Yesterday I got an unexpected call. My Crestview Florida short sale seller has some good news! He had originally contacted me because his Fort Walton Beach company was downsizing. He had no choice but to relocate when they moved his position to another part of the state. His wife had also lost her job.
This Crestview Florida seller listed his property as a short sale, because he could not rent out his house to cover the mortgage payments. He also did not have funds to cover the mortgage balance if he sold, since the property was worth far less than the original purchase price. I had his house for sale for two months, and did my normal extensive online marketing.
When he called me he said his company was sending him back to Crestview! He missed the Fort Walton Beach area and would be able to move back to into his home. He had to settle up with Wells Fargo, his mortgage holder, because he was several payments behind due to his move. He told me he knew he owed me because of my time and expenses involved in marketing his house.
“What do I owe you?” He asked.
I told him, “Nothing! Just remember me next time you need to sell”. He said of course he would, since I was the first one he thought of when he listed! I was just happy for this rare story. A job saved, a family back home, and a foreclosure avoided.
It's Wendy!
Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call toll-free 1-877-ITS-WNDY (1-877-487-9639) or local 850-650-7883 ext 204
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com
Crestview Short Sales & Pre Foreclosure Help.
Wendy is a short sale and pre-foreclosure and HAP specialist and has been featured in "Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine" and "Florida Realtor Magazine". Call Wendy Rulnick, Broker/Owner,to list and sell your home or condo on the Emerald Coast of Florida in Walton, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County- Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Seagrove Beach, Watercolor, Sandestin, Seaside, Crestview, Rosemary Beach, Mary Esther, Shalimar, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field.
Wendy - That is a rare story, especially about someone that is financially able to catch up on the payments. I'm sure you earned a client for life too!
What an unusual story these days. Well worth the telling. Have him put that testimonial in writing.
Wendy. It's always a good thing when folks can avoid foreclosure and keep their home. Thanks for sharing a rare positive story.
Wendy, I'm doing the happy dance for your seller. But you won a friend for life! It's just a part of the business. That's why we are so highly paid (wink, wink)!
Wendy,
GOOD THINGs DO HAPPEN!
Regarding your position, I'm proud of you!
Bill
PS: As usual.
Wendy - This is really great news and, you, more importantly put the icing on their celebration by not charging him. I know we are in business to make money and I'm sure this will have good karma on you.
They are always so surprised if they do not owe you anything. I think people generally have a 'you get what you pay for' mentality.
Wendy - how nice for them that it all has worked out. Hpefully they can get things all settled with their lender. And then not owing you anything...but then, how could they? Such a rare story to hear about a short sale avoided.
Jeff
Fantastic news ! I am sure you have created raving fans. I subscribe to the theory "what goes around, comes around"! Sure this gave you a warm and fuzzy feeling.
You did him a huge service by sticking by him. I believe we have clients for life when we get them through the short sale transaction or back into their home or a loan mod, what ever it takes. It shows you are in the business for all the rigth reasons! I am sure ALL your clients adore you!
Hi Wendy... I have been in very similar circumstances more than once and when asked that question, I said the exact same thing. Helping a client achieve a happy ending regardless of personal reward for myself has paid me back many times over.
Good for them and I'm sure they will refer you more business than you could ever imagine! We need to remember what we are in this business for.... I'm sure it's NOT just the money!
I like to hear about these stories. While I'm sure it's nice to make a commission, it's much better to see some one get their life back together and be happy.
Yes there are still people with character.
I once rented to a tenant that was always behind on rent and eventually I evicted him.
3 years later, he knocked on my door to pay me the balance that he still owed me. He had received a small inheritance and wanted to pay me the $300 that he owed me. What class!
Eve in Orlando
What an awesome way to start a day & a great story to add to your resume'! Great job Wendy!! To Help People - the number one reason I do what I do & you just did it very well yourself!
That's wonderful....thank you so much for sharing it with all of us. It just makes me so happy to hear about some good happening for these home owners.
Gabe - Yes it is. This is only the second time in all my short sales that a seller got a job and was able to save his house!!
Eve - That is a heartwarming and unbelievable story.
It is nice to hear positive stories! Thanks for sharing
Wendy:
Great blog. How come we never hear about these kind of stories in the media. It also says a lot about your seller and you in that he put a value on your services!
All the best,
Herb
What a wonderful person, for being so ethical. I'm sure they'll call you and refer you to others. Hopefully next time will be happier circumstances.
Wendy,
You get the "Angel of the day" award! Good Karma will always come back to you.
Wow! That is so refreshing to hear - a seller SAVED!!! I am sure, as others have noted, that you will have a client for life and lots of referrals!
Thanks for sharing such a positive story!
Very nice story to hear amid all the bad stuff we have to deal with every day!
How wonderful is that - It would be great to start hearing more of these happy-ending stories !
Wendy,
Awesome! Another good story. Good karma will come back to you in a heartbeat on that. How exciting for this seller that they can stay:-)
All the best, Michelle
Wendy, great story! Love to hear that everything worked out for your client and that he thought of all your time and effort! You will have a good reference for life!
Great story! Some times a satisfied customer is created when we don't complete the transaction, but we do all the right things during the process.
"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently." - Warren Buffet
Have a great day!
-Sean Wheelan
Great Post Wendy, Hope you have more good days like this.
Stories like that bring tears to my eyes. I wish every distressed seller could get back on their feet and call us when they WANTED to make a move, not when they HAD to. Great story, thanks for posting it.
The level of integrity you have exhibited will precede you where ever your business takes you. The money will follow you shortly thereafter.
The world of real estate needs more people like you.
Great story. Yes, you possibly lost a sale, but good news for the client, and it sounds like a future listing will be in order.
This story is an example of what I wonder what will happen in the future regarding Sellers who no longer have a short sale situation, when the market recovers, and they then wantto take their home off the market.
Love, love, love a happy ending! Am hoping your seller's good fortune rubs of on mine - we're headed to the bank at 2 pm today. Positive thoughts...
So nice to hear the happy endings once in awhile. Imagine the personal marketing he's probably doing on your behalf just now, as he retells this story to friends and family. Your professionalism and integrity will come back to you tenfold.
I have the same issue going now where a family decided not to sell and I am loosing a commission. Well that is the way it goes.
Dear Wendy,
This story gives me hope. Trying to help someone with a loan mod, so they can keep their place. I always like another listing, but not under damaging circumstances to the seller, if at all possible.
When I first started reading your post I began to predict how it would and and was happy to see that you did not let me down. You have now become a part of a good memory this seller won't soon forget.
ATA GIRL Wendy!
Wendy--it's nice to hear of someone who appreciates the value of the service offered!
Great story - Did he end up with a loan modification from Wells Fargo?
I loved your story. I would do the same thing. We in the industry spend a lot of time and money advertising. I would say that this expenditure of yours will come back many times!
Your client is an honorable person for offering to pay you. I'll bet he takes it a step further by referring his friends to you as well.
Thanks for sharing a good news story today - we need lots more of them!
Good for him and his Family.
They better remember you on Thanksgiving.
Best of luck!!
A sign I facebook too much: When reading the comments of others I keep trying to find and click on the "Like" link.
Thanks for the post. I think that's why most of us are in this line of work... we really enjoy HELPING people.
Congrats Wendy! That is all we can ask of our clients. Glad to see he recognized your efforts.
I love a happy ending! Always good to keep those contacts open though, since one day he will either want to move, or have freinds and family to refer.
Wendy, an awesome story. I had a different scenario but similar outcome; a client who once was forced to put his house up for sale no longer had to do so. Our office was mystified why the property had not sold immediately: great location and priced right. But perhaps it was not meant to be. Sometimes it just works out.
You should keep in touch with them and ask for referrals for buyers and/or sellers, plus get them to write a testomonial about how nice you were, and how hard you tried to sell their place, but fate stepped in!
I have heard of brokerage or agents that charge a marketing fee for early withdrawl.
Nice. I can hear the referrals coming in already! Good work.
Everyone - Thank you for sharing the happiness! It's nice to see that good stories get responses, too.
Uplifting story. I agree with Karen (#33), the word of mouth marketing is priceless.
Great Post & good for you, thats the right way to do it.
Thanks for sharing a happy ending with us; they are in short supply these days. And good for you for being so gracious.
Glad it worked out for the sellers. You didn't get rewarded for your time and effort but you don't know what affect their positive review of you will do to future business. A happy customer can bring you more clients soon. Nothing is more powerful than a personal recommendation.
Good for you!
You're so good natured about it.
Wendy: I read so many sad stories in this market it is truly rewarding to read one with a positive outcome. Thank you for sharing. Carrie
That's a wonderful story, with such a happy ending. They must be so relieved. They're one of the lucky ones. I have no doubt you too will benefit from their good fortune somewhere down the road.
Great story, it is always nice when you get to help a past client and then they do not have to pay anything!
Bummer about the short sale.. but that is the market!
Keep up the great work!
How sweet. I love happy endings. And that was very nice of him to offer to pay you.
Wendy, I'm joining Loreena in doing the happy dance for your seller.
Seems, good stories are few and far between these days. Thanks for sharing and good post!
Hi Wendy. It's great that he gets to keep his home. That doesn't happen very often at least in Tampa Bay. I am ecstatic for him and for people like him.
Wendy,
That's a good ending! I'm sure if he needs someone to sell his home you are definitely on the short list!
So happy for your "Seller"! Karma will follow, and you will be generously rewarded. Great job!
We would love to see more of these situations nationwide and you have a client for life.
George
Wonderful story, congratulations to your seller and to you for your generosity.
It's nice to hear a story with a happy ending, especially when a bank was involved!
This is a great story to read Wendy. So glad it worked out for the seller. You reap what you sow, so expect good things to happen.
Wendy! It's rare to find a happy-ending story when working with short sales. Good kharma for you for the future, too. You'll probably get a half-dozen referrals from that couple alone.
It's awesome to hear stories about people who try to do the right thing! Good for them for offering to pay, and good for you for turning them down!!
I love a happy ending and props to you for doing the right thing!
GOOD for you! It will come back to you in the form of referrals and word of mouth from that client. Good job. I really like that you didn't try to stiff the client for some more cash when they are already hurting. Nice.
I'd like to think this story harbingers good things to come for lots more people!
I love a happy ending! Great news for you & your Client!!!
Hi Wendy~ A great Realtor is worth their weight in gold! Our clients come first, that's for sure!
Wendy,
Another job well done. And, I'm sure you know that you'll get paid somewhere else. Nothing that we do for others is ever wasted.
That is a good story Wendy. Jobs are what we need to get us out of this mess.
Amazing story. What is even more unbelieveable, is this guy offered to pay you. In most cases, I wouldn't have the heart to take money from him. This seller has high class and ethics. More often it is, "oh, we have an offer, great... now, how much money are you willing to discount from your fees", or "we sold the house, so what are you going to give me?".
Its great these people can prevent a foreclosure from their record, and just have a few lates.