If you are like most of the real estate professionals I know…2008 has probably been the most difficult year of your career. Top-producing REALTORS® and loan officers…who easily earned six figures a few years ago…are struggling to keep food on their tables. Many are even losing their homes to foreclosure.
In August of this year, I personally felt the biggest impact that I’ve experienced thus far. Like the eerie calm before a violent storm…everything just stopped. There were no phone calls and no showings on my listings. Business wasn’t slow…it was dead!
Being the eternal optimist…I took a deep breath, said a prayer and switched into hyper-rainmaker mode…but not even a cloud appeared. I did everything that has always worked before, but the phone did not ring. September came then went…and the drought continued. There were days when there would be a few drops of rain…a few new leads that seemed promising…but they went away as fast as they came. By the first week of October, I was beginning to wonder if the drought would ever end. I was doing everything I know how to do, but nothing was working.
Finally, on October 14th, I faced the reality that I can do ALL the right things…
ALL the things that have ALWAYS worked…but ultimately…I am powerless to change the situation. I have a favorite quote, “In acceptance lieth peace.” After months of struggling and fighting, I accepted the truth and found my peace.
This is NOT the end of the story!!
The BEST is yet to come!
This past Monday morning, I awoke extra early…with a strong sense of anticipation. With still sleepy eyes, I opened my email and immediately saw a name I had not seen in several years. His email read:
“Ms. Nieves, I spoke with you several years ago about buying a home. I was not ready then, but I am serious now. Where do we start?”
While I was responding to his email, I received another email from a group who is interested in a commercial property I have listed. I had shown them properties in February of 2008, but they had decided to wait. Now…they are seriously considering purchasing my listing. Within the hour, I received yet another email from a past client…indicating that he was ready to move forward with the purchase of a new home. Before 10:00 am, I had three serious leads…all people with whom I had connected sometime in the past.
On Wednesday, I received a phone call from an agent…indicating that she was going to fax an offer for one of my listings. Later that afternoon, I opened my email and found not ONE…but TWO offers…on the same listing. We are now under contract to close on November 20th! (There is much more to this story that I will share in a ‘members only’ post at another time.)
Thursday morning, I received a phone call from a friend and client who had been under contract to close in July of 2008. We were forced to terminate the contract because his funding (through a special program for first-time home buyers) was not available in time. When he called me, he indicated that he had been notified that his funding was approved and available. We are now renegotiating the contract for the same home he was under contract to buy previously. If our offer is accepted (which looks promising), we will close within three weeks.
First thing Friday morning, I received a call from a previous client who purchased a large home in 2005. He is ready to sell that home and buy another one. I will meet with him next week to officially place his home on the market. It is a beautiful home in a lovely area. I expect it to sell quickly.
You may be saying to yourself, “MAN…Elizabeth Nieves was really lucky this week!”
Well, my friend, luck had nothing to do with it!
Let me ask you a simple question…
If a farmer prepares, plows and plants good seed in his field…then gives his field just the right amount of water…is it luck when his field is overflowing with a bountiful crop?
Of course not! His crop is the result of his investment of time, energy and care.
In the same manner, the emails and phone calls this week...from my previous clients...were the result of planting good seeds (respect, attentiveness, responsiveness, integrity, excellent service, professionalism, etc.) and investing time and energy to care for those seeds. I am reaping the harvest of seeds that have been growing in fertile soil…seeds that have now fully matured and are producing a plentiful crop.
Have you ever noticed that the Bible is filled with truth that is applicable to every situation…even real estate?
Galations 6: 7-10
A man (REALTOR®) reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
You NEVER know how many apples there are in a seed…until you PLANT it and WAIT for it to grow!
Written and Posted by:
Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR®
The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)
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