Every deal takes on a life of its own with its own set of twists and turns. Some deals are certainly easier than others. A difficult deal is the true test of the capabilities of those involved, it is when brilliance shines and incompetence fails and it is what makes the difference between deal makers and deal breakers.
Many wannabe Realtors approach me to ask for advice in entering this business, in many I always give my time and advise because I see their drive and passion, but in most I do not. It is that passion, love, and devotion for what you do that equates to success, there is no easy road.
Many of the working Realtors in our business lack the follow through, and work ethics required to make deals happen they think that it is simple, and as easy as finding or showing a house or writing an offer or obtaining a listing that make the deal happen. Oh, how wrong they are! Worst is encountering one of these agents working alongside you on the other end of the deal. My assistant always points out that in most of our deals we are not only doing our work, but theirs as well, my response has always been we do whatever it takes to get the deal done.
Every transaction brings together a unique set of personalities. Navigating these personalities, keeping everyone focused , stroking the egos, mastering diplomacy, all for the sake of moving the deal forward are the traits of a great realtor. Staying on top of every aspect of the deal at every step of the way, keeping the lines of communication constantly open, not skipping a beat of the action is the minimum job a Realtor must do. But, as I remain deep in the trenches of this business for many more years than most, I assure 90% of the Realtors do not have these follow through capabilities, dropping the ball is the modus operandi of most and while that should make it more difficult for the rest of us, ironically it does not. Being left along to do both ends of the work required to flush a toilet, makes it easier for those of us who know the value of obsessing, following through and constant monitoring bringing a deal to close requires.
I just participated in the flushing of a $20M transaction, it was an unconventional, difficult deal that fell apart and came together several times along the way. There were a total of 12 people involved including buyer, seller, their respective attorneys, representatives, 2 brokers, one title company, and a few others. The deal had a very time sensitive closing date, the terms fluctuated from day to day, various contracts and addendums were written and re-written, obstacles, difficulty, unknowns, changed constantly and did not come together until 20 minutes before the due or die closing deadline. But together it came and the toilet flushed!
Everyone involved with the deal was a seasoned Real Estate savvy veteran working at the highest level of understanding of this business and managing every single phase with upmost ability and thorough precision. It required finesse and firmness, and constant communication between everyone involve overcame all the obstacles. Yes, communication meaning emails, picking up the phone promptly, texting when the phone couldn’t be answered, working until the wee hours of the night and picking it up again early in the morning. It didn’t matter if you were traveling, dining, playing or working on something else, this deal took precedence and everyone worked diligently to keep it together and move it to closure. The pleasure of participating in this team work far outweighs the obstacles.
It was a roller coaster ride that some days left you ecstatic, other days left you drained, and many days it let you down. We didn’t know until it closed if it would close..
To the players involved you know who you are, it is a true pleasure to work with you, your loyalty, respect and knowledge of this business is what I love most about my job and working with you.
Nelson, you are a pro, as I said if there was anyone that could close this buyer it was you. Your attention to detail, ability to maintain the open lines of communication, and working at any hour of the day, together with your micro managing of every detail with swift precision, made this deal happen. It is a true pleasure to work alongside another professional who carries his weight and knows how to navigate the tumultuous waters flushing some toilets require.
The path was rough but because of that, the victory is even sweeter. This deal was certainly earned not given.
