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Thank you for calling Cart Before Horse Realty. This is Jared. How can I help you?

By Amanda Christiansen

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843

December 02, 2013 06:48 AM

Me: Thank you for calling Cart Before Horse Realty. This is Jared. How can I help you?

Buyer: Hi Jared. I just drove by your listing on 123 Main St here in Fort Wayne. It looks awesome! When can you show it to me?

Me: Whenever you like! Have you had the chance to talk to a lender about getting pre-approved for a mortgage?

Buyer: No. I haven't. My credit is iffy at best, and I only work part time and don't make much money and I've had a bunch of late payments recently. Is that okay?

Me: Sure! Here are Cart Before Horse Realty we don't mind showing homes to folks who may or may not be able to get a mortgage. In fact, it's our calling card! We'll show you anything at any time and cross our fingers that you can qualify!

Cart before horse realty 2 Me: Thank you for calling Cart Before Horse Realty. This is Jared. How can I help you?

Seller: Hey Jared. My wife and I are going to be listing our home in the spring of 2014. Probably not until March or so. We are looking at homes in Southwest Allen County in Fort Wayne. Nothing too unique. We want a 4 bedroom ranch on a cul-de-sac for under $250,000. Here is a list of 9 homes that look nice to us. Can we go ahead and view them this weekend, even though we aren't listing until March of 2014?

Me: Ab-so-frickin-lutely!! Who cares about the sellers and their 3 kids and 2 dogs that they have to pack up before every showing?? Not me! We just won't tell them that you aren't even close to being ready to buy. We'll tell them that you picked another home. It'll be our little secret!

Me: Thank you for calling Cart Before Horse Realty. This is Jared. How can I help you?

Buyer: Why hello there Jared! I'm in the market to buy a home in Fort Wayne in about a year or so. If you aren't busy this weekend, I'd like to preview about 4 or 5 occupied homes that look really nice. My fiance and I want to learn the market and see what's out there so when we are ready to buy, we feel educated. Is that okay?

Me: Um... HELL YEAH??!! Why not?? None of these homes that we see this weekend will be on the market in a year when you are ready to buy, but who cares? The worst that could happen is that we invonvenience the sellers. The second worst is that you will fall in love with one of these homes and then it will sell to somebody else. No big deal! Well, except that no other home will live up to this one, and you'll end up settling for something you don't love as much. See you at 10:00 am on Saturday!

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Jane Chaulklin-Schott

TEAMCONNECT REALTY - (407) 394-9766 - Orlando, FL

TeamConnect Luxury Homes - Orlando, Florida, 32836

Yes, have experienced your post examples. Exactly what our Broker titles it ~ CART BEFORE THE HORSE. Somehow it was funnier when you wrote about it:) Here begins a fine dance through the 'learning/education ' pipeline.

Dec 04, 2013 09:08 AM

Michelle Vickers

HER Realtors Worthington 614-353-3698 - Worthington, OH

Prompt Professional Proactive

So agree with you! We would really be doing everyone a favor by saying all of what you said because we are here to close the gap between perception and reality. And the reality is, you are so right. Great blog. Thanks!

Dec 04, 2013 11:37 AM

Jane..Jaishree Zilpelwar

listings, 1st Time or Move UpBuyer, short sale, forclosure, - Woodbury, NY

Realty Connect USA, Licensed Realtor

So Funny, very nicely said and done...

Dec 04, 2013 10:00 PM

Jeff Fisher

PureWest Real Estate - Whitefish, MT

PUREWEST REAL ESTATE/Christies

Hate to admit, been there done that, Thanks for putting some humor into what was a needed learning experience.

Dec 04, 2013 10:19 PM

Bryan Robertson

Los Altos, CA

Great stories! My feedback to anyone making requests like these is to simply tour open houses, get to know the market, then schedule a follow up talk. Sure, that risks losing them but they're not real anyway, right?

Dec 04, 2013 11:04 PM

Tamra Lee Ulmer

Arizona Resource Realty - Payson, AZ

NRBA ~FORCE~ Over 1000 REO Assets SOLD!

Amanda and Jared, Classic Post! I needed that good laugh today, so thank you! I've seen this "Cart be for the Horse" many a many of times....Funny...but not...this Post hit home to me, struck a funny bone, and probably for many others out there too. Keep smilin' and Happy Holidays!

Dec 05, 2013 04:22 AM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Jared and Amanda~ Just had to smile as I read these scenarios. How does one politely explain to these folks that they are being unreasonable?

Dec 05, 2013 05:11 AM

Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ

Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ

HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

You guys are so funny! Thanks for the afternoon chuckle....... Call me horse cart!

Dec 05, 2013 06:36 AM

Gary McNinch

Better Properties Real Estate - Renton, WA

Broker, Renton WA Real Estate

Jared and Miss Amanda, That is hilarious. BTW can you fit the three kids and their sports gear in your horse cart so you can drop them off at practice on the way while we look at houses. ....

I think it was the anti-drug campaign where Nancy Reagan touted, "just say no."

Have a great Christmas.

Dec 05, 2013 11:02 AM

Wayne Johnson

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX

San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

Amanda and Jared-I see an extended life span for Cart Before The Horse Realty operation. No shortage of clients, I may need to consider being your franchisee down here. If I could only figure out a way to make it financially viable.

Dec 05, 2013 11:39 AM

Shanna Hall

Real Estate Solutions - Kirkwood, MO

I love selling houses!!!St. Louis, MO 314-703-1311

Amanda and Jared- that was funny! I actually had a potential client that was not going to buy for 2 years tell me he wanted to look every Saturday until it was time- all of the potential for that client was gone! Find someone else please!

Dec 08, 2013 11:29 PM

Helen and Larry Prier- Re-Max Gateway - Residential Real Estate

RE-MAX Gateway- Residential Real Estate Sales - Anacortes, WA

Anacortes & surrounding Skagit & Island Counties

Jared and Amanda, Just wanted to let you know that I featured your post in My favorites for last week. Here is the link:

my-favorite-blog-posts-december-2nd-to-8th

Dec 09, 2013 01:29 AM

Larry O'Sullivan

Sandy, UT

Amanda & Jared - Great set of scripts. Need to have a halt mechanism built in when I find myself using them. We all fall in sometimes.

Dec 09, 2013 02:39 AM

Michael Ha Elmhurst

Rego Park, Forest Hills, Jackson Heights, Corona, Middle Village - Elmhurst, NY

Woodside, Maspeth

LoL! That was really hilarious. Just enough to end Manic Monday with a smile.

Dec 09, 2013 06:43 AM

Catherine Ulrey

Keller Williams Capital City - Salem, OR

Equestrian and Acreage Property Specialist

Love it!

Dec 09, 2013 10:46 AM

Catherine Ulrey

Keller Williams Capital City - Salem, OR

Equestrian and Acreage Property Specialist

Love it!

Dec 09, 2013 10:46 AM

Marnie Matarese

DWELL REAL ESTATE - Sarasota, FL

Showing you the best of Sarasota!

This is such a familiar story and one that amazes me everytime. Even when I ask enough questions to qualify for an interrogation, they always omit a really important fact about the home buying process.

Dec 10, 2013 01:07 AM

Rosie Crow

Serving Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenberg, Missouri City - Sugar Land, TX

Exceeding Expectations. Delivering Results

Too funny!! Don't these people have some common sense?

Dec 10, 2013 12:57 PM

Samantha Smith

214.422.0729 www.SamIAmHouses.com - Rowlett, TX

Sam I Am Houses, Simply Texas Real Estate

Ha~larious!!! mostly because I've had these calls!!!

Jan 02, 2014 10:57 PM

Wayne B. Pruner

Oregon First - Tigard, OR

Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

Some people have no clue. I'm trying to rent a house and a woman came in and said she had not paid her rent in 3 months and could move in right away! Duh!

Feb 26, 2014 01:38 PM