesn't matter to me. I'll keep looking at houses with you. We'll keep you about this for as long as it takes, but it's important you are able to advocate for yourselves enough to to hold on to wherever your piece lies. And if it's in this house, then what do we have to do to make sure we hold on to that? Yeah, I imagine it's tough for some people because they're super connected emotionally with the whole process. Yeah, but then again, like if it's not the right house or if your relatives are making good points or whatever in your stand to walk away, I hope you do that too. Like and just it's ultimately whatever the right thing is for you coming back to your self and regulating your own nervous system, using their techniques, the yoga and breathwork techniques that I have that I make available to my clients so that you can choose from a calm place and not a super emotional place. It's from how do I feel in my being, in my gut, in my heart, you know, aligned through and through. I'm making these decisions as we're moving through. Yeah. So that's the buyer side. I mean, besides of besides like other things. So some help some of this now like selling a home. How is that? Well, selling becomes really emotional because you're inviting somebody else to come into your house and then they're going to pick it apart. And it's really it's been your place for however long you've lived there. And now these other people want to make changes to it or they're either don't think it's perfect or they're going to they're like criticizing your maybe, you know, you mean agents that are going there to give them advice on what they know is useless. And actually, we could start at the beginning. Okay, let's start. You say you want to sell your house right off the bat. That's a very emotional thing because who knows how long you've been there. Like, you know, even if you've only been there for a year, you're still you've still you've it's been your home, but you know, you've been there for 30 years and you're maybe downsizing, you know, or you're the house is too big for you or, you know, you've decided to change because you live in a cape and you need to move to a ranch because it needs to be all one level because you want to age at home. That's a really emotional decision because it's where you've raised your family. Perhaps it's where you've, you know, it's been your place, your heart has been invested there for for as long as you've been there. So that's really emotional. You pick an agent that you want again, to be able to like hold your hand and support you through that process and and make you feel confident in the decision that you're making. Ultimately, again, because you you have a change in life or lifestyle or, you know, whatever the circumstances are, you need somebody that's going to like be right there next to you and like really be able to like, hold you in that time. So that's that's one thing. But then once you get it on the market, like once you take all the steps. So part my process is I invite a stager to come in for listings to, to actually go through the house and just kind of think about it with them as a third party who's going to look at it through the eyes of potential buyers and know what buyers want in the house and help people get organized in their space. So she takes a couple of hours and that's part of the service that I provide, is working with the stager to do that. It's very smart, by the way, because it's like, Yeah, I'm all about partnerships. We have I will say I have some really, really great business partners that I work with throughout the process to kind of support the whole process end to end with my clients so that it's working with other people is a really important part of my business. Yeah, we get through the staging, we get everything kind of cleared out, so everything looks really good for potential buyers and then they come in and they are not seeing a bunch of they're not seeing your as the seller your part anymore. They're seeing a home that they can envision themselves in. That's the goal. So once we get through that part, we get the house listed, which is already super emotional. Then you've got people coming in to your space, new energy coming into your space and they're potentially picking apart, you know, your baby. They're saying it needs paint or they're saying, you know, whatever's broken or, you know, things that you loved about the house that they don't love so much. You know, you've got a weird old feature in the bathroom that you adore and the reason why you love the house. But they don't like it and they want to redo the bathroom and they want it to be all sleek and brand new, you know, stuff like that. You can't take that personally because you've already made the decision to relocate and move your home elsewhere. So another thing that happens is what do you say if a seller tells you, Oh, they're going to do an inspection on their home, what do you sell? Like if they're like, Oh, can I can I stay and watch you for for me, it's just a way to get your feelings hurt. You know, once you've made the decision to change, to move your home elsewhere, you know, to leave the space that you're in and sell it to somebody else, you are better off not being there for the things that happen in that house for that time, for that 30, 45, 60 days, however long it takes to get the House completely sold and transferred to ownership, you're better off just removing yourself from that situation because it's not going to feel good. Yeah, because that's not your home anymore. Your home is somewhere else. So let's focus on being in the house elsewhere. And really, that's why they hired you? Yes. To be the buffer in between. Right. And we'll talk about out of it. All right. We'll talk about all the things that the inspector finds. And I'm so transparent about all of that stuff, but it doesn't feel good to hear it ever. What do you think about buyers coming into seller's homes with bad energy? Do you think there's anything with that or does the energy because I don't know anything about that stuff, but what do you think? Yeah, I mean, I'm not a Reiki practitioner. I do definitely believe in like energy energy. And I always recommend to I always try to clear the space before an open house. So that I have the space as far as like, move things around, know like clear the energy. Okay. Okay. So I like, you know, it's like opening the windows, letting all the light in. You know, some people are sensitive to the smells and stuff, but I do believe in aging or energetically I know you do that before. That's just the way it is. I have some crystals that I use, like things, things like that, I think that are helpful crystals. Do you keep them in different parts of the house? No, I don't keep I don't keep them in other people's houses. I bring them with. Okay. Okay. Yeah, yeah. I even in my house, you know this. Yeah. But these crystals you bring to the open house and then you bring them back with you. Yeah. You don't forget any. They're like, in a drawer, like random drawer. No, I mean, again, I'm not a Reiki practitioner. I have a practice that I use to want to get good energy in there. I do, yeah. And I also I think it's been pretty helpful because again, people want to be able to envision themselves in the space. So if they come into your space and they're feeling and your house feels too much like it still belongs to you, it's still with you as the seller. Like, I think it's harder to sell. So if you can clear if we can clear that energy, it's I think it's helpful for other people to to be able to envision themselves there. That's my thought process. Okay. So we talked about emotion of buyers and sellers. Now let's talk about what you do. So you mentioned your yoga and breathwork. So I've never done yoga before again, like until you had your first open class to the public. I went, but I still do it now. I do yoga every week. Yeah. So I know about yoga. What about what's, what's breathwork Well, tell me about that. Or what you know about Breathwork I know, but the audience. I know. But you did Breathwork You've done it before, So it's all my experience. I would love for you to tell your experience. Okay. Yeah. So I thought Breathwork was like, Hey, let's breeze together, Let's get the stress out. But now it's I've never done anything like this in my life, like hypnosis with breathing and like, my fingers. My hands were tingling, my head was tingling. I was in another like, universe, super emotional. And yeah, this is this is the kind of thing, a thing that I think, like top executives go away on, like, retreats to. Yeah, yeah. So I use the nine D breath work modality. That's sort of the melody that I'm trained in. And, and it is, as you describe, there are elements of hypnosis and binaural beefs and subliminal messaging in it. And so to kind of map the experience out for everybody, it's generally the experience is about 2 hours end to end. So usually I welcome I do one on one journeys as well as group journeys and one on ones like Ultimate. Yeah, it's I, I can't even imagine what a group setting would be like. Yeah. Because I don't think I would be my let myself go that much. Right. Right Yeah. So so it's a good there's a good distinction. I think there's a there's value in both but for sure the one on one journey, I'll just describe that. So we open up, I kind of open up the space, we have a little discussion. We talk about intentions for the session, kind of what's been going on in a person's life. I have a plethora of journeys that I can choose from in 30 different. What was my journey? It's now you did Abundance, which is directly related to financial success in business. So real estate agents should do that. I highly recommend that. Yeah, but you have other programs too, and I'm sure you use. Yeah, well, there are all kinds of of journeys from letting go of fear and anxiety to there's abundance. There's a life abundance journey which has to do with kind of personal finance and then a business abundance, which is the one that you did. There's also grief journey, there's downregulation for improved sleep and there's upregulation and they all kind of in their 30 different journeys. Oh my gosh, yeah, we can choose from depending on what's going on in your life. So we have a little discussion. Usually I'll talk to the person beforehand about what's going on when I do it one on one, and I try to customize and kind of tailor the experience as much as possible. And so then they come in and we set intentions, kind of talk about what's their intentions for the journey. And then we do a little, little bit of movement together and then they lay down and I create a cozy little bed. We have black blankets and pillows and, you know, whatever makes people comfortable, there's a blindfold, which kind of goes around a person's head. Or I have a weighted some people that make them a little claustrophobic. So there's a I also have a weighted lavender and buckwheat mask that's just like a little weight over your eyes because you want to have your eyes closed for the journey. And then you put on headphones and you listen to the it's music and kind of guided what is like a guided meditation. It's kind of how it feels. And you follow the cue of the breather with my support. I'm right there with you as you as you kind of go through just making sure that you're able to maintain the breathing pattern. And the breathing pattern is dependent on what you're trying to accomplish. So it could be a variety of different things, but it's a hyperventilation. And there are also some there's breath holding that happens in some of the journeys as well. And they all have a very specific purpose that we go through. We talk through before you start the whole thing. And then generally there's also a scream at some point in the journey, which feels really cathartic, right? There's a breath hold that happens usually before the scream happens. So it's a breath hold that can happen for a period of time. And you hold, hold, hold until you can't hold anymore. And then you scream. And the scream is always extreme cathartic for for people to kind of it's a it's a physical manifestation of letting whatever you're holding on to go. Yeah. And it can be a really beautiful experience. You make it feel very safe. Good. Because it's a vulnerable. Very. Yeah, yeah. And I'm right there the whole time. I try not to interfere too much, but definitely I make my presence known at several points throughout the journey just to like, you know, so you know that you're being supported and that I'm, I'm right there with you. And I take a lot of pride in how I hold space for other people and creating a space that makes people feel safe in whatever expression comes through, because it can be a variety of things and people will, you know, there's kind of a variety of emotions that can happen in those like little belly deep belly laughter and and tears can come through as well. And there's some vulnerability. And holding space is something that I treasure. I like to do for people. Yeah, I highly recommend it. So can we talk about like how you integrated? Like do you have a product or do you have a combination of things that you offer someone who's buying or selling a home? MM So I've created a course content called Course. Yeah. So it's, so it's content that's available online through an online portal for members of this experience is haven and harmony homeownership and essentially clients who choose to work with me get access to this content and involved wellness content. So yoga flows, breathwork and exercises. And for the time that your working with me, you get access, unlimited access to that program. And then there are also modules that you can work through as well related to homeownership organization. You know, the, the steps in the process, lots of content that's kind of helpful along the way as you're as you're going through your journey. So if they want to go the journey of buying a home or buying and selling life, buying and selling buying, it's okay. Yeah, cool. So that's for this particular program that I that I offer. That's cool. Okay, so you offer that and provide them with all these this education and support from you. How about yoga? Mm hmm. So they're so they're yoga flows as part in the portal that you have access to as a client of mine. So you can take them online at your leisure. I also teach classes here in at right behind the the Gold Door office in my little studio. And that class live class schedule is available on my website as well. That's cool. So you have that package, the same package for everybody that you need. So when you enter into the home buying or selling process with me, so with your home or buying a home or both, I give you access to the portal where you can access unlimited content and the yoga and education content. And then so that's specific to that program. And then any live classes or breathwork or any kind of one on one can be scheduled online through my website. Okay, Awesome. Yeah, just I was wondering if, like you had different layers, not layers, but level three levels. Yeah. To working with me. Yeah. Or the that product or is this one product that you have. Yeah. All the details are available on my website Haven dash harmony dot com. Folks can go there to take a look at my product offering and also to look up life class schedules or membership as well for this studio. Awesome. Well actually this is great information. Very good. It's cool that you have this unique real estate wellness thing going. That's pretty cool. Thanks. How can people find you besides your website? I mean, if you could say that again. Yeah Haven dot harmony dot com. You can find information about me and all the aspects of what I do also on social media. Haven Harmony Studio on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Spotify. I think it's well I put on my playlist Oh cool. For all my classes so for people to follow. Yeah. Awesome. All right. Oh, yeah. And you can follow me, too. You follow us. US Gold realty. Gold Realty. Oh, I'm like gold. A real. Yes, gold. A real easy. But then you can also follow us separately. Like, you know, Ashley and me and, like, as an individual, right? Yeah. You can follow us also. Human being. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Awesome. Yeah. Thank you very much. Thank you for letting me use your office. And this is very nice. All right. Thank you, Ashley. Thank you, Kamil. My agent got a squad We all knew Sloan in house help, so they ain't doing it alone. They focus on clients negotiating with while the back end. Man. That's how we spin random business. Watch them all climb.

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