A buyer client recently had a verbal offer accepted on a foreclosure
home in Macomb County.

As I've stated before, buying a foreclosure is no stress-free procedure.
You must have patience in order to get through the process. That, and
a sense of humor. In the initial offer we had 10 days for a home inspection.
I like to give it a bit longer than the standard 7 days because of utilities
needing to be turned on. Of course the bank/ asset manager said no to
that and changed it to 7 days.

(Those of you who have served in the armed forces have probably heard the
saying "Hurry up and wait". That could also be said for purchasing a foreclosure home.)

While we were waiting for signed contracts to come back from the bank I advised her
to call Consumers Energy to have the gas account put into her name. (That in itself
can take 1-2 business days and a couple of phone calls until you get to the right
person and department.)

She was able to do that, and we waited for the signed contracts to come back from the
asset manager before having the gas itself turned on in the home. And we waited.
We waited patiently for 15 days. Finally, the contracts came into my email last night
and I opened up the file and read it, only to find that the asset manager dated them
for the 20th. That meant we have until the end of the day Tuesday to tell them "Yes I
want to proceed" or "No, give me my deposit back."

On an upcoming holiday weekend we have to rush.

Early this morning I emailed the listing agent asking if he could get an extension
in writing for 3 more days. Before I heard back from him though my client was in
action-mode. At 7:05 this morning she was on the phone to Consumers Energy,
and I don't know what she said to them (or how she begged) but the gas could
be turned on today.

Reason to celebrate? Not quite yet. They would only give us a 20 minute "heads up"
call. Not 25 minute notice. Not 30. 20 minutes and you better be there to meet them.
They won't even give you a window ala the cable companies of "Between 9 and 12.."

I hurried through a shower, got dressed and fully expected it to be later this morning
or mid-afternoon before they would call. Silly me. They called at 8:05. The very
nice Consumers Energy representative said he was on his way to the house. I had
exactly 20 minutes to drive to the house, normally a 30-35 minute drive. In good
traffic. With no red lights.

I made it. The gas is turned on. Inspection is set for tomorrow afternoon. (My
apologies to the nice citizens of Sterling Heights that I passed on the Schoenherr today.)

It was comical. We waited 15 days for documents, but had a 20 minute window
to have the gas turned on. I bet we'll have to "hurry up and wait" for title work
and a closing date though...

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