Rollercoaster Weekend

Another hectic weekend in the life of this real estate agent. On Friday evening I was out showing properties to my daughter's friends, one of which was a revisit. Typically we had seen this one last weekend and they had really liked it straightaway, a lovely house whose owners have taken great care of it. However, that was pretty much their first trip out house hunting and they wanted to see more. So of course when we viewed it again Friday it was already under offer but conditional on those buyers selling their own home. Could we bump them?

Saturday I get the instructions to write up an offer but was told we wouldn't be able to present until late afternoon and there were a few more showings, stand by. Yes you guessed it, someone else wanted to put in an offer, we were in competition. The long and the short of it is we did win but then had to wait 48 hours to see if the conditional buyers would firm up or step aside. For my clients those 48 hours were going to drag by.

Sunday morning out with my new listing clients to see properties, although I have been counseling them to wait until they had sold, they couldn't resist. So off we went, at least they have widened their search area so there were a few more possibilities to show them. We saw a great big family house at a great price, but it was dated. I don't think the previous owners had purchased an item of furniture or household appliance since 1975! It was like a museum but a beautifully maintained one. Lovely yard and great bones - I was pushing for that one. However the next one was all shiny and newly renovated, nothing to do whatsoever. But they are a growing family and I felt the new and shiny one would seem small in a few years and they want this to be the family home for many years to come, and so I pointed this out. They did listen I am pleased to say.

Then I had to leave them to their own devices and go and do my open house on my "forever" listing, only two weeks until it expires. I am trying everything I can think of, canvassing agents who have seen it, letting everyone know we are open to offers - but so far only one ridiculous offer. While I was at the open house my clients from the morning called, they had seen "the house" and wanted to put in an offer. They had been back through that open house three times, with various family members!! How about that for playing your cards close to your chest! And guess what, several other people wanted it too - yes we were in competition again, but this time not holding as good a hand as these clients haven't sold yet, only on the market two weeks. Explaining that we were not in a good position and preparing them for disappointment, I went ahead an wrote up the offer for signature. However, the owners were out of town and therefore the offers could not be presented until a Monday evening conference call. Yes these clients also had to wait until Monday evening to be put out of their misery.

In an effort to get these clients in a stronger position, I spent the rest of Sunday ringing and emailing all the agents who had showed the property to let them know my clients were very motivated at the moment and if possible to bring us an offer. One did, very exciting, so we presented the offer at 9am Monday morning in the hope that we could firm up our offer if their house was under offer. Unfortunately this offer was a little too low for my clients and we had to let it drop.

Got the word on the Monday that the conditional buyers on my Saturday's clients offer were stepping aside so was able to call my daughter's friends and give them the great news, just financing to get sorted now and they have bought a house.

In all by Monday evening there were five offers on my Sunday clients' deal, two of which were unconditional unlike ours so we were out of it. I will find out this morning what the house went for, hopefully lots more money than my clients could afford so they wont feel too bad.

So there you got, feast or famine in this business, one minute nothing, the next three deals, and back to one come Monday. But one is great and I am certainly not complaining - enjoyed the ride! Let me know if I am boring the crap out of you all with my real estate meanderings :)