A little over a year ago I hired a personal trainer to help whip me into shape. I meet with him about four times a week, and it’s definitely a team effort to fit that time into my schedule when I work full-time, work a lot of evenings and weekends, have a husband that actually enjoys my company and have young kids that still like having their mom around. What I have found is that not only is he getting my body in shape, but everything else in my life has become better, too. Maybe it’s because when someone pushes you further than you think is ever possible, it opens your mind to what other things you are capable of. I read a quote once that said, “Your mind quits long before your body does.” So true. But if I want to relate this quote to real estate, then it should read, “Your client quits long before your Realtor does.”

I closed on a house last Friday that for the most part was a smooth transaction. We hit a couple bumps in the road with the inspection early on, but that happens. The electrical line between the house and the pole was not secured, and the line was warm. We had the utility company come out and fix it. No big deal. We had a high radon result and after some negotiation, that was taken care of. So then came the day of closing. My seller’s boyfriend mentioned to her that although the utility company came and fixed the line, they didn’t secure it to the house as it should be. It slipped his mind that the utility company said we needed an electrician to do that. The seller called me frantic and angry. I told her everything would be okay, and that I would take care of it. I told her not to worry about it. Inside, though, I was freaking out. My morning was spent trying to find an electrician to come out immediately to secure the line in time for the buyer’s final walkthrough that was taking place right before closing. It was intense, but it got done.

One of our agents closed on a house two weeks ago that was an estate sale. It had some furniture left in it for staging purposes, and as part of the purchase agreement, all personal property would be removed by time of closing. I heard the conversation our agent had with the seller about this. The seller really didn’t want to remove it, but the agent was adamant that it get done. Honestly, what buyer would want grandma’s old sofa anyway?? We kind of figured that the day of closing wouldn’t be smooth only because the whole deal had issues. There was a leaky pipe in the basement sink that needed to be replaced, there was radon mitigation that needed to be dealt with, and not to mention the interesting personalities we were dealing with. Well, an hour before closing, the buyer did his final walkthrough and our agent immediately received a phone call. The kitchen sink plumbing wasn’t fixed and the furniture wasn’t removed. Our agent didn’t know anything about the kitchen sink plumbing. At closing, the other agent whipped out her phone and showed her the text. Really? A text? Everyone knows that any repairs, conditions, negotiations, anything regarding the transaction needs to be in writing and made part of the purchase agreement. The situation was remedied at closing by escrowing proceeds and once everything was removed and fixed, the seller would get their money. Once again, it fell on the agent to keep the situation under control and temper the high emotions of everyone involved. The whole deal would’ve blown up if our agent hadn’t kept her cool.

During the course of a transaction, there are so many hoops to jump through. It really is ridiculous. One of my buyers has been ready to walk away from a stressful deal several times, and I don’t blame her. What should have been fairly easy has been one of my most difficult. On her side she is dealing with a lender who is constantly asking for more information and clarification. She had to write a letter explaining that her husband switched jobs for a year to take care of his ill grandfather, and after he passed, he went back to his old job. She had to submit a letter from her credit union about their very recent merger with another credit union to explain why the bank statement is under a different name than her application states. And this is all with a buyer who has a solid job history, money in the bank, and a great credit score. Imagine if she was considered a “risky” borrower? So because I’m not able to help her much with the lending side of this deal, it’s my job as her Realtor to minimize the stress as much as possible on the real estate side.

If that means late night phone calls and early morning emails then so be it. If it means driving 45 minutes every few days to check on the house, meeting contractors to get bids, and spending all day with the inspector, then as her agent, I’ll do it. And even though my emails to the title company and list agent are full of frustration, worry and annoyance, my buyer won’t be subjected to those emotions from me. It’s our job to be optimistic, hopeful and caring. When we are faced with a problem, the client needs to see us fixing it, not fretting about it.

That closing is scheduled for Monday. I’ve already told my trainer that I need to meet with him early in the morning before the banks open, or long after the closing is scheduled to end. I will need my morning available for working through the problems I know are coming my way. But want to know what else I know? I know the closing will happen, the buyer will move into her dream home, and things will work out. I know this because we’ve come too far to have it end now. And I know this, too, because even though at times my mind might tell me otherwise, Realtors don’t quit.