Often, we hear this phrase among salespeople, “to go the extra mile.” Yet what does that mean? Is it just words or actions?
For me, this phrase “to go the extra mile” or “going the extra mile” is not just words but actual actions. In the last couple of days, I lived those words due to unexpected situations.
SCENARIO #1 - Loan Denial
One of the now 3 homes I have listed was under contract. Everything was going relatively smooth except for a delay in approving the loan from the lender's underwriting department. An initial loan approval was received, but the loan had not been reviewed by the lender’s underwriters.
As time was now 19 days to closing, no notice of approval by underwriting, I contacted the buyer’s agent who told me that she received a verbal notification of loan denial the previous evening. The buyer’s agent should have called me pronto, but didn’t. I then called the lending officer to understand the situation before I contacted my seller. The lending officer explained what happened.
Given my listing client (seller) is older and has some health concerns as well as working with another real estate agent in buying a home in another state, I decided to personally drive to her home and share this unfortunate news. My seller appreciated that personal touch.
Between my seller's phone calls to her real estate agent in another state and my phone calls to the buyer’s agent, Title, the lending officer, another lender who I have 100% faith in, and septic firm to cancel the septic inspection, the morning was rather hectic to say the least. I had to place the listing back on the market with a notation, “Back on market due to buyer’s loan denial and no fault of seller.” Hopefully, the now buyers can rectify this loan denial and can quickly make a new offer on this residential property.
SCENARIO #2 - Rescheduled Final Walk Through
In between all of this, one of my buyers had scheduled a final walk through the next week for 40 acres of vacant land. Yes even vacant land receives a final walk-through. The sellers wanted to close early, the buyer agreed and the final walk through had to be changed to this past Friday.
As the parcel was about 45 minutes away, I drove around this 40 acre vacant land parcel, took photos, sent those to my buyer who then signed off on the final walk-through.My day started around 7:30 with the house under contract and ended around 2pm. This second scenario did require re-arranging my schedule.
SCENARIO #3 - Sales Lead Resurfaces
Yes, it was a full day. In between the first two scenarios, I received a voice mail for a returned call from a sales lead that I had contacted via text as he had no voice mail a week earlier. We did finally speak.
As this seller had property in another county to the east that is not in my area of competence, I suggested for him to contact another real estate agent at Dirt Road who had listed and sold numerous properties in this neighboring county.
The seller was very appreciative of my honesty and said, “Not many agents would do that.” My response was:
"You deserve the best professional real estate agent to help you and that is not me in this instance.”
Sometimes to go the extra mile may not happen for several weeks or longer. Then sometimes, as it has been said "the dam bursts and all you know what means" and going the extra mile may happen several times in the same day.
This is the first posting in this series. As I “go the extra mile” with new experiences, I will continue to post to this series.
P.S. Please consider checking out my Facebook business page, The Grit and Gratitude Agent that will focus on the Dirt Roads in Mohave County as well local real estate, lots of dirt or vacant land parcels as some of the local attractions.
#LetsGetBackToRealConversations #WeDoThingsDifferently #BuyerEducation #RealEstateGuidance #LandOfferPocess #ArizonaRealEstate #TheHelpfulAgent #GoldenValleyAZHomesAndLand #KingmanHomesAndLand
Leanne M Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent Who Goes the Extra Mile Because Life Begins Where the Pavement Ends.
Feature Photo Courtesy of Leanne M Smith
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