Recently I had a number of condo showings scheduled with a client of mine and the one for which she was the most excited to see happened to be owned by a Retired World War II Navy Vet. We knew this instantly as we began our preview due to the incredible memorabilia, medals and pictures he had carefully displayed in the office area of this meticulously kept home.
As we were finishing up, the Seller arrived home early. He was quite the gentleman as he came in apologizing for coming back early, saying he had run out of things to do. We chatted a few minutes and I mentioned I had left my card on the counter just as a courtesy so he would know we had stopped in for the showing (I had set this out before he returned) his immediate reply was, "Did you write Thank You on the back?" Much to my dismay I had not and I apologized profusely. I have to admit I have never written thank you on the back of my cards for I had always felt in leaving the card this was the courtesy to let the Seller(s) know you had been there.
We'll, he pretty much let me have it and rightly so..."Do you have any idea how much work and time it takes to get a home ready for a showing," He said? "I take great care and pride in my place and am proud to show my home to others." "YOU Realtors don't think anything of this and don't care about how much work we put in getting our homes ready." "A simple Thank You on the back of your card is the least you could do."
He was right...a thank you on the back of my card is a small request and I didn't have a foot to stand on. I will say to you who are reading though...I truly do realize the hard work Seller's take in getting their homes show ready and am very conscientious regarding this. I just never wrote Thank You on the back of my cards....darn it, he got me!
Well, we went back and wrote up a very strong offer (it was a strong offer) and on the very high end of what the condo's were going for in that community...the problem was, he was priced to high...really high, and we just couldn't justify it with the comps we were coming up with. 
I certainly did not want this offer to come across as an insult to him so I wrote him a letter with our offer explaining how well his home showed, how appreciative we were of the good care he has taken of it and that this offer was not intended to be a poor reflection of his home it is just what the market currently is willing to bare etc...
Later the Listing Agent did tell me it was the first offer he submitted that he didn't get thrown out on his laurels! His client did give it careful consideration but ultimately would take nothing less than what it was listed for. Ahhh...well, it wasn't meant to be....we moved on.
A few weeks later I received a letter from this Navy Vet and quite formal I must add...This letter really struck me for it resonated of an era gone by, where everyday pleasantries were common and expected. Today it seemes easy for these common courtesies to get lost in our extremely fast paced lives.
This is what it said....
To : VANDERMEER, Therese Realtor
FlexIt Realty
1515 Michigan St. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Subj : Appreciation
Thank you so much for showing my home this past week. You are very kind to have done so in the manner you did even though the basics of such are your lot in life. A cut above does not go unrecognized, and you acted a cut above. Too, your client seems to be a sweet one. Congratulations on your choice there.
The purpose of this letter, however, is to thank you for the special letter you wrote to my Realtor (insert name) expressing your favorable regard for the condition of my home. This, I really appreciate. Home sellers are being trampled excruciatingly in this market with very little empathy shown for the work homeowners do to make our homes desirable, and I am one who resents callousness - I live clean, and I am proud to show my home clean - a word of recognition means much.
Again, thank you,
Mr. _____ ______
This small acknowledgement of appreciation to me was touching and when I'm now showing homes, I will always write THANK YOU on the back of my cards!
....lesson learned.
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