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The Realtor and the Builder - a story.

By
Real Estate Agent with Success Real Estate

Once upon a time there was a Realtor. This Realtor worked long and hard for many years leaving many happy clients along the way. This happy Realtor in her travels came across a piece of land that some nice land owners wanted to sell.

"What a perfect piece of land for beautiful homes!!" the Realtor exclaimed. 

Then along came a builder. "Yes, this is a beautiful piece of land and I would love to build nice homes for you to sell." said the builder.  "Only what do we do with the home that is here? It is a tired, sad home that needs some love." asked the builder.

"Well than give it some love. It will always be a different type home but some love will certainly make it happy again." replied the Realtor.

 After many many days that turned into years the builder finally finished remodeling the different little home.  He did a lovely job, but no amount of love could make this ugly little duckling a swan. This different little home would always be just that - different and little.

"Not everybody wants a home that is big and regular" said the happy Realtor to the builder, "but it will take a special person to want this special home and with it being so different it won't be easy to place. "

"This home is not different and is just like it's big, regular friends." the builder stated,

After a lot of thought the Realtor replied "It's bigger friends have many more qualities and lots of gifts that this poor little thing just does not have, and there will be a lot of disturbance for many years to come until the other homes come in that really needs to be considered."

Unfortunately the builder did not agree. "This ugly little duckling is just as good if not better than those big regular homes and many years of disruption is not a big deal. People don't mind noise, dust and digging, it's a part of being the first home in a fine little neighborhood and they should pay extra for the chance to be here."

Oh my! Thought the Realtor this is not going to be good. The builder doesn't want to be told how the home will be seen. "I know how much love you gave this little thing but it still has bedrooms that can't fit a bed, and it still has a kitchen with no place to eat, and friends will need to go into the bedroom to use the bathroom which really isn't a great way to be."

"You really are not seeing this home for the lovely home that it is" the builder exclaimed in shock. "I know the bed won't fit into the bedroom but that isn't a big deal, this home is much better than those other big homes, and is worth a whole lot more!"

 " I can't place your home into loving new hands unless you let it play with homes that little like it ans stop having it play with the big boys!"

"You are not seeing how wonderful this home really is! A bed is a luxury that people don't need and will pay more to not have it to just own this home. Price is not important, stop making it seem to be and get me a hands to place this home in."

This little story is true! Names have been omitted to protect the foolish!  Moral of the story.......never work with a builder who does NOT respect the Realtor. They build homes, we sell homes! A few years ago that was a line that the builders could jump over easy, it no longer is. If all it took was an ad in a newspaper to sell a home wouldn't everyone do that? If price wasn't important than why can't I get $50,000 for my 2 year old very nicely used SUV worth $17,000??

Adele Irving - Easton Area Homes
Prudential Patt, White Real Estate - Easton, PA

This is so, so true.  Any client can be unreasonable, but I think builders and investors are the most difficult.

Oct 21, 2007 04:28 PM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552
This reminds me of a Mark Twain quote to the effect of, If we try to carve ourselves to please everyone, we soon will whittle ourselves down to nothing!  Not just as Realtors but as people, we have to be true to our own values.  This includes working with clients who respect our opinions...
Oct 21, 2007 04:28 PM
Martinelli Caputi
Martinelli Caputi & Associates, Ltd. - Warwick, RI
& Associates, Ltd.

A nice story... very typical of many real-life situations!  Who knew the builder would have a soft spot for the little house?  You should consider writing childrens' books too!  :)  All you need is a happy ending!  The little realtor that could?  The little house that could?  :) 

Perhaps the choice to keep the lonely little house was an error?  What happened in the end?  I'm intrigued!  :)  Thanks for the post Bobbie!

Oct 21, 2007 04:35 PM
Bobbie Files
Success Real Estate - Taunton, MA
Realtor, Berkley, Greater Taunton Homes for Sale

Adele - It's such a shame that those who would benefit MOST from our services make it more difficult than it needs to be.

Brian - Truer words could not be spoken!

Richard - I don't know if it is a soft spot for the house or a very hard spot for Realtors. I was classified as a "You Realtors!" I was the first Realtor that he ever used. Lucky Me???????????. The end result was that if he feels he can market the home better and get $50,000 more than it's worth than have at it!!!

Oct 21, 2007 05:01 PM
Bob & Carolin Benjamin
Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ
East Phoenix Arizona Homes
Interesting post. Thanks for sharing.
Oct 21, 2007 05:24 PM
Rosario Lewis
DDR Realty - Newburgh, NY
GRI, SRES - DDR Realty - Orange County, NY
Thank you for this interesting little story. Maybe the builder will move into his little house in the big building project and live happily ever after.
Oct 21, 2007 11:00 PM