This month, Grant Schneider is hosting a Challenge of Who Says There are No Do Overs. It has generated some interesting and very open posts from ActiveRain members comfortable enough with themselves and the membership to reveal the life events that bring them to the eve of a New Year. If ever there was a case for how this site feels about each other, these frank family discussions tell a story.
I too have had marital and health issues over the years that have altered my life path. In retrospect all for a reason and I could honestly say that I am at peace and genuinely content with the road traveled to get to this destination.
An event that rings out strongest for me is mild by comparison to what others have posted, but has been a focus for me for almost 8 years now.
At a time when short sales were starting to become a factor in our Connecticut business, I was approached by a nephew of a relative to sell their house. They had been on the market with other agents for a while but being underwater, could not get an offer that would allow them to escape their situation.
I let them understand that it would be an experience for both of us and that I would help them as best I could. A lot of talking to people I knew and reading as much as I could about the process. The issue for us turned out to be not being able to get an offer on the house in sufficient time to get the bank process started.
This was not a listing that left me with a good feeling for several reasons, the most important being not being familiar with the process.
Over the next few months, I read all that I could on short sales. I took accredited classes as well as the larger course that were available to me. Along the way I was contacted by people who were looking for a qualified short sale specialist and found my name on National sites.
Activity developed and banks were also referring their potential short sale clients to me to process their listings and subsequent sale. Since that first failure, I have successfully closed over 60 short sales and have only lost 5.
The degree of success pales by that of some, but the gratification in knowing that I have saved a family from some distress makes me feel that my license has true value.
While the market for short sales has fallen off a little, I still have lawyers referring their clients to me and while I do not select which I can take to completion, all get fairly treated with their problems, and my rate of closure is still high.
While the rewards for a closing are important, as we do need to support our efforts, the reality of a real accomplishment at the end makes the heart sing.
My Business Do Over Learn and Grow From Your Mistakes
Comments(19)