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My 9 Year Old - A Short Sale Negotiator

By
Real Estate Agent with Southeastern Realty Group

The apple does not fall far from the tree....

Those of you who are real estate lifers - you know that deals never sleep.  You likely have to answer the phone at the oddest times and places, stop in the middle of Wal-Mart to send a text message, find yourself checking your email religiously, always need to run by a property for this or that, etc......  If you have a family, then you know that the kids end-up"working" with you. 

We have been negotiating distressed property deals in Atlanta (short sales and REO buys) for several years as a family owned investment group while I also work as a real estate agent.  Our managing members include 3 under the age of 10  [shhhh! - we don't share that with our business affiliates.]  - okay - kidding.... BUT I swear that our kids have absorbed enough at their young ages to successfully negotiate a real estate transaction even as challenging as a short sale.

In fact, my 9 year old proved that to me the other day.  I caught him walking a Friend of his into our loss mitigation department.  Before I could remind him that he is not to be in that area - I overheard him explaining to his friend what we do - and I got a real laugh.

His friend asked him if he sold houses - and his response: 

"YES, OUR team sells houses for people that are under-the-water and the banks they pay their mortgages to have to let them sell their house for a cheaper price.  It is a lot of work and we don't make guarantees - but everyone comes out better."

To help his Friend understand better - he gave the following example - note the personal twist:  "It is kinda of like this:  You gave me a box of baseball cards and I promised to give you $3, but my Mom would only give me $2 - So, you have to be willing to take the $2 or get nothing.  Better to get something."

The freind says: "Then I'll just take the baseball cards back."

My son's response: "Maybe the baseball cards you gave me were worth $3 when you gave them to me - but now they are only worth $2....If you take them back you won't be able to sell them to anyone else for anymore than $2.  Might as well take the $2 bucks now"

And it gets better:  "We can get a baseball card store to tell us what they are worth, I know they will agree with me, but at least you can take their word on it and not mine."

Result: The Friend took the $2

Now, either my son is devious, smart, or has just heard too much over the years.  Anywhoo - I just wanted to share - Thank you for reading.

For those of you working hard at short sales, TO YOUR SUCCESS!  It is those of us working in-the-dirt to get them done that will bring stability to the market, NOT the government. 

Short sales can be MORE PROFITABLE and Easier to Complete

We love to hear short sale tales - please share

Amy Ransdell - Distressed Properties, Atlanta Short Sales

The Manage My Short Sale Team - "Always Moving Forward"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sherry Hindmarsh
RE/MAX Capital City - Pflugerville, TX
Realtor - Pflugerville Texas - (512) 731-8316

How funny.  It reminded me of when my 9 year old daughter was selling girl scout cookies this year.  We were outside a restaurant and when people would pass to enter the store she would ask, "Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?"  They would respond with a variety of refusals including:  no thanks I'm on a diet, I'm too full, I already bought from my niece, etc.  She had an answer for everyone of them:  We have fat free cookies, You can save them for later, Lucky for you they freeze so well, etc.  One lady said you ought to be a Realtor.  Of course she my daughter had a comeback for that as well.  She sweetly smiled and said, "My mom is and she's teaching me."  Kids are so cute!

Apr 20, 2009 01:55 AM
Kelsey Barklow
Hurd Realty - Johnson City, TN
423/948-9154

Cute story. I am still working on one that MAY close in a few weeks, if nothing else goes wrong. Knock on wood, cross your fingers, do not walk under a ladder, throw salt over your shoulder...

Apr 20, 2009 02:11 AM
Eve Hansen
Thomas J. McCarthy Real Estate, Inc. - Southold, NY
Long Island Realtor

Prceless!  Your Realtors in training are really going to be something when they grow up!

Apr 20, 2009 02:32 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Kids can and will say and do the darndest things!  lol~  Cute!  :-)

Apr 20, 2009 02:35 AM
Amy Ransdell
Southeastern Realty Group - Kennesaw, GA
Atlanta Short Sale~Short Sale Daily News

Thank you everyone for your responses - Aren't kids wonderful!  - You know we all have to do whatever it takes to stay on top of the game - and it can be become challenging.  Our children see things with such security and simplicity.  Ohhh - to be young again. 

To your short sale success!

 

Thank You Again

Apr 20, 2009 02:44 AM
Gordon J Wallace
Lone Wolf R.E. Technologies - Cambridge, ON

That was a very cute story Amy. I can remember going around to clients with my father as younge as 5-6 years old. I always swore I would never get into the family business, but guess what I do now? Kids are very impressionable and they will pick up on the fundamentals without even realizing it!

Apr 20, 2009 03:13 AM
Linda Jandura
Raleigh Cary Realty - Apex, NC
Realtor, North Carolina Buyer & Seller Specialist

Your kid sounds smarter than many adults around! Better get him on your team soon!

Apr 20, 2009 03:46 AM
Kathleen Dent
OnCall Assistants - Citrus Heights, CA

Absolutely PRECIOUS!!! It's amazing what they absorb. And it's REALLY amazing how your son was able to put it into a scenario his friend can understand! :) You should use him in your blogs and marketing from now on! ;)

Apr 20, 2009 04:26 AM
Marcus Valdez
Berkshire Hathaway Rocky Mountain Realtors - Fort Collins, CO

Your raising scam artists!  (congrat so am i.)  I guess real estate negociations rub off on the kids too.

Apr 20, 2009 05:00 AM
Emily Lowe
RE/MAX Homes and Estates, Lipman Group - Nashville, TN
Nashville TN Realtor

That is great - I love hearing how children explain things.  But it does sound like he understands it pretty well, so kudos to you!!!

Apr 20, 2009 05:24 AM
Erin Shawver
Solid Source Realty GA - Woodstock, GA

That is soooo funny! LOVE it! wHAT A GREAT POST THANKS FOR SHARING!

Apr 20, 2009 06:07 AM
Julie Ferenzi
john greene Realtor - Plainfield, IL
Julie Ferenzi

This was absolutely adorable.  This was an excellent read and very well written.  Sounds like you have a future real estate mogul under your roof there! 

Now, if we could just get the banks to understand things in that simple language, we might all be better for it :)

Apr 20, 2009 06:14 AM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

It goes to show you that even though we talk business our kids hear every word!!!

Apr 20, 2009 07:29 AM
Nelya Calev
John L Scott - Bellevue, WA
This is the funniest story I have heard in a while. sounds like something my son would do too. we call him a con artist Very cute! Thanks for sharing
Apr 20, 2009 07:37 AM
S.A. Philipp
The Venus Approach - Atlanta, GA
The Venus Approach to REI

Sounds like my Co-Authors son. These little guys absorb info like s dry sponge.

The best to you from a fellow Metro-Atlantan.

 

Apr 20, 2009 08:32 AM
Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time

Amy, Your sons explanation a short sale is spot on!!! Why do we as adults have to make things so complicated?

Apr 20, 2009 10:13 AM
James J. Weber
Keller Williams Pocono - Milford, PA

Amy - Your son has the basic concept nailed. Too bad the banks couldn't make it that simple.

Apr 20, 2009 11:21 AM
Regina P. Brown
MBA Broker Consultants - Carlsbad, CA
M.B.A., Broker, Instructor

Amy, he's a genius, I'll hire him!  That's what I love about family businesses, the kids learn so much they soon out-smart their parents...

Apr 20, 2009 04:36 PM
Irene Kennedy Realtor® in Northwestern NJ
Weichert - Lopatcong, NJ

Amy,

Your son has a better grasp of short sales than many agents with whom I interact! ;-)

Irene

Apr 21, 2009 04:39 AM
Matt Side
Realty ONE Group Eclipse - Spokane, WA
Dir. of Broker Development

Amy,

I just bumped into your blog post.  What a great story.  I hope all is well with you and your family.  It sounds like you are doing great.  shoot me an email some time I would love to hear from you.

Jun 13, 2009 03:14 AM