One More Mistake and I'll.......

I have been working with the same title company for a few years.  The guy that owns the company is a good friend.  There have been little mix ups from time to time....no, that's not right....on most files.  I have tried to just let it go.  I caught them before it was too late.  No harm done.

Today's little mix up was that the buyer was paying the commission on top of the purchase price, according to the HUD.  The HUD had been sent to my attorney, the lender and the lenders attorney, plus me.

I have been prospecting the attorney that had me engaged for over 3 years.  He pushed me on his client, a large commercial lender with a ton of potential business.  The transaction went wonderfully.  I looked great.  Now, one of my vendors makes a silly mistake that makes me look bad.  I am hearing from others "how can your guy make such a dumb mistake, Rich?"  I'm thinking "good question"

I had no choice.  I had to pull the deal from him.  I had to look out for my business and I had to take corrective action to keep the client.  As sorry as I was; as bad as I feel; it had to be done.

Within 30 mintues the attorney-manager of a multi-branch title company was sitting in my conference room.  I called his office, was transferred to his cell and he drove over to my office instead of going to his.  I guess he wanted the business.  I met him at a conference he sponsored on distressed property where I told him I was happy with my current vendor, by the way.

This experience brings three things to mind:

1. Your best clients will leave you at the drop of a hat if you screw up
2. There is always someone there to accept their business
3. You never know where you are going to meet your next client, vendor or partner so keep alert.

You know, I'm not mad at anyone for the mistake.  I am disappointed.  There are a lot of other things I would have liked to do today, but I needed to be a business owner.