Jennifer Minyard

I just wanted to say, "Thank You" to the realtor who did not show to a listing presentation the other day. She was the agent who sold my young neighbors their home and for years they have told me if they ever sold their home, she would be their agent.

Of course, I graciously accepted that news and still delivered any of their mail that made it to my box by accident (an opportunity to stay in front of their faces, regardless).

Of the most recent trip down the hill to their home, they said, "We've been meaning to call you. We're thinking of selling our home and we wanted to talk to you about it."

I was thinking, "Woo hoo... I knew I delivered mail for a reason!"

Upon entering for a more formal meeting, I brought my portfolio, telling them why they should list with me since I was the third home built in the neighborhood and knew more about it probably than the original agent of the builder since I'd been here for more than 8 years. I've seen people come and go and I know how much they bought and sold their homes for. In fact, I'd participated in about 17 of those sales in the past couple of years. (Note: it's a small subdivision of 66 homes)

So as I getting ready to tie it up, pull out the listing docs I'd prepared for them, they say, "We are interviewing two other realtors." Hmmm.... ok...

"We're going to talk to the lady who sold us this house tomorrow and a friend of a friend who's just got in the business."

Hmmm...ok... (balloon deflates...)

"But we think what you had to say was great and well, we'll get back with you soon."

A week later - "Jen, we were calling to let you know we do want you to list our house for us now - well, in a week so we can get cleaned up for you... the other agent (our selling agent), didn't show up for her appointment or even call us - yet!"

(Happy dance silently occurring as I speak calmly into the phone....) "Sure. I can come over next week and photo, measure and get the docs signed. Not a problem and thank you for your confidence in me."

Ok - so maybe I wasn't their first choice but you know what? I'm gonna knock their socks off when I sell in a couple of days - like all the others I have been tied to in this neighborhood - and I owe it in part to the "NO SHOW Realtor"...

"Thank you again!"

We have the best job on the planet!

Don't you agree... ? We touch people's lives at a pivotal point... buying a home. That's a HUGE deal. It's not a $1.99 Walmart purchase we're talking about here. This is something they will remember for the rest of our lives. So why not make it the best experience it can be for them?

Where else can you take two days off your job to sit with a sick friend in the hospital, fly across the country for a family funeral and still do business online - virtually not missing a step? It's phenomenal the benefits of this job! I can't tell you how proud I am to say, "I'm a Realtor" when people ask what I do...though rest assured, they wouldn't have left not knowing my profession.

Where else can you calm people's nerves when they are moving to a new (strange-to-them) city - they have a home to sell back there (where they came from) and they're concerned about where their family will live...? I am thankful every day that I can wake up and answer an email to an out-of-town client, coming in a few days for a whirlwind tour and showings, or find temporary housing for them while they work out the sale back "home".

I daily say thanks that I am able to live the life of a Realtor and thanks for the opportunity to touch lives. Maybe the world CAN be a better place because I was here. I know that's my goal each and every day!

How many of us have helped a first time buyer realize their dream of home ownership? And been there to calm their nerves and ease their concerns? What a wonderful feeling when you see them step inside "their own home".

But it doesn't always work out like we think. I left a client's home the other night with a feeling of disappointment... not having sold their home. A neighbor across the street called out to me as I was loading my signs back in the car, "Are you their realtor?" I answered back that I was as he sternly replied, "I want to talk to you..."

Uh-oh! At that moment all I really wanted to do was crawl back home with my tail between my legs when he said, "I want to thank you for what you did for those folks. If I know of anyone looking to buy or sell a home, I want YOUR card. You stepped in when they needed someone and you have touched their lives in a big way and I appreciate it!"

I was reading the newspaper a few weeks earlier and saw this young family's home was listed as a foreclosure to sell on the courthouse square within the next month. I went down to see them and ask if there was anything I could do to help them...not bringing up their foreclosure issues.

"As a matter of fact, we've been meaning to call you but we just didn't know where to start." ...and they told me their situation.

Knowing my neighborhood as I do, I knew we had a good chance of selling their home quickly if they wanted to get out and not have a foreclosure on their record. That was my goal, sell this home, find them something cheaper to rent until we could get them back on their feet... and sure enough, two days later, a full price offer came in - with a closing date before the courthouse square sale.

It turned out they were so far upside down, we couldn't take the deal. In fact, we had to pull the home off the market but their mortgage company realized they were serious and actually gave them a phenomenal pay back plan. This was a plan they had not offered them before but was a real workably option. It just took us getting on the phone and telling them that we had a full price offer and still could not get the deal done.

So, I plan to continue to go out everyday with my heart, doing what I can to help others. I know you've all heard that "if you help enough people get what they want, you'll get what you want".

I do know I sleep so much better when I know someone's life if better because of something I tried to do for them... even if I didn't earn a commission. I have referrals coming in now just from doing the right thing.