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My 31 Days of December Challenge--Day #15

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Putting your nose to the grindstone and doing hard work every day really does pay off.  I was delighted to receive yet another Approval Letter, this time on my Centreville Short Sale Listing.  All we need is the Second Trust to tell us their terms, and it's off to settlement.  Theoretically, this could all come together before the end of the year, but definitely before the end of January.  That will be three Short Sale Approvals received this month.

For the life of me, I will never understand the mentality of a Real Estate Agent wanting to "stay clear" of these sales. I overheard a Short Sale presentation today with Bryan O'Shaughnessy, Mid-Atlantic Short Sale Director for Wells Fargo today.  One of the agents piped up and said, "I hate dealing with Short Sales because they always want to cut my commission."

Beside the fact that the previous statement reeks of "It's all about ME," the way I see it, part of something is better than all of nothing.  And if you aren't participating in the Short Sale market, you aren't getting anything from them.  Not to mention the fact that Agents who have openly expressed their disdain for this type of sale may as well be advertising their business services as being a Fair Weather Friend.  Why not just say, "I'm interested in helping you when times are good, but when times are tough, please don't bother me with your problems.  I don't want to work that hard."

I imagine between now and the close of the first quarter of 2011 I will have helped at least five home owners avoid foreclosure and sell their home in a Short Sale.    It's not what I call hard work, just work.  And it's what I'm here for, in good times AND bad...to WORK on my clients' behalf. 

 

Comments (17)

Lisa Orme
The Master's Key Realty LLC -Windsor, CT - HARTFORD COUNTY - Windsor, CT
Broker/Realtor, ABR, CRS,GRI, PSCS, SFR, Notary Pu

Well Chris, I am with you! I would much rather work than not work, and I don't mind earning my money. Short sales are work, but they are one way to really be of service to someone who really needs our help. I can't imagine in this economy that anyone would "steer clear" of any bona fide seller - short sale or not! That is usually just lazy. And if it's truly because they just don't have the expertise, well that's okay -- I'd rather they step away and let someone handle it who knows how. The seller deserves no less..

Dec 15, 2010 09:53 AM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Chris Ann, you share alot on your blogs about the short sales you are doing and i appreciate the efforts you make for your clients...especially like a little of something is better than nothing...agents complain all the time here about having their commissions cut & focus on that instead of the client...kudos to you

Dec 15, 2010 10:21 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

You are so right.  The "I don't do" attitude has meant more money in the pockets of agents such as yourself who said I DO!  Zero % of ZERO is still ZERO and I don't expect short sales to disappear off the horizon for a few years.

Dec 15, 2010 10:26 AM
Sidney Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula
Realty Works Temecula - Temecula, CA
Realty Works Temecula

Chris Ann, I love that picture of you but I refer all of my short sale clients, no bad attitude here, just have my own style, and am concentrating on Luxury Real Estate in Riverside County!  :)   I love the short sale listing agents and have several that are friends!

Dec 15, 2010 10:34 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Chris Ann I agree to a point.  There are so many agents that should NOT NOT NOT be even thinking of doing short sales because they don't have a clue as to what they're doing and the consequences could be very very steep for a seller if they're not handled properly.  Now with that said, if they take the time to learn the ropes and have a broker who can quide the process, they should be helping their clients and all the folks who so desperately need help these days. As you know they're complicated and out of the realm of 'typical' real estate agents. You are one of the best and I'd be happy to send any referrals your way. 

 

Dec 15, 2010 10:37 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

I'm glad there are short sale specialists out there who have taken the time to learn the process and be in a position to help folks who need it. 

Dec 15, 2010 12:02 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Great post, Chris Ann. Yeah, sometimes we have to cut our commission or kick in to make the deal work, but I'd rather close 60 short sales than sit around with my you know what stuck you know where.

Dec 15, 2010 01:01 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Chris Ann, OK, so I am a short sale virgin - still!  It's just that we have so few in DC.  Lord knows I'm trying!

Dec 15, 2010 02:22 PM
Kirsten Lindquist
Pacific Union International - Sonoma, CA
Realtor - Sonoma Wine Country

Hi Chris Ann---I wrote a short sale offer yesterday...only the second in my career.  Am doing my best to help my buyer find a lower priced home in Sonoma Valley.  I refer listings to others with the expertise that I don't have in this area.  Our short inventory is small...

Dec 15, 2010 04:22 PM
Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

Hi Chris, I'm so glad you received another approval letter. You go short sale girl!

Dec 15, 2010 10:26 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Lisa:  And you can attend al the Short Sale classes and designation courses out there, but there is no substitution for getting out there and DOING one.  That's the only way to gain the expertise.

Ginny:  I'm tired of hearing the complaints from those agents.  These are the same agents wouldn't be bothered to help a tenant either because of the low pay.  I don't get it. 

Cindy:  I hope the public remembers who said they "didn't want to help," when this Short Sale crisis is over.  We can't pick and chose the market we're in.  You either sell real estate or you don't.

 

Dec 16, 2010 02:50 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Jane:  Advertising that is leaps and bounds different that touting, "I won't touch them."  You're placing the client with someone who can help them.

Anna:  We all have to start somewhere.  I've partnered with two agents this year in helping them through their first Short Sales.  But they had the desire to learn.  I don't get the folks who stand there with their arms crossed waiting for this to pass. 

Susan:  It's truly not as complicated as folks think, just tedious.

 

Dec 16, 2010 02:53 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Elizabeth:  Amen to that!  I hate being bored. 

Pat:  Then you get a pass.  The agents in Virginia who are literally standing knee deep in Short Sale territory and refusing to help really puzzle me.

Kirsten:  Our Short Sale inventory in Northern Virginia dominates the scene, especially in Western Prince William County where I'm located.

Jackie:  January is shaping up to be a very good month.

Dec 16, 2010 02:55 AM
Pat Fenn
Marketing Specialist for CJ Realty Group/Cindy Jones Broker - Springfield, VA

Your success in working with short sales shows.  For those who say BAH HUMBUG to dealing with them, they need to realize they aren't going away anytime soon.

Dec 16, 2010 05:46 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Pat:  No, they are not going away anytime soon.

Dec 16, 2010 08:07 AM
Anne Clark
Metro Referrals - Gainesville, VA

The fact that you've rolled up your sleeves to help these home owners shows your character.  Good for you.

Dec 16, 2010 08:28 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Anne:  Thanks.  You've seen my career take this natural path toward Short Sale Listings since you've known me. 

Dec 16, 2010 08:38 AM