A Sounding Board

I realized today that much of what I do involves me in being a sounding board.  I am a sounding board for my buyer clients and my seller clients.  They both certainly have frustrations.   Thebuyer looks and looks for the home of their dreams.  Then they find it and decide to put their offer in.  There may be other offers going in at the same time.  They may find themselves in a bidding war.  Been that done that a few times in the last couple of years.  This may be their first home and it can be an awesome task once they get started.

I personally feel that it is so important to be the one to keep things calm to communicate well with the buyers whether first time or 50th time.  Each transaction has it's own twists and turns.  Sometime the seller is just so difficult you wonder if they really want to sell their home by their behavior.  They become testy about the most ridiculous things.  This has been my experience with one of the pending sales I have.  The owner(s) have been so unpleasant and rude that it is one for the books.  Meanwhile my buyers have been so good about the whole thing.  I am just an ear for them to let out some of their frustrations which we all share.

In the course of a transaction there are probably 200 phone calls to all the various parties involved and often it not just the buyers that need someone to just listen to them but the listing agent as well.  Thankfully I am one who can listen and I am happy to be there.

The real estate agent is far more than just the agent in the transaction.  We are the ones that keep the glue in place while all the contingencies are met, negotitate after building inspection for things are may need to be done before the signing of the Purchase & Sales Agreement, waiting for the committment letter to come, the trips to the property for measurements, etc., keeping in touch with the attorney, reponding to emails, phone calls, and on and on.  

I must say I love doing all this or I wouldn't be practicing real estate at all.  I love the rewards that come when the buyers move in and they are so overjoyed with their home and the town they have chosen to live in.

I am working with buyers right now who will close on their property nest week.  They have waited and saved for 18 years.  The day we put the offer in and before it was accepted the wife hugged me and had tears in her eyes.  They can hardly wait for next Thursday to close on their new home.  I am so thrilled for them.  I really love working with First Time Buyers but not exclusively.

We are agents of change.  Change is not so easy so I am glad to be that sounding board.

Prepared by Pat Baker of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage of Needham, MA - I also service the following towns: Dover, Dedham, Westwood, Weston, Wellesley, Natick, Holliston, Sherborn, & Newton