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The Carrier Pigeon Has Landed!

In my last post, you heard my tale of botched electronic communications.

It had a happy ending!

In the middle of the night, a fax showed up at the listing agent's home office, she emailed it to me early this morning, and my buyers have now initialed the minor changes in the counter, and we have a deal.

And this is a deal that has me thinking about a couple of things that helped to make it work.

First, three out of the four people involved here in Washington are certified Type-A personalities, and everyone stayed pretty calm. There were forces that were clearly beyond our control - power outages in a far off land. When the power came back, there was a huge storm and whole country's internet connection went ka-plu-y. If any of us had gotten at all loopy about any of this stuff, it might be a different story.

Second, real estate is a business where an agent is worth what his or her word is worth. The listing agent is a woman named Sheila Mooney, she's with Coldwell Banker's Georgetown office, and if you get a chance to sell one of her listings, do it! You can take her word to the bank.

She has a reputation for being a real pro and we knew and completely trusted each other. When she told me that things were goofy in Sri Lanka, I knew things were goofy in Sri Lanka. With some agents I have suspected that my offer was being shopped or worse. With Sheila, that was not an issue. Things were goofy in Sri Lanka!

So I'm off to my office meeting with that spring in my step that comes from putting together a hard one!

And later today, I'm going to make it a point to sit down and take a few deep breaths and "OOOHHHMMMM, OOOHHHMMM..."

Posted by Patricia Kennedy on 11/06/2007 10:12 AM

Comments (21)

negotiations, electronic communications, professionalism

21 Comments on The Carrier Pigeon Has Landed!

Yay! A happy ending! Good job and so nice of you to give props to the other agent involved. Integrity goes a long way in this business, doesn't it?

11/06/2007 08:41 AM

by Kelly Sibilsky ~ Lake Zurich RE/MAX Real Estate Agent (RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest)

I agree so many people are not that good to work with.

11/06/2007 08:43 AM

by Canton Georgia Real Estate--- Dwayne West (Atlanta Real Estate)

I always get the hard ones. Good to know that someone else out there is having trouble too.

11/06/2007 08:47 AM

by Brandon Causey Realtor Coastal Palmetto Realty LLC (Coastal Palmetto Realty LLC)

Patricia~

I try to read your posts as they arrive because you always have something interesting to say...today your special point is: "...real estate is a business where an agent is worth what his or her word is worth." Thanks for that reminder...and how true it is!

11/06/2007 08:48 AM

by Asheville's GREEN Land & Homes ECO-Steward Realty

Congratulations! We need more trust in our business. Our grandparents did most of their business on a handshake and the spoken word. It is sad how far away from that we have gone.

11/06/2007 09:49 AM

by Cindy Jones-Northern Virginia Real Estate & Military Relocation Services (RE/MAX Allegiance #1 RE/MAX Company in the World)

Sounds like a happy ending. All the best. Thanks for posting.

11/06/2007 11:14 AM

by Bob & Carolin Benjamin - E Phoenix Arizona Real Estate (The Benjamin Team - Keller Williams Integrity First Realty )

Glad it worked out. In the end we are what's left in this business so it's nice when we can say such postitive things about one and other...

11/06/2007 12:06 PM

by Bethesda Real Estate Sales ~ Josette Skilling (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.)

It helps when we know our clients can be trusted for their word, too. I always let the other agent know whether/how long I've worked with my client, because it's important for them to stick to their word as well.

11/06/2007 12:15 PM

by Sharon Simms St Pete Florida CRS CIPS CLHMS (RE/MAX Metro)

Patricia,

Congrats on the feature!!! Isn't it nice dealing with people you can trust...wish everyone was honest! Thanks, Fran

11/06/2007 04:49 PM

by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

Hi, Patricia! Are you one of the Type A personalities? :) Congrats on the contract!

How was your Buffini workshop?

11/06/2007 05:29 PM

by Yolanda Hoversten - Metro East IL Real Estate (Prudential One Realty Centre)

COngratulations. And, I must say that it's a nice thing to publicly praise the other agent. Good job.

I always appreciate your comments. Thanks for commenting on The Shortcut To Attracting Whatever You Want

By the way to the AR staff my graphic for this comment is "grumixameira". Why do these words have to be sooooo long and difficult to spell?

11/06/2007 05:39 PM

by Bradenton Florida Real Estate - Dan Forbes (Sarasota Metro Properties)

Thanks for finishing the story...before the lights went out! It is amazing how keeping calm can help the buyers and sellers stay calm too. Me I am a triple A so I keep them calm and go outside and scream....well not really....but I am on the inside! Nice post Patricia you deserve the feature and the deal, congrats.

11/06/2007 06:51 PM

by Gary White~ Grand Rapids Real Estate, FLexIt Realty, a call or click away! (Flexit Realty~Serving West Michigan)

Cool, you had me glued. Hope all is well now and no feathers were ruffled.

11/06/2007 06:57 PM

by Keith Perry - REALTOR® -West Metro Atlanta (Coldwell Banker)

Glad your deal ended up going through. It's nice to know that you are working with a true professional. They certainly have all kinds in this business and not all are up to par if you know what I mean.

11/06/2007 06:58 PM

by Tracy Santrock - Cary NC Real Estate Blog (Fonville Morisey)

Congratulations! I knew you would get it done. 'Glad it was sooner rather than later.

11/06/2007 08:59 PM

by Margaret Woda, Maryland REALTOR (RE/MAX VISION)

I love happy endings! Well...I guess it's not over yet. Good luck with the transaction!

11/06/2007 10:51 PM

by Natalie Langford, Winchester, VA Real Estate (Realty Direct of Shenandoah Valley)

Pat--It must feel rewarding to get a tough deal signed, sealed and delivered. It is so mportant to have honest and trustworthy relationships in this business.

11/06/2007 11:15 PM

by Sandy Bacon (Coldwell Banker Elite)

I am glad to hear that it worked out patricia. I knew it was going to work out. Two real estate professionals with class always seem to do whatever it takes to get the deal done. Great ending. Great post.

11/06/2007 11:30 PM

by Lanre Folayan "Buy a home in Washington,DC" (EXIT PREMIER REALTY)

Hi Patricia,
I love a story with a happy ending. Dealing with an agent you can trust is like money in the bank. Congratulations.

11/07/2007 06:58 PM

by Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist (Kingsbridge Realty, Inc)

Got to love happy endings and keep us informed of when it actually closes! I'm always worried with owners who live in foreign countries because of the tax implications that they may not have been warned about.

11/08/2007 12:37 AM

by Todd Clark (Realtor), GRI (Washington Co, Beaverton Oregon) (Kastings & Associates, Beaverton Oregon Real Estate)

Patricia- What a great turn out. Congrats on the feature. I just love working with certain agents here in our town, mostly my good friends. Katerina

11/08/2007 01:14 AM

by Nestor & Katerina Gasset, Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.)

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