Ah...Relocating to Hawaii with the Military is no easy task. Especially if you are planning on buying a home here as soon as you arrive and while you are stationed at one of our Honolulu County Military Bases.

After working wholeheartedly with a Military couple from Virgina (who contacted me after searching on the internet) for the past three months they finally arrived this past Wednesday. I finally connected with clients after 'getting to know them' (well, especially her because he was in Afghanistan and I didn't get to hear him until he returned a month ago) by email and phone. What a pleasure! It sure made it pleasant to finally put a face with a voice....and a hug with a person. :)

The following articles I was inspired to write as they pertain to these specific clients:

• Do You Value Long Term Potential Clients? They were not coming for three months but what my client said was, 'Nobody would give her the time of day' because it was not going to be an instant move here. She wanted to be pro-active and that is totally understandable.
• Relocating to Hawaii? Ewa Gentry & Ocean Pointe Communities  After setting them up to look at listings from our MLS-Client Gateway system, they narrowed their search to this particular area and we were finally able to cut the criteria to specifics.
• Hello?????...... Do You Think It's Possible to Get a Showing Appointment?   Knowing they were arriving on the 27th of February I wanted to be proactive myself. I started calling listing agents for appointments only to get flustered for no responses.
• Do You Alienate Your Peers & Clients? How's About Burning Bridges? Which prompted me to write this post about the Real Estate Industry and how it is important to treat our peers and clients with respect. At the very least to be courteous in returning calls and working together as a team.

We looked at 12 properties on Thursday and four (two from Thursday) on Friday and put in an offer Friday evening.  We received a counter offer yesterday evening and I met them a half hour later to sign it. WE ARE IN CONTRACT. They are on their way (as I write) to meet with the Mortgage Broker (yes...on a Sunday) and I have already scheduled the home inspection for next Saturday.

Because the listing agent ANSWERED his phone for a showing appointment we have an accepted contract. We have the starting of a great relationship for this transaction. It's wonderful to have someone who is pleasant and prompt. He's already given me floor plans so my client's can play around with 'arranging the furniture'...the plat map from the developer, emailed all his instructions/disbursement and other docs to escrow already (I'll take mine in with the initial deposit check tomorrow am).

Bottom line is this. Give a person time, a little effort and some patience and you'll have many happy stories and faithful and loyal clients.

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com