CRSs Share Their Story of the Sale | The Residential Specialist

Tim Burroughs (winner)

I received a call from a buyer. She started off slowly. She was going through a divorce but was not yet final and she had two children of different gender and needed at least a three-bedroom house. She had to live in the county where she worked and her budget was only $65,000. I am sure other people she had called just dropped her when she said the amount she was qualified for. I simply said, let’s see what is available. There was only one house in the entire county and it was bank-owned. She was willing to go see this three bedroom,1 bath house that fit her budget. It was listed for $53,900. We went and looked at the house and you needed to have some imagination, which I had and she didn’t. There was cat urine sprayed up the wall and on the floors. Appliances were older and furnace and air conditioning not functional. One window was broken and the roof needed repair. I was able to tell her what could be done and she made an offer that was accepted for $52,000. We tried to purchase with a conventional loan and they wouldn’t loan on the house’s condition. We tried Rural Development loan and they also turned it down for the house’s condition as well. I asked the lender to have the appraiser tell us all that needed to be done to allow the house to be financed FHA. I had a builder recommended by my lender. He came out and was able to get it all done for $13,000, which was ironically the difference between what my client was approved for and the purchase price. I and my lender both wrote letters to the owner (bak-owned) and let them know the house could not be financed and if they sold to anyone besides us they would need to sell it wholesale to allow someone to come in and rehab the house and then resell to make a profit. I told them if they would let us raise our price to $65,000 and give us $13,000 to pay the builder we could get it financed FHA and close on the house. Two days later they wrote back that it would work for them. We changed the paperwork and got it signed around. Then, a week later the builder said his painter couldn’t come when he wanted him there so he wasn’t going to do the project. I took over as the general contractor hired my own sub-contractors and every one of them knew the buyer was low-income and barely able to afford this house at $65,000 and they all gave me more than they had bid their part. In addition, the $4,000 profit the builder was going to take all went back into the house instead of me taking a salary for being the general. The payoff was when her two children came out and looked at the house when we were done and exclaimed “Momma, I didn’t know you were so rich!” It was the most satisfying transaction even though I probably ran through most of my commissions in the time and gas I used to get out to the house to meet all the sub-contractors. #StoryoftheSale

John Daly

I met Glenn and Yvonne 20 years ago and sold them a lot in Nevada City and set them up with a contractor who built them a beautiful home. We kept in touch. Now 20 years have past. Yvonne past away two years ago and Glenn cared for he for 6 years of illness. Glenn is 90 now. I saw a message on Facebook saying he was so tired of taking care of his home. I called him immediately and he said he was planning to call me. When I went to the house it was a real mess. He wanted to go into an Independent Home Care so I took him to tour a few in our area and had lunch at each one. He made his choice. I negotiated with them and got his first month 50% off. Next we had to go to public health twice for a TB test and to his Doctor for a certificate. I found house cleaners, painters, carpenters, glass repair for broken mirrors, carpet layers and a mover. We moved him and started 10 days of work and cleaning. I did 6 loads of his laundry, folded it all and took it to him. I went by to check on him every few days as we worked and he also drove over to see what was going on. Now the house is a couple of days from being ready. I think it will sell within days, maybe with multiple offers

Gina Ogle

Real estate has been a life long passion of mine and one of the perks of this career is getting to be an important part of someone’s life for a short period of time. At TeamOgle, we are always looking for opportunities to provide over the top service. The Council of Residential Specialists challenged us to share an example of this. I have many stories to choose from over my 21 years but this is my favorite #StoryoftheSale

It was early in my career and I was working in Florida when an elderly gentlemen from Missouri walked in the door wanting to buy a home and relocate here permanently. I was the agent on duty so I started my assessment of his needs and wants. In a very conversational manner, I discussed the pros and cons of making a cross country relocation. As a military spouse, I understood all too well what it was like to live apart from your extended family and I wanted to make sure this was a well thought out move on his part. He was very adamant in his decision so we started the process of finding him an entry level home that would be low on maintenance in the $60,000 range. Within a couple days, I received a call from his “kids” who were in their 50’s. They wanted to drive down and meet the agent who was taking advantage of their Dad! I knew I had his best interest at heart so I welcomed the opportunity to meet with them. After spending a day with me and reviewing the process and his selection of home, they realized how set their Dad was on this move and they felt comfortable that I was taking good care of him. I had their approval.

We closed by mail and he packed all his belongings in a u-haul (that his “kids” drove) and he set out on the drive to Florida to start his new adventure! I was aware of his travel schedule and had planned to check in on him the day he arrived. But the night before, I received what started out as an odd call from an ER nurse from St Louis. She said they admitted a single male to the ER who had been involved in a bad crash. He was stable but in critical condition. They had no way to locate any family members. He had one card in his wallet, my business card. He was able to speak & told the nurse to call his agent, she would know what to do. I quickly set out to reach his “kids” but it was 1997 and not many people had cell phones. I only got their answering machine. After exhausting all my options, I knew my only choice was to wait for them to arrive. I knew that I would want to get back to St Louis quickly and we didn’t live near any major airports. So I made a list of all the flights that were leaving from the 3 closest cities, made arrangements for my husband to take the afternoon off of work, and we waited at his house for his “kids” to arrive.

They pulled up with the U-Haul in tow and were surprised to see us there waiting for them. We told them what had happened & I gave them the list of airports and told them we would unload his u-haul and turn it back in for them. They were in shock & understandably distressed. They said they got separated in St Louis and assumed he had stopped for a rest and was a few hours behind them. They quickly decided that it would be faster to drive back but they were grateful I thought of everything. Together, the four of us made quick work of unloading his belonings & I sent them on their way while we took care of returning the u-haul & notifying the hospital. They were full of hugs and tears and kept referring to us as their “Blue Angels” (my husband was active duty Air Force at the time).

He made a full recovery and was able to move to the area a month later where he happily lived out the last 2 years of his life “in paradise”. Needless to say, I was on his “kids” Christmas card list for the rest of their life and forever referred to as their Blue Angel! It was fun keeping in touch with his “kids” (they chose Arizona as their retirement spot) and it set the stage for what an important part we can play in our clients lives when we take the time to invest in them personally.

Tim Hur

We all know the story in Greek mythology where hubris ultimately brings down Icarus. You know, the story where Icarus’s father built Icarus wings of feathers held together with wax with a warning not to fly too close to the sun. Icarus, being prideful, ultimately ignores his father’s advice, flies too close to the sun, which melted the wax that held together the feathered wings, and then drowning into the sea to his demise. While I don’t want to believe that anyone had a real estate transaction that ultimately brought them to their demise, there is always that one transaction that you will never forget in your real estate career – you know, the one that you refer back to, the one that humbles you to the point where you just pray that if it closes, you would start going to church every weekend, give up alcohol, and promise that you’d dedicate the rest of your life to world peace. The one you promise you’d never let your pride get in the way of a real estate transaction ever again. And then it closes and you somehow convince yourself that you really meant was that if it happens again, that’s when those promises start – you had your fingers crossed when you said it. Yes, one of those transactions – and yet, over time, the humility goes away and somehow it turns into a hubris moment because you got the transaction done.

Hubris. Being a real estate agent is an interesting funny career, in which we are taught our success is based on this learning curve with exponential growth over time and experience. We are taught to believe that the more transactions you do, the more experience you gain, and thus, you should be this successful agent in your market making a lot of money. But how much of this “hubris” of experience, “hubris” of the number of transactions or the “hubris” of the dollar amount sold – does it really play into our real estate career? Isn’t real estate an industry where we taught that one can spread their wings and soar – the sky is the limit?

We are taught to trust our instincts, learn that our experience matters, and rely on each other for help. But real estate is not the same as it was when I started real estate over ten years ago. We have to be agile, learn to embrace change, and know that our experience is only a piece to the solution to the puzzle of each unique transaction. Throw in the fact that real estate has now become a global industry where being inclusive, diverse, and having cultural awareness is just as important – and knowing that no two real estate transactions are the same.

Of course, if anything could go wrong, everything goes wrong in one transaction at the height of your career, doesn’t it? If anything, I am thankful that I had to not only eat a piece of humble pie, I ate a pallet of pre-packaged humble pie for months over one transaction. This one transaction solidified my passion for real estate, my passion to help my fellow agents understand that future of real estate is inclusivity – hence my move to corporate where I now hold the title of Director of Inclusion for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, where my ultimate reason for serving at CRS, NAR (along with any other acronym thrown at me) – was the one transaction that broke my pride and grounded me to the point where after it closed, I had to think if real estate was ultimately the right career choice for me.

As I mentioned, early in my career I had realized that my uniqueness, was an opportunity to form a niche in international real estate. From a referral, I was given an international client who was looking at properties, which would be my single biggest transaction at that time. Granted, I had represented international investors who had purchased multiple properties, but this would have been my largest single-family transaction. I had the experience, I had the passion, I had the knowledge, how hard could this be?

Knowing the Asian culture really helped, but immediately, I had an issue the minute my client landed at the airport and looked at me. I was too young to represent him. How could this 20-something year old be on his level? His first comment: “You are a CEO at YOUR age?” Disregard the fact that I was my own broker and owned my own firm – I looked too young to be a CEO. I changed gears and immediately called my dad and booked a round of golf with my dad and my client – and my dad established my credibility and experience – cost me quite a bit of money but my dad got a free round of golf on me and my client’s trust was built on my father’s word. In the meantime, I had gotten a new set of business cards that just said “Broker” instead of “President” or “CEO” of my company.

We had looked at properties, and honestly, nothing I had showed him was to his liking. I was still in the phase I had to earn his trust. Furthering my blow to my ego, my client was the one who found the property that he wanted to look at and ultimately put an offer on. Of course, he happened to find a short sale that had multiple offers and had to close by a certain time period. Not to mention that the house was on a TV show, so there was always activity on the house. After going through a tough multiple bid situation, my client won the multiple bid situation and all we had to do was bring the monies oversees to the US. I was on cloud nine – I had proved my client that I was worthy to represent him – we won the contract, right?

Inspections go without a hitch, but two days before closing, which was a Friday, the last day the lender would allow us to close, my client comes to me frantic stating that we would have to close on Monday due to banking regulations from transferring the amount of money overseas to the US. The lender refused to provide an extension and my client was about to lose $300,000 in earnest money if we did not close on time.

I started calling everyone I knew. Could I bring over $1.2 million in 2 days – the difference that was needed to close? Could I really get this done? These 48 hours were crucial. I finally called my friends in New York City who I had met through NAR’s sister association, the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) where I actively served. My contacts introduced me to someone who had put some hard conditions but was willing to lend the $1.2 million but we had to work quickly to work through the lender’s conditions. We had to get an appraisal and have the closing attorney draft loan documents with a 30-day balloon note – in one day so that the lender would wire the funds in time for Friday closing.

Pulling every favor I had, we got the appraisal and loan documents approved in 24 hours. The closing attorney, however, only had time for the last closing slot – past the time to wire funds. Of course, I had questioned the timing of closing, but was reassured that it would be fine. Did I mention that filming was still going on so the Seller would have to need a possession date after closing? Yeah. Fantastic.

Friday rolls around, conditions fulfilled, client pays crazy interest, crazy origination fees, and we close. And when I say crazy interest and origination fees, I mean 6 figures crazy. Of course, the agents contributed our commissions to make this deal work.

Amazingly, we closed! Everyone is happy; my pride is full I could get this done and my pride, my hubris, swelled with excitement. I got my client over $1.2 million dollars in 48 hours!

Two weeks go by, when possession date occurs, and I get this call that made my heart sink. The closing attorney could not wire the funds that Friday of closing since it was after the wire cut off hours, so the lender decided not to honor the closing since they received the funds late. The closing attorney had gone on vacation and thus, wired the funds a few days later – and when the seller found out – now he refused to leave the property.

Oy vey. I had a client upset on one side, a furious seller on the other side, and no possession of the property. Did we not learn that possession is 9/10th of the law? I have a client who has a note for over $1.2 million coming due in less than 2 weeks, no property, and living in a hotel blowing up my phone everyday. Let’s not forget that my reputation and relationships were on the line since I pulled in every favor I could think of by getting my client the loan in 48 hours. The pressure is on.

Ultimately, we had to hire an attorney, threaten to file a title claim, give notice to the closing attorney that we would be filing a claim against his insurance, give notice to the sellers – I mean, what else could go wrong? The lender who gave us the funding also was ready to have their attorneys involved – I mean, who wants to deal with this many attorneys? I could not even keep track at this point. Not to mention a seller who refused to leave the property since the closing was in question. Luckily, after a few days, the lender caved and allowed the closing to go through – and after a few days, the seller left the property and the buyer repaid the 30-day balloon note. All is good in the world.

If there was anything in my real estate career that humbled me early in my career, this was it. We, as CRS, we as REALTORS, we have to love what we do. We have to learn that there is a happy ending after. We have to learn that we must trust each other. We have to learn to rely on each other. While I can laugh about the situation now, no amount of planning, no amount of experience could have prepared me for what happened during this transaction.

I relied on my mentors, my friends, my CRS partners to get me through this transaction. I thought I had all the answers, I thought I had all the solutions… I came close to being Icarus, flying high thinking that my cultural background, my experience, my designations, my pride – would avoid me flying too close to the sun – but now I understand that ultimately, my relationships, my trust in other CRS agents, my mentors were the true reason why I was able to preserve through this tough transactions – and was the reason why I was kept from my wax feathers from melting. While I have now joined the corporate world as the Director of Inclusion of at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate and will serve as your incoming Chair for Diversity for the National Association of REALTORS, I am always reminded of Icarus at the start of my real estate career, and that humility goes a long way. I have the CRS family to always remind me that it’s not about control, but about the ability to let go and trust that being grounded is the key to relationships and any real estate transaction.

Hubris. We hear about new technologies, some new shiny object that will help us be become better real estate agents – but ultimately, it’s all about being passionate about what you do – and be humble about it. We are the problem solvers for our clients and every day you wonder why you are in this industry, just remember, you have your CRS family to get you through whatever you face and keep your feathers held together with wax from melting. Fly low, be proud, and let’s not let our pride get in the way of any real estate transaction.

Kevin Harris

I was working with a young first time homebuyer in the Boston Area who had moved from out of state. He doesn’t own a car so he was forced to ride his bike to other towns to see open houses on the weekend. I took four weekends to drive him around to see open houses and listing appointments we arranged so that he could expand his search beyond where he could pedal. We finally found an awesome condo south of the city in a renovated schoolhouse about a block from a subway stop.

It came time for him to sign the P&S and submit a deposit. He contacted his bank to arrange for a wire transfer and was told because they did not have a branch in the state, the most they could do was transfer $5,000 a day. This meant that it would take four days to get the money to the escrow account, endangering the transaction we had been months working toward. The solution? I drove him to his bank’s nearest branch in Hartford Connecticut so he could arrange for the wire transfer in person, over a 200-mile round trip!

We are actually closing tomorrow and I couldn’t be happier for this young man.

Nancy Smeltzer

In January I received a referral from a CRS in Florida. The couple referred had purchased a second home in Florida and were looking to downsize their Pennsylvania farmette so they could enjoy travel and their new Florida home. I met with them and we got along fabulously. It was winter, not the best time to sell a farmette, and they needed to clean out over thirty years of memories, so we agreed that I would list the house in March, when they were ready and the weather was looking more promising. In the meantime I needed to have surgery and had an overnight stay in an area hospital where I was assigned a lovely nurse to help me with rehab and pain management. We were talking and I mentioned this farmette that I was going to list, telling her how nice it was and all the upgrades that the current owner had done. She told me she had an agent and was thinking about moving to the country with her husband and children, but hadn’t really found anything that they liked and suited their budget. I went home and recuperated, listed the house in March and there were showings right away, in fact within a week it was under contract. At closing the buyer asked me if I recognized her, and low and behold it was my nurse! I had told her the general area of the farmette and she and her husband had been searching the internet to see when it was listed. They looked at it right away, it was as nice as I had told them and they put in an offer that was accepted! So, even in a haze after surgery I was still working for my clients and found them the perfect buyer!. While I did not sell the property myself, I had promoted it enough that they wanted to look at it right away, A win win for everyone!

Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford

I had a client that took 11 years to finally purchase their home! Most agents would not keep working with a client like this! I hung in there because I believed in them and the honest, good people they were. I understood that their need for that special home would one day come. I wrote 4 different offers for them, throughout those years and those offers did not come to fruition. One year they bought me an IPad for a gift to say they were sorry and for all of the hard work I put in with them.

…I was so happy for them when they finally found the right home. It was an incredible accomplishment for me, because I believed in them!

Krista Vitale Mashore

Well, I have been in the business and help many many home buyers and sellers. I’ve been very blessed by my community to have worked with hundreds of my community members in the sellling/buying process. So to give back to ALL of my Community members I’ve created a program called Teens Lifting Lives, where I sponsor 30 children every 10 weeks, they read two books with me to teach them how to have a positive mindset, that they can achieve anything they put their minds to. They agree to be Drug and Alcohol free during the program, to do 2 Random Acts of Kindness every day during the 8 weeks, Read the books with me, The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins and You’re a Badass by Jen Sincero. They have to do one Zoom Call every Wednesday from 6 am to 7 am and talk about what they read. I then give the kids $750.00 for joining the program at graduation and then they agree to donate $250.00 of the $750.00 that I give them to a local charity. The program is helping hundreds of kids have a positive mindset, become leaders, and learn that their is more happiness in giving than in receiving. It’s a win win. I can tell a story of a time I helped one family but I feel that helping the entire community is even better. I love teenagers as well. Feel free to #TeensLiftingLives to see more. Thank you

James Hill

I had clients that had a mother who passed away. They called me (Top Agent lead BTW) and I met them at the home. Turns out the son lives in TX and the Sister in MI and the home is in PA. I (along with a team member of mine) arranged for the entire contents of the home to be donated, giving to charity, giving to people in the area etc. (which required me to be at the home approx. 15 different days) and when there was still more than a half of house full of furniture and a garage, shed and basement full of items, I arranged for a dumpster to be delivered and loaded the dumpster over a week to clear the rest of the home out. This was on top of the normal getting painters in, cleaners etc. It was the most I have worked on a house for clients and the most rewarding deal I have done. It wasn’t the commission check, but the feeling that someones Mother had passed away and they could not deal with the home from afar. They were extremely grateful and truly understood that this was not normal practice. Excellent clients!

Traci Pettit Maloney

I was representing a buyer client and we arrived for our final walk-thru on Monday evening (Memorial Day 2017), the sellers (a FSBO) were nowhere near finished moving out. The husband has a brain tumor and they have five children at home. They did not have much help for the move and were very overwhelmed. We were closing the next morning at 10 and they were supposed to be out before closing. I got up early the next morning and went to their home and started loading my SUV with the items from each closet and loose items left in the bedrooms and as I emptied a room, we would sweep up behind us. I had one helper (a sister of the seller). Between the two of us, we emptied the house and had it ready for my buyer client to move in right after closing. #AboveandBeyond #StoryoftheSale #CRS

Joy Carter

That was fascinating – reading everyone’s experience!! Makes me feel more comfortable, knowing I am not the only one! Also had a Seller with a brain tumor that we helped move because they couldn’t handle it on their own & their agent didn’t care. Washed floors late at night for relocating Buyers so the floors would be clean for an earlier delivery of furniture that we found out late & couldn’t reschedule the house cleaning. Washed windows for an Open House, made beds & moved lots of things to make photos look better. Landscaped multiple times – the last one I used my SUV to climb on for height & leverage to remove a tree growing out of a tree to get rid of a code violation. Check often on Elderly clients who have no nearby family. This has been incredible rewarding when the family calls to sell their parents home and say – Mom said – We can’t work with anyone but you! Congratulations to all of you for continuing to show that Realtors are good, honest caring People!! YOU Rock & are a WONDERFUL compliment to our industry!

Evanjelina Gonzalez

A few years ago I had a couple moving from Montana to Wasilla Ak. The had only 3 days to find the perfect home, I was call to cover the agent that made 5 appoitments for showing that day.

we ended showing 33 properties between new construction, for sale by owner and some new appointments that I was able to make. The last house on our possible showings was the ONE. They had their brand new baby with them, it was raining and mother nature was again us. The purchase was a success and they live happyly ever after.

Sorry I didn’t know that my story was getting send on steps. This time I really stretch my self to find the One house for my clients. More than 7 hours of continuous showings on one day.

Judy Ramage

One of my seller’s wife was 9 months pregnant and due any day. I arrived to their house about an hour before closing and the husband was carrying boxes out while the wife was mopping the floor. I took the mop out of her hand, sat her down (she was sweating, it was very hot) and mopped the floors for her. We closed about two hours later because of all this but, we got the job done!

Another seller I had was a couple going through a bitter divorce. I spent many hours on the phone with each to assure both parties that I was representing both of their interests. It worked! Both the ex husband and the ex wife used me to purchase other properties.

Kim Meyer

Several years ago I received a call from family members who lived in Ohio and had just lost their sister to cancer in my market area on the Eastside of Seattle. She lived in a condo and they needed help to figure out what to do and where to begin. Probate needed to be opened, a cohabitant of her home needed to be given notice to leave and then the sorting of all her items was to begin. I found a wonderful probate attorney who made easy work for the family of the probate and also assisted with the vacating of the cohabitant. Once the cohabitant was removed I began the task of sorting through every room and every item, the family was looking for valuables and special keepsakes of their sister. I hauled out about 100 gallons of garbage as I organized the items, furniture and personal items into categories. I corresponded with the family often to keep them updated on progress. The remaining items were donated, or sold through an estate firm and the money went back to the family. Then some work needed to be done to the home to make it ready for sale. I had cleaners in as well as a contractor to conclude some projects that had been under way. Overall it took about 2.5 weeks to bring the home to market and have buyers through. It was a very sad time for the family in Ohio, so I felt very fortunate that I was able to help get the property ready, sell it and ship them some of her special keepsakes and photos for her family to have in her remembrance. A very emotional transaction, but I felt very happy being able to facilitate a successful sale for the family. #storyofthesale

Tracy Tidwell

Relocating to a new area has so many challenges for the entire family. One family I worked with had been in town for two days determined to find the home that would fit every family members need. They were on a short timeframe to close before school and the start of the job. We found the perfect one, wrote an offer and found out at the last minute the listing agent put in an offer and my buyer lost out. That meant a rushed return trip. They came in early morning and we looked at homes all day. Finally we found one that just hit the market and would work perfect. It was 11 PM and we were at IHop getting a bite to eat and writing an offer. Suddenly the baby girl discovered her precious teddy bear was missing. We looked every where, Diaper bag, purses, all over the car and finally she said she had left it at the house. We loaded back up in the car and headed to the new construction house with no electricity and used the car lights to look through cabinets drawers until we found it. The family was so relieved to find the precious teddy so that their daughter could sleep that night. We remained friends omg after the closing and they referred many clients to me over the years and alway shared the teddy bear story. One of my fondest memories.

Ben Heaverley

I took a listing early last year that was one I’ll never forget. The sellers were personal friends of mine who had just moved in a few years ago. They were trying their hardest to protect the little equity they had. In addition to the professional photos and virtual tour, I sent out custom postcards every few weeks marketing the listing. Showings eventually slowed down, so I hand picked 500 addresses around the area, printed off flyers and mailed them to each household. Each letter I sent had a business card attached and every address on each letter was handwritten. When showings started slowing down again, I had decided to ramp up my marketing efforts even more. I made different flyers and went door to door around the subdivision. I even drove up to one house and was greeted by an Alpaca! I spent the entire day dropping flyers off at each house, determined to find my buyer. We were now 6 months into the listing and I knew I couldn’t give up now. Because it was now summer, I had new professional photos taken and a new virtual tour done. I sent off more postcards and then went door to door for a second time, dropping off nearly 200 more flyers in other subdivisions. After a few more showings, an interested buyer finally came along. There was only one problem: They had to sell their house in order to buy this one…and their house was, ‘For Sale by Owner’. Not only that, but their house had already been on the market for a few months without any offers. It was now 9 months after I listed their house for sale…The sellers were getting discouraged and decided to take the house off the market in hopes to re-list in the spring. The next month, I see the For Sale by Owner house finally get listed by a realtor. After a few more months, the For Sale by Owner went into Pending status. I was certain that by now they had found another house they liked more. Then it happened. 13 months after I listed the house for sale we finally received an accepted offer. My seller’s house wasn’t even on the market when I received the offer, but the For Sale by Owner was set on owning their home! Luckily, the offer process went smoothly and everything worked out in the end. Total, I know I spent several hundred hours on that particular listing. Not to mention the thousands of dollars I spent on photos and marketing. In the end, it’s always the best feeling to know that your hard work finally paid off and everyone is happy! #StoryoftheSale

Betty Willis

There are so many stories over the last forty years that it is hard to pick just one, but this one stands out in my mind. I’m going to use round figures to make it more readable. Buyer’s A had a $300,000 house they needed to sell quick.to move out of town. Buyer’s B had a $200,000 house and they wanted to buy Buyer A’s house. Buyer’s C had a $50,000 house and they wanted to buy Buyer B’s house. I bought buyer C’s house to make the domino’s fall. I wrote up the offers and got everyone in the conference room, and worked out the closing and possession details. I had them all listed, so my husband and I went on a cruise to the Caribbean after they closed. My daughter and her family rented the house I bought for a year while their new house was being built.

Kevin Harris

We are actually closing tomorrow and I couldn’t be happier for this young man.

Marie Presti

A few years ago, I had clients who were avid skiers. I had been working with them for about six months over the summer and fall, looking for the perfect home in the Boston area. But as the weather cooled down and the mountains of Vermont beckoned, weekend open houses fell by the wayside. Their search for a primary residence slowed to a crawl. But a new idea blossomed: a vacation home on a ski mountain. So, I did what any broker would do. I referred this couple to a local agent. After meeting with her, the couple decided they wanted to work with me instead, and asked how I could make this happen. There was only one problem: I wasn’t a licensed real estate broker in Vermont. I spent the next two weeks studying for the state’s broker licensing exam and passed. I traveled the three hours to Vermont regularly to scout out the perfect vacation home while they skied. Soon, I submitted an offer on their behalf that was accepted on a new construction town home on Mount Snow. Of course there were more details to work out and trips up North. I even brought my retired dad with me for company as I drove out for the home inspection. (The clients were too busy to attend, so I was the sole representative.) In addition to handling all of the negotiations and getting them an above average allowance package, I also made suggestions for flooring, appliances, cabinets and many other features. It was pure joy to make this couple’s “vacation home” dream come true. When spring arrived, I continued my search for their primary residence and found them a perfect new construction home in Newton, Mass. After the closings, they told me that I worked harder for them than anyone else they knew and that I had repeatedly gone above and beyond the call of duty. Hence, the tagline for The Presti Group — “We go the extra block” — which I have since trademarked.

Pam Young Stevenson

One day a client called me. He had just gone through a divorce and was very sad. He wanted to sell his home and asked me if I would list it. He wanted to sell the home for $300,000 but I knew it was worth much more. I told him that it would be unfair for me to sell it for $300,000 and he needed to list it much higher. He went with another Realtor that brought in an offer for $300,000. The deal did not go through. Then he found another Realtor that brought him an offer for $300,000. That deal fell apart too. The seller came back to me and said, “Would you please list my home for $300,000?” I said, “Okay, I’ll make a deal with you. I will list it for $300,000 but we will not accept any offers until it has been on the market for at least 2 weeks.” He said, “If we get a price above $300,000- you can have the difference.” As it turned out, we sold his home for $330,000 and I did not pocket the additional $30,000. I told him he would need that to rebuild his life. I knew that he was distraught from the divorce and I wanted him to have the extra $30,000 as I knew it would help him in the long run. #StoryoftheSale

Kay Hunt

I helped an older couple purchase a home many years ago. They knew no one here in the Vancouver, WA area and arrived in town with their entire life savings on 3 cashier’s checks that they were carrying them around with them. I took them to a bank near the home they were purchasing and waited while they opened their accounts there. They had no children or close relative so for the next sixteen years anytime they needed something, I got a call. I helped them with everything from figuring out the thermostat on their heater to taking them to a travel agency to arrange for a trip abroad. When the husband died, I was one of two who attended his funeral. I helped the widow with all of her insurance and retirement benefits and filing her taxes with her accountant. She purchased another home soon after that and I helped her pack, made the arrangements for the moving company, and even instructed them on where to place the furniture. This was a relationship that was far more than real estate duties and transactions.

Patti O’Reilly‎

I began my Real Estate career in 1997. I was a retired international flight attendant. Going the “extra mile” was second nature to me.

I loved helping my buyer’s and sellers. I staged their homes before we had a name for it. I found family members jobs, even a green card. I revisited 10 homes one day to find a lost Barbie doll. Yes, I would clean and pack! Whatever it took!

One winter day I got a call from a former client and friend. Her husband had been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. They would not be able to pay their mortgage. He could not work and was applying for disability, a long process. The home was in need of repairs and there was no money.

I was working on getting the home ready when overnight he was hospitalized. I spent the next afternoon with the family in the hospital.

It was clear to me that they could not sell at this time.

I called a mutual friend that afternoon and asked her thoughts on doing a fund raiser for him.Soon there were 11 of us on a committee. We called it “Standing in the Gap”! I was on a local radio station and the donations started coming in. It was a mountain top experience! We attended different churches but all came together. One church was in charge of the dinner and the other an auction. A local jeweler donated a diamond ring! It was a wonderful evening. The crowd bidding and great food.It was overwhelming to all of us. Tears of joy! Blessings beyond anything we could imagine. We raised over $50,000!

He could pay the mortgage until his disability was approved. He went on for treatment. He continues to live today. What sweet memories!

I did sell the house after his treatment.

#storyofthesale

Terry Monroe

I remember helping a first time buyer with her purchase as an FHA loan. The crawl space did not have the proper clearance for FHA guidelines and the tub surround had popped and fallen tiles. So I went into the home (with sellers permission) with my shovel, bucket and tile adhesive and dug out a ton of dirt from the crawl space to get to the proper clearance and then repaired the tiles that had fallen off the tub surround. We went on to closing after the appraiser cleared the loan requirements

Heidi Franklin

I was working with a CRS referred buyer. We found the perfect home for him. When we were close to closing, he had a badly hurt knee and foot problems. He was not able to use crutches and didn’t have a wheelchair. He needed to get his money in escrow and was not able to wire the money at the time. He had a mechanic wheeling bench. We got him on the bench, down a few steps and into my car. Very difficult! We drove to the bank. He was not able to go inside so the bank employee came out to my car to verify my buyer’s ID. They made the Cashier’s check and gave it to me. I then took my buyer back to his apartment and wheeled him inside Very difficult again! He was so thankful and appreciative that I went the extra mile. Due to his recent financial situation, he was in fear of losing or having to sell his home. I connected him with a reverse mortgage specialist. He kept his home!

Judy Barrett

Past clients referred a brother and sister to me who needed to sell their father’s home. Dad, a doctor, had died unexpectedly while undergoing surgery.

The daughter lives in Portland, the son in San Diego, and the property is in Honolulu. Neither had ever sold a house before and they only had a few days in Hawaii to get arrangements made.

First things first, I put the daughter in touch with a good estate attorney. As soon as the legal paperwork was in order, my favorite handyman and I cleaned, painted, made all the needed small repairs, packed up and stored an enormous number of boxes of household goods for the planned estate sale, hacked back some very aggressive vines, made 6 dump runs. and arranged for a failed pool pump and water heater to be replaced.

On a Wednesday, I had the whole house staged and almost ready for the photographer, who was due on Friday. Wednesday evening, vacationers were supposed to check in to a very limited part of the property. When I returned Thursday for the final touches to prep for the photographer, the vacationers had helped themselves to entire property. Furniture was rearranged and there was now food and appliances all over my immaculately cleaned kitchen. There were suitcases, clothing, and snacks in every room of the house. My meticulously staged beds had been slept in! On discovering this, I’m sure blue flames accompanied the very bad words flying from my mouth. (My handyman was spared the worst of them.)

I contacted the son and daughter, who contacted the booking agency, who made arrangements for the tenants to return by 3:00 PM to remove their things and vacate, as they’d violated the terms of the rental agreement. By 5:00 they had not returned. The son and I agreed that I’d lock the gate, leaving a note on it instructing them to call me for access, so that I could make sure they were packed up and gone. They finally did call at 8:30 PM and I headed over, calling Honolulu Police on the way to ask for an officer to accompany me, as I had no idea who or how many I was meeting, or just how hostile they might be.

I waited a few doors away from the house until FOUR blue light police vehicles pulled up at about 9 PM. Four tall, handsome officers (straight from Central Casting) explained that they couldn’t do anything about “evicting” anyone, as that’s a matter for the courts, but they could come with me to make sure nobody got hurt. With that, the 5 of us approached the gate, where we found a group of about a dozen saffron-robed female monks and one male spokesperson.

After some discussion, a variety of excuses, and a lot of apologies for occupying the whole house, they seemed sympathetic to my plight and agreed to depart. After confirming that I no longer felt in danger, the officers departed. Within about 40 minutes the monks had almost everything packed up and put up. There was much bowing and smiling. On their way out one asked if she could hug me. She said the house would sell for a good price in an honorable transaction because they had all blessed it. And she was right. I got it re-staged, the photographer came a couple of days later, and the house sold to a very nice doctor, over list, in just 5 days. The daughter delivered her first baby the day before closing and the son closed on his first home a week later.

Thirty-six years in this business and it never gets boring, but I’ll never forget the night I evicted the monks!

What are you going to do when VA insists on mildew removal on a lanai ceiling just days before closing? Suit up and deal with it! (The upgraded suit now includes a respirator!)

Jim Lee

Sold a small house that had some peeling paint to a VA buyer. Appraiser calls for house to be scraped and repainted. Seller has no money so listing agent, a friend, and I borrow his dad’s pressure washer and paint sprayer to do the job. Apparently our painting skills were not up to the standards of the VA appraiser so I ended up repainting some parts of the house with a brush. One pressure washing, one and a half paint jobs, and the result was a happy seller and a happier buyer. I learned a lot about painting that week. #whateverittakes. #StoryoftheSale

Kimmy Meyer Efta

One story in my short time being a realtor is my sellers were on a sabbatical in Africa. We did all communications via skype and electric signatures. There home was full of furniture 3000 sq ft. Not is showing condition at all. They requested their son ti come home for a weekend. I worked with their son, who came home one weekend from college, to move furniture out of the house and staged the home for them. My husband even help remove unnecessary window curtain rods. The home went under contract while they were in Africa. It was a fun sale. #storyofthesale

I have another fun story from North Dakota. If you know North Dakota weather in the January and February months, it is a little cold and snowy. You want to make sure you have a winter survival kit with you at all times…Anyways, I had a showing lined up in rural North Dakota about 10 miles from any town in Febrary. There was a blizzard the day before my showing so knew the roads would be snow compacted. My buyer texted me telling me she was going to be late to see the vacant rural home. Strange thing when I got there, I saw a van in the driveway. I was a little concerned because I was at a vacant rural property. I pulled into the driveway and noticed there was a family in the van aka “Buyers I found in the ditch.” They were stuck in the yard. They had just drove across the country from Seattle because he returned from deployment in Japan the day before. They had no winter items with them and the kids were wearing “summery” clothes. They drove out to this house because on their drive to Grand Forks Air Force Base they wanted to check out some properties. I gave called the local tow trucks and plows to clean out driveway. I showed them the house before my clients arrived. The buyers in the ditch became my clients, they didn’t buy that vacant rural home, I was able to find them a great house near their work and a rental prior to closing. I always share the story of “Buyers I Found in The Ditch”. #storyofthesale

Reba Holdsambeck

I had the privilege of helping a sweet young couple buy their first home. We had several mortgage issues that surprised us along the way. We had to extend the closing date three times. The seller was an investor who was getting anxious, as were the buyers. My client was 7 months pregnant at the time. The lender was working hard to get it to closing, but underwriting kept holding it up. Two hours before we were supposed to close the lender called to say it was not going to happen. This was a Friday afternoon. Her mother had come from out of state to be a part of the excitement. My client and her mother were at lunch when I had to call and break the news. They were understandably distraught and I headed directly to the restaurant to be with her and explain the situation in more detail. After many tears and no appetite for lunch I suggested we head to show her mother the house that hopefully would become hers the following week. As we were touring the mother opened a closet in the garage and smelled an odor. It smelled like gas. There was also a water leak from the gas hot water heater. So I called the home inspector and did a face time video of what I was seeing. He instructed me how to cut the water off. We called the listing realtor to notify her. She called us back that weekend saying the gas smell had been checked out and was just paint cans sitting around. I was not comfortable with that answer so I told my client we should get it further evaluated. called and got the utility company to check it out. They checked it out and told me there was no gas leak. I still was not satisfied and told my client that we should get the home inspector back out. She said she was comfortable with the gas company’s findings and she did not have the money to pay for a re-inspection. I told her I would pay for it. The home inspector rearranged his schedule to get this done ASAP. After several attempts with the gas detection monitor he discovered two leaks. We called the listing realtor to come out so she could tell the seller where the leaks were. In the meantime we realized that the seller had not cleaned the house as well as one would have liked. There was still saw dust in the kitchen drawers. Knowing that my client was already stressed from all that had taken place and being 7 months pregnant and still working and coming home and caring for her small daughter I called in someone to clean her house. The leaks got fixed and my client moved in with her husband and sweet young daughter. The house had the original HVAC unit and we had talked multiple times about getting a home warranty which she was going to purchase prior to closing. The day after she moved in she told me she did not yet have a home warranty and the air didn’t seem to be working so well. It had been working well the day before. So I stressed the importance of having to have a home warranty. I spent the next several hours trying to get her information and doing conference calls so that she would feel comfortable about which warranty to purchase. She then told me she did not have the money to purchase one. That’s when the lender and I went in together to purchase her a home warranty. She did use it shortly after moving in to have the HVAC serviced and everything is still fine months later. She had her baby-another precious little girl. She and her family are loving their new home. I am convinced that things happen for a reason. I feel like we needed to “find” that gas leak before this young family moved in and lived there. After all it was summer in the south when no one opens their windows. The gas fumes would have just stayed in that house. I love my job of helping people find the house that’s right for them where they will make many happy memories. I also enjoy the opportunity to get to go the extra step. That’s when people know that you care about them-that it’s not just about a transaction but about a relationship.

Terry Naber

I sold a town here to an agent in Ohio for her Air Force Academy cadet daughter. Years later, she listed it for sale with her property manager, thinking she was obligated under the Property Management Agreement to use him to sell the house. After this guy proved incompetent in many ways, she called me to see what could be done. I immediately went over, viewed the place, and filled her in on the condition of the property, sent her photos of work she had paid for which had not been done. She cancelled her listing agreement with him & listed with me. I immediately had handymen, cleaners, a stager and landscapers go over. I had it active in the MLS and under contract shortly, but suddenly found out that were huge hurdles in our way to get to closing-the neighbor i the unit attached to the left accused my seller of having changed the grading on the back yard so that water was pooling in THEIR backyard, and they wanted it regraded. She had never done this. Regrading to please these people would have been very costly, if even possible.I went over and analyzed the situation, and it appeared that the neighbor had changed their own grading, eliminating a swale that directed water out, probably without submitting a landscaping plan for the HOA board’s approval. A further complication was that the two occupants were 2 of the 3 member HOA board-so appealing to the board would be fruitless! So, I had to find another solution. I met with the complaining couple several times to let them know that the seller and I were working on a solution to the problem, and had them show me their backyard. Even if my clients were in the right, I had to fix this issue to get the property sold with no lingering issues. So, I went down to Regional Building Department and obtained a thumb drive with the development plans from the 1980’s, including the drainage design. I then poured over these plans with a magnifying glass for hours, to try to come to an understanding of acronyms and jargon I was unfamiliar with, and determine if indeed, the drainage was done according to the plan. What I found out was shocking-it was not! So, I found the original drainage engineering company, and got a free consultation. The engineer told me that the drainage had not been done according to the plans, so we could sue the builder. Of course,if we did that, a lawsuit would stop all sales in the area until settled-not an option. I asked him what would be the cheap fix, and he said “$10,000.” So I asked him what would be the ultimate fix for the problem-he said $100,00!” So, none of the solutions he offered were practical. Back I went to both properties with a level and a tape measure to try to figure out a solution. I determined that the bulk of the water was coming from the roof, draining from 3 downspouts, one the two corners of the units and one in the middle. There was a downspout in the middle of the roof dumped large quantities water during rainstorms right by the fence between the 2 units. I reasoned that if we eliminated that downspout, increased the size of the gutters on the back of the building, and tilted the gutter to drain toward the corner of the building on the neighbors’ side, it would take care of the problem Even better, it would cost little or nothing, because the roof and gutters were being replaced by the HOA in the nest 2 weeks! I met with the complaining neighbors, presented the solution while diplomatically getting them to agree to reinstall the swale they had removed, and everyone was thrilled! (I also talked the neighbor on the other side into catching the squirrels in the attic of our unit!) My client was so happy about me going the extra 100 miles she gave me a $2000 tip,and wrote me the best review of my career!

Elizabeth Marquart

I recently sold a home that was literally falling of a mountain. During the heavy rains of January 2017 a house had part of its foundation wash down the hillside and block a major street in LA for weeks. The home was evacuated and Red Tagged. The seller was in London at the time and the house was rented. I helped him deal with the city and the mudslide, get him legal counsel and sold the house as is with the buyer agreeing to take on any cleanup and city required repairs. I got it sold in a few weeks!

Elizabeth Enea

When your phone rings…Answer it!

It was a typical Tuesday afternoon when I received a phone call from someone who recently read an about Walnut Creek, California in US News & World Report magazine.

The city of Walnut Creek is a sleepy suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area, which over the past few years, has morphed into a regional destination with high-end shopping, dining, cultural arts and community involvement. The caller explained that he and his family were looking to make a lifestyle change and were interested in leaving the East Coast, for the Bay Area. After a lengthy conversation I was ready to begin his home search utilizing specific search criteria we discussed.

During the first home tour, there was only one property of particular interest, but it received multiple offers. I realized I needed to be pro-active in identifying their future home so I prepared a search of off-market, cancelled, and withdrawn listings. Next, I researched the few properties on the list to see if they had been sold since being taken off the market. The list was fairly short, but fortunately there was one particular property that had been cancelled a couple of years and then rented.

The property was a newer custom home situated on the coveted Westside of Danville – just a few miles from Walnut Creek. The estate property featured 5 acres of complete privacy and phenomenal views. I had a feeling this was going to be their new home. I did what most people do when trying to research someone – I Goggled the owner! I located a phone number, called it and surprisingly the seller picked up. We chatted for awhile and he mentioned they were considering listing the home for sale again and suggested I stop by to preview it.

I knew from the moment I drove up the gated driveway this property was special – I videotaped the home and yard, created a YouTube Channel to share the videos with my client on the East Coast. The buyer flew to California with his family and after touring the property, I prepared a cash offer for $3,800,000 with a 10 Day close of escrow and the rest is history. The buyers continue to enjoy their new home and the community!

Frank Richard

I had a listing that was closing the next day at 4 p.m. so i went to check on the house the day before since it was a vacant home. When i arrived i found that someone broke the handle off the door and my lock box was missing, i then i proceeded to check the house and found that the copper plumbing in the basement was stolen! I got a plumber out very early in the morning and had the copper replaced, then did a walk through with the buyers ti show them that the plumbing had been replaced, we closed that day on Time!!

Pam Gebhardt

A few years ago, my team and I became very committed to giving “Housewarming Parties” to our clients. We sold a $2.5 Million home in July and decided to throw a monster of a party. My buyers wanted us to wait until they had the home decorated and called us to schedule the party for the first weekend of November. We provided caterers, managed all the invitations and guest lists, parking and the host and hostess provided all beverages.

The event was magnificent with over 100 people in attendance. The guests were in awe of this beautiful home, all lights were on, all 5 fireplaces glowing, people were riding up and down in the elevator, some were taking tours of the home and others were outside on the lush grounds. I was in the terrace level bar with the host when we both smelled something. We immediately thought it was the motor of the elevator, since it smelled like something burning. We made the people get out of the elevator, just as we see smoke coming out of all the can light fixtures in the basement level and bar area. Just then all the smoke detectors in the home start going off. The guests are confused and not sure what is going on. After a couple more minutes, everyone decides to go outside By now, the home is starting to really fill with smoke and some of the guests told everyone to go to the front of the home and across the street. At that point, we were all laughing and joking, thinking this was just a minor incident and that soon we would be going back in to resume the party. A wise party goer did mention to the owners that they may want to get their automobiles and the wife’s jewelry out of the house… Just in case!

It seemed like forever, but the fire department finally arrived. Since the home was in a gated community, the fire trucks had to take a long route to get to the home. When they finally arrived with 2 trucks and a big ladder truck, a group of firemen immediately went into the home in full gear. The ladder truck extended the ladder over the roof fo the home and the fireman at the top of the ladder shinned a red spotlight over the roof. After a few minutes, the fireman on the ladder signaled to a lead fireman on the ground and all the firemen in the home came running out. By now smoke is billowing out of the rafters and all of us partygoers realize that we have a very bad situation going on! We all stood for the next 2 to 3 hours and watch the home as it burned to the ground!!

Thank goodness, my clients removed their cars and jewelry from the home, because they lost everything else! It appears that one of the fireplaces had not been installed properly and not chased properly. When the fire began in the fireplace it immediately spread to the attic. When a fire gets to the attic, the home is lost.

My team and other guests at the party immediately began to help our friends who had just lost everything! Luckily there was a home in the community that was for sale but not yet sold, so we arranged to have the family move into it. We helped to get necessary clothing and essentials to them until the insurance company could step in.

My clients had loved their new home and I set out to help them rebuild it! I set them up with a very good builder and he guided them through the entire process of working with the insurance company. It took us almost a year to the day, but we did get their dream home rebuilt… they even improved on some items in the original home. The decorators who had helped them with the furnishing and décor, replicated what they had lost. The only thing we were not able to help them recover were probably the most valuable to them, the memories they lost in the way of family mementos, photos and family furniture pieces!

My team and I have not done a “housewarming party” since this one! The entire experience took a toll on all of us. It has only been in the last couple of years that I can talk about this experience and admit that I have learned from it, too. Whenever I see an inspection report that states that an area needs to be fire chased… I follow up to ensure it is done properly. I have also made sure that other gated communities in our city have access to all gates in the community. More than ever, I have learned that a caring, loving community can pull together to help neighbors in need.

My team and I have decided that we are going to start up our offer of housewarming parties to our clients. We are finally excited to finally put our real “House Warming” party behind us and move forward.

Marta Vincen Cheatle-Paulson

My clients, Steve and Sue mentioned to me in passing that they might be interested in buying a second home in the Eagle, Idaho area within the next year or so. They were not in a hurry. It was just before Christmas and wouldn’t you know it? The most perfect home just happened to show up. I brought them a flyer while we were together on a Holiday shopping trip in New York. I love these clients and we have become close friends over the years…3 homes bought and sold and lots of fun together. They were also planning on leaving for a vacation within weeks. The house was “the one” and so we offered, got the house and noticed that there was some problem with the Master bathroom outside wall. It was a seriously snowy season and impossible for the inspector to get on top of the very steep roof with over a foot of snow and ice on the shingles. The damaged window sill had been disclosed on the property disclosure, so repairs were done and allowances were made to remedy the situation. My clients scrambled to leave for vacation, so we closed and did a rent-back to the sellers for several weeks. The sellers moved out while the buyers were on vacation. I had the home spotlessly cleaned while there were gone as a gift. Upon their return home, Steve called me and noted that there was something still something odd about that master bathroom wall. Upon further inspection by a contractor, we found that there was severe water damage unseen to the eye that went undetected in the inspection. My heart sank, because I always want everything to be perfect for my clients, I knew that I had to see what could be done. Since it has been disclosed on the property disclosure and on the inspection that there was an issue, I contacted the sellers with the most polite letter and phone call. I graciously asked if they would consider splitting the cost of the wall repairs. Which were $1,800 dollars. Not a huge amount but still a noteworthy sting for my buyers. This was months after the closing! I held my breath. The sellers not only agreed to share in the repairs, but agreed to pay the entire amount and paid the bill! Since they knew there was an issue…they felt it was important to remedy the situation. Being very kind and forthright worked in this negotiation My clients were thrilled to say the least. It is rewarding to be a trusted agent and have clients for life. Our job does not end just because the home has closed. It is the ongoing relationship you develop with your clients Going to bat for them, when times are tough and getting the job done. Proud to be a CRS and the education has been invaluable. Steve tells everyone that I should be their Realtor…what a compliment. So fortunate.

LuAnn Westrich Popp

My husband and I listed a home from some clients that were moving from St. Cloud, MN, to Frisco, CO, after they retired. Wanting their river property to stay looking beautiful, we offered to maintain their lawn for them after they had moved and before the home sold. We hauled our lawn mower to their home and kept the lawn up for them when they were gone. After making several trips west with their vehicles loaded to the max, they still had some furniture and miscellaneous that they wanted to take along. It was late October and we were looking for a reason to take a road trip, so we offered the use of our 8-foot enclosed trailer. Our sellers packed it as tightly as they possibly could and we hauled it out to Frisco for them. It is about a 14-hour drive from our home and the weather turned pretty snowy and nasty, especially after leaving Denver. They invited us to stay with them in their 3-level condo in Frisco for a few days so we could recuperate and they could unpack the trailer. It was quite the experience and now when we head out to Colorado, we always have friends to visit!

James Selig

About three years ago, I had clients selling their home to buy a new one – the dream home on the lake. The first house had to close before they could close on the new home. However, the mega bank lender working for the buyers just were not getting things done and just not communicating with the buyers’ agent. When the agent called to say closing had to be delayed but could not tell me why, I got hold of the loan processor who said she could not get verification of employment for the buyers, both of whom worked for the same organization. Frustrated, the processor accepted my offer to help and told me way more than she should have. I called the buyers’ employer and got someone to listen to the story who had to the processor what she needed within a couple of hours. My sellers were very happy and sing my praises. #StoryoftheSale

Melanie Schmidt

I had clients that I did sell a New Build/New Construction. I met them at one of my listings almost three years ago. They were new to our area and needed a place to rent until they decided where they wanted to build in our Community and with which Builder. Mr. Buyer stated clearly that if I help find a rental, I would continue to be their Realtor for life. It turns out I had a friend who had just married and took her home off the market. The home met all the needs of our Buyer’s. Mr. Mrs. Buyer continued to work with me over the next couple of years as we found the perfect lot for their Million Dollar Home.

We visited a lot of homes and Builder Showcase of Homes. We met with Different Builders and interviewed them until they found the one that they felt met all their needs. Within the first year our Buyers purchased their lot, with my help.

Then it was to start on Blueprints, Designs, etc

The house took a year and a half to Build and we stuck together and became very good friends.

Mrs. Buyer was diagnosed with Cancer prior to closing. I had closing Attorney draft Power of Attorney so In case Mrs. Buyer was to weak to come to closing, I had her covered.

About two weeks after Closing, I received a phone call. Mr. Buyer was out of State on Business and my now Good Friend( Mrs Buyer) was in the ER due to irregular heart rate. She had a TIA.

I was told my help was needed. I didn’t even have to think about it. My husband took me to the ER, I stayed with my Good Friend for an hour. She was very concerned about her pets at home alone. I didn’t think twice and stated, I’ll go get your vehicle out of Parking Ramp and go spend the night at your home( rental home). They had the month to move everything.

The next day, I took the dogs to doggie daycare and drove the vehicle back to the home and Mr. Buyer brought me back home.

Sometimes you just have to do what’s right in your heart ❤️

I’m happy to say my now Great Friend is Cancer Free and in her new home.

We remain Friends for God has brought us together.

I am Thankful for her Friendship.

Melanie

Barbara Davis-Hassan

I worked with a seller couple who entrusted me to value their home. They hired me because of my local knowledge and because my valuation came in considerably higher than my closest competitor. During the Title V septic inspection, the inspector failed the system. I witness every one of my clients Title V inspections. I have been studying Title V issues since 1995 and found out that the failure indicated was not in fact a failure within the regulations criteria. I arranged a meeting with the local Board of Health and presented the case on behalf of my sellers. The Board of Health agreed with my findings. Not only did this seller make $20k more on the sale because of my local knowledge of market values, they also saved thousands of dollars in unnecessary repairs to the septic system….very happy clients!

Lynn Werner

I worked with an elderly woman who was selling her home in Tampa and relocating to Bangor, Maine. She had recently lost her husband and wanted to be closer to her family. I worked with her to downsize her possessions as well as make necessary repairs. Just before closing the person who was going to escort her to Maine cancelled. The seller was unable to travel by herself so I flew with her to Bangor. Not only did the sale close smoothly for her but I made a friend in the process!

Leah Halford Thorp

I was working with a couple to find a home on some acreage. We found a home with 15 acres set on a wooded hill with amazing views. Only problem was the house had been vacant for several years and need lots of work. Buyers wanted to use a VA loan and there were many items that we knew would be flagged. I negotiated with the Seller’s agent to accept the offer with the intent that we had quotes for the estimated work from contractors that would be willing to get paid out at closing. This property would have been hard to have sold as a cash deal at this price point and if the seller could invest in it to make it pass the VA it would work. With lots of coordinating of contractors and review of the appraiser we were able to make it happen.

Nancy Reese Smeltzer

Sandra Nickel

A long time ago, when interest rates were hideously high–about 17%, I recall– I was working with a lady whose job was that of church secretary. She had little money and could afford only the most modest of homes. About that time, our Alabama Housing Finance Authority announced the planned release some first-time homebuyer mortgage money at 13.64%. And it was first-come, first-serve! So I paid my 13 year old Godson to take a place in line–even sleep overnight in a sleeping bag on a reclining lawn chair. She got her money and her house. And I even gave up my buyer agent commission to make the deal close!

Laura Maze

An elderly lady was going to lose her home due to a fraudulent Lender who didn’t collect & pay her real estate taxes for 3 years. The home was free & clear. She took out a loan to pay for the funeral of 3 family members. The Lender refinanced her every year. She went from $40,000 to $140,000 Loan. The Lender removed the taxes from her payment to make her pmt lower. My past clients pitched in and we raised enough to pay her back taxes. We refinanced the Loan with a reputable Lender. I worked with the Div. of Finance that audited the records and restored her credit rating and got back the money that she was overcharged by the lender. We saved her home and she is still in it today. Great lenders, past clients & churches pitched in with food and gifts to make this her best birthday and Christmas ever.

Steve Kerper

I had relocated from California to North Texas in 2012. A few years later, (2016), one of my previous California clients told me they would like to find a home in East Texas. They were a wonderful family who had 15 children (at this time), many of whom had special needs and were adopted from Eastern Europe. I picked up the wife, her mother, and her daughter in Dallas. We had previously identified 24 homes in East Texas, in 19 different cities. My office manager thought I was “nuts” but I had helped these wonderful loving people before find a home in Southern California (Beaumont) and could not resist the challenge once more. We drove a total of 1500+ miles, over a 4 day time frame, wrote 3 offers, and the one we got accepted was a beautiful home in Kilgore, Texas, on 2 1/2 acres, with a pool, that we acquired for $330,000, and it appraised for $360,000. I even drove another 400 miles(round trip), to meet the home inspector during our escrow period, so as to be able to give a first hand report back to my clients in California. I was honored that these clients had once again put their faith and trust in me, and privileged to be a part of helping this incredible loving family, who after having 6 children of their own, found it in their hearts to adopt 12 more children, all with special needs.

In my 43+ years in real estate, and thousands of closed transactions, this is the one I am most proud of having done. Thank you for letting me tell this story.

Sandy Meyer

There is a story that goes along with this picture. 20 years ago this past April we had a record snowfall in Grand Forks, North Dakota. This was one of my listings that winter. That record snowfall became a record flood for our community. Our entire town was evacuated. My personal home less than 2000 sq ft took on many flood victims. I was housing over 36 people on my property. Several of my sellers moved in with my family. It was an extremely difficult time for the flood victims. Not only was I there a realtor, I was also there friend, counselor, cook, and shelter provider. I believe this was one of the many times my husband and kids saw that real estate is more than houses. We did sell the homes of my clients that stayed with me after the flood. That is my #StoryOfTheSale. I am now proud to say I have a husband and three daughters that are CRS realtors. Rod Meyer Nicole Johnsrud -TCHometeam.com Natalie Miller Kimberly Efta, Realtor, REMAX Grand

Midland 1st Choice Real Estate – The Doss Team

Years ago I had a young couple moving out of state. They left on their honeymoon and instructed a ‘friend” to meet the movers that would clear the house. The day of closing the other agent did the walk thru and told me nothing in the house had been removed and that her people were going to waiting the next morning with a moving van! I rounded up 7 high school kids and boxes and paper and we packed the whole house until 3 in the morning and moved all of the furniture into the garage. The nightmare still visits.

Deanna Dirks

I had clients from California who made an offer on a home on acreage in the Applegate area. Things went along very well and the transaction closed on time. The buyers drove up to Medford with their U-Haul and vehicles ready to move into the home. The seller unfortunately hadn’t moved out and was trying to get another home sale closed. The Buyers were very frustrated and I decided to invite them to stay at my home until the seller got out of their home. The buyers came to my home, parked their U-Haul and vehicle on our property and moved into the downstairs of my home. They had two cats with them and the cats were inside cats because they had been declawed. My kids enjoyed having the cats and the buyers only had to stay for a little over a week. However, when they were ready to move into the home and came back for their cats, one of them had wound itself around the motor in one of my freezers and we had a very difficult time getting it to turn loose of the motor. The buyers and their cats finally were able to move into their home. These buyers remained in that home for quite a few years and ultimately decided to move back closer to relatives. I listed their home on acreage and it sold and a much easier closing occured..

Jan Strubel Rector

I had an elderly couple who wanted to move to Asheville NC to be closer to their grandchildren. Sara and Jim were a delight to work with and we immediately bonded. Jim was in his 90’s and was slow getting around, but the sweetest and best dressed man in the world. After viewing many houses for several days, Jim asked me if I could take him to buy some shoes. While this was an unusual request, I was delighted that they felt close enough to ask me. I took him to the shoe store where the staff treated him like a king. He bought his shoes and they bought a house!

Nancy Knight

I had a client flying in from Canada for a job interview and 4 days to find a home if she accepted the position. She arrived in Austin after several missed connections to find out her hotel room had been given to someone else and there was not another one available for 60 miles! It was one of the busiest weeks of the year – south by southwest, huge national soccer tournament – she was in tears! She came and stayed in my guest room, took the job and stayed an extra week to take care of inspections and preparing to move from Canada. I even loaned her extra clothes! That was 17 years ago and we still are great friends. I know when folks move here from out of the area I am often their first friend. That has enriched my life so much in my 24 years of Real Estate!

Desiree Todd Ladyman

I had clients that were a military family coming from Italy who wanted to buy a home, sight-unseen. There was a 6-hour time difference and many of our contacts were via FaceTime, so it was a challenge to find convenient times where they were both available to talk. I meticulously video’d each house they wanted to “look” at and then uploaded the files to them. The 9th house was owned by a master gardener who happened to be home when I arrived for the showing/videoing. He painstakingly 😉 tour-guided each plant and gave the history of it before we ever made it into the house. He had over 200 day lilies alone! Of course, they fell in love with it and that’s the one they bought. Because the closing date was 3-4 weeks before their move back to the states, I worked with them to have the wife’s parents come and be their powers-of-attorney, then kept an eye on the property (and made sure those beautiful plants didn’t die!) until they got here. Their international flight was arriving late in the evening and my husband and I drove both our vehicles to the airport to get them and waited with a welcome sign to pick them up, along with their two small daughters, and their massive amounts of luggage. Naturally, it was a monsoon that night, but we got them and all their stuff safely into their new house!! I love my clients and I love being able to go above and beyond! #storyofthesale

John Daly

Roger Morris

I’m a hands on Realtor almost to a fault. I don’t know how many times over the years I have vacuumed and cleaned a home, hauled away garbage, polished windows and even weeded yards and power washed sidewalks and driveways. I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty to get the work accomplished. I have even had a couple past clients rent my basement until they either find or can get into their homes.

My preference is to coach my sellers to complete the tasks at hand, and take the time they need to get their property to look like “Metropolitan Home”. It is truly a team effort with me to do whatever it takes to make the listing look the best it possible can – even if I, sometimes, have to do it.

I recently closed on a transaction that was a perfect example of this team effort and going beyond the call of duty. The sellers had lived in the home for thirty years and had a lot of stuff. A LOT. In my listing presentation, I included a one page “suggestion” sheet within my market analysis that outlined names for professional organizers, painters, flooring contractors, etc. I told the sellers that they would spend $25K or more getting the home ready, but it would pay off in the end. Major remodeling endeavors were discouraged since I felt that the new owners would do what they wanted, but there was a lot that could be done without breaking the bank to present the home.

A calendar was established with the owners to determine how much time they needed to get the house completely empty, then we built in a time frame to get the entire interior painted, and new floors and carpet installed. Then I backtracked what time I needed for staging and photos before it could come on the market. In all, it turned into a four month calendar.

During the preparation phase I did not disappear. On a weekly, sometimes daily basis during this period, I was called upon to make suggestions on paint colors; what flooring should be used; what appliances should be replaced, etc. Many calls and property visits were made to both affirm the sellers on their decision making, as well as for me to make suggestions on what buyers would want in our market. On the morning of the photo and video shoot, I arrived to find the painter’s blue tape still on the door and window frames. I had come early anticipating surprises, so immediately removed the tape and cleaned the windows before the photographer arrived.

The sellers were wonderful. They did everything that was suggested (and even a bit more) and it paid off! We got four offers and it closed for $200,000 over list price. I do live in one of the hottest markets in the country, but if the sellers would not have listened and valued my input and recommendations, the outcome would most likely not have been the same. #StoryoftheSale

Kim Day Shacklock

2010 was a rough year for me personally, but I’m certain it helped me be a better Realtor. I threw myself into my work when my mother passed away and my marriage ended, but it helped when I got a referral from someone relocating from my hometown.

For a few weeks my new South Carolina clients and I shared houses online and the husband and I looked at houses in person. Nothing seemed to be good enough, though. The husband had promised the wife a house as “good as their current home” and that pesky thing called ‘sticker shock’ kept getting in our way.

When we were finally able to get the wife and kids here in person. We drove to every part of the county they desired to live in and then some. They loved the $900,000. homes we drove by to get to the $350,000. houses I showed them. Their body language and their silence told me everything…they hated them. Frustrated but determined, I finally found two more (new) homes to show the husband. He thought one of them was a great possibility, but his company would not pay for another flight for his wife to come look at homes.

I offered to bring the wife back with me from my mother’s memorial service in South Carolina. But started having regrets when we pulled up to my client’s home in Irmo (SC). I was not feeling particularly “up” and wasn’t sure how she would handle what my sister and I were going through. With my sister driving and me on speaker in my car, we dealt with “Jerry Springer-type” family issues that my client found fascinating and was riveted by. The three of us ended up laughing most of the way on the eight hour trip back to Nashville.

My sister and I still laugh to this day about the trip back from Mom’s memorial. My clients ended up buying the home in Nolensville. And they still love it and live there today!

John Goede

I had a Seven Year Listing. Started in the early 80’s when the Midwest was in a recession. The house was priced right and a fair offer was rejected, then the bottom fell and kept falling. While others were giving homes back to the bank, Jan believed in paying her debts and wouldn’t think of giving the home back. With her attitude, I wouldn’t think of abandoning her. During the seven years, I’m sure I helped place a dozen renters, oversaw two evictions, had utilities placed in my name many times, supervised a re-shingling project, and new water service line installation, and was the unpaid property manager throughout. One January the main basement water pipe froze and basement filled up with thigh deep water. That was a treat to wade through the length of the house, turn off the main water valve and finally find and twist out the basement floor plug. Should have changed out of my business clothes. Spent a lot of time contesting the 100,000 gallon water usage bill! My Seller finally sold at a price that was 50% of the original offer. I can now boast of a 50% list to sale price ratio and 1,700 DOM. I prepared dozens of listing extensions and name change addenda. The Seller actually went through 3 name changes during the listing period! Was married, divorced, took her maiden name, remarried, widowed and then took her maiden name again……. I have other stories…

Betty Willis

The young couple with a toddler and a newborn arrived Christmas week with a big u-haul trailer filled with all their worldly goods and wanted to buy a house to move in quickly. I worked with them and on the third day we were zeroing in on “the one” but the baby kept screaming at the top of his lungs. The mother was so frustrated. I said let me hold him awhile. I am a mother of three and a grandmother of four. The babie’s stomach was hard as a rock. I asked them when he had last had a bowel movement. They said a couple of days. I said, “I think he needs an enema now.” We went to the drug store and after they gave him a little enema with an ear syringe, he was happy as can be. I call myself a FULL SERVICE REALTOR.

Doug Reece

I recently received a call from a homeowner whom I had helped 19 years ago purchase their vacation home and now it was time to discuss selling. The home, while in overall good condition, had a musty basement that is typical of our humid environment. Also typical of our environment is the presence of spiders in the basement…hundreds of them… spinning webs that would make anyone looking at a house a little queasy.

In preparation for entering the market, I advised the homeowner to install a dehumidifier in the basement and to eliminate the maze of spider webs that decorated the basement from floor to ceiling.

While discussing market value, the homeowner told me that their son was possibly interested in purchasing the home and “keeping it in the family” was their hope. In our market, many homes are purchased to create a family gathering place for summer fun. I told them I hoped their son did buy it.

Two weeks later the homeowner called to say that their son had decided to not purchase the home and to send them the paperwork to get their home on the market at the end of summer. I went to the home to take photographs and was greeted with a strong stench of moth balls. The house had been unoccupied and locked up tight for the previous 2 weeks and our summer heat brought out the wonderful aroma hidden away in the chests of blankets in each bedrooms! Also, the homeowner informed me that they would not be back for 2 weeks and would not be able to install the dehumidifier or eliminate the spiders when they return. But, they wanted me to begin marketing the house immediately for a quick sale… And they listened to my pricing strategy so I knew it would generate a lot of interest and possibly multiple offers.

I knew the home, with the musty, spider infested basement and moth ball “air freshener” would not be accepted by the buyers in the market, so I headed to the house and with seller approval, I got rid of all the moth balls and freshened each chest with “Fabreze”. Next I went to basement with broom and vacuum in hand, eliminated the spider infestation and swept the floor. Finally, I purchased and installed several moisture absorbing mediums (found at any hardware store) to minimize the moisture issue in the basement and mask/eliminate the musty smell. Two bottles of “Fabreeze” later and with windows open over night, the home was ready for showing.

After 8 showings over 3 days, I received 3 offers…one over asking price and 2 cash offers near the asking price. I called the seller with the great news of our success and the seller immediately informed me that their son had changed his mind and now wanted to purchase the home. While disappointed, I congratulated the seller about keeping the home in their family and continuing the legacy they started almost 20 years ago. I was happy to walk away knowing this and move on to the next sale elsewhere.

However, after thanking me for all I did (and in their words, I went over and above) the seller asked me to meet with their son to help them with the purchase and to follow the sale through closing. They told me that I deserved the “full” commission because of my dedication to making their home presentable.

So a little extra “over and above” effort on my part not only helped the seller, it brought me both sides of a “happy ending” transaction.

Julian Coiner

Sigrid & David were clients of mine on Kauai and I sold a condo they owned on this island. I had referred a condo they owned to another agent on the Big Island, but it did not sell after a year. They asked me to list it and try to sell it. I planned a weekend to fly over and list the condo, have a broker open house and a few other open houses. When I arrived that 1st night before the Broker Open House, I saw the things I felt were issues such as a pink master bedroom and master bathroom. That night I went to Home Depot and picked up some neutral paint and supplies and started to paint. After painting for a few hours, it started to get dark so blew up the air mattress I brought and went to sleep. I got up at 6am and started to paint with hopes of finishing before the Broker Open House… Mission accomplished! I finished 30 minutes before, I guess this took the old adage of let them smell the new paint drying. Long and short of the story, I sold the property and Sigrid & David were beyond happy with the results – Property Sold! @CRSCommunications #StoryoftheSale

Rayelynn Fagot-Canzoneri

The story being shared won’t be as heart-warming or heart-wrenching as some already posted. This will clarify that we as “CRS” MAY have many clients in a transaction other than our sellers and buyers. What about the many real estate peers that entrust their core clients to our referral business. There were many vested hours. There was no commission earned or paid.

It’s funny how coincidences occur because several weeks prior to this event, I was following the LA State Lt. Governor’s travel to the Northeast (US) Region to get first-hand knowledge about “Aquaculture” processes in those States. It caught my attention as it involved seafood. And, one knows how important this one industry is to Louisiana. My research unveiled it as an alternative method for farming. The most interesting detail was the use of non-conventional methods such as ponds, marsh land, etc. I was happy to learn something new that day never to give it another thought.

Mid-July, I received a call from Steve at Edina Realty in MN who was a “CRS” and knew that I was the current LA CRS Chair. He further explained he was only assisting “another agent Bill” to find a LA real estate agent. After a short Q & A, Steve asked if I would help. As a normal routine, I usually google the parties and Realist Tax website. Well, low and behold, the property was “Marsh Land” and, yes, that Steve was Stephen Stewart, 2017 National CRS BOD member. Unique & significant but this is the real estate business. In short, clients received an offer to sell 160 acres of land they inherited from the grandfather’s Louisiana estate. They were looking for an opinion of value as the offer was unsolicited. Additionally, there were many concerns i.e., succession, offer, value, land location and legal issues, etc. My self-confidence renewed after sharing the Aquaculture story and assuring all parties I had an inkling that was the motive for the interest. Everyone was onboard to allow time to further research and securing right answers for this most unusual transaction. With reliable feedback regarding the Aquaculture industry development in LA, Bill’s client was able to formulate an opinion regarding the offer and the high probability of increase land value.

It is the end-result going the extra mile earning a new client referral and the respect of two agents that did not know me. Understandably, this transaction came my way as a state CRS volunteer.

#StoryoftheSale

Tim Burrell

My clients owned a condo in Chapel Hill in a complex that became nationally famous (actually infamous) when a deranged resident killed three other residents in a dispute over parking places. You saw it on the national news, as the three young students who were killed were very active in the Muslim community and did extensive work overseas. The evening news presented it as a hate crime due to the Muslim faith of those who were killed. Chapel Hill welcomes everyone of every faith, so this crime stood out. The values in the complex plummeted. My clients had just graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and had accepted jobs out of state. To make the move more pressing, they were pregnant with their first child. They needed to sell but no one was buying in this complex. Finally, I received a very low offer from an investor who told a dubious story about buying the property for his sister. Instead of positional bargaining where we just look at the price, I discussed the issues that the buyer had to see if I could solve their problems because solving their problems might solve my clients’ problem with the price. After several counter offers, the buyers were still very low and their reason was a claim that the heating and cooling system would need to be replaced for a price of $15,000, which is way too high for that work. I sent my HVAC contractor to the property, he tuned up everything on the system and wrote a report that there was no reason to replace it. Anticipating that the buyers would still stick with replacing the unit, I got two bids for replacing it, one for $6,000 and the other for $8,000. If the buyers came up by the amount of the difference in the cost of the replacement, the sellers could come down and meet them at a price what would mean the sellers would bring every dime they had to closing to pay off the loan and close the sale. Our counter offer should have solved all their concerns, but they stuck to their ridiculous price and the story about buying it for the sister was a not true. I teach negotiating classes and part of the course says to control your emotions, but this upset me. There were no other prospects to sell the property. I talked with the sellers about keeping the property and renting it, which they did not want to do as long distance landlords with a new baby and new jobs who could not take the risks that go along with a rental from repairs and vacancy. I had to rescue my clients, so I arranged to rent it from them (so I took on all the problems) and ultimately acquire the property on a lease purchase. Instead of the sellers bringing all the money they had to closing, they used it to move and pay for the baby. I broke even on the monthly rent, but wondered about my decision when a leak in the upstairs bathroom caused the ceiling in the laundry room to fall in. Alright, my decision was not the best investment decision when I shelled out the money to fix that and several other problems. I completed the lease purchase, bought the property and paid off the sellers’ financing so that they were completely free from this property. After that, I sold the property to a wonderful woman who loves it, and made back the money I spent on the repairs plus a little profit. Sometimes you have to do more than just a traditional sale to take care of your clients.

Troy L. Williams

In 2012, I took a listing that was a referral from a close friend. His sister needed to sell her home, it was a short sale and the foreclosure date was less than two weeks away. Who takes on these challenges?

To put this all in context, the previous month of July, I was diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gout and then prostate cancer. I was also dealing with the fact that my mother’s battled with multiple myeloma had just resurfaced. All of this came as shock and scared the heck out of me. I had to navigate working with clients and putting their best interest ahead of my own.

Well as you all know short sales aren’t all the same. At the time I was, and I am still very familiar with the process of short sales, so I was comfortable taking this challenge on. I explained to my client worse case, that they would deny it right away and she would lose her home or, the best case they would work with us and get it approved and she could sell and move on. I also explained, that it also depends on the Buyer, if they are patient. I explained that scenario one would damage her credit, the second we would have less of an impact as a foreclosure with her credit and she could move on. Within a few days of listing, we had a contract in hand and all documents were submitted to the bank. The sale date was postponed and now we were in a documentation submitting mode and waiting.

The next few weeks, the bank kept changing the account managers and it seemed as if I had to keep submitting the same information previously submitted. My client became angry and blamed me for how slow it was going. I communicated to her the process what I was experiencing from the bank and of course, there are some who were not part of the process that offered their own opinion. Unfortunately, I was fighting the bank, my client’s friends and the occasional well this real estate agent said this should be done etc. So, as you can imagine this was extremely frustrating. It really became a problem when I started my treatment. I elected to have High Dose Brachytherapy. This process required me to be at the hospital on September 21, 2012, at 6 am and again on September 28 to prep for surgery. I won’t go into full detail, but after surgery, I went into a room to have two sessions of radiation on the 21st and two more on the 28th. Whatever you previously thought about real estate and you felt that you can take a day off or a couple hours off, the work continues and on both days, it certainly did. I went knowing that I had sent in all the paperwork. Not sure why I did, but I had my phone brought to me after both sessions of radiation were completed on the 21st. I was just in a holding pattern for about an hour still on the table. So, I started checking messages. And wouldn’t you know it, the bank sent me an email requesting more or the same documents that they previously had. So now I’m resending documents and then contacting my client to resign documents and send them back to me so I can forward to the bank. This occurred the following week as well. Eventually, we were able to come to the final sale of the property, but the work behind the scene is what I consider above and beyond. And my client fully understood and thanked me for my hard work and commitment to her.

Another case which occurred in 2015. I found myself in the ICU at the VA Hospital here in Denver, CO due to a rise in my blood sugar levels. When I checked it at home around 5:30 PM it was just over 500, I reached out to the VA nurse line and they informed me to get to the hospital as soon as possible. My soon to be wife drove me and when I checked in to the triage nurse it had escalated to over 800. Not good at all. So that Thursday, I was admitted to the ICU. I took the approach, thank God I came. I still had not comprehended the gravity of the situation until the doctors informed me that they were shocked that I walked in. Most people with my numbers come in, it’s via an ambulance. The doctors literally called me the walking dead and told me, if I had waited another day, I may not have awakened the following morning. That’s when I realized the severity of what was happening to me. After getting settled in with needles, drips, oxygen and constant bed side visits from doctors, and nurses, I asked my future wife to please get my tablet so I could work. At that time, I had a deal on the table that I was expecting the home inspection report and I needed to review with my client so we could respond by the Inspection Objection Deadline and of course, it was going to happen while I was admitted. To keep it short, my client and I went over the inspection report, prepared the inspection objection and submitted it timely. As a note, my client and the seller could not agree on terms, so they did not proceed with the transaction. #StoryoftheSale

Sorry for the length of my stories. This brings me to my final transaction. On July 14th of this year, I helped someone from my church in the sale of her home. It was and always is an honor. The previous month during this transaction was anything but normal. As we all experience with our clients, they have many friends and family members who offer advice. So, I was constantly diffusing conversations questioning my expertise and knowledge. I was never on the defensive, I just tried to provide facts to help my client make the proper decisions. Because in the end, the client makes has to be the final decision, not the REALTOR®. However, it is incumbent upon the agent to provide information so sound decisions can be made and I did that for her and all of my clients. Also, this was an emotional sale as all are, but this sale involved a relocation from Colorado to North Carolina for my client. So certain things needed to fall into place. My client had set her U-Haul pickup for that Sunday and planned to be on the road the next morning. In addition, my had prematurely scheduled her local bank account to be closed by Friday, the day of the closing, so she expressed that is was important that the funds get wired to her bank back east on Friday. This was because her sister would retrieve cash from the bank account and they would be using that account to fund her 4-day trip back east.

Well, as you would imagine the closing didn’t happen the way we wanted it to. The lender was not able to get the final figures to close until 3:30 PM, well after the deadline to have funds wired. And the buyer did not sign all docs for the closing until 4:45 PM. I had to drive my client to her local bank that was less than 2 miles away but seemed like an eternity to dive to. The bank closes at 5 PM and we arrive at 4:48 PM. Saved before the bell. Not really. I explained to one of the bank reps what my client was trying to accomplish. His suggestion was to take the check to North Carolina and have the bank there contact First Bank here in Colorado to verify the validity of the funds. His words were “First Bank is a great bank and they shouldn’t have a problem verifying the funds”. So I asked him if that is the case, why wouldn’t you do that for her now? We are here in Colorado and it doesn’t make sense to that there when she could do it here and you can make that phone call.

Well, my words fell on deaf ears and he shut the conversation down. My client grew even more frustrated as it was now 5:15 PM and I suggested we go back to the office and come up with a strategy. We sat down, and I offered a few suggestions. Once of which required her to go to the bank the next morning to the bank that the check was drawn on and cashing it. To get a cash for what she needed to travel and then have that same bank issue another Cashier’s check or wiring the remaining funds to North Carolina. Or bring the new check and have it made out to the title company and ask that they wire it to her. Just trying to brainstorm for her. This wire, of course, could only happen if they would allow her to fill out the wire instructions to be effective on Monday. We later found out that the wire wouldn’t work, she needed to be at the bank to make the wire happen. My client’s original plan was to be on the road at 6 AM Monday morning July 17th.

I also reached out to a friend of mine who is an executive for the local bank to see what her options were. He informed me that they would release a portion of the check, but the majority would be held for at least five days and to wire back east, she would have to be present to authorize the wire. Another option that was dead. After sitting and brainstorming, I actually heard the in house title rep talking, so we went in to discuss options.

As angels come in all forms, the closer said, “what if I reissue you a check to cover what you need to get back east and wire the rest on Monday morning to your bank?” “And on Monday you will have all of your money if you need more.” All of this settled.

It should be noted that on Monday before the closing, my client was very concerned that something was going to wrong. As I was planning to go to Illinois for a national tournament with my son who plays on a club lacrosse team. This was a very difficult decision for me, but I canceled my trip, bought a round trip ticket for my son and reached out to one of my son’s teammates parents that I had never met, to secure accommodations for my son. They were gracious and understood. So I stayed behind just in case. And the just in case occurred. So I have literally been on an operating table receiving treatment, admitted to the ICU, driven to banks and canceled vacations for my clients. All because I truly believe in service above self. #StoryoftheSale

Diana Braun

#StoryoftheSale Above & Beyond – July 31, 2017 had finally arrived and my client who flew in from Utah to attend her home inspection the night before had gone out for dinner with her dear friends (also my past clients). I called her to let her know I would be arriving to pick her up and asked how her dinner was last night. She shared it was good but that her tummy was not feeling so good. We were about to head to a three-hour inspection so I asked her if she was OK to go to the inspection. She said she would be fine and she would see me shortly. She got into my Navigator and we drove off to the inspection. She was getting out of the car, I asked her “What was in her hand and she shared she had a plastic bag with napkins in it just in case she was to get sick.” When we arrived at the home we were greeted by the inspector Steven. We proceeded to go into the home and Steven spent a couple of minutes with us explaining all he would do during the inspection and for her to feel free to ask questions along the way. In less than 5 minutes, Cathy sat down on the couch and started getting sick into the bag. I grabbed a paper towel and put chilly water on it and placed it on her neck. She continued getting sick to the point the bag leaked onto the hardwood floors and I jumped into action getting a trash can from the kitchen and paper towels & cleaning supplies. Cathy felt horrible and kept saying “I’m so sorry”. As Stephen watched this unfold – he asked if he should proceed without her and we agreed it was best if he start and I would take care of her. She got to a point where she stopped but felt horrible. She thought she had food poisoning. I retrieved the bottle water from my car which I purchased for her on the way to the appointment and gave that to her to keep from getting dehydrated. She drank about 1/4 of the bottle and within minutes she was vomiting into the trash can and proceeded for another hour. She sat there with her arms wrapped around the seller’s trash can for the remaining time of the inspection. When Steven was done, he approached Cathy and said, “this house is in great shape and only a few minor items”. He shared with her that she was the “1st” client who ever attended an inspection but did not follow him. We had a good chuckle with Cathy as she has an amazing spirit and could see this was not the usual home inspection for all parties. She said, “Now let’s get out of here”! Steven left and I proceeded to remove the trash bag from the kitchen can and clean the can and put a new trash bag in place, wiped down anything Cathy touched just in case she had a virus with the cleaning wipes. Got her to the car, went back into the house to secure the home and remove the trash bag and turn off the lights and lock the door. When I got back into the car Cathy said, “I think I am going to be sick again” I immediately grabbed a grocery bag from the back seat of the car and gave it to her. As we drove back to her friend’s home, she started having severe stomach pain – change in plans we turned around and headed to UNC Emergency Room. When we arrived, I got her into the wheelchair and to the triage desk. They could see she was not feeling well and could barely hold her head up. When the nurse asked for her insurance & identification, I pulled the stuff out of her purse and gave it to nurse. She asked Cathy if I was family and she said “No – she is my REALTOR! The nurse looked at me and said “Wow – I think this is a 1st, she is lucky to have you” – I replied, “I’m lucky to have her as a client and friend”. They immediately got her set up with anti-nausea medications, IV and something for stomach pain. After spending several hours in the ER, she was released with the possibility of food poisoning. As we were leaving the nurse stopped by and wished Cathy all the best in her new home and thanked me for bringing her in to the ER. She said, “You definitely went above and beyond to help your client”. Fast forward to August 22, my colleague from my office comes into the office and said, “I just got back from my home inspection with Steven and he shared he had a home inspection where one of your clients became so sick during the inspection and that you just sprang into action with paper towels, trash can, etc.” – not sure how she was able to do that for her client.” They both agreed that this was above and beyond! I am happy to report that we will be closing on their home on August 30th. Welcome Home!

Tricia Nekota

19 years ago, I met a sweet 5-year old little girl who I had the privilege to teach kindergarten to. Today we closed on the purchase of her home with her fiancé!! I couldn’t be more prouder of my “baby”! My heartstrings are singing today. ❤️ Please help me to CONGRATULATE Kelly Saniatan and Jesse Gasner on their first day of homeownership!! ? @CRSCommunications #dreamscometrue #homeownership #proudteacher #proudrealtor #proudfriend #Storyofthesale [has photos]

Gina Ogle

Roz DeGraff

After farming a Jensen Beach, FL area for over 3 years, a Elderly homeowner noted my consistency, he said his wife commented, I was a CRS, like him “Can’t remember Stuff”. We laughed, within the next 5 years, I visited them several times providing CMA’s and updating value data of their home. They just never were quite ready to make the move. 5 years after that, they called and were suffering with beginning dementia. I was allowed the opportunity to list and market their home, coordinating a weekend estate sale in their absence, worked with out of area family members to return them back to Ohio. I remain in contact with Mr. B, as he misses and we reminise how lovely his Florida home was…and still is.They were really Above and Beyond Customers for Me…allowing me the honor to assist them.

#storyofthesale

Craig McKenzie

To the Council of Residential Specialists – Our team goes above and beyond for our clients daily! As Homes for Heroes affiliates for our Island and surrounding areas, we have given back over $317,000 to Heroes such as Military personnel, Firefighters, Law Enforcement, School Teachers, EMS, and Medical Professionals in the last 17 months. We have a goal of giving back ONE million dollars and this mission fuels our passion for real estate! We would love a chance to be on the cover of the CRS magazine to help spread the word about this amazing program Nationwide! #StoryOfTheSale

Geo Barner

As a real estate professional the desire to please is simple part of the job and a few of us are with the Council of Residential Specialists. Here is my example:

Being a Real Estate Professional and a Certified Residential Specialist has been part of an obligation to my clients and it has always been a pleasure for me to serve them, to act as their guide in the purchase of sale of a home and real estate property. This is my #StoryoftheSale in which I strive to please and ‘help families own homes’.

Over the years I’ve had the pleasure to assist many sellers and buyers that required much more than simple placing a home on the market from one recent purchase that required assistance in qualification and meeting personal obligations to purchase to another that required acquiring over twenty five signatures in over 5 states with some not anxious to respond.

The most extraordinary that required much more than being a real estate professional was not one but two, because they were so connected, that took place a few years ago where I assisted a gentleman in preparing to sell his home after his wife died and shortly after he became ill and passed away. With the assistance of his sister who lived out of town I helped place him in a care facility, stayed in touch throughout his ordeal providing information, as power of Attorney, to all that required and to empty and get his home sold. (I still speak with the sister ever so often)

Prior to his passing after his wife had passed his new lady friend who had observed me assist him asked me to help her and she too became ill and moved to Las Vegas to live near her sister in a care facility due to illness leaving her home filled with its contents and for me to pack and ship select items to send her sister there and sell her home, a very large home with lots of important items, furniture and clothing.

With much coordination I was able to clear both properties acquire proper documents to act on their behalf, inventory, ship and or sell or give away items as instructed and finally sell the homes and deposit their funds as instructed. Her sister notified me not long after that she too had passed away.

The desire to help led to the sale of both properties plus to meet and get to know many in the communities, assist in selling other homes through referrals, word of mouth from friends who felt I did a good and professional job as a Real Estate Professional and as a Certified Residential Specialist.

It has been and continue to be my desire to please and the pleasure derived when others are helped by my assistance. It is also why I am a CRS member and practicing Real Estate Professional.

Keith Furrow and Associates Realty Keith Furrow Team

This is from of of my clients as he described his experience working with me when settling his father’s estate

I reached out to Keith to help sell my Father’s 3 bedroom house in Gulf Breeze as I was settling his estate and I couldn’t be more happy that I did. This was my first time dealing in real estate, dealing with legal obstacles of settling an estate, and all the while was dealing with this process while living in Texas. Keith started helping me right away by putting the house on the market and making necessary repairs all before I had even had the chance to come down to FL to meet him. He not only secured a buyer within a couple of weeks of putting the house on the market he was able to close at the full asking price! Again this was all done before I had even had the chance to take a break from work and come down to Florida, amazing! His local connections made making repairs to meet inspections a breeze and made the title process succeed all in time to close within a couple months of my first phone call to him. Upon meeting him I am convinced he genuinely takes the greatest joy in helping people and making their lives easier, he even went above and beyond when it came to moving things out of the house and he and his assistant were excellent about communicating all the way through. I truly consider him a friend and someone I heavily recommend.

#StoryoftheSale #CRS #keithfurrow #keithfurrowrealty #gulfbreeze #gulfbreezerealtor #gulfbreezerealestate

#thecouncilofresidentialspecialist

Anna Laveria May‎

My dear client Jack has been in a wheelchair for many years and found it necessary to sell his long-time home and move to a full-time care facility. After the sale, Jack attended my Rotary Club meeting where I made a donation in his honor to the Wheelchair Foundation. Here is what Jack had to say about his experience:

“Anna May, the first time we met you bended knee and communicated eye to eye and held my hand, it let me know you really cared and that I was included in the process. When I would thank you for coming out to my place to go over paperwork, you would say “don’t thank me for doing my job”.

“But then you met contractors at my house, found a gardener when mine flaked and even watered the lawn and investigated for a permit for the bedroom. An owner should be responsible for these things. And through it all there were times when buyers seemed clueless that this is an earthquake zone, you came up with strategies to ease their minds. You were very professional and not demanding of me except to check my e-mails and respond but when I didn’t you would call.

“Thank you for a job well done. It has been a pleasure working with you. I’m very satisfied with the amount of the sale and the short time it took. Sincerely, Jack Simons”

Cher Breeden Moncrief Miculka

I had a client that relocated to Virginia so even tho I am not a property manager but had listed their house….the inspection report wanted the garage lentil repair due to rust and the commodes were filthy from vacancy. So I painted the garage with Rustoleum and put on my gloves and disinfected and cleaned ALL 3 commodes….needless to say…we closed! My clients wrote me a great testimonial about the Broker who is not afraid to get her hands “dirty”!

Linda Tillett Over

I am sending YOU a copy of my story for the CRS cover. I cannot do a face book entry as my husband’s work does not allow it given what he does. The attached letter is from a gentleman that also works where he does. This family has an Autistic daughter. The schools and the programs would play a big factor in relocating. I was able to give Mr. Buyer all the information that he needed to connect with the school and special needs personnel. The buyer and the school administrators were so impressed that he had everything he needed to make the transition for his daughter with no problem. They of course bought the home and love where they live. Also passing my name to other employees and friends.

If you use this story please pull the last paragraph where he mentions my husband. Thank you!

Ginger Orem

My proudest moment was when I helped a single parent that was about to lose her home in foreclosure. I knew she had equity so I personally wrote a check to bring her mortgage payments current, listed the house, paid several thousands of dollars of the repairs on home inspection and got her to closing. I was able to keep her from not only from losing the house and her equity but helped put over $30,000 in her pocket to start life over. ******My second similar situation was a client I had closed 5 transactions with previously when they lost their jobs and fell on hard times. Again, I brought their mortgage current, got the house to closing and then waived my commission, over $9000.00, so that they would have a cushion to start over. It feels good to be a Realtor who really makes a difference in the lives of my clients. Ginger Orem, Broker, Crown Real Estate AK. Inc. Fairbanks, Alaska

‎Diane M. Reis‎

I helped a family in need who had very special needs. I was working on listing their home for sale and they were a family, who had two adopted children and one foster baby. The wife had found out that she was dying of cancer and they would have to send the foster baby back to the agency and sell the house and relocate to be close to family out of state so could help take care of them. When I came to preview the house, I could see that in order to sell the home that it would need to be cleaned and staged. After the house was cleaned by their church members, I started to stage the house with my own money, my things and I used some of the things they had. When the owner and his wife returned from the treatment center a few days later and saw how I had transformed their home into a beautiful living space; they were ecstatic! I also left a huge bouquet of flowers on the kitchen counter. Shortly thereafter, several of their family members phoned me to thank me for this kind deed. Sadly, the wife died a few weeks later. The husband ended up not needing to list, sell the house or relocate with family out of state. Happily, they were able to keep their family together in their loving home. I reaped the rewards of paying it forward and several years later his sister called me to list her home with me based on my good deed and experience. I never expected anything in return. I will never forget how proud I felt to have helped a family in need.

Paula Brahancan

Being a #Realtor means being able to problem solve. Not long ago I showed a home to clients and then locked the house up tight as I always do when leaving a showing. While it wasn’t my listing, the home is in my subdivision and we know the owners. Around 10:30pm our phone rang and the owners, who had just arrived home after a 3 day trip, were locked out of their house because they didn’t have a key to any of the doors! I said .”No problem! I’ll just run down and open the #Supra and get the key.” I was already in bed but I dressed and flew down the street, only to find that the listing agent had a timeout restriction on the key box and it couldn’t be accessed. All attempts to contact the agent were futile, so I invited the couple to come spend the night at my house! Since they had luggage with them already, they said sure and we put them up for the night. We went back in the morning and after a few more obstacles, we eventually got them inside. This beautiful home is now MY listing, and trust me – there’s no timeout on my key box and I have an extra key just in case. @crscommunications #storyofthesale

Michelle Gordon

#StoryoftheSale “The home must be broom swept” prewritten in the purchase agreement that we all signed and agreed to. However the definition of broom swept seems to be interpreted differently by many.

My daughter and I were working together with a relocation client, these are bit more involved as it’s more than just finding a home. The buyers are busy setting up schools, learning the area and coordinating the move.

In our area, possession after closing is very normal, anywhere from a few days and can be as long as 60 days, a very strange custom for people who move here from other area’s. So, the walk through before closing can be had, however we hope it is still as good of shape at possession as it is was when we had our walk through, (honestly in 15 years I have only had 2 issues)

This particular property, the owners apparently had washed their hands of the home once the walk-through was conducted, the fridge was left with caked on food, dog pee on the kitchen floor – they did not vacuum or clean any of the floors. Soap scum left in the bath rooms, it was a disaster!

The new homeowner had already scheduled a cleaning for the home, however when the team came out to clean they could no longer honor their quote because it was so bad. We had reached out to the buyers agent with no success for help from him or the home sellers.

So my daughter and I quickly offered to pay the difference of original quote and the new quote. It was a small offering, but made all the difference. Relocation is very emotional for the buyer, and so much to think about. Having one less thing to worry about and pay for, made this client shout our name out to all of her friends and family! And it made us happy!

Brenda Canning‎

#StoryoftheSale…..On Friday, May 26th, 2017 I had three closings scheduled. But the story is with the first two closings.

Both of these closings were with young couples; Molly and Shawn and Joe and Heather. We had been looking at houses for a few weeks when each couple found “Their Home.” For Molly and Shawn the story started not in 2017 but in 1997. You see, Molly was three years old when I sold her parents their home. It was really special when she called me and asked if I would help them find their first home. The process was so much fun as we worked around their work schedules to look at possibilities and a ‘Family Affair” when we found “The Home”.

The second closing that day was for Joe and Heather. We had looked at houses for several weeks when we found “The One”.

And again, our story didn’t begin in 2017 but in 1995 when Joe was 9 years old. I sold his parents their home when they moved to our area from Connecticut.

Over the years I have watched these young folks grow up and

it truly was a blessing to be asked to help them find their first home. But the fact that they ended up closing on the same day

was pretty incredible.

As CRS’s we’re committed to our profession and to our clients.

As we take care of them, they in turn bless our lives and take care of us. It may not happen overnight. In fact, sometimes it may take 20 or 22 years………but believe me, that blessing is worth the wait !

Jeane Bargo

#Storyofthesale My Story Of The Sale directly from the mouth of my clients. My story mirrors the Peed’s and we are still close friends today and yes, what a journey to a rewarding experience. “Hi everybody, just wanted to give you an update our journey in selling our house and downsizing, and where we are now.

Tony and I listed our home with Jeane Bargo and Billy Gardner. I had interviewed another husband-wife team but decided on Jeane and Billy because of the face to face discussion on the comps used, the pricing and the honesty they showed during this process. Jeane told me at that time that they would work very hard for me but I really didn`t know what work very hard meant.

Once we had received an offer on the house which turned into a contract they worked diligently with us to find our next home. We found the house at Red Mountain after looking at a couple of others and we knew it would be best for us. However, for this house to be our next home we had to get a couple things approved. We wanted to build an additional garage and in order to do so the septic lines and a gas tank had to be moved. They made calls and sent emails to all the people that needed to be involved with approving this. They met people at the property to go over what our needs and concerns were. Meanwhile the folks buying our house had it inspected. They were there through the inspection to answer any questions the buyers or the inspector may have. Further, when the request for repairs was made, They were able to clarify the issues with us.

When it came time to start the packing and preparing to move, Jeane showed up with her hair in a ponytail and started boxing things up. She gave me jump start on which way to go and she knew what she was doing. She would have never walked in there and just started the way she did if she had done it many times before. Billy started showing up to with his trailer loading up trash for the dump and they also delivered loads of donated items for us. Incidentally, this was on Saturday and both of them stayed beyond dark working.

They went way overboard with what they did for us as we moved for 12 days straight and even had a mover come in to move the furniture.

We had a lot of work to do to get all of it loaded and out of the house and as the time grew closer for the house to close on Stoney Mountain, It just looked like more than we could ever do. Jeane and Billy showed up and did not mind getting sweaty. They might not have but two or three hours at the time to work while fitting it between appointments. Jeane told me to get to closing, you do what you have to do. If it means helping your clients to move or do anything else that they need help with that`s what you do. She told us at the end if you want your pay day to come you gotta do whatever it takes. She also indicated that they felt that as a Real Estate Brokers their work was more than just signing the listing agreement and placing a sign in the yard.

I never, ever, thought I would receive the team support that we formed to get to closing. Further, I surely did not know that a dear friendship would have grown from a business deal.

Thank you Jeane Bargo for everything.”

Tony and Linda P.

Charlene Roberge

Charlene saved the sale of our house and the purchase of our new home!! We were selling our Bed and Breakfast and after the bank who was holding our buyers’ file for almost a month, rejected the loan because there were no comps for our house in our area, Charlene quickly went into action, received the loan papers from that bank (after approval of our buyers), hand carried the file to a local bank, and the loan was approved within 2.5 days! The sellers on the house we were buying were becoming impatient, but she tirelessly worked with them, reassuring them every step of the process, and in so doing they worked with all of us so we could purchase our new home. Charlene was a miracle-worker and a lifesaver to rescue a deal that might not have happened. My husband and I will be forever grateful!! Sue Murray,

(a very satisfied client)

Charlene Roberge

I share the story about a Lady who came to us with 3 boys and $2,000 and asked us to find her a house. She did not qualify for financing. Every six months or so, she would call us and let us know how much money she had been able to save, $3,000, then $4,000 and after 2.5 years of looking, she had saved $7,000 and we found her a house. I don’t know if it is going above and beyond, but we stuck with it and we were able to help someone achieve the American Dream.

I think the real story that I should share is one of our most recent closings (August 15th, 2017). In August of 2015 one of our Agents came to me and told me she had an opportunity to list a house for $599,000. (Our average sales price in Springfield Ohio is about $105,000.) She was a new REALTOR® and this home is very unique. Built in 1922, it was being used as a Bed & Breakfast, it has over 7,500 square feet, sits on 10.56 acres and has two rentals on it. Not a traditional home for this area, and not really a typical home anywhere near here. I agreed to co-list the property with her so we could both work on the marketing and so I would be there when it came time to negotiate, since there could be many factors involved, my experience would be good. We listed it on August 13, 2015.

We received some activity the first year, but not a lot. The home had been listed off and on for several years with other agents. Then in 2017 we really got some interest. We had two offers that we were unfortunately not able to work out. Finally, in May of 2017 we got an offer from an out of town buyer moving here from California. They had actually stayed in the Bed & Breakfast in 2016. They were using a Cincinnati Agent (not familiar with Springfield or the home) who recommended they use a Lender out of Dayton. We tried to explain to that agent that this is not a traditional home and a conforming loan would be difficult on this property, but we were re-assured by the other agent that it would be no problem. We moved forward, negotiated inspections/repairs and then we waited. They sold their home in California (a condition of the contract) and moved forward with the financing, including the appraisal. It took several weeks for the lender to get back.

I stayed in touch with everyone every step of the way, but after inspections were done, there was not as much for us to do but wait on the lender. I started calling the lender for updates and was told everything was good, they finally got the appraisal in, the value was there, we were moving along. Then the underwriters decided that they did not like the comps the appraiser used because they did not conform to the appraisal standards per guidelines. Well, as we had said from the beginning, there are no other similar properties like this one…not even in adjoining Counties or Cities. After several weeks, the bank moved the loan to a different department and said they could keep the loan in house. It went through underwriting again, was approved and we then had to wait for the Board of Directors to approve the loan, more dates wasted, they denied the loan.

In the meantime, while all this is happening, the seller had found a house they wanted, completed inspections, completed their financing and were ready to close just as soon as their property closes. The seller of the property they were buying was not an easy seller and very impatient.

The day before all the contracts expired, July 25th, 2017, was the day the Dayton bank denied the loan. The seller called me in a panic, worried they were going to lose the house they wanted, worried that the buyer of their house was never going to be able to get financing and more.

Now it was time for me to go to work. The buyer called me and asked me if I would help. I contacted two different local lenders who were familiar with the home. One said they would do the loan but they would have to have another appraisal and they could probably close in 21 days. The second lender said they could use the current appraisal and they could close by the 15th of August. The buyer went with the second lender. We sent them documents, I made several trips to the bank to speak with them personally, I spoke with all the people involved, the co-listing agent, the seller, the buyer, the title company, the lender, the seller of the property the sellers were buying…EVERYDAY! We got the preliminary approval from the new bank, Home City Federal Savings Bank three days after we sent them all the documents. They went to work, updated the title, processed all the documents…I still visited them and everyone almost every other day to make sure everyone knew what was happening and giving status updates and reassurance that I was working on this to get the closings done for everyone. Finally, we got it all together, got funds wired, documents signed and we were able to close on the 15th of August.

It is hard to explain everything that happened in this transaction and what I truly did, but I can tell you, when I speak to the Seller of the unique home, they tell me and everyone they see that if I had not gone above and beyond, this home would have never closed. The buyer has not been back to see the house in months and I am looking forward to meeting them next week when they arrive in Springfield to move into their new home. Everyone is happy!

So, I have to mention one more thing to really make this story better and for you to understand me and how I think. I am the broker/owner of Lagonda Creek Real Estate, LLC and have the privilege of working with 8 agents. It is my goal to see every one of them be successful. Yes, I was the co-list on this property and the sellers know how much work I did to make it close, but you will not find me bragging on Facebook and other social media sites. I have left that to TonJala, the co-listing agent. She is the one getting all the credit, because I want her to be successful!

I am a sales person, not a writer, so I hope this helps you to understand my story. I don’t know if it’s going above and beyond, but I try to help people every day, whether it be teaching the Real Estate Classes at the local community college, weekly training at the office, sitting on the local zoning boards, being a wife, mother of 4 and 9 grandchildren. I love being a REALTOR® and helping people achieve the American Dream of Homeownership. This is not the first time I have gone above and beyond and it will not be the last. Thank you for allowing me to share my story and I would be honored to be on the cover of the CRS Magazine.

Marilue Mitchell Maris

I was excited to receive a referral from one of my favorite home warranty folks. He had been to conference in Alabama and an experienced 40 Year REALTOR and fellow CRS’er asked him for a recommendation of an experienced agent in Freeport, Florida specializing in waterfront property.

Luckily for me, Becky Hancock sent me an email “I need for you to sell my house in Freeport”, as her subject line which I promptly answered. Becky and John had purchased a waterfront home and when they built the carriage home and pool, they changed their minds, and wanted to sell the carriage house.

We listed and sold their beautiful carriage home and pool in a record 36 days. Becky was a pleasure to work with as she is a true professional, and as the seller she had many meetings with the county about her lot split (several acres) adding an easement for the new purchasers to use their driveway and I was extremely happy to help her find a buyer. CRS’er helping a fellow CRS’er.

Marilue Mitchell Maris 30a Local Properties in Grayton Beach, Florida. 24 years of selling the Emerald Coast and CRS since 2003. #Storyofthesale Localon30a.com #LocalOn30a #30aLocalTribe

Del Sutton

Recently there were two clients of mine, 86-year-old Richard and his wife Janelle, who were faced with a major hardship: due to their deteriorating health, they finally accepted they must leave their home of many years and move to an assisted care community. Even though it was a difficult situation that brought them to me, I wanted to help them through this huge change in their lives. First, my team and I set to work on whatever the home needed. Roof repairs, plumbing, cleaning, you name it! We got it done. They had a lot of furniture and goods to sell, so I helped until the very last item was gone. My goal was to ensure the easiest and most peaceful transition possible for this beautiful couple. We got everything finished, and within two days the house sold for the price they asked. Richard and Janelle were happy and grateful with how it turned out. ?

I was about to take them to the final signing, and I thought, what could I do for them that was extra special? I wanted them to know how cared for they were, and suddenly I realized what to do. After figuring out what music they listened to as teenagers, I chose a Pandora radio station from the era. When I arrived at the assisted care facility to pick them up, Richard and Janelle stepped into the backseat and were met with the same sounds they listened to as high school sweethearts. The radio played songs like “It Had To Be You” by Doris Day and Gene Kelly’s “Singing in the Rain.” As I drove with the music softly playing, I peeked into the rearview mirror and caught Richard gently reaching for his wife’s hand. I’ll never forget it. I still get choked up thinking of this sweet moment. That day Richard and Janelle were heading to their last home, but they were going together. I’m so proud that my team and I were able to help this lovely couple sell their home and enter the next chapter gracefully and smoothly. Richard and Janelle – thank you for the privilege of serving you! It was an honor I’ll cherish forever. ? ???

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