Special offer

The Girl Who Didn't Return Her Calls - Vancouver Washington Real Estate

By
Real Estate Agent with Realty One Group Cascadia

The Girl Who Didn't Return Her Calls - Vancouver Washington Real Estate

Vancouver Washington Real EstateThis story is a tragedy.  It is the story of a girl who, although she was completely connected with all of the latest technology, never returned her calls. It is a story of a girl who didn't get to buy the home of her dreams.

This story goes something like this:

I have a client who was really in a bind. She contacted me and let me know that she needed to buy a home and be fully moved into it within 6 weeks. I let her know that we could do it but we would have to develop a plan, act quickly and be ready to write an offer when we found the right home. She agreed and we went to work.

We struck pay dirt on the first day of our search. I took her to see a home that an investor had completely remodeled and listed right within her price range. She absolutely loved it! I explained to her that she needed to act quickly if she wanted to buy it. She agreed. We agreed to meet the next morning (Saturday) to sign the offer and that I would present the offer that afternoon. It was a plan.

An hour before we were scheduled to meet, I received a text message from her asking to postpone our meeting. That was the last I heard from her for the entire weekend. I called her several times and sent several text messages throughout the weekend. No reply. On Monday morning she finally called me back to schedule an appointment for that afternoon. We set up the appointment for that day after work and I went to work on the offer.

Me: Hi this is Mark Hall with Keller Williams, I am getting ready to write an offer on your listing at 123 1st Street.

Listing agent: Wow. That listing has been sitting for three months without any action but all of a sudden everyone wants it!

Me: Uh... What do you mean?

Listing agent: Well, We got an offer yesterday, which we countered. And then we go two more offers today! Isn't that crazy?

You don't have to be a brain surgeon to realize that my client didn't get the home that she wanted. Had she written the offer when we planned, she would have easily got the home that she loved. Had she answered her phone at any point during the weekend, I may have been able to convince her that she needed to get it together and write an offer.

Guess what? We have seen a few dozen homes since then and she can't find anything she likes. But now she returns her calls. So I guess we have that going for us.
vancouver homes for sale 

 vancouver wa real estatevancouver washington real estatevancouver washington real estate
vancouver washington real estate

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark Countyand we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. The Girl Who Didn't Return Her Calls - Vancouver Washington Real Estate

Posted by

Mark Hall

How much is your Vancouver Wa home worth? We can tell you instantly - Vancouver Home Values

Want to search for homes just like licensed Realtors do? 
Vancouver's Best Home Search is now up and running - VancouversBestHomeSearch.com  

Rather search for homes on your smart phone?
My clients love our new home search app! - Vancouver's Best Home Search App



Homes for sale Vancouver Washington

Comments(85)

Monique Ting
INET Realty Honolulu, HI - Honolulu, HI
Your agent under the sun

I think it's about time the media starts writing stories that tell about how well priced properties in some markets move very fast. Buyers out there are still under the assumption that nobody is buying and that they can take their time deciding. In my market (Oahu), I have seen properties that have been offered at below market, receive dozens of offers all above asking price.

However, I still find it hard to convey that sense of urgency to some of my buyers! They just won't believe it!

Dec 27, 2009 06:54 AM
Nick Snow
North Port, FL

I have had more than one client who dragged their feet even after my insistence that they move quickly, and every time they lost out on that house. It's quite frustrating!

Dec 27, 2009 09:51 AM
Mark Hall
Realty One Group Cascadia - Vancouver, WA
Homes for Sale Vancouver Washington

Wow! What a great suprise. I have been working with clients all day and I just got back to the office to find that my post was featured!

Thank you everyone!

Dec 27, 2009 10:07 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Great post Mark and I say "move it or lose it"

Dec 27, 2009 10:18 AM
Raj Dhaliwal
Century 21 Coastal Realty Ltd. - Abbotsford, BC
Personal Real Estate Corporation

You snooze...You loose.. Buyers sometimes think they can take their own sweet time.. but ..

Dec 27, 2009 10:37 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

In our market if you see it and you like it you had better make an offer.  Very little "regular' inventory sits for very long.  Sounds like your buyer learned one of the hard lessons.

Dec 27, 2009 10:40 AM
Melissa Brown
Helen Adams Realty - Charlotte, NC
Realtor - South Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

It's amazing how this happens.  I think buyers just think that it's such a buyer's market out there, that homes will just sit and sit, waiting for their wonderful offer.  I have a client who has lost two homes because of a failure to act when i told them the needed to get their offer in.  The first time, their response was "I guess it just wasn't meant to be."  They said it the second time, when I corrected them and told them that "It could have been, but you hold the cards and YOU have to act."  Of course, these are the buyers who demand a LOT of my time - I give it, but I'm running out of patience~

Dec 27, 2009 10:48 AM
Roland Woodworth
Blue Cord Realty - Clarksville, TN
Blue Cord Realty

I have seen this to many times where a buyer delays the offer and all of a sudden the home is gone.

Dec 27, 2009 11:52 AM
Emily Lowe
RE/MAX Homes and Estates, Lipman Group - Nashville, TN
Nashville TN Realtor
I think buyers don't figure this stuff out until it's too late. Better late than never!!
Dec 27, 2009 12:14 PM
Aaron Vaughn 830-358-0455
Conifer Builders LLC - Canyon Lake, TX

Some people get so used to riding the fence, they seem to miss the feeling of a 2x4 riding their buttocks. But I am surprised by this case, because she seemed to actually have some urgency from the beginning.

Dec 27, 2009 12:19 PM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

"Things happen for a reason."  That is the response I got when I told a buyer, "You waited too long, it is gone."  I don't know what his 'reason' will turn out to be, but prices are actually holding here and will probably move up soon...Early bird gets the worm!

Dec 27, 2009 02:26 PM
John Crosby
Real Property, Inc. - Marblehead, MA

Mark, I hear lots of comments about what lessons the buyer could learn from this experience, but I'm wondering what lessons are there for you and the rest of us to learn.  After all if we don't learn from our failures we are destined to fail again.  This is a great case for discussion about what we could do better if it could be done all over again.

Dec 27, 2009 02:40 PM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

Some people think a "Buyers market" means they can take thier time. Wrong. In any market, if you see a home you like, move on it then, don't wait.

Dec 27, 2009 03:06 PM
Elayna Fernandez
the Positive MOM - Fort Worth, TX
BE Positive and You'll BE Powerful!

Love the story. You're a terrific writer. Lesson learned for her. I would have loved to see the "told you so" smile on your face lol

Dec 27, 2009 03:51 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Unfortunately, sometimes clients have to miss out on the perfect house before they learn how important communication is.  Good luck on finding her another home.

Dec 27, 2009 03:55 PM
Melody Russell
eXp Realty of California Inc. - Scotts Valley, CA
Expertise in maximizing the value of your home!

Hi Mark,

Some buyers don't seem 100% dedicated to the process, until they miss out on the home they want.  Please give us an update in the future.  I hope this is a story with a happy ending!

Dec 27, 2009 04:20 PM
Lori Cain
Own Tulsa - Tulsa, OK
Midtown Tulsa Real Estate Top Producer

Sounds like she will at least begin communicating with you better - good luck!

Dec 28, 2009 01:51 AM
Mary Ann Daniell Realtor
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors - Subsidiary of NRT LLC - Killeen, TX
Delivering Successful Results Since 1999

Are you sure she really wants to buy?   Hesitating so long on the "perfect" home and then not being able to find anything else so far makes me wonder if she is really ready to take the plunge at all! 

Dec 28, 2009 09:07 AM
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

Mark,

It is hard to understand why people don't have a sense of urgency about something as important as buyng a house!

Dec 28, 2009 10:56 AM
Damon Gettier
Damon Gettier & Associates, REALTORS- Roanoke Va Short Sale Expert - Roanoke, VA
Broker/Owner ABRM, GRI, CDPE

It is amazing how people don't think we know how to do our jobs.

Dec 28, 2009 11:04 AM