Going above and beyond or is it just being you?
A lot of real estate professionals truly do go above and beyond in their course of doing business. But to many of us it doesn't feel like anything that out of the ordinary. I know many agents here locally and across the country and Canada that are fantastic agents and fantastic human beings. They care about their clients and it shows.
One client that is near and dear to my heart is a lady named Ruth and her husband Casey. I met them
through my nail tech in 1996. At the time they owned about 4 acres of prime real estate with a couple of houses on the property, in the middle of Phoenix. Casey was ill and Ruth knew they needed to sell all the properties and move to a adult community that she could easily manage on her own. Ruth had spend the better part of year going to open houses with a friend of hers and knew exactly where she wanted to buy. At that point she asked that I take Casey out to show him homes as he was 'baulking' at the idea of moving, yet again. Needless to say she wasn't happy with him. I picked up Casey at their front gate and he was clearly disturbed. He said something like - she's really mad at me, I've never seen her so mad, she won't even talk to me, please show me homes now. Alright let's go I told him - we'll figure it out for both of you.
We looked at several homes that day and he knew which one Ruth liked and was best for them. But upon returning home she met him at the front gate and said she was done! What that meant I wasn't sure but I figured after being married 50 years or so they'd figure it out. I'll never forget the look Casey gave me. He was very worried. He asked me what he should do. Well, how about you just go in and try to talk with her? That might be a good place to start.
Two weeks went by and I didn't hear from them. I didn't want to interfere in their relationship or hurry them along because they had been in that house for over 50 years. A few days later he called me back and said she's talking to me finally. Let's buy that home right now! They bought the home with plans to sell the primary home and the other home and land after they were settled into the new home.
Since they had no kids they were quite worried about getting moved. I asked a bunch of my friends if they'd help this lovely senior couple move and they kindly agreed. We rented a big truck, got a bunch of boxes etc and went to their house. Ruth and Casey couldn't believe that people who didn't even know them would help them to move. They were delighted! We got them moved (which included a VERY heavy safe which almost got the best of the guys)! Ruth and Casey were very grateful for the kindness of strangers and insisted that we all go to dinner on them. Of course that wasn't necessary but we did because it made them feel better.
For years this lovely couple became more like grandparents to me and my friends and we helped them a lot over the years. After Casey died Ruth stayed in the new home for about 8 years until she could no longer take care of herself due to having Parkinson's disease. I helped her find an assisted living place and once again got her moved in and spent a lot of time with her the next 4 years until she passed over. Was it above and beyond? No, not at all. I just happen to sell real estate on the side of living life to the fullest and caring about people.
The photo is a picture of Ruth at age 18. She was a trick horse rider! How cool is that!
Going above and beyond or is it just being you?
Comments (31)Subscribe to CommentsComment