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Doing The Right Thing Feels So Good!

By
Real Estate Agent with Douglas Elliman Real Estate 516-457-7103

I've never been so happy to lose money.  One of my homeowners has been trying desperately to sell her home.  We put it on the market in the fall only to have her husband pull the listing as soon as a buyer came too close to making an offer.  He really didn't want to move and finally told his wife he was not selling.  "They'll carry me out of here in a box," he told her just before calling me to remove the sign.  Not wanting to fight with him, she acquiesced, although in her heart she yearned to move closer to family.

This spring I got a call from her telling me her husband had died the week before and that she wanted the house listed as soon as possible.  Unfortunately for her prices have been on a steady decline since we last marketed the property.  With inventory climbing we've had to drop the price twice to generate offers.  This last price break just a few days ago excited industry professionals enough to get their buyers in quickly.

A young attorney I had shown the home to about six weeks ago called and put in an offer.  It was lower than I thought in her best interest and told him if he wanted it, he probably would need to come up in price.  Although his terms were good (nothing to sell and a substantial down payment) it just didn't sit right.  He was being picky about inconsequential things and was trying to get the house for a bargain price.  As was my responsibility, I presented the offer.  A few days went by and she called to tell me she was considering taking it.  She wanted out.  I just couldn't shake the feeling that she could do better so I suggested we wait just one more day.

Today we got a call from another agent who brought in a much higher offer with a buyer looking for a quick closing.  This was the right one for my seller and I couldn't be happier for her.

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Mrs. Sheri Ann Johnson, GRI
Tropic Shores Realty - Spring Hill, FL

Great reminder to always having the client's best interest in mind! We women are blessed with intuition! : )  Good job!

Aug 12, 2006 03:05 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

It goes to show that the first offer is not always the best one!  Your seller is fortunate to have such a caring agent!

Baltimore,Md

Aug 12, 2006 03:33 PM
Ed DeChristopher
Fredericksburg Realty, Inc. - Fredericksburg, VA
CRS Fredericksburg VA

Your actions were those taken by a true professional.  Your clients are very fortunate to have you representing them.

Good things happen to good people! 

Aug 12, 2006 11:51 PM
Craig Schiller
Trempealeau, WI
Hmmm... I am not surprised.  Your kindness and generosity comes thru... even in your blogs.
Aug 13, 2006 04:16 AM
Teri Isner
Keller Williams Realty at the Lakes - Orlando, FL
GRI, CRS, CIPS
Geri we take back up offers too you got the great one in the last hour, did you keep the other as a back up just in case?
Aug 13, 2006 11:52 AM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS
We find that very few people who made an offer that was rejected want to be a backup.
Aug 13, 2006 12:19 PM
Kristal Kraft
Novella Real Estate - Denver, CO
Selling Metro Denver Real Estate - 303-589-2022
Sleeping at night and doing the right thing are related!  Good for you in listening to your gut and following your heart.  I love a happy ending...
Aug 13, 2006 01:54 PM
Geri Sonkin
Douglas Elliman Real Estate 516-457-7103 - Merrick, NY
Long Island Real Estate & Staging Expert

An epilogue to the story . . . a buyer who had made a preliminary offer weeks and weeks ago resurfaced yesterday, driving by the property.  Homeowner happened to be outside and he engaged her in conversation, always a scary concept to me.  She told him she just accepted an offer and told him exactly how much it was.  I cringe.  He tells her he loves her house and will give her more.  She calls me.  I said, "where was he when I called his agent to let her know we were dropping the price?  Where was he for the whole week that passed before we accepted the offer?"

We will stick with the offer on the table and keep everyone else as a back-up.  At least we know we were at the right price to solicit multiple offers.  Whew!  And the beat goes on.

Aug 14, 2006 02:42 AM