How I Made $100,000 By "Wasting" An Afternoon
3 years ago I "wasted" an afternoon. (At least that's what many real estate agents would think.) I took out a young couple who had not talked to a lender....did not have a prequal...had no idea what they could afford. Frankly, they were not ready to buy at all.
It was a waste of an afternoon!
Or was it?
We spent the afternoon looking at a few homes and talking about the home buying process. After a couple of hours, they had a solid understanding of the process and the costs of buying a home. I sent them away with a few homes on their mind and the number of my lender. The next day, they called to tell me they were not quite qualified to buy, but now they had a good plan and they would call me when they were ready.
Waste of an afternoon. Right?
A week or so later, I received a call from his father. Thanking me for my time with the "kids" and for helping them understand the process. He said they were very focused and he appreciated that. "Did I also handle listings?"
Yes...I listed the parents' home a few months later, and sold it.
A year later, I received a call from one of the couple's friends. Also a first time home buyer. This young woman was qualified, but nervous about buying. My young couple (who I "wasted" time with) suggested she call me because I made the process seem so easy.
I helped this young woman buy her first home.
Last week, I also closed on the beautiful new home for the original couple. You see they planned well and were eventually able to buy a nice house. They paid off some debt and also saved more money. The home is perfect for them....and the new member on the way. :)
Did I "waste" that afternoon 3 years ago? Only if the only thing I wanted was a "deal" that afternoon. If it's not about instant sales and it really is about customer service...then I've been more than financially rewarded for that afternoon.
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