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Why YOUR REALTOR® is “like a bridge over troubled waters”

By
Real Estate Agent with The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group 209227

Yesterday, in a conversation with a relatively new agent, I was explaining the events of a recent sales transaction in order to teach...train...and prepare him, should he ever encounter a similar situation. As I walked him through the details of the transaction, I presented each of the many obstacles with which we were faced and outlined how we overcame and moved forward...to a victorious closing! At the end of our conversation, I stated "Oftentimes...as a REALTOR®...you must be a ‘bridge over troubled waters'."

Even as I spoke that statement aloud to him, the truth contained within those words resonated and brought to mind one transaction after another in which I stood in the gap between a client who wanted/needed a home and a lending institution who was saying "NO! NO! NO!" At other times, I have had to advise my client(s) to terminate the contract for a home they truly loved...because the inspection revealed major, structural defects or other irreparable damage. In many cases, I must ‘negotiate' the turbulent waters between a buyer who wants certain repairs and a seller who thinks his home is perfectly fine just as it is.

As REALTORS®, we are THE BRIDGE...

  • That connects buyers and sellers together in the sale and purchase of a home or property
  • That links ALL the parties of a real estate transaction...(customers, lenders, attorneys, inspectors, appraisers, surveyors and REALTORS®)
  • That provides safe passage between buyers and sellers when negotiating price, concessions and repairs
  • That establishes and maintains communication between ALL of the parties throughout the real estate transaction
  • That leads the way HOME!!!

YES...as YOUR REALTOR®...I'll be your bridge over troubled waters...I will lay me down!

When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all
I'm on your side...when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in 2008 and want a REALTOR® who will stick by your side...even when times get rough...please give me a call!

As my client, I give you my personal commitment that WHAT MATTERS TO YOU MATTERS TO ME! I recognize that YOU want to do business with someone you can trust. I will work diligently to earn your trust. The real estate market changes everyday. By staying current with the daily trends and changes of the market, I can better guide you through one of the most important decisions of your life.

You have worked hard to be able to achieve your dreams.

I FEEL THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE YOUR DREAM A REALITY!

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR® -- The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Search Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill Homes for Sale

Comments (22)

Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker
Perfect analogy Elizabeth...especially for those "hard to close" deals, which are becoming more and more common now.  Another reason we need to continue to network and build our SOI with lenders who can offer alternatives!
Jan 16, 2008 02:10 AM
John March
Charisma Media Group, LLC - Bluffton, SC
"Engage, connect, prosper" (Matt 6:33)

Elizabeth,

what an important bridge--for both buyers and sellers. sometimes they see us as an unnecessary detour on the road to what they want--so,  we need to educate them on how we make their road to success faster and smoother.

BeBlessed

John 

Jan 16, 2008 02:31 AM
Gary McNinch
Better Properties Real Estate - Renton, WA
Broker, Renton WA Real Estate

Eliz,

We have gobs of water here in the Puget Sound Area.  Rivers, creeks, Puget Sound, Pacific Ocean....  Great Analogy of a bridge.  Connecting both sides, getting things moved back and forth between buyers, Sellers and everyone else involved.  And still keeping the water flowing in the rest of the process.  Nice one.

List and Sell (and make it easy to jump over the puddles too)   Gary @ RentonHomeFinder

Jan 16, 2008 03:32 AM
Elaine Hanson
Coldwell Banker Realty - Malibu | Topanga - Malibu, CA
REALTOR - Topanga, CA Real Estate Agent
Nice, Elizabeth.  Such a peaceful and calming image.  We ARE the bridge.
Jan 16, 2008 03:35 AM
Rebecca Savitski
BSR Real Estate Group - Cary, NC
NC Real Estate Listings
How true this post is, without troubled transactions how would we gain our knowledge? It sets us apart from the average.
Jan 16, 2008 03:43 AM
Ginger S
Wilkinson & Associates, Wilmington NC - Wilmington, NC
Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation~

Elizabeth, You choose the perfect song  to illustrate the depth of commitment and involvement a good Realtor has with their clients. Our slogans are similiar. "What's most important to you is most important to us!" GBY

Ginger 

Jan 16, 2008 04:29 AM
Elizabeth Nieves
The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group - Durham, NC
Bilingual Raleigh - Durham North Carolina Real Estate Team

LU- THANKS SO MUCH!! I hope your 2008 is incredible!!

GARY-  I like 'matchmaker' also. It is a great honor to help someone find/achieve the home of their dreams. :-)

LISA-  You are so right! I am fortunate to have some very good relationships with very committed lenders. I call it my extended team.

JOHN- I really like your comment. You are right, of course. The actions of some have cast a cloud over many of us. My goal is to prove that I'm not like the ones who have behaved badly. GBU!

GARY-  Thanks! Your comment is so challenging and inspiring, as usual!! I just love your comments, my friend! Many blessings!!

Jan 16, 2008 05:45 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

You said it sister...I'm going through such a situation like this right as we speak. Back and forth for days...I believe it is going to work out. Our job is to do the best job we can to make the deal go through and make our clients happy with the way represented them.

Jan 16, 2008 06:49 AM
Jo-Anne Smith
Oakville, ON

Elizabeth, How true, we wear so many hats.....your bridge analogy is perfect.
One of my favourite ways to think of us is as firewomen/men...we spend so much time putting out fires.

I really believe a good real estate sales representative is worth their weight in gold, and then some, 

((-:

Jo 

Jan 16, 2008 07:39 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Yep, we are that and so much more. That's why we make the big bucks, right? Let's just say my degree in social work has come in handy many times.
Jan 16, 2008 09:45 AM
Elizabeth Nieves
The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group - Durham, NC
Bilingual Raleigh - Durham North Carolina Real Estate Team

ELAINE-  As soon as I spoke the words, I knew I had found a truth. Thanks for reading and commenting!

REBECCA-  You are certainly an authority on that. I'm still amazed at your story.

GINGER-  I LOVE your slogan. It is so appropriate for you guys. Again...great minds think alike! :-)

NEAL-  At the end of the road, you'll be their hero. That's a pretty amazing feeling!!

JO-  I like yours...firemen/women. SO TRUE!!

MISSY-  I am sure it has!! Sometimes, I wish I had a degree in social work. Oh well...too late for that. :-)

 

Jan 16, 2008 11:58 AM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC
Hi Elizabeth,
Profound truth!  I had never thought of that analogy but it is perfect.  My psychology degrees is pretty handy!
Jan 16, 2008 12:32 PM
Paul Slaybaugh
Homesmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ Real Estate
Perfectly stated, Elizabeth.  Sometimes, I feel more like a tightrope over troubled waters, but the analogy holds ;)
Jan 16, 2008 12:39 PM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!
What a beautiful post Elizabeth. The analogy is so true and demonstrates how what we do is more than just putting paperwork together.  It's the intangibles that truly assist our clients through a very difficult process suspended between a hopeful beginning and a successful purchase/sale and closure of a home.
Jan 16, 2008 01:13 PM
Julie Neerings~Lifting Hearts ♥ Building Dreams~
Agent Referral - Salt Lake City, UT
Elizabeth-You have put this together perfectly and coming from your heart is exactly why it's so wonderful.  We are the bridge between the buyer and the home.  We have a strong fiduciary duty to our clients that we must never budge on.  That is what brings value to the consumer.  I wish for you many, many blessings!
Jan 16, 2008 03:34 PM
Adam Waldman
Westcott Group Real Estate Company - Hauppauge, NY
Realtor - Long Island
ELIZABETH - This was a great way to show people that their REALTOR is more than just someone that negotiates an offer.  The real work starts once an offer has been accepted.  We are the main hub for communications and for keeping things moving, and the bridge analogy is perfect.  Great job as usual, my friend.
Jan 16, 2008 07:08 PM
Melissa Grant
A Serendipity World - Greenbackville, VA
The Law of Attraction In Life & Business
Wonderful post and I love that song by the way ! Great analogy...I have bookmarked this for later !
Jan 16, 2008 09:38 PM
Tom Plant
WINEormous.com - Murrieta, CA
Elizabeth - What a great perspective. We wear so many hats, and we play such a pivitol role. Thanks for this.
Jan 17, 2008 12:25 AM
Elizabeth Nieves
The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group - Durham, NC
Bilingual Raleigh - Durham North Carolina Real Estate Team

CYNTHIA-  I think WE ALL need psychology degrees in this business. :-)

PAUL-  MAN...you are so right about that!! :-)

LOLA-  Your words..."a very difficult process suspended between a hopeful beginning and a successful purchase/sale and closure of a home"...could not be more perfect. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

JULIE-  You are so very right. We must always hold our client's interest and needs above our own. That is not only the right thing morally...it is the right way legally. I sometimes think that many agents need a reminder of their fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of their clients at ALL TIMES!! There is not much grey area in those words. Luv ya, my friend!

ADAM-  Thanky Thanky!! You always know exactly what to say. I truly believe that we are the bridge, and I know that there are MANY transactions I've closed where my actions alone directly caused the closing to occur. Everyone else in the transaction saw no hope. NEVER GIVE UP!!! :-)

MELISSA-  It is a great song, huh? I have always loved it. Thanks for reading and commenting!

TOM-  Thank you, my friend! It is good to have you 'home'!

Jan 17, 2008 06:53 AM
Sondra Meyer:
EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX
See It. Experience It. Live It.
What a a great analogy.  I'll be quoting you on it! 
Jan 21, 2008 05:17 AM