Unexpected Dip In the Market
At an open house I was holding at a beautiful California home with a swimming pool and panoramic mountain views, an impeccably dressed, well-respected agent was there showing the home’s backyard to her buyers. As I was taking other couples on a tour inside, we suddenly heard a huge splash! I looked outside, and there was the agent bobbing in the pool in her expensive wool pantsuit and high heels. She swam to the pool steps and climbed out as gracefully as possible, dripping wet and embarrassed. I guess she showed that a pool is a refreshing form of outdoor entertainment! Her buyers didn’t purchase the home, but she ultimately sold them another nice house—with a pool. —Terry Yapp, SFR, Keller Williams Realty, Mission Viejo, Calif.
Never Forget Who Referred You
I used to share an office with a commercial broker named Wally, whom I had grown close to over the years. One day, Wally got a call from his doctor, who was seeking real estate guidance. He said he had inherited his mother’s home and wanted to know if Wally would sell it for him. Because Wally worked only with commercial transactions, he referred the doctor to me. After a couple of conversations and careful thought, the doctor decided to give the property to his adult children. Nine years later, after both Wally and the doctor had died, the doctor’s kids put the home up for sale. Their father had passed my name along to them when he was still alive, so I ended up representing the sellers. Remembering that this long chain of events started with Wally’s initial recommendation, I personally delivered a check for a 20 percent referral fee to Wally’s widow. She smiled and said, “You didn’t have to do this.” I said, “Yes, I did.” —G.D. “Corky” Christman, CRS, GRI, Montana Real Estate Brokers, Billings, Mont.