Real Estate Blog - Your Realtor can Keep you in "hot water" .. or ..

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Your Realtor can Keep you in "hot water" .. or ..

.....Why your Realtor is valuable -- even if you are a PAST client! Phone mobile 1Phone mobile open Objects / Communication

I had a past client (first time buyer) send me a text message the other day that went something like this:

Client: It looks like it's time for me to call that Home Warranty -- I can't get the hot water heater to stay fired up.

Me: Wow, good thing we insisted on that!

Client: It's at about that 10 year mark we talked about, so I'm not surprised.

Me: (To myself) wow, he paid attention during his home inspection! :-)

BathroomA mix of clear water and light :-) Architecture / Interiors

Yet, I started asking questions because I did not want him to call in a claim on his Home Warranty, only to find out later that it would not be a covered item.

So, as we texted back and forth, I quickly look through a Home Warranty plan to double-check. Yup. It looks like it would be a covered item. Still, I had this nagging feeling.

Me: Is the water heater electric or gas?

Client: It's gas. No, electric. No, gas. I can't keep the pilot light lit.

Me. hhmmm.... I hope it doesn't need cleaning or servicing, as the Warranty would not cover it if it has not been maintained.

Then, I remembered a past conversation about a propane heater in the garage. As I texted to him some more, I looked up his previous MLS and Sellers Disclosure....... Sure enough "Hot Water Heater: Propane".

Me: Are you out of PROPANE??!!!

Client: UUUHHHH..... gee. Maybe! No wonder I couldn't keep the oven hot last night! I'm such an idiot! (I swear he said that, not me!) :-)

Me: you know, I just SAVED you huge bucks on a non-covered service call! You owe me, big time!

Client: You Rock! Can I buy you a cup of coffee!

Me: That would work. But, I'd rather have a referral! (Hey, it NEVER hurts to ask!)

Client: You got it! If I ever hear of anyone wanting to buy a house, you're it! (see, it NEVER hurts to ask!)

You see? A Realtor can be a valuable source of information (and SAVINGS) to their past client, and in return they can be a wealth of referrals for the Realtor. It works both ways!

I am happy to report that my past client can now stop taking cold showers, since he found the cause of his non-working water heater. Before we were done texting back and forth, he called the propane supplier for a delivery -- and was happy! It can't get any better than that!

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For more information on Homes for Sale in Lancaster, or questions and/or concerns about buying or selling a home in Lancaster County PA, please contact Jeannie Kontis at (717) 330-5137 or email at Jeannie@JeannieSellsLancaster.com.

Search for Lancaster Homes for Sale at www.JeannieSellsLancaster.com

Jeannie Kontis, RealtorⓇ, is a member of the award-winning Bob Wells Realty Group of Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc, and serves buyers and sellers of real estate throughout Lancaster County.

All content Copyright ⓒ 2008 Jeannie Kontis Homes in Lancaster PA - Real Estate in Lancaster County

Photos from Everystockphoto.com

Posted by Jeannie Kontis, Lancaster PA Real Estate & Lancaster County Homes for Sale on 03/25/2008 09:14 PM

Comments (12)

Buyer Agent, Finding the Right One in the Home Buying Channel

buyers, sellers, buyer information, first time buyers, home warranty, jeannie kontis, lancaster pa real estate, homes in lancaster pa

Originally posted at: Lancaster PA Real Estate Blog: Your Realtor can Keep you in "hot water" .. or ..

This post has been included in Pennsylvania Information Lancaster County, PA Information
Post is included in group: Buyer Information - What Buyers Need to Know in Today's Market

12 Comments on Your Realtor can Keep you in "hot water" .. or ..

MAR

2008

Jeannie - it pays to know the ins and outs of home maintainence - good call!

Jeannie,

Good job. Guess you will get several referrals from that one. I am sure he has told many what an idiot he was and how you came to the rescue.

Awesome.

Linda Lipscomb, Homes fo Sale in Lexington, TN. www.lindalipscomb.com

Good work .. SUPER AGENT to the rescue Our heads are filled with so much knowledge we pick up here and there,

Sounds like it was definately worth it to have a professional- good post.

Good detective work there. I bet your client was impressed and will be sure to let people know

MAR

2008

Penny - After years of being around home inspections, you get to remember a few things!

Linda - I hope he remembers to come through with those referrals! It's easy to forget, until the next home emergency!

Eric - "Super Agent" !! I like that title!

Debra - Sometimes you just never know how important a decision is, until you realize you've made the wrong one. In every case, it's good to have an attentive representative on your side.

Jim - I've always liked a good detective story!

Jeannie, that's a past client who would be likely to write you a great testimonial if you mentioned it...

MAR

2008

Not only you kept his house warm another night for something so simple vs having to wait for the repair company to come out and tell him the same thing and then have to wait even longer for it to get filled!

Good for you to think what could be wrong!

JEANNIE - This reminds me of something that happened to me recently. I needed to update my GPS, so I had to unplug the chord that is usually attached to the computer to connect to my camera. I left the chord in the same place, and it must have gotten pinned underneath the computer, so there was still tension when I pulled it to plug into the camera. My wife and I went to download some pictures, and couldn't figure out why the camera wasn't being detected by the computer. When I finally went to check the back of the computer, I figured out why things weren't working. I know how your client feels. Sometimes, when you miss the obvious, it's a humbling experience. Great job by you for being so on top of things. I'm sure that the referrals will certainly be coming your way.

Jeannie, that was a really smart save! Sometimes problems are so easy to fix!

Most definitely - Real estate agents are a valuable resource for clients, before, during, and after the sale.

APR

2008

Jeannie~Way to go in representing your client so well and you are right "it does pay off". That's why they hire us. Thank you for being such a wonderful example in our profession. I would send a referral to you in a heartbeat.

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