I am a very patient person and I will do all I can to help, but I don't like having my time wasted. A year ago, I had a client like no other and I have learned a lesson from this client.
The lesson I learned is, never be afraid to let go. My broker assigned me a client to work with and I did my buyer counseling with this client and found out that she had great credit, she knew what she was looking for in her new home, she wanted to put 20% down for her new purchase and she previously owned a home.
I thought to myself this one should be easy, she wasn't asking for a lot, a 4 bedroom house with a separate living room, dining room and family room. She wanted to spend no more that $170,000 on her purchase. No problem we can do that, let's just decided on her area of choice. She told me anywhere in Gwinnett County. Again no problem, at she had many choices, Snellville, Buford, Loganville, Lawrenceville, and Grayson.
We talked about school districts for the purpose of resale value, she has no children, and I worked tirelessly to find what she was looking for. I found it; my broker took a new listing in the subdivision that first attracted this buyer's attention. This property had everything she asked for including a pool and a large backyard.
This home was very inviting to my Buyer Client; she said so herself and she wanted this property. This Buyer client was however a little concerned about the type of siding on the home, so she asked a friend of hers to come and give her his opinion. Once her friend addressed the concerns she had, she placed an offer on the house. I thought okay, let's get this one closed.
One day later, I receive a call from my Buyer Client to say she changed her mind, she didn't think she wanted a pool. Okay, I let my broker know what's going on and he allows her to withdraw her offer.
I continue working with my Buyer Client. We went out looking at homes from Northern Gwinnett County to Southern Gwinnett County and we saw many homes to fit this clients wants and needs but some how they just were not the right homes.
I placed two other offers each time she backed out and lost money, but when I counseled her asking was she truly ready to purchase at this time she stated she was. So being a rookie I keep showing her homes, even taking her out on Christmas Eve with my daughter in the backseat because she went to a neighborhood she liked and I thought this could be the one.
In the end she decided she wanted the original house again then backed out of that property for the second time. Now she's backed out of purchasing four times. She finally realized she would lose more money, but she said she still wanted to buy so she wanted one more chance there was another home we looked at that she would definitely go with.
Before I wrote the contract, I asked her if she was sure and she said she was. I wrote the contract and she signed, we had the inspection and after the inspection she decided she did want to buy after all. The items found upon inspection were all cosmetic, no defects were found. Yet, the Seller agreed to fix the items she wanted fixed.
My buyer client was not happy with the way the repairs were completed and wanted the repairs completed in a more professional manner. The Seller agreed to this after all it was two days before closing, and this Buyer Client still walked away. The closing package was sent to the closing attorney's office and everything. I should have let go after the second time she changed her mind. I did not, so I wasted 5 months, working with someone who was not ready to buy.
I have had other indecisive clients though not as bad. Now, I recognize this when I see it and I choose to let go of these clients. If it's a Seller I will tell the Seller I don't think you are ready to sell, I think you should take your home of the market. If it's a buyer I usually ask them if they are sure they are ready to purchase, and tell them I have tried to satisfy all of their requested and I don't feel I can help anymore. I tell my clients take our counseling sessions as time to decide if this is something you are up for.
Our time (mine and yours), is to be valued and respected. Buying or selling a home is big decision, so think it over know the pros and cons before you wasted your time and mine. .
Avalugg.com
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