Bob's Blog

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The choices we make

In this business we make choices every day.  Sometimes the choices are simple, like whether to delete that junk email.  Other times, they deal with peoples lives and their futures.  The road we choose to take could make or break them.  

I recently had a situation where I ran into several of those choices to make.  

I received a call to list a 1 bd/1 1/2 bath home (condo) . Choice ~ Do I even want to bother?  (to this choice, I say YES, it's part of my job) These homes do not sell fast, and with the recent drop in Real Estate, their value is dropping too.  So, I pull the address and started my CMA and researched the home.  Oh boy... problems right from the start.  I noticed that most of these homes are selling for 40k less than what they paid for it.  Yikes.  Choice ~ Do I even want to continue?  (to this choice, I say YES, I want to see this home and meet these folks.  It's part of my job)

I did notice that throughout the history of the home that they had dropped the price consistantly.  It had last been listed 25k lower than they paid.  Now, unfortunately, I had to inform them prices were still dropping.  Choice ~ Do I just phone him and tell him, or do I meet with him?  (to this choice, I say YES for the same reason as above)

I met with him at the home, his wife couldn't make it.  Choice ~ Without both decision makers, do I continue?  (to this choice, I say YES, nothing ventured, nothing gained)  Seems, they bought a larger home, and this one was currently vacant.  It turned out to be a lovely little home, well kept and upgraded with a nice golf course view.  I told him so, and also informed him that even so, if we overpriced it, it wouldn't get shown.  Choice ~ Do I even want this listing? (to this choice, if the price is right, YES!).  I recommended a price, and I could see the wheels turning and he asked if I could guarantee a sale before December.  Choice ~ Do I lie and say yes? (to this choice, absolutely NO!  I NEVER, ever lie to get a listing)

I told him that unfortunately I couldn't give him any kind of guarantees one way or the other.  Especially in this market. Choice ~ Do I then make promises I know I can't keep?  (to this choice, I never make promises I can't keep) I then told him that if they really didn't have to sell at this time, it might be a good idea to get it rented and just hang on to it for a couple years.

He told me he appreciated my honesty, and that he would go home and talk to his wife.  He really wants to sell, but he wasn't sure he could convince her they could afford to lose 40,000 of their hard earned money.

I doubt that I will get his listing, but I walked away from there with my "Integrity and Honesty" and my reputation intact.  I feel good.
43 comments • Bob Cumiskey, US Army Retired, Your Sun City Center, Florida ~ Realtor • July 20 2008 12:54PM

Convince me I want to live in your Community.

I received a call the other day (wednesday) from some folks from across the Bay.  They had read an Article about Sun City Center in their local paper and had a few questions.

We talked for several minutes, and I answered all his questions to his satisfaction.  
He then told me that I had done good, and now my next job was to convince him and his wife that Sun City Center was a place they would like to live.  They would be looking for a 1 or 2 Bd condo, minimum 1 1/2 bath and they needed a pet area for 50k - 60k.  They would come by the following day (thursday) sometime in the late morning if I could be available to show them some of the highlights of our community.

I told him that I would be available to spend as much time as they wanted or needed.  

After hanging up, I gathered together my information packet on Sun City Center and Kings Point (the gated portion of our community - condo's) and then pulled a couple listing from our MLS that might suit their needs.  

A couple agents in the office commented that this could just be looky loos and that I shouldn't spend too much time with them, especially with the cost of gas these days.  I just smiled.  I couldn't help but think, "And what else would I be doing with my time?" Driving around checking out fsbo's?"

Unfortunately, they got a little lost (he didn't follow my directions) but managed to find our office by just after noon.  

We sat in the breifing room, and I presented them with all the information I had gathered for them, and explained that I would like to show them both communities as I felt it was important they see it all to get the broad picture.  They agreed.  Then they informed me that they would not be making any choices on homebuying today as they needed to sell their condo across the bay.  I told them the agreement was I had to sell them on the community, not to sell them a home.  We all laughed at this.

He then told me that he felt he needed to inform me that both he and his wife had dealt in Real Estate in the past.  He at one time had his Broker's license, and his wife had been a Realtor both in Ohio and Florida.  I thanked him and informed him that it only made my job that much more easy.  They obviously understood how Real Estate worked, and that I wouldn't be spending a lot of time explaining things to them.

With that, we loaded up in the car and off we went.  

We first stopped at the Community Center to view what facilities were available as part of the membership.  

  


Our next point of interest was the Old Town Hall.  This is now used as a Ham Radio Operators shop.




Next was the Outdoor heated Swimming Pool and the Indoor heated Swimming Pool.

  

We also have an Indoor heated walking pool, and a jacuzzi.  There is another Clubhouse on the south side of town which also has a large indoor and outdoor pool.

Upon leaving the pools we encountered numberous golf carts parked outside which I explained was a alternate means of transportation here in Sun City Center.



We then toured the Atrium - where all the clubs and craft shops are located, and then went to the (new state of the art) Fitness Center.

 
   

Leaving there, I pointed out to them that we also have our own volunteer Security Patrol which patrols the community 24/7/365.



I showed them a couple homes to give them a idea of the type of housing available, and then we went to Kings Point where the condos were.  On the drive over he informed me that he was really pleased with all the effort I had put into showing them the community and that they had really enjoyed what they had seen so far.

Our first stop was the Kings Point Community Center which is very much like Sun City Centers, with all the same type of amenities.



Upon leaving there, we looked at a few condos and they fell in love.  They found 2 that they really liked and if they could, they probably would have bought one right away.  Mrs informed me that she was going home to wash her windows and put the house on the market.  Mr thanked me again for taking so much time out of my schedule to give them this tour.  He too had plans of going home and getting their home ready to sell, and they would be in touch with me soon.  By the way, I spent 4 hours with them, and thoroughly enjoyed being with them.


It may be a long time before they sell their present home and buy something here, but I know that someday I will be getting a call from them saying "Set some time aside, we're ready to buy.


29 comments • Bob Cumiskey, US Army Retired, Your Sun City Center, Florida ~ Realtor • July 05 2008 03:44PM