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The Reward

By
Real Estate Agent with Brooke Butler Homes at Mobile Bay Realty

Phone rings. Zillow Lead. Can I take it? Should I take it? Busy day with the fam - Sunday no less. Do I let my teammate answer? Nah… I am too new and too hungry to let it go. I can apologize later…

 

Meet the client - who will remain unnamed as she is a very private person. We connect. Not surprisingly I have this uncanny way of finding Seven Degrees of Judd Gillespie. She is from a town very close to a town we lived in as a child in Northern Idaho. My sisters were born there. She knows the lake. She knows the streets we used to play on. She rides bikes in the parks I would watch the Broom Hockey League my dad used to coach in. She flew in one day to check out a property and did not love it. Called me and wanted to check out another property.

 

We looked at a home that just hit her deep in her soul. It called to her. Time to be on the Gulf Coast. But we had to act fast...the plane was leaving soon. Got the particulars of her offer, wrote it up, and sent it off to be accepted digitally. I thought. Well...technology ain’t for everybody. And it was listed with online listing company (if you know you know). I met the sellers a few times as there was no local agent to guide through the process. We got her under contract.

 

Now this beautifully remodeled home was rather old. The inspection was interesting. Found a few things but nothing too bad. Easy fixes. Then the appraisal. You are always nervous about the appraisal. Is it gonna come in low. Will this be the deal killer? Being an FHA loan it has a stricter appraisal guideline. Well by golly (yes I said “by golly”) it appraised with a few modifications by the very agreeable seller! Woohoo! But now the financing….Big National Lending Company was representing my client. They were requesting items right up until about 18 hours before our closing time appointment! Scared the bejeezus out of my client as she was catching a red eye to get back in town to sign in person at closing. 

 

She is exhausted. Did not sleep at all. I believe she said she had been up for 30+ hours. But I mean to tell you the joy and gratitude that exuded from her at the final walkthrough was palpable. And infectious. I was so happy for her. This is why people are in this business. This feeling right here. This reward.

Show All Comments Sort:
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Judd. Welcome to the Rain. May this be the first post of a long series to follow. Enjoy your day!

Sep 25, 2021 05:08 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Judd, great story, and whoever thought real estate was easy, was totally mistaken!   So glad for your client.  Welcome to ActiveRain! 

Sep 25, 2021 06:41 AM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Welcome to the ActiveRain community. Congratulations on your first post.

Sep 25, 2021 02:07 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Judd and welcome to ActiveRain!!! What a wonderful post!  Yes, that commission check is nice but the feeling you get when you see the joy on your client's face is a great reward!!!!

Sep 25, 2021 05:35 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sep 25, 2021 07:05 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Hi Judd Gillespie - welcome to Active Rain.  When you love what you do you don't work a day in you life.

Sep 26, 2021 04:32 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I love this post! I'm glad everything reached a successful conclusion and your buyer is happy. And that really is the point of why we keep doing what we do!

Welcome to ActiveRain!

Sep 26, 2021 05:13 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Good morning Judd,

I am so happy that Kathy Streib featured you.  What.a great story of the "reward".  Wishing you continued success.  A

Sep 26, 2021 09:05 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Welcome to ActiveRain, Judd.

Take care, be safe and have a very productive autumn.

Sep 26, 2021 11:40 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Judd Gillespie,  Congratulations on your sale. It looks like a charmer.  I live in a resort area of Sedona so I work a lot on the weekends and Sundays included.  I understand where you are coming from!  It is all about balance.  Welcome to the Rain!

Sep 26, 2021 02:05 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Welcome Judd Gillespie to ActiveRain!   You did an awesome job on your very first post!  Look at you, featured in Kathy Streib weekly post!  And I love that you 'get' what this business is truly all about.  That good feeling 'reward' of helping people home.

Sep 26, 2021 02:10 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Judd:

Welcome to ActiveRain and congrats on your first post...and a terrific story. It's endings like that that make the challenges all worth it. Congratulations to your buyer, and to you!

Jeff

Sep 26, 2021 04:48 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Judd Gillespie ,

So glad Kathy Streib featured your post in her "Ah-ha" moments for the week! Welcome to Active Rain and great post! You are so right "the reward" is what keeps us loving this business..congratulations to you and your buyer..well done.

Sep 26, 2021 07:49 PM
Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

Welcome to the ActiveRain and congratulations on your first post!

Sep 27, 2021 04:13 AM
Graziella Bruner
NCS Premier Real Estate - Detroit, MI
Associate Broker - Serving Wayne & Oakland County

Welcome to Active Rain and what a great post.  There's nothing like that rewarding feeling, and when we bring a buyer and seller together, and the end result is everyone is happy that is a great reward.  Everyone gets what they want. 

Sep 27, 2021 07:23 AM
Jim Patton
Aspire Home Real Estate 209-404-0816 - Modesto, CA
Realtor - Stanislaus ,Merced, San Joaquin Counties

Welcome to AR Judd Gillespie, great post, great story.  You'll have a client for life!

Sep 27, 2021 03:37 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Associate Real Estate Broker

Great job in getting that deal done for that client.  Welcome to ActiveRain, it can be a lace of good learning and fun as well as a business platform.

Your have a lot of core member that commented on your post, all of which can answer any questions you may have

Sep 28, 2021 04:51 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Love your post!  And congratulations on a well deserved sale.  Answering the phone is key, even on Sundays.  Good for you!

Sep 28, 2021 10:17 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Judd Gillespie this business provides us with many rewards beyond a commission check.  Thank you for sharing this story.

Oct 02, 2021 04:15 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Judd Gillespie also welcome to ActiveRain, and congratulations on successfully posting your first blog on this site.

Oct 02, 2021 04:15 PM