Real Life stories

How many more horror stories do we have to hear about or situations we must face before sellers start to choose their agents more carefully? I am sharing some stories from the front lines of mishandled transactions; sellers not being aware of their choices and taking the wrong decisions.

Searching through my foreclosure lists I happened to see 3 names of someone I knew very well. Totally shocked I called them to ask them if they needed help. One of these people told me that they had been trying for a loan modification with their lender and they decided since they were not getting anywhere, they will stop making payments- just for someone to listen to them.They hired an attorney who promised to do a "legal audit" of their loan documents. The attorney never got back to them and they nearly had a coronary when I told them that their house was going to auction in 3 weeks. I pushed them to go their attorney's office and make some noise, which they did. By that time things were too late, so they had to file for bankruptcy to stop the foreclosure process.

The other person I knew had a similar story but some "Loan modification" experts told them that they should stop making payments so that their lender will put them on a priority list. Yes sure they put them on a priority list, they wre on the fast track program to a foreclosure. Now they are on a forebearance plan, after listening to my advice and hopefully will avoid foreclosure.

Another seller I know met with me through a social contact and he was going through the same difficulty. I tried to help him but I was hitting road blocks with him. Eventually I gave up because you cannot help someone who is not receptive to it. After 2 years, I see his house on the market with a broker I have never heard of. I made the call to him to find out what was going on, and he said he was afraid to call me because he could not afford to pay my commission !!!!!!!! My jaw dropped because he hired an agent who has not done anything to present that house in a manner that would make it appealing to the buyers; has not disclosed that the property has a filed NOD on it and the house is still stagnating on the market.

I recently listed and sold a short sale where the seller literally ran away from the country in fear. I had worked with him before to rent his house and he had trust in me. After months of going back and forth, just trying to convince him that short selling the home would be the right thing to morally, he agreed. I found an agent who had a cash buyer, presented the package to the lender and within 30 days received an approval and closed 10 days later.My seller's relatives were scaring him to the point where he believd that if he does a foreclosure the lenders would not come after him !! It took me a while to convince him that if he does a foreclosure- the lenders do have the right to come after him, as soon as he re entered the country.

There are so many misconceptions and false information floating around that scares sellers and they make wrong decisions.The worst is doing business with agents who have no clue what they are doing and are hired either because they are relatives or just cheap in their services.That should never be the criteria of slection.

I have sold so many homes in Windemere and other parts of San Ramon and I know precisely where to anticipate dirty games; which agents are sloppy and which ones will double end. And the part that boggles my mind is that sellers think that if one agent has 10 signs in the community, they must be good. Well, little does anyone realise that it is agents like myself who bring motivated buyers to sell their houses- while their so called hot shot agents stick a sign in the ground, use their house as a tool to get buyers and walk away as the hero. While the true hero who needs a pat on their backs walks away into oblivion. So, when you consider to sell your house- whether equity sale or short sale- don't get carried away with the fluffy marketing or false promises or the discount services. Make your decision based on the knowledge the agent has and also trust your gut instinct.

Just last week I receivd this letter from my past seller client- trust me- it was absolutely random and they sent me this letter from Las vegas.This letter made me so happy and proud of myself that my goal to make my clients happy was fulfilled...