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Sometimes, Being in Real Estate in Annapolis is a Real Drain. A Clogged Drain

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with Keller Williams

When It Rains in Annapolis, It Pours. And When It Pours, The Moss Haedrich Team of Keller Williams Puts on our Slickers 

The rains came to Annapolis this week, biblical rains. Like oil and water, any experienced Realtor will tell you that biblical rains and pending settlements don't mix well. The combination puts us on high alert.

Which is how I find myself standing barefoot in 4″ of water on a client's patio, coaxing a sluggish drain. It is 6:00AM and the client - soaking up the sun at her new Arizona condo - is blissfully unaware of my unscheduled visit, long since gone from here in both body and spirit.

They say that a lot of people think agents just drive around in fancy cars and collect big settlement checks. I wish those people could see me now, standing here in drenched jeans, my cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee tasting more and more diluted with every passing minute.

Doing What's Required? Or Doing What Needs to be Done?

We - The Moss Haedrich Team - look great on paper. We have a sheet that describes our Platinum Listing Services in detail, several more that list the 186 transactional items we will take care of for you. But nowhere on any of it will you see "Stand barefoot on patio in rain and clean clogged drain." 

That's because Realtors, if they're truly serving-based - and we like to think we are - do a lot of stuff we can't anticipate needing done. We've learned to take these things in stride. Frankly, going above and beyond is good for business. People don't forget the fact that you've gone the extra mile for them. They reward you with a lifetime of referral business for rolling up your sleeves and doing whatever it takes.

Some Clips from our Above and Beyond Files

-We once spent hours cleaning out an attic with a client just prior to settlement. The client would likely have done it herself, but she never knew she had an attic until the pre-settlement walk-through.

-3:00AM and we get a call from a client. Water is cascading onto the bed of his rented condo from parts unknown. We drive over, discover bathtub in neighbor's condo upstairs is running over. Wake up neighbors in first floor condo and tell them to expect a flood. (Good ending: first floor owners become regular clients.)

-We've presented a contract at midnight, because that's the only time the seller could meet us.

-We've taken phone calls during weddings from frantic clients, mowed lawns, shoveled walks, and babysat one home after a hurricane.

Heck, we've even donned bunny ears to help sell a home. I can't recall exactly why I thought wearing bunny ears would help. But I can tell you that now, several weeks later, the home is under contract.

The rains have subsided and the weather is beautiful.  This afternoon we'll go to settlement on the condo with the once-clogged drain. We can't imagine being in any other business. Life is good.

Comments (1)

Adam Brett
The Adam and Eric Group - Fullerton, CA
The Adam and Eric Group, Fullerton's Finest

Luckily we don't have flooding here in Orange County, CA - but when it rains drivers have no clue what is going on.

May 15, 2008 11:02 AM