When I began my career in real estate, I came into the profession wearing those lovely "rose-colored" glasses that all newbies wear when they think they've got the world by the tail. Unfortunately, those glasses got really dirty, really quickly.
As a real estate professional, there are so many hats that one has to wear that no one and I mean no one ever mentioned. There was not a class or even a chapter in the real estate course to cover, "death- bedside manner," but there I was at my client's deathbed obtaining signatures to "close the deal." That is one situation that I hope to never have to repeat.
No one mentioned how to handle a divorce situation in which one spouse has control of the house but fears the other might try to enter and take things that they left behind when they walked out. How many times have you heard, "Make sure that Mr./Ms. ex does not tour the house." When in reality, you have never lain eyes on Mr. or Ms. Ex. Can I see some ID please?
No one mentioned that I needed to be psychic or have the ability to mind read. I have to admit that our real estate class lecturer was constantly telling us to verify, verify, verify facts on any property one had listed. However, no one told me that if a house is part of a bankruptcy settlement that the owners do not have to disclose this to you. This would have been helpful considering I found out two days prior to closing, and it took up until the last minute before closing to get all the wrinkles ironed out and all the approvals necessary for the home to sell. I asked numerous times and only when they could not deny it anymore, did they finally come clean to me. Then they only said, "We didn't think it would be an issue." Ok, why?
No one told me how to deal with sellers that insist on being present when I bring my buyer's to see their property. No one told me how to deal with statements like, "Whenever somebody comes on the property that doesn't belong here, I just shoot over their heads to scare them off. It's perfectly legal." OK, yeah lady, now we really want to write an offer on your property. I always wanted a home that trespassers/vagrants find irresistible.
No body told me anything about the real world of real estate except that it would be challenging and there are no "simple deals." As an agent, they said, "you're getting paid to handle their problems." Boy, I can hardly wait to see what I learn next that...nobody told me.
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