A Really Big Deal or No Big Deal- An ActiveRain Challenge

A Really Big Deal or No Big Deal- An ActiveRain Challenge

It is the holiday season so this December Challenge is going to be fun and not require you to write but one post. Oh by the way, for your entry in this challenge, and since it is the time of year for giving and receiving, Kerrie is going to give you a whopping 1000 points for taking on this challenge. But we do want to learn something from you, too.

My example of a No Big Deal (it was a very tiny Deal indeed):

I listed a foreclosed home for a bank. It was located in a dangerous part of town and I told the bank representative that it would take some doing to get it sold. The house was small, a two bedroom, 50 yr-old home in fair condition. It had been vacant for quite some time or so I thought. I negotiated a higher commission to create attention with the other agents in town and to hopefully move it quickly. The bank agreed to list it at $8,000 which normally would be half the real value. They needed it off their books in 10 weeks. The clock was ticking.

Buyers weren't interested in taking a look once they found out where it was located. When I did my weekly checks, I kept finding street people living under the house and I had to run them out. I would have my handyman nail up boards to keep it secure but then the next week the trespassers would be back and had used the boards for firewood. It was looking futile that I would sell it when a couple from out of town decided they wanted to buy it and give it to a church down the street. This had real promise as they had cash. They offered $1500 and the bank took it.

My commission was $2500 and I earned every dime. I was really tired of running homeless people out of the block basement. What did I learn? Everything will sell if you get the price low enough. Don't presume to know what price your seller will take. I also learned that it is okay that my fee is more than the house sells for. When you go above and beyond normal services and have to operate in less than desirable conditions, you should be paid accordingly. I am not afraid to ask for a higher fee if the situation warrants it.

Got the Idea?


So here is your Challenge:

Everyone has had A Really Big Deal or No Big Deal. No matter what business you are in, real estate, home staging, lending, marketing, virtual assistant, etc. you have had a Really Big Deal that made a big impact on you financially or in what you learned from it. Or maybe you had a No Big Deal that you work really hard on, you dealt with difficult people or met some lovely, thankful people that made it all worthwhile. Whether it was Big or Little you gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience that you remember to this day.

1. Write a post telling about your personal experience with either A Really Big Deal or a No Big Deal. Choose one or the other but please don't put both in your post. You will only get points for one post entry.
2. In your post describe what you learned doing your Big Really Deal or your No Big Deal (a very small deal). Tell us how it has affected your future business or the way you do business now and what you learned.
3. Add a graphic or photo of some sort. Beware of copyright infringement. Okay I know this may be a challenge to some of you that have had difficulty loading images but to qualify you must add one. And here is a sweet offer. If you are having trouble or don't know how, I will help you learn how to add a photo. So all you have to do is call me or send me an email, we will get together and you will know how by the time we are finished going over it. You will get you own private lesson.
4. Put a link to your post in the comment section below. This is how I will know that you have entered the contest.
5. The Challenge runs December 2 to December 30 at 11:59pm Pacific time. Nobody wants a Challenge ending on New Years Eve including me.

I want to hear your stories and see what kind of Really Big Deals you have had or No Big Deals.

First Place will get an additional 2000 points.
Second Place Winner will receive an extra 1500 points.
Third Place Winner will get an extra 1000. 

Thanks goes out to Debbie Laity who has agreed to help serve as a judge for this December Challenge.

Questions? Contact me and I will be glad to answer them.