As you may know, I am a real estate professional in the Sunshine State. Something you may or may not know is that people drive real estate. Although there are large sums of money involved in real estate transactions, it is most definitely a personable business. That is how I approach my business at least. Something that comes from dealing with so many people and personalities is stories. These stories are what I was most looking forward to before I took a leap into the entrepreneurial pool.
I have always been a HUGE fan of stories. Whether it be a great movie, television show, or book, stories have always intrigued me. From the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt to the InstaGram “stories” of today, stories have always played an integral part in the human experience. And they will continue to do so for quite some time. It does concern me that a generation of stories are digital and therefore not well equipped to survive. Not to mention the fact that Americans do not converse face-to-face as much as they used to. The days of sitting around a campfire (or the dinner table for that matter) and passing on stories are all but gone. The fondest memories I have of my maternal grandparents’ home in Pittsburgh, PA is sitting at the kitchen table and hearing my Grandpap’s stories. I truly cherish the hours I spent at that table on Whitney Ave. I love you Grandpap and Grandma. I miss you!
We do know that all cultures have told stories. Some of the earliest evidence of stories comes from the cave drawings in Lascaux and Chavaux, France. The drawings, which date as far back as 30,000 years ago, depict animals, humans, and other objects. Some of them appear to represent visual stories1. Stories make us cry, think, hate, laugh, love, and communicate. I believe the most important thing that a story can do is teach us. I do not think I’m going out on a limb when I say that stories are the pillars of education. So, sit back and enjoy this story. You may learn something! As the Notorious B.I.G. put it so eloquently in 1997: “I Got a Story to Tell…”
My brokerage (shameless plug for Robert Slack LLC) buys Realtor.com leads and supplies them to the agents. Back in September of 2021, I received a “lead” notification on my phone, and I reached out like I always do. I spoke with my client (and now friend) Heather. She informed me that she used to live in Pensacola for 18 years and was looking to return after spending time in the Atlanta area. Heather informed me that she was currently taking care of her father in a home hospice situation. Originally, I was looking for homes that could better accommodate a situation like Heather’s. Unfortunately, her father passed away in December not too far from the holidays. I gave her the space needed to grieve and informed her that I would check in on her a couple of months down the road.
Check in is exactly what I did. In March of this year, I reached out to Heather to see how things were going. She informed me that she was in the process of figuring out her father’s estate but wanted to get the mortgage pre-approval process started. I was able to connect her to one of my lending partners who got her pre-approved no problem. As a real estate professional, it is my duty to explain that the no-hassle pre-approval process was a direct result of Heather’s effort. For those of you who are not aware, the pre-approval process works as quickly as the borrower. If you are thinking of purchasing a home, you will want to make sure you are prepared with a pre-approval. Unless of course you have cash! CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE PRE-APPROVAL PROCESS.
Heather and I hit the ground running in late April/early May. Since she was an out-of-state buyer, all the showings I did for Heather were of the virtual variety. I used the video call feature on the WhatsApp for all the showings. During this time, I learned a little more about Heather and her family. Her mother was the “peanut gallery,” chiming in from offscreen during every showing. It was a pleasant dynamic to say the least.
In mid-May, we found a home that Heather’s family really liked. So, we submitted an offer. Out of the three offers on the table, ours was chosen. The home inspection revealed aluminum wiring, however. Insurance companies do not care for this older kind of wiring. Aluminum wiring makes it very difficult to get insurance and therefore secure financing. With the end of the inspection period looming, I advised Heather to walk away because I did not want her to lose her earnest money deposit. It is my goal as a buyer’s agent to NEVER lose my client’s earnest money. So, we terminated the contract within the inspection period and continued our search.
The VERY next week, I showed a home that Heather’s family liked even more than the “aluminum wiring house.” This house had a new roof and copper wiring, so obtaining insurance would be no problem. It also had a fence around the backyard so Heather could let her fur babies out without worry. This home was priced well and there were seven other offers on the table. Lucky for Heather, winning multiple offer scenarios is my bread-and-butter. Do I win them all? Of course not. But I win most of them and genuinely enjoy the challenge that these scenarios present. Lo and behold, we won the “bidding war” for this desirable home. Heather could not have been more excited!
The 9-month journey to find Heather’s new Pensacola home culminated this past week at the closing table. She became one of the countless people who have purchased a property “site unseen” since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. I admire her bravery and decision-making. I recorded a video highlighting our closing experience below. Be sure to check it out and subscribe to my channel!
I hope you enjoyed the story and that you share with friends. I would like to get 1000 subscribers to this blog before the end of the year. At that point, I want to start a paid subscription option. I only need about 900 subscribers to go. If you can help me spread the word about my creation, Bay Flavor, I will be forever indebted to you. I daydream about being paid for my writing, so I know that it will happen eventually. As my father says, “Closed mouths don’t get fed.” That is why I am asking for your help. Life can be viewed as one big story or as a collection of stories. I would love it if you co-wrote my life story/stories with me. Have a healthy & productive day!
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