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how far will we go for a closing?

By Alan May

Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

October 23, 2009 12:23 AM

The weather is butt-ugly out there, this morning. And it's this morning, of course, that I have to drive to Naperville for a 10:00 closing. Now I know that most of you have no idea what the relational distance from Evanston to Naperville is...

Picture the distance from Chicago to Seattle, and subtract about a mile and half. Well, not really... it's only about 45 miles... But Chicago Expressway and Tollway miles, that in this morning's Rush-hour-storming-rainy-dark weather, should take me about 2 - 2-1/2 hours. Yeesh!

So, 2 hours... to the closing... 2-3 hours FOR the closing.... and another 2 hours back home... pfffft. There goes my day.

So, for those of you who need your daily Elvis/Alan fix (you know who you are!). Sorry folks, this is it. See ya later (at least there's a payday at the end of this one)

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Marcy Eastham

Town & Country Realty Corvallis Oregon - Corvallis, OR

Richard's right -- it's all about results! Congratulations on getting this one to the table.

Oct 23, 2009 01:27 AM

Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi

NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL

708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Alan: This is a great example of "Good News - Bad News". The good news? You have a closing. In this day and age .. that's saying something. Bad news? I feel your pain. Chicagoland traffic can be a bit "challenging" to say the least.

Go with the flow ... bask in your success today! Congrats ... and best of luck with sales moving into the upcoming holiday season.

Gene

Oct 23, 2009 01:53 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Well I certainly hope that your closing goes off without a hitch and there are no delays! By the way, I learned to play guitar while sitting in bumper to bumper traffic when I lived in New York. Perhaps you can too. I the guitar is too much, start with this, it's easy to learn.....

Alan jams on the kazoo while stuck in traffic!

Oct 23, 2009 02:14 AM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

the good news is, that the weather seems to have scared off lots of other commuters. The roads were ugly, and I made it down here in a little more than an hour. So i'm waaay early.

so here I sit at grandma Sally's pancake house on Ogden... Having coffee & cakes... While I bide my time just down the street from the closing. Sometimes the planets just allign. Now, let's hope the closing is smooth.

Oct 23, 2009 02:16 AM

Jane Peters

Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles real estate concierge services

I have a funny story about a trip across Illinois for an appointment, but that's another post. Stay safe driving back.

Oct 23, 2009 03:58 AM

Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi

NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL

708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Good Lord Alan ... you're just down the street from my office! Enjoy the pancakes ... and your closing.

Gene

Oct 23, 2009 04:02 AM

Larry Bettag

Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL

Vice-President of National Production

It all depends on who the client is. I love gong to most of mine, but will travel if I feel that I need to.

Oct 23, 2009 04:45 AM

Kate Kate

San Diego, CA

Mr. Elvis, Goofballs have been know to travel far outside normal limits. Kate

Oct 23, 2009 05:25 AM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

UPDATE: I'm back... it's only 1:30, and I'm funded, closed and back in the friendly confines of my office.

Jane - let me know when you post that story...

Gene - I wish I'd known... I had an hour to kill, so I killed it with Malted Pancakes at Granma Sallys' too many cups of coffee and the newspaper

Larry - I try to attend each and every closing of mine... if my client will be there.. I'm there. I'm superfluous, but it gives my clients a comfort level, because it's rare that the lender shows up, and they may not have me their attorney yet.

Kate - I've heard you can get arrested for transporting goofballs.

Oct 23, 2009 06:37 AM

Kate Kate

San Diego, CA

Ahhh... man! Now everyone will know where I was last week.

Oct 23, 2009 06:40 AM

Ann Allen Hoover

RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL

CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

I wish I had a closing today. I hope it all goes perfectly and you have a nice weekend!

Oct 23, 2009 07:31 AM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

Kate - it was all over the newspapers.

Ann - it was smooth as silk... with a very happy new homeowner.

Oct 23, 2009 08:39 AM

Jane Peters

Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Will do.

Oct 23, 2009 08:59 AM

Robin Rogers

Robin Rogers, Silverbridge Realty, San Antonio, Texas - San Antonio, TX

CRS, TRC, MRP - Real Estate Investment Adviser

Congratulations, Alan! These days I don't take closings for granted. I just had a deal fall through today, so it's BOM on the MLS ASAP.

Cheers,

Robin

Oct 23, 2009 09:33 AM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

Thanks, Jane.

Robin - I'm sorry to hear that.

Oct 23, 2009 10:48 AM

Claudette Millette

The Buyers' Counsel - Ashland, MA

Buyer, Broker - Metrowest Mass

Alan:

Pancakes before a closing? I think that would be bad luck...

I am glad to hear that it went well and I am sure your clients appreciated your being there. They always do.

Oct 23, 2009 11:04 AM

Michelle Gibson

Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL

REALTOR

Alan - I'm from Naperville, so I know the distance and don't envy your drive, the paycheck maybe, but not the commute.

Oct 23, 2009 12:52 PM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

Claudette - well, I was only going to have starbucks... but I had an hour to kill.... pancakes were in order.

Michellle - nah, the paycheck wasn't much to look at either... it was a relo, so I was giving a fair piece away... by the time you figure in the gas, and tolls, I'm sure I lost money. (btw.. downtown naperville is very cute)

Oct 24, 2009 01:37 AM

Betina Foreman

WJK Realty - Austin, TX

Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY

Alan,

Thanks for sharing the awesome shot of the lightening.

;)

Oct 25, 2009 06:19 AM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

betina - you're welcome.