Going the Extra Mile to Sell Your Listings

By
Real Estate Agent with Front Gate Real Estate Broker 11085

Do you go the extra mile to get your listings sold? I'm sure most of us do.

Pat Starnes with Front Gate Logo

Recently a slow moving property needed an extra push to find the right buyer. The seller took much of my advice to heart; we cleaned, decluttered, put things in storage and made pre-listing repairs to the home. We had professional photos, a social media campaign, and a fair amount of interest during the first two weeks of showings. Then interest fizzled. We attributed the lack of showings to Labor Day, the back-to-school rush, etc.

Meanwhile, the sellers packed up and moved out of state. They left several checks, written 10 days apart, to pay their yard man, so the grounds would always be presentable for showings.

One Saturday, an agent called to schedule a second showing to an interested party. As luck would have it, the yard man didn't show up according to his schedule. We called to remind him to mow, but he was out of town and unavailable til the following week.

Knowing that all showings are important, there was no way I wanted prospective buyers to view the house with a straggly, unkempt yard. So I got in my car and drove the neighborhood in search of an available yard man. 

Mowing the yard

It didn't take long to flag someone down. I asked if he had time to add an extra yard to his chores that day. We exchanged phone numbers, and less than an hour later, my would-be hero arrived at the listing ready to work his magic. 

I was elated. The yard looked fabulous for the appointment, and the seller was grateful I found someone on such short notice.  24 hours later, we had an accepted offer.

It doesn't take a lot of effort to go the extra mile.  But that effort goes a long way toward building a happy, satisfied client base.

Comments (19)

Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

I love this Pat!!!! Your sellers are so lucky to have you as their agent. You took the bull by the horns and found someone to take care of the yard.   And, I'll bet if it came down to it, you'd have found a mower and done the yard yourself. 

Oct 26, 2021 07:12 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty

I wouldn't have done it myself, but I would have kept flagging down men and their mowers until someone agreed to the job. :)

Oct 27, 2021 08:27 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Los Angeles Pasadena 818.516.4393

Hello Pat - smart-thinking!  You understand the importance of making the right first impression for buyers.  And your sellers understand that your efforts can create a lasting impression in real estate.  

Oct 27, 2021 03:55 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

That first impression (and first-impression the second time around) are so important. Good for you for getting it done!

Oct 27, 2021 05:05 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Pat, sometimes it is important to go above and beyond to get something done.  I know I have shoveled snow and pulled weeds for a special showing.   

Oct 27, 2021 06:22 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty

I've pulled many weeds in my day. It's the attention to detail to help our listings stand out in a positive way.

Oct 27, 2021 08:28 AM
Rocky Dickerson
Realty One Group - Las Vegas, NV
Superior Service!

Great job Pat! That is the kind of agent sellers should always seek to find

Oct 27, 2021 08:56 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Pat you are an awesome agent!  And all your smart work paid off for your clients!

Oct 27, 2021 10:18 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Pat some times things do not go as planned, and we have to be ready to step in and fix the situation.  Good job in stepping up to the plate in this case.

Oct 27, 2021 12:22 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

If John Lennon had been a real estate agent, he would have said, Selling real estate is life, which often happens while you are busy making other plans."  It takes a true professional going the extra mile to smooth the rough edges!

Oct 28, 2021 08:21 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Pat, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!  

Oct 28, 2021 08:22 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Oct 30, 2021 06:47 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Hi Pat - great story.  It might have been easy to say stuff happens but you did whatever it took and good it done.  Congratulations.

Oct 31, 2021 04:07 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Pat. Sometimes you got to do what you got to do. And sometimes it is not in your normal list of duties. Enjoy your day.

Oct 31, 2021 04:49 AM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Your out-of-the-box, creative method of fixing what you saw as a problem is much admired, Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty 

Oct 31, 2021 11:24 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty

Thank you John Juarez. I didn't want ANY objections to interfere with the purchase so I eliminated the overgrown yard issue. It was such a beautiful home; I wanted it to show at its best.

Oct 31, 2021 12:44 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Great job. In the business we are in there are often times we have got to get out of the boat and make things happen.

Oct 31, 2021 05:08 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

FANTASTIC job, Pat! I already knew we were sisters from another mister and this just proved it! Been there, done that and everything I do is NOT for the money but, for the HUMANS I am working for. When you care about the job you do and the humans you work for, the money falls right into place, doesn't it?! AND, you have hap-hap-happy clients to boot!!

Oct 31, 2021 05:41 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty

Yes Debe Maxwell, CRS we must be related because we have so many things in common. :)

Oct 31, 2021 05:51 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Doing a little more than expected is one of the top things always, from what I know from my career

Oct 31, 2021 10:46 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

So happy to see this post highlighted. Your professionalism makes us all proud. Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty 

We have all done the same,  walks shoveled in winter, blowing the leaves off roofs in the fall,  and cutting the grass in the summer. I have a contractor on call, and he has never let me down.

Nov 01, 2021 11:58 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Great job, Pat, and a prime example of what great customer service and going the extra mile is all about. I suspect we have all done this at one time or another, perhaps multiple times.

Jeff

Nov 02, 2021 02:55 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Coming back to this, they say if you make yourself smile before talking to someone, it helps you whole vibe

Nov 03, 2021 10:28 AM