A few weeks ago I was contacted by a former client about purchasing a home for his son. His son is a renter, a firefighter, married with 4 children (three under age 5) and his wife does not work. So the price of the home needed to be something with payments equal to or under his rent.
Well there are lots of REO (Bank owned- foreclosed) properties in my area that are not on the lake, so this task was fairly easy. I found a few and my buyer/client drove by them and decided on which ones to take a look at and contacted me again. He settled on one and we put in an offer. Offer accepted and we began to move toward settlement. (May 28, 2009)
Well there were problems with title that the buyers attorney found and I called the listing agent to address them. Now the listing agent is working a different job 9 to 5 Monday to Friday right now to make ends meet for their family and really didn't know a lot about manufactured home titles. So even though I represent the purchaser I stepped in and fought a fight with Freddie Mac and got them to agree to get duplicate titles and paid out of my pocket the attorney fees and filing fees for duplicate titles to be ordered from the state DMV. The new titles have been printed and mailed and are on the way to the seller's attorney. Problem solved, one woud think, but now for the next problem. I mean I'm not going to throw my clients to the gators because it's not my job to solve the problem.
The sellers attorney, even though we were originally supposed to have settlement on May 28, 2009 and had to get an extension, still have not provided instructions for the seller's fees and the HUD statement to the buyer's attorney. So, yesterday, once again, even though the buyer's attorney called the listing agent nothing seemed to be getting accomplished to expedite settlement date, I stepped in and started making phone calls and writting emails to the seller's attorney and the "supervisor" of the group assigned to handle this listing.
I could be doing nothing, it's not my listing and possibly not my place to be doing these things and making these calls and writting these emails and pushing these people who are not performing to actually do their jobs. But to what end? My client needs to purchase this house. We negotiated well and he got a great deal. It's a 2001 manufactured home on 3.35 acres and the sales price is less than $40,000. My buyer wants this house. His son NEEDS this house because he has given notice at the home he is currently renting.
I could be venting and writing a post about the listing agent not doing their job. But to what end? Would that help my client? NO. While I am not thrilled to be doing both sides work on this contract I do not know the personal financial circumstances of the listing agent. It could be they would not be paying their mortgage or feeding their children without this other job. I'm in no position to judge them. And what good would it do me anyway. Complaining wouldn't keep me from needing to do what is in the best interest of my client. And not doing it sure as heck wouldn't be in the best interest of MY CLIENT!
I have read on so many blog sites lately with agents posting blah blah blah, they aren't doing their job, or they are doing their job wrong. So let me ask you, did it make you feel better? Did it help your client?
Sometimes, in any market, we must go above our job description to help OUR CLIENT. And in this 
market, in this economy, it just may be more often. JUST DO IT! If you spend the time doing what needs to be done instead of whinning about someone NOT doing their job it just might be the end result your CLIENT wants and needs to happen. Sometimes there are storms clouds, you just have to make it through and keep moving forward.
Do I have a bad attitude that I have done things that the listing agent would have done had they not been at their other job. No I don't. I consider myself fortunate that in the downturn of the economy that my husband's job and salary have not been effected and he brings enough money home each month to keep our bills paid. Mind you we are not saving money right now, but fortunately we had saved in the past and have some savings. But if I didn't have my husband helping I too might be forced to work a second job right now to make ends meet. Things happen, life changes. So while I'm not happy or jumping for joy to be doing things that rightfully the listing agent should be doing I am not angry about it. I'm doing what is in the best interest of my client.
If you are looking to buy or sell on Lake Sinclair, call me. If I'm working for YOU, I'll do what is in your best interest also.
706-485-9668 (Click on Lane Realty Logo for web site)
Tammy Lankford, Broker/Owner
Broker License # 169695 Lane Realty License # H-11420
Call me today for all your Lake Sinclair real estate needs.
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