About nine months ago, I received a referral for a nice girl that was looking to buy her first home. We started off just like so many of my buyers and I do; talking about what sort of house she was hoping for, her price range, location, etc...
Almost every home we looked at was bank owned and in terrible disrepair. We would get frustrated and happy all in one day. We looked at so many homes and had so many "little adventures". We always looked forward to getting together. We would be laughing one minute and crying the next. House hunting can be so much fun but so frustrating too when you hear that you just missed it to another buyer or the wrong neighborhood or spiders falling in our hair...You name it, we went through it!
This went on for months. We tried so many different tactics and we were diligent and tenacious in our search. We made offers but then the dreaded "oh, we just accepted another offer" would come along.
Then one day, about seven weeks ago, the tide turned; our tenacity paid off! We found a beautiful and perfectly remodeled house! It was a regular sale and the listing agent was great! We had such a smooth escrow! The seller was great and just wanted someone to love the house! We were so happy.
My friend Yanne closed escrow just over a week ago. She is settling in but we still talk all the time. She is kind and fun and so generous and I am lucky to have her a s a new friend!
Oh, we learned that many of the things that were used to remodel her lovely new home were purchased at the Habitat for Humanity store. We are going there tomorrow to see what else we can find. We are so excited and I am sure there will be another blog about that!
Here's to you Yanne! Congrats on your new home! I am proud of you and thank you for choosing me to be your Realtor!
Cristal Drake - Fullerton Area Realtor - Re/Max North Orange County - 714-423-7525
Spiders falling in your hair? Eeww! Congratulations on making a friend. This job can be so easy when we like our clients and vice versa =)
This is one of the best results that you could have had thru the whole process. Well maybe not the spiders but the friendship is priceless.
That is so rewarding! I am glad that you found each other! Habitat for Humanity has some great items for remodels - can't wait to see that post!
Crista - this is awesome - this is what it is all about. It is a great feeling to be an integral part of someone's life for such an important decision... and then a client becomes a good friend too. It makes all the negative stuff we encounter worth it and that much more. Is beautiful - thanks for sharing !!! : )
Lisa - Yes, we pretty much went through it all to get her into a great home!
Don - Yes, the Friendship was priceless but spiders we could have done without!
Leesa - Yes, it is so rewarding! This is why I am in this business! I can't wait to check out the Habitat store!
Chris - yup! You certainly are right, this IS what it is all about!
Cristal, That brought a huge smile to my face. I have WONDERFUL clients and form a connection with many of them--and they've become friends. What a blessing it is.
Awesome! To me making friends is the icing on the top!
Carole - it is a blessing! I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!
Sheila - Isn't this why we love our job so much!? :o)
Hi Cristal:
I also have a lot to give thanks for this Thanksgiving. I have walked away with my first home and with a true friend. You are the most generous, caring,
We had so much fun despite the spiders. I actually miss our outing! Do you remember the house that was cracked in half?? Or how about the house in Chino where you thought you heard something and then we saw some weird videos in the kitchen!!! :O
I know it took us forever but we finally find the right house! It was definitely worth the wait.
Thanks for everything Cristal.
Luv ya girl! BTW love that pic of us!
That's wonderful! I too have made friends with many of my clients, this is the best thing about this real estate.:)
Yanne! Thanks so much for stopping by! We did see a lot of crazy places and I forgot about those! We could talk about these scary REO's all day long!
Linda - Yes it is! We are so lucky!
Cristal-Nice post. I love the re-hab store at times they have some really cool items. I am you have not only made a great friend but have expanded your referral network.
Thanks for a great story. We build relationships in our business and helping people often becomes more personal than business. When we spend long periods of time with people (house hunting) we do learn a lot about them and their families and in so doing build friendships that happen to be business relationships as well. This is perhaps the part of our business I like most.
Cristal, that is a wonderful story. It really nice when you build a lasting relationship with clients. I'll be waiting to see what you find on your shopping trip.
Awesome story! Some of my best friends are originated with real estate. I love it!
Dona - The re-hab store was great...nothing we really needed but definitely the place to go when planning a remodel. I guess they have them everywhere?
Jon - You are right, this is probably the best part of the business!
Tanya - Nothing on my shopping trip...this time! But very cool store!
Kathy - That is so cool! We are lucky that people trust enough for their biggest purchase and even more so when they become our friend!
Isn't it wonderful! I have several very close friends who started out as clients. I guess they are still clients, and sing my praises to others... but real estate is what brought us together.
Hey Cristal, You have proven that you can sell homes in a crazy buyers market! You Rock!!!
Cristal, what a great story. Ilove when that happens too.
It's a bonus when your client becomes your friend. I have been the beneficiary of such events as well. And it's so gratifying. Your value as a realtor is magnified ten-fold when that happens.
I've made many friends through my home inspection business. It's always pretty cool when a Client invites me to the house-warming party, and even better when I get to go! LOL
I love when I become friends with clients. My husband and I really clicked with some clients of ours that were originally from India. They travel back there every year, and have invited us to go home with them!