visiting the rents

So, my mom had surgery a couple of weeks back, and I finally got a chance to get up here (New Jersey) to visit her for a couple of days.   I need to be back on Friday for a mandatory full-day rental transaction certification training class, so it will be a short trip, but it's enough.

 

Back in Maryland, I'm in this weird place where I have 4 transactions moving toward settlement with more than one of them on somewhat shaky ground.  Such an odd profession: you can bust your butt earning your paycheck, and then not get it in the end even if you were successful in your job.  But, it's the nature of the beast.  Honestly, in my opinion, the unlimited earning potential makes up for that.

 

I was talking to a friend of mine from college about things.  Trying to help a buyer continue to buy a house even when problems arise (and they always, always arise on some level) can be a rather precarious place.  On one level, I need to help my client keep the issues in perspective and stay with what they are committed to do.  On the other, I need to actually listen and empathize with their concerns.  On top of all that, the fact that I don't get paid if settlement doesn't happen looms over both of us as the elephant in the room.

 

After the many hours of seminars I've been to, I have come to be in agreement with those speakers that encourage the Realtor not to "take sides" as much as possible.  I need to represent the buyer.  As part of that, I need to constantly remind them what their major goals are, even if some of the minor ones are not going to be met in the process.  I also need to be very clear what their options are and the possible outcomes of taking the different paths they can take.  And, after that, I need to just let the chips fall where they may.  As any parent has learned with a child, the stronger I appear to be forcing something to happen, the more resistance I am likely to meet.  I tell my clients a lot that I can't (and won't) be any more committed to them buying/selling a house at any moment than they are.  It's not healthy for me and it's problematic for the transaction.

 

Not really sure what all of this amounts to...just thoughts skipping along my brain right now.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Peace,
Greg