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PAY IT FORWARD... Cleaning up after a client tried

By
Real Estate Agent with Johnson Real Estate, Inc. RES.0761759

PAY IT FORWARD... Cleaning up after a client tried.  I always get a good feeling when I am able to help out a client and see them move from a rental property to their own home. 

This client I worked with for the last 2 months is no exception.  She had difficulties *years* ago with keeping up her mortgage and decided to sell her home before it went into a short sale and moved into a rental property.  She wanted to  regroup, pay bills and get her life back on track and decided to rent for a few years.

Two weeks ago she moved into her new home.  She was so excited.  Being older and have limitations with mobility, she cleaned her rental apartment the best she could.  The management company denied her deposit to be returned.  They felt it was cleaned enough/ or well enough to their liking. 

I asked her to call them back and see if it were to be clean again, could they come back through for a second check.

She called be back and said they would, but she didn't see how it was possible.  I politely asked her for a key to her apartment, and left it at that.  This past week, I spent 3 days there cleaning a little each time.  The last day I brought my rug shampooer and did all the rugs.  By that point, the place looked good when it was done.  My shampooer *died* but it did helping someone else.

I asked her to come over Saturday, yesterday.  When she walked in the door she almost collapsed.. she was shocked to she how clean it was.  She was anticipating coming over to help me clean.  LOL.  That was my surprise to her... and my gift for buying a home.

I hope she now gets her deposit back... she deserves it.

Posted by

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR
(Accredited Buyers Representative)

Is a Full Time Realtor® with with Johnson Real Estate, in Cromwell, CT who specializes in Homes and Condos For Sale in the Middlesex and Hartford Counties in CT.

VALERIE OSTERHOUDT REALTOR IN CROMWELL CT

valerie osterhoudt

Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR ~Johnson Real Estate, Inc.
cell:  860.883.8889

email: Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR

website: www.CTrealtorMLS.com

 

Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Valerie, as a side note, I know how much this paying it forward cost you, as you have your own physical stuff going on yourself. You are one classy lady, and your client is very lucky to have you on her side.

May 22, 2011 09:55 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Valerie, it will be interesting to find out if she gets her deposit back, or if the management company was just determined to keep it.

May 22, 2011 10:02 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

What a touching story...God bless you for going that extra mile!  You will be rewarded many times over for being such a caring soul.

May 22, 2011 11:11 AM
Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Andrea.. Thank you so much for those kind words.  For me, putting someone else ahead of me takes my mind off the pain.  Until later that evening.  That is why I was not online here last night.  Too wiped out.

May 22, 2011 11:25 AM
Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

George.. I'm waiting to hear on that one too.  I'm hoping to hear good news later on this week or by the 1st of June.

May 22, 2011 11:26 AM
Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Susan.. Between you, me and God.  I can use it now.  More bad news has come my way.

May 22, 2011 11:27 AM
Joshua Zargari
MJ Decorators Workshop LI staging and home decorating - Lynbrook, NY
MJ Decorators Workshop

Valerie, a great post.

May 22, 2011 12:52 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Valerie, Andrea said it right. With your own problems you can the time to help someone that just couldn't do it themselves

May 22, 2011 02:14 PM
Karen Bernetti
Southington, CT

Your client is very lucky to have you as an agent and a friend.   Great way to pay it forward.

May 22, 2011 03:30 PM
Vickie Slade
Colorado Landmark, Realtors - Boulder, CO
Service You Can Trust ~ Someone You Can Depend On

Valerie, kudos for doing such an amazing thing for your client.  You went way beyond the "extra mile."  What a wonderful way for you to pay it forward.

May 22, 2011 03:46 PM
Karen Hawkins, MBA - Langley & Surrey, BC
Royal Pro Real Estate Network - Langley, BC

What a great service you did for your client, Valerie - one she is certain to remember very fondly!

May 22, 2011 06:01 PM
Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Joshua.. Thank you.

May 23, 2011 12:03 AM
Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Ed... Yes, this medical issues I have are challenging... but helping someone else make one feel better.  Don't you agree?

May 23, 2011 12:04 AM
Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Karen.. It is a win-win for everyone.  The apartment is now ready for the next renter, my client gets her deposit back (I hope), and I get a piece of mind, that I tried my best to help someone who needed it.

May 23, 2011 12:05 AM
Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Vickie.. To see her face when my client walked into her apartment thinking she was there to help clean, only to find out it had been done... that was PRICELESS.  That is what made my day.

May 23, 2011 12:06 AM
Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Karen.. I try to make the transaction of selling real estate non stressful for my clients.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.. I'm glad that I was able to help out this woman, so she can (hopefully) get her deposit back.

May 23, 2011 12:08 AM
Margie Kopp Sorrell
Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee Realty and Lake Country - Greensboro, GA
Lake Oconee Real Estate

Valerie-wow, that was really, really nice of you to do that for her. I've swept a porch, picked up some sticks, pulled a weed or two. But I've never gone back and cleaned over a three day period. You're clients are lucky to find you and an attitude like yours is hard to come by.

May 26, 2011 02:06 AM