Making Friends Along the Way
When they walked into my open house in Dana Point one Saturday afternoon, she had a few paint splotches on her tee shirt and he was wearing a baseball cap. They were interested in homes closer to the beach than their current South Orange County residence, too far inland for those cool ocean breezes. They liked the home in which we met, but wanted to see a few more. That's why we set up a tour for the next day. She came with fresh homemade cookies--a rare and thoughtful gift. We spent the middle of the day traipsing all over San Clemente and Dana Point, sitting in front of windows with ocean views, calculating the expense of moving, talking about her art, his photography. Of course...the paint from the day before made sense--she's an accomplished artist. She'd been a teacher. I'd been a teacher. By the time we'd gone on a few more outings, it was as much about a blossoming friendship as a realtor-client relationship. That was several years ago. They decided to keep the home they are in, but they also decided to keep me as their friend. It's a blessing of my profession I'd never guessed would manifest.
On a Sunday afternoon in a gated community with enormous villas, a family strolled into my open house. She was tall, like me, and I really liked her immediately--in the way that if I'd been at a party I would've gravitated to her. Their home was for sale in another area of the city so they were looking for their next one. As it turned out, they wanted to make an offer on the villa. It would be contingent upon the sale of their home. The home didn't sell within the contingency period, so they took it off the market. However, by that time, my new client was my new friend. I was given the privilege a year or so later to list the original home again and help her family purchase a new place on one of the best streets in our area. We are still great friends and she adds so much to my life.
The process of selling or purchasing a home is an intimate experience. Real estate professionals learn about the family finances, the family dynamics, hopes and dreams, likes and dislikes and what's important to them and what isn't. When I put a home on the market, I know the home--its features and flaws, its smell, its aura, its ambiance. An integral part of selling a home is connecting in much the same way with those who live in it without being invasive of their space. It can be tense at times. The appraisal, the repair requests, the offers that come in at a price the sellers feel is too low, scheduling open houses, scheduling photography, properly preparing the home and staging it are all points at which the success of the sale will depend upon my relationship with the sellers and their faith and trust in me that I am working in their best interest. We become a team. And when we ultimately have success, when the escrow at lasts closes, we bond over the sense of having accomplished a worthwhile feat together. And often, for me, I have gained new friends. It's the why of real estate for me: creating a positive experience for both sellers and buyers so that when the transaction is done, I have ecstatic clients who know I brought about the most positive outcome for them.
Bottom Line: Work with a realtor with whom you feel you can connect because the sale or purchase of a home has many facets, and there are times you will need to trust her or him to make decisions in your best interest. That bedrock connection is foundational to a happy ending and might just enrich your life with a newfound friend.
On a Sunday afternoon in a gated community with enormous villas, a family strolled into my open house. She was tall, like me, and I really liked her immediately--in the way that if I'd been at a party I would've gravitated to her. Their home was for sale in another area of the city so they were looking for their next one. As it turned out, they wanted to make an offer on the villa. It would be contingent upon the sale of their home. The home didn't sell within the contingency period, so they took it off the market. However, by that time, my new client was my new friend. I was given the privilege a year or so later to list the original home again and help her family purchase a new place on one of the best streets in our area. We are still great friends and she adds so much to my life.
The process of selling or purchasing a home is an intimate experience. Real estate professionals learn about the family finances, the family dynamics, hopes and dreams, likes and dislikes and what's important to them and what isn't. When I put a home on the market, I know the home--its features and flaws, its smell, its aura, its ambiance. An integral part of selling a home is connecting in much the same way with those who live in it without being invasive of their space. It can be tense at times. The appraisal, the repair requests, the offers that come in at a price the sellers feel is too low, scheduling open houses, scheduling photography, properly preparing the home and staging it are all points at which the success of the sale will depend upon my relationship with the sellers and their faith and trust in me that I am working in their best interest. We become a team. And when we ultimately have success, when the escrow at lasts closes, we bond over the sense of having accomplished a worthwhile feat together. And often, for me, I have gained new friends. It's the why of real estate for me: creating a positive experience for both sellers and buyers so that when the transaction is done, I have ecstatic clients who know I brought about the most positive outcome for them.
Bottom Line: Work with a realtor with whom you feel you can connect because the sale or purchase of a home has many facets, and there are times you will need to trust her or him to make decisions in your best interest. That bedrock connection is foundational to a happy ending and might just enrich your life with a newfound friend.
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