More Than the Closing: Almost Home Realty Builds Relationships That Last
For Shelly Crane, the actual real estate transaction may be the smallest part of the job.
“Honestly, the transaction is the smallest part of what I do,” said Crane, owner of Almost Home Realty in Abilene. “My job is to make sure people understand what they’re walking into, to protect, guide and counsel them along the way, and to be there when they’re on the other side of it.”
After more than 20 years in real estate — and a lifetime in the community she serves — Crane sees herself as part educator, part advocate and part problem-solver.
“I’d rather lose a deal than have someone end up in a home that isn’t right for them,” she said.
That philosophy starts well before a buyer begins touring houses.
Crane typically begins with a 45-minute buyer consultation designed to understand not only what someone wants in a home, but what their life and finances realistically allow.
“What they can comfortably afford isn’t always the number the bank approves,” Crane said. “We don’t want anyone to be house poor.”
For some clients, that conversation may mean deciding it is not yet the right time to buy. Crane has worked with buyers for as long as one to four years, helping them improve credit, prepare financially and stay focused on the goal of homeownership.
“One of the best feelings in the world is watching someone who thought owning a home was impossible get that win because of the right guidance and accountability,” she said.
Once a transaction begins, much of Crane’s work happens behind the scenes — negotiating repairs, coordinating with lenders and title companies, reviewing contracts and solving problems before they become larger obstacles.
“Most clients never see half of it, and that’s kind of the point,” she said.
For longtime client Mary A. Alexander, that kind of support is one reason Crane was the person she immediately thought of when it came time to sell her Abilene home.
Alexander first worked with Crane approximately 12 years ago after moving to Kansas from California as a first-time homebuyer. A family member had spotted a house in Abilene, and Alexander contacted Crane the day she arrived in Kansas.
The process moved quickly. Crane showed them the home, Alexander’s brother completed a walk-through the next day, and they closed within about 15 days.
More than a decade later, Alexander called Crane again.
“I immediately thought of Shelly,” Alexander said.
The home was listed Aug. 1 and received an offer the following day. But during the selling process, Alexander was also facing significant health concerns and had recently undergone her ninth heart stent procedure.
Packing, transportation and resolving small property issues became increasingly difficult.
“She listened to me,” Alexander said. “I told her I couldn’t handle it, and she said, ‘Let me help.’ She went above and beyond for me.”
Crane helped coordinate a handyman, found solutions that remained within Alexander’s established budget and assisted with transportation when needed.
Alexander said the support reduced her stress tremendously.
“It was like I could take time to breathe,” she said. “It was OK to sit this out because someone was handling it professionally.”
One moment stands out most. When Alexander became emotional while talking with Crane about her health, Crane hugged her.
“Just having someone there with you” made a difference, Alexander said.
For Crane, that relationship is not unusual.
“I don’t believe in ‘sold and gone,’” she said. “These people trusted me with one of the biggest decisions of their lives, and that relationship doesn’t end at the closing table.”
Former clients still call years later looking for a contractor, a recommendation or simply an answer to a question.
One recent call was a little less conventional: a former client discovered a large snake inside the home a few months after closing.
“Me going after that snake was a hard no,” Crane joked. “That thing was a nope rope.”
She did, however, know who to call. Through her local connections, Crane found someone who could safely remove the snake.
“Snake wrangler I am not, but I know people,” she said.
That ability to connect people with resources extends beyond former clients.
When Crane works with someone relocating to Dickinson County, she often drives them through area communities, pointing out businesses, amenities and the characteristics that distinguish each town.
“I like to point out where businesses are located and what they do for our community, so people get a real feel for the place they might call home,” she said.
In many ways, that work reflects what it means to make Dickinson County Roadmarkable — helping people see not only a property, but the businesses, relationships and community connections that can turn a new address into home.
Crane said newcomers quickly discover something she has known throughout her life: people in Dickinson County show up for one another.
“You see it every time someone is going through a hard time,” she said. “People show up without being asked.”
That same philosophy shapes Almost Home Realty’s involvement in schools, festivals, community events and sponsorships.
“It only makes sense to give back so our community stays strong,” Crane said. “It’s not always about money. Giving your time and talents is just as important, and sometimes even more meaningful.”
For Alexander, Crane’s commitment is evident in how she approaches the people she serves.
“She takes joy and pride in her work,” Alexander said. “It shows in her professionalism, her timeliness and her communication skills.”
After more than two decades in the business, Crane said that personal relationship remains the part of real estate she values most.
“My name and my reputation mean everything to me,” she said. “I hope every client walks away feeling like they were treated the way I’d want my own family treated.”
More than anything, she hopes they remember one thing:
“That they were never just a transaction.”
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