Short Sale listing agents can help provide some TLC for short sale sellers at a time in their lives when life seems darkest. A listing agent can help be the light at the end of the tunnel....the ray of sunshine in an otherwise gray and overcast period of life. Most people can handle almost anything...if they view it as a temporary situation. Being a short sale listing agent to us means, being agents "with a heart" and knowing that you can do more than help save a family a foreclosure...you can give them the tools to build a new life.
Tools Short Sale Listing Agents Should Have Include:
- Credit Counseling Service Check with the United Way or other non profit agencies in your area for agencies that provide this service at little or no cost.
- Debt Consolidation Agencies can help sellers that may have accumulated a lot of debt with credit cards, medical expense, etc. These agencies can help light the lamp of hope in the economic recovery of a seller.
- Rental References can assist sellers in finding a new home which can be a great comfort during a period of feeling displaced.
- A Pamper Present as a closing gift. Appreciate what a short sale seller has gone through. A manicure, massage, pedicure or spa certificate for a special treat will be greatly appreciated.
- Written instructions on what a seller might expect during the process of a short sale. Knowledge is power and this is one of the times in life when your seller is likely to feel power-less.
Be more than a real estate agent...pushing paper through a transaction...help a homeowner...a familly...begin a new life. Absolutely nothing can ever make you feel better....and more importantly, be a greater gift to someone at a time they need it most.
Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS
It seems to me, as a home inspector, that the short sale process is very difficult. For someone to say that you made it easy says a lot about you!
Sally & David:
My last listing appointment was for a short sale. After I was awarded the listing, I asked the sellers why they chose me and their answer was simply, my compassion for their situation and that they felt I would be there for them every step of the way to explain and help them through the process. We do need to be compasionate about short sales. Many of our short sale clients are in unfamiliar territory. We may have done dozens of short sales but this is the first time that our clients have been through this. Thank you for the tips of a few extra things that we can do for our clients to set us apart from other Realtors. Short sale is a life changing experience for our clients.
Thanks for the tips, I'm always looking for ways to ease the process for my clients, both buyers and sellers.
There are few happy moments in the short sale process in our experience. It is all hard work. But, there are bargains out there. The Buyers and Sellers are working harder today,just like we all are!
Sally, I think your pamper present is a nice touch....some short sales can be most rewarding....take care!
Excellent advice. This is a very stressful time and whatever we can do to relieve the stress. Great suggestions. Nothing better than calling and telling them we have an approval!
We can be the warm security blanket that the cold realities of their financial situation has dealt them....both agent and homeowner will find this a comfort. Thank you for your comments.
Great tips Sally. And what a wonderful comment to receive!
Most of our short sale sellers have "an attitude of gratitude" and are a pleasure to work with....our gratitude to them as well.