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You Win Some and You Lose Some

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

You Win Some and You Lose Some

That's probably about the most positive statement I can muster right now.  I was supposed to have two settlements today.  It seemed early in the day that both would work out.  By 2pm, all hope of that was dwindling.

As tensions grew in the first seller transaction, I had to delegate the walk through of the buyer transaction to a very good friend and fellow agent.  I wanted to be there for my first-time buyer, but his transaction wasn't troubled.  I was needed urgently elsewhere to see if I could finally put my seller transaction to rest.  Sometimes, you can do everything to the best of your ability and still have nothing to show for it at the end of the day but a headache.

The good news is, despite the seller transaction imploding, my first time buyer did settle on his home and was beaming when he was handed the key.  I was able to make it to settlement and end the day on a positive note.

You win some and you lose some; in the end, it's how you play the game.  I don't play dirty.  I don't mess with peoples minds.  I am honest.  The world would be a better place if everyone operated this way.  Dare to dream.

Comments(14)

Krista Abshure
Fathom Realty - Fuquay Varina, NC

Chris- Sorry to hear about your day.  Hopefully everything will work out, just not on the original timetable that was planned. 

I know I tell me clients that Closing dates area just goals, not guarantees and that our "goal" to is Close sometime near the Closing date!  :)

Nov 30, 2011 11:39 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Glad your first time buyer had a successful settlement.  Since we've chatted about the other transaction I know how frustrating it was.

Nov 30, 2011 12:20 PM
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Chris Ann I hate to hear that and especially right before Christmas. I am very happy for your buyers - yea!

Nov 30, 2011 03:27 PM
Lloyd Binen
Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA
Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Yes, Dare to dream.  That's too bad, but you still have the listing and a healthy philosophical attitude.

Nov 30, 2011 04:17 PM
Ed Gillespie
WealthWise Mortgage Planning, a Division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation NMLS #1850 - Folsom, CA

Very sorry to hear about this, Chris Ann.  I understand the feeling all to well.  And it seems to be happening more frequently this year, doesn't it?  Best wishes for success tomorrow and throughout this holiday season!

Nov 30, 2011 05:03 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Krista:  In the case of a Short Sale that had been delayed three times, the final settlement date was IT.  The last chance before starting over. 

Cindy:  The face to face, I was amazingly calm.  It's settle or walk away.  The bottomline message.

David:  There was every indication this was heading in a bad direction for my Sellers.  We weren't enjoying it, but certainly weren't surprised.

Lloyd:   I know there's a Buyer out there that would LOVE to be in this home.

Ed:   December 1st looks like a fresh start to me.  And I can feel the excitement of the holiday sesason buzzing around me.  Taking most of the day off today to reboot myself.

Dec 01, 2011 02:05 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Yeah, some days are like this. Imagine how you would feel if this was your only transaction and you hadn't closed anything for months and months? See, feel better now, right?

Dec 01, 2011 02:58 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Elizabeth:  I feel great!  I've closed two more transactions that I intended to this year.  And the minute this one finally resolved, even though it wasn't settled, I felt relieved.  It was a situation that was tied up with agony for months.  I can get a three loan short sale approved and ready in one month, but a buyer can't get a loan in 80+ days.  There's something off with that picture and all I can say is I'm happy my Sellers are free from that contract today.

Dec 01, 2011 03:01 AM
Karen Hawkins, MBA - Langley & Surrey, BC
Royal Pro Real Estate Network - Langley, BC

It is always a tough day when a transaction goes sideways, Chris - but thank you for highlighting the good with the not-so-good.  Hopefully a nice balance was achieved!

Dec 01, 2011 03:06 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Karen:  I think a nice balance was achieved.  By the time I got home from rollercoaster ride, I was able to smile and have a good night's sleep. 

Dec 01, 2011 03:10 AM
Cathy McAlister
Cathy Ashley McAlister, GRI CDPE - Broker / Sacramento - Sacramento, CA
Sacramento DRE#00648507

Even our best laid plans can go sideways for the needs of the client.  You did all the right things in order to best serve your clients.  You did not lose - you did the necessary things.

Dec 01, 2011 05:00 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Cathy:  I feel terrible for the clients.  As if Short Sales weren't stressful enough, you sometimes get the pain of losing a buyer or two in the process.

Dec 04, 2011 04:29 AM
Tni LeBlanc, Realtor®, J.D.
Mint Properties, Lic. #01871795 - Santa Maria, CA
Tenacious Tni (805) 878-9879

I agree and I approach things in much the same way.  The worst is when you deal with people that think you are stupid because you are honest.  They are often shocked when confronted with their lies... as if no one could tell.  

I find there are two teams in this business.  Straight shooters and the Other folks.  The other folks always seem to want to play with the straight shooters because they hate dealing with each other.  LOL. 

Dec 04, 2011 07:47 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Tni:  That's a really good way to process the personalities in our business.  The others are game players.  They don't like being confronted with their lies.  And when you do confront them, they act like you are the bad guy.  It's all obfuscation.

Dec 04, 2011 09:40 AM