Have you ever had one of those days? Tuesday morning was my one of those days. The day started out full of hope and promise. It was a sunny day, a little cool, but it's always so nice to show houses when the sun is out. I was all dressed up with my new shoes on and looking pretty smart, if I do say so myself. The clients were two women looking for a property that could be turned into a group home. It promised to be an easy sale, and the investor I work with was actually doing the buying and these two nice women were only doing the looking. I had turned the job down several times. I've done a lot of work for this particular investor, all of it pro bono. I've known him for my almost entire 25 years in this business and haven't been paid on a job I've done for him in 20. He promised it would be easy, begged me to take the clients on. Told me it would be his way of paying me back for all the work I've done that didn't work out.
I arrived at the first house 10 minutes early, figuring I would use the time to key the other 7 homes into my GPS. The clients were already there, walking around outside. Darn, I wouldn't have time to input the other houses into GPS. The GPS came with my car and it takes several minutes to program a house when you start the car.
What transpired over the next 7 houses was something I haven't felt in a long time. They wanted to follow me. My GPS lead me on a merry chase through areas that I was as familiar with as I am in the craft supply store. Whenever I go shopping in one of those places I feel like I have been set down in a foreign land and I am the only English speaking person there. To say I am not "crafty" is an understatement. I didn't know the area well enough to attempt to ignore Gloria, the GPS, and I have absolutely no sense of direction, so I followed her meekly. It took over 3 hours to show 8 homes that really weren't that far from each other. At the 7th house, the client snarkily asked me if I'd like to follow her to the last house. Ever eager to show that I am a good sport, I suggested I should have followed her about 7 houses ago. No one esle smiled.
At the last home, I looked both women in the eyes and apologized for my seeming lack of preparation. You see, I did prepare. I mapped out the properties and wrote directions and then decided that Gloria, who is not a lady, would know better than I the way around an area I am not at all familiar with. I apologized for my GPS and for the length of time it took to show them the houses. I even sent them both a heartfelt email of apology that very afternoon.
I know that I have been more embarrassed at some point in my career, I just do not remember when! I called the investor right away and explained that I had what he could easily call an off day. I told him about every wrong turn and every detour that I encountered and every gaffe made by me and my GPS. He told me that he had assured the client that I was one of the best real estate agents around and that I knew that part of the county like the back of my hand! Ha! I'm guessing they are thinking he exaggerated. A lot. Two days later and no return emails from the client and no calls from the investor.
When I was alone in my car that day, still feeling the blood pounding in my right temple and my cheeks still splotched from embarrassment, I called my best friend. After having a good laugh at my expense she said she hoped I had said goodbye to those two nice ladies because I would never be seeing them again.
It seems she may be right.
So today, 4/29/10, one day before the tax credit expires, I will be thankful that I have had a pretty darn good 2010 so far. I may never see my investor or those two nice ladies again. I may never live down the story of how my GPS took me from Aston to Swarthmore via a very sketchy area of Chester (who knew you could put tires that size and speakers that loud on an old Cadillac). I may never loose the heat in my face when I think of how incompetent those two women must think I am. But I am still me. I am still a pretty good Realtor even if 3 folks hope to never set eyes on me again. I still always put my clients needs before my own and still work very hard every day. I will be thankful for the sunshine and the reminder that I all too human and perfectly imperfect! And I will be thankful for the listing that I got under contract an hour later and the $630,000 transaction that I put under contract later that same day. Life! Go figure!
Carpe Diem!
Susan C. Mangigian
1450 E. Boot Road, Suite 600-A,West Chester, PA 19380
610-719-1700 main office, 610-299-6237 cell
web: www.susanmangigian.com
Moving? I can help!
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