Only Get Upset When It Can Help

As I tell colleagues and past executive coaching clients, focus on what you can control and let go of the rest. You may be able to influence something by kind words, proactive actions, but still the end result may be outside of your control.  Let it go.

Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 - What a great and educational post. I started out by following your link to your 2006 blog post on ActiveRain. Scenes like you described back then, are still going on today, and will continue into the future. The pearls of wisdom you shared, "Don't let unimportant people or unimportant things become important," should be engrained in our brains. 

Reading your current blog post for the March to a Solution|ActiveRain March 2023  rings true too! I believe one of the top three reasons why the closing date can be the hardest is because of the situations you described. One party thinks they are closing, movers are scheduled, people are taking off work, employers are rearranging schedules, utilities are being shut off, disconnect, hookups,  and, and all the other minutia that stresses people out just because a closing is delayed outside of ones control which  causes nerves to be on end. Practicing patience at this time, is the best skill a real estate agent can display. And often the only solution that makes sense. 

Thank you for the second entry which really struck a nerve because it is a very common problem. 

Good morning Margaret,

You are spot on. We are the voice of reason and need to be calm, keep everyone informed and explain the situation when delays occur. Things happen that are out of our control and we need to contain the unnecessary stress that goes along with it to our clients.

Good morning. Yes, our role is to be the calm voice of reason. Communicating roadblocks keeps everyone informed so they can make appropriate plans. If we get upset, that wouldn't help at all.

Good morning, Margaret... great advice... getting upset and "ugly" as they say in the South won't get anyone to the closing table any sooner. When something like this happens the best thing we can do is keep everyone calm and focused.

Hello Margaret - life often presents its own challenge (or multiple ones simultaneously).  Participation is optional and so is pausing those moments.  Sometimes it might be best to put things in perspective.  Perhaps.   

Hello, Miss Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 I always tell my clients to leave a little wiggle room.  Things happen. Things happen that we have zero control over. Always leave time between the "target" close date and when you plan to actually move. In the end, it is always less stressful.  

Thank you for your entry in the March to a Solution Challenge!

If there is anything I have personally developed from my 40 years as a Realtor, it would be the hide of a rhinoceros.  We really do need to be selective about what we get upset about.

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

Margaret most often the yelling and screaming creates more delays.  Much more gets done when everyone keeps a level head, and look for solutions instead of pointing fingers.

Oh my goodness, this is such great advice, Margaret! I have actually used my 'kill them with kindness' mantra to get whomever is slowing down the process to pick up the pace and get this done ON TIME! 

When all else fail, I firmly believe that keeping our clients informed at every turn does keep them from 'freaking out' at the last minute.

Thank you for your entry in this month's challenge, Margaret!!

In our state, where everything is done by lawyers, it is usually the lawyers that set the final dates and they will only do that when they are confirmed with the clear to close and have the docs visible. They may give out approximate dates but that's all they get.