I get it that most people don't know how short sales work. In fact, most people don't know how real estate works. This extends not only to the public but to real estate agents, too. But when you explain it and a person wants to disregard what you have told them, they are either incredibly stupid or they are . . . incredibly stupid.
But even stupid people close escrow.
The thing is I prefer to give people the benefit of a doubt. When a person fails to heed my advice, I feel like the problem is me. I must not have explained it properly. So, I will then try to explain it a different way. Communication is a two-way street.
I've got a couple of these situations happening at the moment. The particulars are unimportant. Two totally different situations, but the same problem. I pride myself on being able to effectively communicate. To break down complex variables and put it into plain English at a sixth-grade level. How many ways can a person describe and explain the same thing over and over? When nothing works, then it's time to walk away.
Knowing when to fold the cards is the tricky part of this business. It's hard to tell to tell people who need your help that you cannot help them. But if they won't get with the program, then you are not helping them from the get-go. It could be said that you are stopping them from discovering the truth in a manner that makes sense to them. Because they are leaning on you instead of learning the hard way.
It's much easier to learn from somebody else's mistakes, but we rarely do.
And with that, here is a photo my husband just sent me from his travels this month.
Autumn in Shenandoah. Photo by Adam Weintraub.
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Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available at Amazon.com.
Lyon Real Estate is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.
The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of Lyon Real Estate.
Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice. It could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.
