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When a Professional Goes on Vacation...

By Chris Ann Cleland

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

August 17, 2012 05:35 AM

When a Professional Goes on Vacation...

I am getting ready to take a much deserved trip to see a friend. Even though I will only be gone a few days, my business will be handed over to competent agents who will be there to watch it, in the event something happens. Maybe an offer will come in on a listing. Maybe a buyer will find a home online that they just have to tour. There's nothing like making plans to be out of your business to make things suddenly happen out of nowhere.

Imagine my surprise yesterday, when chatting with my Short Sale negotiator at CitiMortgage (a second trust loan) she informed me she would be out of town for two weeks and NO ONE would be watching her files. "No one does my files but me, so if something happens while I'm out, it'll have to wait until I get back."

You know that the approval from our first trust will come in as soon as that negotiator for the second trust with Citi exits the building for her first day of vacation. Any more negotiating that has to be done with the second, or even requesting our approval, will have to wait for two weeks. I'm sure that's going to go over like a lead balloon with the buyer and the seller.

If a Short Sale Bank or their employees actually showed any kind of common sense or thought that required advance planning, I think I might just pass out from shock.

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Dick Greenberg

New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO

Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Chris Ann - I love reading your short sale posts - it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Whatever bank idiocy you report on, I know it's only a short time until an even crazier one shows up. Have a great getaway!

Aug 17, 2012 05:49 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Dick: Your comment makes me laugh. A train wreck in slow motion. So very true.

Aug 17, 2012 05:59 AM

Belinda Spillman

Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO

Colorado Living!

Chris Ann. Have a fun trip. I am leaving tomorrow for California. This is one of the reasons I work in a team. I don't have to fret about anything. Awwww - I can't wait.

Aug 17, 2012 07:17 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Belinda: Have fun and don't forget to take lots of pictures for us.

Aug 17, 2012 08:04 AM

Scott Godzyk

Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH

One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Good Afternoon Chris Ann, common sense with short sales?? It does not exist? i am facing a similar vacation problem.... ugghhh.... Have a great Friday

Aug 17, 2012 09:08 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Scott: Hopefully you can find someone to help you out so you can take some time off.

Aug 17, 2012 09:39 AM

Andrea Bedard

Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD

Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

Hi Chris Ann, we are currently out of town and I find myself having a hard time letting go completely. Although I know everything is being handled just perfectly, I still like to check in ... just in case. I could never imagine leaving for a couple of days, let alone 2 weeks and everything and everyone will have to wait ... I guess just one reason why we get things done and no deal would take months if it was only up to us.

Enjoy your vacation!

Aug 17, 2012 11:33 AM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Chris Ann~ When we go out of town we always have someone reliable covering for us, because you are absolutely right, everything happens when you plan a trip. Hope that short sale turns out ok. That's just plain ridiculous that no one is covering.

Aug 17, 2012 01:57 PM

Alan Gross

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company, Equal Housing Lender - Bethesda, MD

Loan Consultant

Hard to believe that the files will set for 2 weeks while someone takes a vacation. Does that mean if some quits or has to be gone for a longer period of time for another reason the file goes into hibernation or has to be started all over again from square one?

Aug 17, 2012 11:33 PM

Kathryn Maguire

GreatNorfolkHomes.com (757) 560-0881 - Chesapeake, VA

Serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA Beach

A 2 week vacation and NO ONE to cover while she is gone? That could only happen in a monster mega bank. No other company would stand for that.

Aug 18, 2012 12:06 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

With the way many short sale banks handle their short sales, how would you ever know if a negotiator was on vacation? Half the time, you wouldn't.

Aug 18, 2012 12:37 AM

Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

No one to cover while she is gone? And, no doubt, when she gets back, it will be RUSH RUSH RUSH for everyone else! Ridiculous!

Aug 20, 2012 03:02 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Andrea: I have no doubt that I will still need to blog and such while gone. This business is in my blood.

Donna: I guess that they don't think it's going to work out, otherwise they'd have someone to cover the files and take the incoming money.

Alan: That thought makes my stomach turn. The answer just may be yes. I know all of us Short Sale Agents have had reboots to the file that came out of nowhere.

Kathryn: CitiMortgage.

Elizabeth: Good point. But there is something awful about KNOWING they won't be there when you know you'll need them.

Susan: It's really sad.

Aug 20, 2012 03:19 AM

John McCormack, CRS

Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM

Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Two weeks away with no one to watch the business???? Seriously.... Like leaving a fox in a hen house! Shake it off and enjoy your vacation.

Aug 20, 2012 12:02 PM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

John: We'll see how enjoyable it can be. There are no Short Sale Agents avaialable to watch those files.

Aug 21, 2012 05:25 AM

Wayne Johnson

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX

San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

Chris Ann-I'm surprised that someone in a position like this has no back up and can be gone for two weeks without coverage. I guess the old saying "he who has the gold makes the rules" is true. And the clients must respond to their document requests within 30 minutes or the deal is killed . Justice.

Aug 22, 2012 05:14 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Wayne: It's insane, isn't it?

Aug 23, 2012 12:40 PM