Stacey Grava Kraft

Nurturing Relationships by Choice

By Robbyn Moore

Photos by Sasha Marceta with Skyview Experts

Photos taken at Lombardo Homes - Wynstone South in Oakland Township

For five years, Stacey Grava Kraft has been building relationships with real estate agents and their clients, bringing them the best opportunities in a home warranty. Most recently, Stacey aligned herself with Achosa Home Warranty as a senior sales executive.

By definition, the word Achosa means “the power to choose.” The intention behind the group’s name is illustrated by their unshakable drive to provide customers with the power to select the best licensed contractors for their homes. “Customers can select and support local companies who they feel comfortable having in their homes,” Stacey said. “At Achosa, we pride ourselves on transparency and share with homeowners exactly what is covered, not covered and limits of what we pay. Once a claim is completed, we pay their contractors directly.”

The warranty group is a nontraditional home warranty company, which has set them apart from others, giving them a unique position above their competition. “Our team spent many years in the home warranty business prior to being founded in 2017,” Stacey explained. “Our average net promoter score over the past year has been 76, and our customers have given us an average score of 9.4 out of 10.”

Along with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Stacey has years of experience working in luxury retail and automotive sales. “The reason I chose home warranty is probably because I’ve always liked helping people and solving problems,” Stacey explained. “I am very customer-service driven, and I love that my job never gets boring — no two days are ever the same, which keeps things interesting. Beyond that, I love the fact that I have made so many friends in this industry.”

By nature, Stacey is a problem solver who is committed to bringing peace of mind to both real estate agents and homeowners. These personality traits are basic characteristics that are in direct alignment with her team at Achosa. An example of this was in 2017 when the founders of the organization saw an opportunity to create a more efficient business model where they could provide a better home warranty customer experience. “When claim issues arise with traditional home warranty companies, a homeowner will call in and wait to be assigned a contractor,” Stacey said. “This could take a long time — it’s not uncommon to wait for a claim approval for days or a week. By that time, a homeowner may have been without heat or air conditioning for far too long. To us, that is simply unacceptable business practice. Therefore, we give homeowners the power to choose their own contractors, which greatly simplifies the claim process.”

As a single mother to her 16-year-old son Griffin, Stacey sees herself as a fairly laid-back mom. Her openminded approach to parenthood is grounded in trust and parallels with the Achosa mentality: allowing her son the power to choose. “I encourage my son to have his own thoughts and opinions, even when they differ from mine,” Stacey shared. “Most often, we agree on the same things, especially when it comes to traveling. Whether it’s getting in the car for a 3,000-mile road trip or a quick weekend in northern Michigan to go snow skiing, we love traveling together.” Stacey added, “Last year we took a spur-of-the-moment trip to Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands. I am so happy that he always asks for ‘experiences’ over materialistic things.”

Stacey’s work-life balance is much easier now that her son is a teenager; however, like many women who juggle a career and a family, Stacey faced her own challenges over the years. “I do remember stressing out when Griffin was younger,” Stacey recalled. “I remember days being stuck in traffic and was late to get my son at daycare or instances when my son was sick and I had to miss work.” She advises other moms to not feel guilty when the house is messy or if the laundry piles up. “It can be overwhelming to balance it all, but my suggestion is to go with the flow and order takeout.”

As the oldest of three children and the only daughter, Stacey’s full-time working parents relied on her to help with her brothers. “I feel like I’ve always been a responsible, independent woman with basic maternal instincts,” Stacey said. “My role in my family prepared me to handle future challenges in life.”

Stacey said she has found success in friends and family, and achievements in a career that allows her to make a difference in the homeownership experience. “I am very fortunate to be with a company that supports and embraces values that are similar to my own,” she said. “Additionally, since working from home, things have been much more manageable, allowing me to focus on my clients and my son.” This past year, Stacey was able to enjoy watching her son play tennis and march in the Clarkston marching band.

“I want to be remembered as someone who made a positive impact on others,” Stacey said. “It is top of mind in my everyday work with my peers and clients, and as a mother.”

For more information about Achosa Home Warranty, visit achosahw.com.

Partner Spotlight - Achosa Home Warranty