Step Out Of The Way....And Close The Deal
Here's a great solution from Karen Fiddler when your buyers and sellers are at an impasse. Most of us go out of our way to keep buyers and sellers apart prior to closing, but bringing them together in a pleasant setting worked wonders in getting their issue resolved.
"This is not about you or me....and I believe our clients each want to close this transaction"
This was the statement I made to the listing agent this week. I really believed that we agents acting as "middle men" were the problem and not the solution.
We as Realtors® spend so much of our time advocating for our clients, that sometimes we can dig in too much.
No really....it's true!
Well, I'll admit it...this week I felt that I was in a peacock-feather contest with another agent....and just couldn't get past it.
The problem was there was an issue with the home which prevented the financing and needed correction. An electrical issue and the lender's appraisal called it out as a must fix. The sellers had dug in and refused to consider doing this work....and the agent kept stating "you knew this was as-is and now you need to close."
I couldn't seem to convince her that it wouldn't close without the work begin done. I showed her the appraisal, the lender called her....everything I could think of. She just seemed to be deaf to the problem.
Finally when all seemed lost...I stopped by her office to meet with her and told her..."This is not about you or me....and I believe our clients each want to close this transaction"! And suggested that we all meet and talk this through. We had met the sellers a couple of times and they seemed very nice, reasonable and motivated.
So we did....yesterday.
Mrs. Seller had coffee and scones for us all. We sat down, talked about the issue at hand and came up with a great solution. The buyer's brother was a licensed contractor, he would handle the repairs at cost and the sellers would pay for that. But the buyers would now pay for the home warranty...basically a wash. See the issue was never that the buyers wanted to "force" the sellers to make a repair and get something extra...the point was they wanted the house to close. Everyone did!
The work is being done today. The appraiser signs off this weekend, we are planning on a Thursday Closing.
Had to get ourselves....those brilliant-negotiating-forceful-dutiful agents out of the way.
Real estate is a people-business. Most issues can be resolved by creative thinking and problem solving. The goal is always to find the best situation for our clients and looking for new ways to over come road blocks. We care as much as you do and so not see the other side as the enemy...this attitude creates the atmosphere of cooperation which is so important to a successful transaction. If you are considering buying or selling in Mission Viejo, or any of our Southern California cities...please contact me so we can discuss your specific needs. Or click here to search the SoCal MLS directly.
Karen Fiddler
Broker/Associate
The Fiddler Realty Team/eVantage Real Estate
Lic # 01494165www.SearchForOrangeCountyHomes.com
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