What could possibly go wrong during escrow?

Michelle -- would love to see your list

John -- Can't spend that money before the check clears

Ginny -- I had one hassle-free closing this month. The rest are challenging for various reasons

Ed and Tracy -- doing out best for our clients also involve being cool calm and collected

Mike --- I've encountered many of these challenges. The others, my friends have experienced, including having the seller die just before close of escrow

Wayne and Jean -- we never know what's going to come up

Christiansen team -- it helps to be prepared, and to also tell clients that many of these challenges are not completely unexpected

Frank -- you raised another question....does a closed escrow guarantee we'll get paid soon?

Michael -- the negotiation hardest to overcome when one is faced with stubborn and unreasonable parties.

Sally and David -- you just gave me an idea....thanks!

Randy -- what a reminder of what is involved....in the spinning wheel, one never knows where it stops. And all our transactions are like one gigantic wheel

Mark -- I can only imagine what happens to all the escrows when hurricanes hit!

Susan -- smooth sailing doesn't seem to apply to real estate transactions

Lisa -- apparently, this list may not be long enough since there are other situations I haven't mentioned

Lucas -- thanks for the kind words!

Charlie -- when it comes to clients who don't see when a deal is good enough but who wants more, more, more...then maybe it's time for the agent to "fold 'em" and say, "Next!"

Harry -- making follow up phone calls is an absolute necessity. Sometimes, it's the squeaky wheel that gets attention

Richie -- you're right. It's a matter of IF as much as WHEN an escrow closes.

Tatyana -- since so many of these are the new "normal"....we just have to keep plogging along!

Gretchen -- and when the escrow doesn't close...we've lost all that time and effort and money.

Rob -- there's only one way to be in this job: be optimistic. That's why when one falters, we always tell ourselves, "NEXT!". I truly believe there's a good reason for every thing.

Nancy -- during these times, it truly helps to be an optimist. It takes us to our happy place. And when that fails, have a glass of wine, not whine!

Adrian -- we never know what's going to happen from escrow to escrow. Some that we expected to be slam dunk and smooth sailing could be the most treacherous of all!

Jeff --- I've had buyers who were moving right along on an escrow...then boom! They decide it's better for them to get a divorce instead.

Gary -- someone dying in the middle of an escrow is not unusual. I've also heard of one where the elderly seller was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and as such was not in full control of her faculties.

Kathy --- yes, it does show what we have to deal with from day to day. We're tough, and the going gets rough, the tough get going!

Chris Ann -- Absolutely...one of the parties could be hospitalized, or die unexpectedly. Happened and happens!

Bryan -- lender/underwriter not completing his part in time is a pet peeve....totally preventable. After the escrow closes, I always encourage the client to give feedback. And I make a mental note of whom NOT to use

Satar --- when it closes escrow, that's when it goes on the books!

Karen -- a realtor's job is never done until the paperwork is done :)

Jim -- thanks for the kind words

Sandy -- you said it. It is through adverse conditions that we prove our worth to our clients

Ed -- you're right. Certain things we can handle. The rest is in God's hands

Carla -- yep, we never know when and what could happen to an escrow. Seems like there's something new every day

Ginger -- there's a realtor who's 85 years old, and she's still doing open houses. Wonder if I can hang on that long

Michael -- having that headache now. Sellers refused to get their inspections. Buyers did, and requested huge credit. Sellers refused. Wants to relist at same price in spite of what was found. Big SIGH

Evelyn -- that's why whenever I have a hassle-free closing, I celebrate!

Bruce -- when things go wrong, an agent with nerves of steel is worth his weight in gold

Christine -- by all means...add to the list. We need to show our clients what we have to go through

Chuck --- the longer we stay in business, the more we learn, experience especially since everything else changes.

Ruthmarie -- I've had some smooth transactions. But they are in the minority.

Sharon -- indeed, a transaction coordinator or personal assistant can help us in a huge way

Spectrum

Totally understandable, and totally fair. At least when you do your inspections, you get paid for the work

For us REALTORs, we can do a lot of the work pre- and during escrow, but when the escrow falls apart, we don't get paid a cent!