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GOOD WILL GESTURE BACK FIRES....

By Valerie Osterhoudt

Real Estate Agent with Johnson Real Estate, Inc. RES.0761759

July 18, 2010 12:50 PM

Good will gesture back fires...

Every listing we get, there are never two that are exactly the same. Recently I acquired a listing of a home that has LOTS of wood.... hardwood floors, mantels, cabinets, stairs, and banisters. My client has taken care of the floors but was wondering how to address the cabinets and banisters. I recommended a product called "Liquid Gold"... if you haven't heard of this, it is worth it's weight in gold... no pun intended.

valerie osterhoudt

I have used it on my kitchen cabinets, and have changed the hardware. When people came to visit they thought I had installed new ones.. it is remarkable the uplift Liquid Gold does.

Any way, I recommended this product a few times to my client. He either forgot the name, didn't know where to get it, and asked a few more times the name.

I was with him today, and he asked again about this product. Once again I told him the name. After I left, and to help him out, I got a brain storm... I thought I would buy him two bottles of Liquid Gold to get him started. This way he can try it out, and if he needs more he know what the container looks like.

When I went back to his home, he came over and the smile I saw in the distance turned to one of disgust... he couldn't believe I got it for him. "I could have gotten it, there was no need for you to get it". "I very capable in doing things myself". He took them, but I could see I did NOT make his day... and my good will gesture, did not go over as I anticipated. I was only trying to help.

My word of advice, be careful of good intentions.. they can backfire.

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT

valerie osterhoudt

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas. Please visit me at www.Cromwellrealestate.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.

For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market. There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low. For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889 cell - valerierealtor@sbcglobal.net

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Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Put it out of your mind. That gentleman has a real problem with accepting gifts. I'm sure his family has learned to give him gift certificates.

Jul 18, 2010 12:53 PM

Anne Clark

Metro Referrals - Gainesville, VA

Liquid Gold is a great product. And this guy sounds like a real grump. For goodness sake. Accept the stuff, smile and say thanks.

Jul 18, 2010 12:54 PM

Lorraine or Loretta Kratz

Crescent Moon Realty, Inc. & Land N Sea Auctions. - San Marcos, CA

Certified Negotiation Consultants

Valerie:

I agree you just do not know when something as innocent as the gesture you made can be mis-interpreted. Who knows why?

Jul 18, 2010 12:56 PM

Valerie Osterhoudt

Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT

ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Angela.. I love my job, and I like helping people. This was just one way of showing it. No, I won't change.. but I might think twice for a moment before doing it again.

Jul 18, 2010 12:57 PM

Valerie Osterhoudt

Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT

ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Lenn.. What a great idea... Gift certificates to a hardware store for people like this in the future. Thanks.

Jul 18, 2010 12:58 PM

Valerie Osterhoudt

Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT

ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Anne.. He did accept it, and said thanks.. but that was all she wrote.

Jul 18, 2010 12:59 PM

Valerie Osterhoudt

Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT

ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Lorraine or Loretta.. Life goes on. Hopefully he will use it and realize it value. This product is amazing.. for little money, it makes wood look like gold.

Jul 18, 2010 01:00 PM

Kathryn Acciari

Central One Federal Credit Union - Shrewsbury, MA

Mortgage Loan Originator

Guess what, Valerie. Your kindness may have been unappreciated by your seller, but it has helped another person - me. I've never heard of this product and have a seller myself who needs help with cabinets. I'm going to see if this Liquid Gold may help. Thank you!

Jul 18, 2010 04:24 PM

Carra Riley & Declan Kenyon

Brokers Guild Cherry Creek Ltd - Westminster, CO

Helping people Transition at all ages!

Valerie ~ That is sad.. he must have been having a bad day.. just process it like that.. don't stop doing good. Maybe he just wanted a reason to complain.. some people are just like that. You keep on being nice.

Featured in Cosmic Cow Pie. We know you meant well!

Cosmic Cow

Jul 18, 2010 07:04 PM

Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®

RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI

Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Some folks are just that way...think they know everything and don't want to hear anything different from nobody!

Jul 19, 2010 12:32 AM

Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT

Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Valerie definitely not a case of 'No good deed goes un-rewarded' Next time write out the name on the back of your business card and maybe a suggestion as to where you buy it for yourself. Too Bad.

Jul 19, 2010 12:42 AM

Valerie Osterhoudt

Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT

ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Kathryn.. This is wonderful news. Let me know if you have any problems finding this product. I purchased it at Stop n' Shop, but I'm sure other stores carry it too. Let me know how it works on your clients cabinets... and yours if you use it.

Your comment made my day.

Jul 19, 2010 01:54 AM

Valerie Osterhoudt

Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT

ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Carra.. Thanks for the feature. I like going the extra mile for my clients. I want them to feel like family, not a business transaction.

Jul 19, 2010 01:55 AM

Valerie Osterhoudt

Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT

ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Kristen... I'm hoping he was just in a bad mood.. It was very hot here and he was working in his yard. Hey, I get grumpy when I'm in the heat too long.

Jul 19, 2010 02:00 AM

Valerie Osterhoudt

Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT

ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Ed.. Good thought... one problem.. no room on the back of my business card. I have other information on it that helps both buyers and sellers.

Jul 19, 2010 02:01 AM

Robert L. Brown

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

Whatever happens you still have to be you. This circumstance should not change the person YOU are.

Jul 19, 2010 03:05 AM

Valerie Osterhoudt

Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT

ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Robert.. No, it won't change me. Too late for that. lol.

Jul 19, 2010 04:42 AM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Any way, I recommended this product a few times to my client. He either forgot the name, didn't know where to get it, and asked a few more times the name.

That right there tells me that he WASN'T capable of getting it himself. This guy has a problem and is hopefully taking proper medication for it. You were very nice to get this for him, and now I'm going to check it out.

Jul 19, 2010 06:17 AM

Valerie Osterhoudt

Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT

ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Cythina.. You should check it out.. it ranks right up there with Fabreze when it comes to making a home presentation ready.. and very little cost to get it there.

Jul 19, 2010 08:32 AM

Lisa Orme

The Master's Key Realty LLC -Windsor, CT - HARTFORD COUNTY - Windsor, CT

Broker/Realtor, ABR, CRS,GRI, PSCS, SFR, Notary Pu

Valerie, I've used this product before, and you're absolutely right--it makes the cabinets look great!

Don't let one bad apple spoil your whole bunch now. You did someone a good turn, and they just didn't appreciate it. Too bad for him! Keep going that extra mile...we all know it pays off in the end.

Jul 20, 2010 09:44 AM