December 19, 2011. Serious buyers are seriously looking and returning for repeat visits

December 19, 2011. Serious buyers are seriously looking and returning for repeat visits

Today’s highlight is showing my Alameda CA four-plex listing on 1816 San Jose to two groups of people and their agents. One is a family who just relocated from Alaska and looking for possible owner-occupied income property. The other is an investor who has several properties. This is the second visit for one of them. I sent them copies of all the inspections to make sure they know what to expect before they came.

Later in the afternoon, I took my own buyers back to see a lakeside condo at The Essex by Lake Merritt in Oakland CA. This, too, is their second visit. They wanted to know everything. I sent them all the HOA documents --- hundreds of pages --- which they read. They’re doing an incredible amount of buyer investigation, and we’re not even in contract yet.

Talk, not text or email
I called a listing agent and proposed a solution to a sticking point that had resulted in a back-and-forth counteroffer. He presented my solution to his sellers who agreed. Hope to have that accepted offer tomorrow.

By the way, while talking with the agent, it reinforced that live conversations are received more positively than email. I have to do this more often since each time I call to discuss, I build a better working relationship with the agent on the other side.

Follow up calls
Amidst the chaos at my place because of the various projects going on, I somehow managed to find a peaceful spot to make follow up phone calls

• Waiting for REO asset manager’s response to request to a lower price after inspection reports revealed higher than anticipated repair costs
• Followed up on other short sales --- On a new short sale, did they get my fax? On one that’s been in motion for 3 months, when are we getting that approval?

Family time
Finally, stopped by a favorite Vietnamese restaurant to pick up soup, curried vegetables, and bean/jelly/coconut drink to take to my parents’ place. What a nice way to end the evening, just relaxing and spending time with my parents.