When I received the call on Friday evening I got all the info I needed to set up the client (who was already prequalified and in the process of submitting additional docs for preapproval) for automatic notification of listings.
My client found me on the internet from my ActiveRain post *Across the Ocean to Paradise: Military Relocations Hawaii* .
The criteria and Info:
- Name, address, phone, cell, email
- Mililani, Waipio Gentry or Waikele Condos or townhouses
- 2 bdrm/ 1 ba / 1 pkg or more
- Spacious living and bedroom areas
- Maximum of X (monthly payment up to X per month
- One or two story
- Lanai
- Move in February
- Main appliances included
Great! Set her up for listings and she was on the site 10 minutes after it was entered and already saving to favorites, possibilities, making notes and asking questions. Cool.
After a lengthy conversation with her on Saturday morning I proceeded to:
- Print out the Buyer's packet (Hawaii Buyer Advisory, loan process, escrow and transaction process, BAH - Housing Allowance Chart for military personnel)
- Call listing agents for appointments and lockbox #'s and managed to get 8 showing appointments in the three areas.
- Looked up comps for all complexes so I could give her detailed past sales due to the whacked out listing prices from unreasonable sellers :)
- Made sure to structure drive bys for other properties I did not receive call backs on (I even emailed to no avail) as well as print out listing sheets for the ones that had Open Houses.
- Made a folder with all info typed out and agent listing full copies as well for myself
- Partially typed out a Purchase Contract with Addendums and saved it to my jump drive so I could take it with me ..... in case she wanted to put in an offer :)
- Partially typed out a cover letter ....just in case :)
We really hit it off well and after looking at the units I had appointments for we also looked at three Open Houses.
YUK! The first one was in a nice complex but the tenant just moved out (not cleaned!!!) and both my client and I were appalled. I'm sorry but my facial expressions DO NOT hide what I'm feeling. My client laughed at me.
The second one had an agent who was already 20 minutes late by time we arrived and she was still by her car dragging out a bag and talking on her cell phone. We went to the unit and while standing in the sun the agent could not open the lockbox and finally asked me to do it. Voila! Opened on first try. Geez. This one had new cabinets in the kitchen but gecko droppings on ALL window sills through out the two bedroom complex! OMG.
The third one was beautifully done but 200 sq/ft smaller than the one she really likes (picture to the left).
The next time I plan to show units on Sundays I'll call the agents who are having Open Houses too...and ask them what kind of condition the unit is in because we pretty much wasted our time looking at two of them.
For some odd reason I "thought" the sellers or at the very least the agent would make sure to have the units in showing condition and ready for Open Houses. For some odd reason I believed they would at least be clean? At least no droppings?
Then again.....that's what I get for thinking. :)
In the meantime, I am walking out the door to meet my client to sign the offer! (will keep you posted!)
Great work my friend...... good luck with the offer not that your going to need it - SEE YA SOON!!!!