Yesterday I opened a bill from UC Davis. It was for an overage I owed for an annual exam last year. I found another invoice inside my bill for a different patient. I set it aside. When I later grabbed my checkbook to pay the bill, I looked again at the second invoice. It was for a person who lived in Galt. To be honest, my first instinct was to throw the invoice into the trash because it wasn't mine. My hand was 6 inches away from the shredder. Nobody would know. But I couldn't throw it away. I would know.
That little voice in my head said, "How would you like it if somebody threw away your invoice? Just do the right thing." So, I stopped what I was doing, addressed an envelope, wrote a quick note of explanation, put the bill inside, stuck a stamp on it and mailed it.
When clients are looking at homes, I try to point out the negatives along with the positives of each home. Sometimes buyers don't want to hear the negatives, but it's my job and my legal responsibility to tell them what I know. It's also the right thing to do. Maybe that buyer shouldn't buy a home at all? If that's the case, I let them know my thoughts, even though it may mean I don't get paid dime one.
It's not always easy to tell short sale sellers that they may face tax consequences -- that a hard-money second lender might possibly go after a deficiency judgment -- that they may not be able to buy another home for several years after the short sale -- but it's my duty to disclose, and to suggest that sellers obtain legal and tax advice because a Sacramento short sale agent can't give that type of advice.
At the end of the day, we all have to live with our own conscience. My advice to anybody who hesitates is just do the right thing.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, coming in June 2009.
Photo: Big Stock Photo
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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.
You got it Elizabeth. The old saying of "It goes around, comes around" is so true. And when you do the right thing, you don't have to keep remembering the convoluted path you have taken. I'm sure that patient in Galt appreciated you. Me too!
Elizabeth - And that would change the world!
I have been paid back several times over because I did the right thing. So, I know what you mean about pointing out the good along with the bad. At the end of the day, I need to know I've done my best, did ALL the right things I could do and go to bed that night. Thanks for the inspirational post.
"Just do the right thing" - if more companies followed that philosophy, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in! I'm so thankful to work for an ethical company...
One of the things I know for sure is that "what goes around come around"; even if the only thing that you get out of it is the satisfying feeling that you've done something good.
If you do the right thing, many good things will be returned. If you don't, then you will later regret it.
Featured @ Club Chaos
Elizabeth - BRAVO! I love hearing stories of people who do the right thing, especially these days. As you and I both know, handing out not so great news to a client can sometimes make a break a deal we may be in. However, having said that, I will always opt for the right thing to do because not only do my clients deserve it, I also need to sleep at night and when I get up in the morning, I need to like and respect who I see when I look in the mirror.
There are those in my industry who do not share my philosophy and I can't help but wonder if one day they will fall victim to that old saying "what comes around goes around". Personally, I've always felt that bad karma was something I didn't want to mess with. Have a good day Elizabeth and keep the spirit and always remember that that you can't go wrong with the Golden Rule. :)
I applaud your honesty and professionalism. Wish we all operated at your level. Thanks for the post
I applaud your honesty and professionalism. Wish we all operated at your level. Thanks for the post
Pay it forward never hurts and only helps. Years ago someone returned a check to me that they found on the street. Boy was I happy...
Hi Elizabeth,
Yup...it's that same thing when you realized you were undercharged at a store....you're already in the parking lot, what do you do?
Doing the right thing pleases the Universe and I know we are rewarded by the deeds we do and the thoughts we think (or just the opposite is true when we think negatively...Yikes!).
Glad to see a Sacramento-fellow agent has such a high set of standards! If I have any clients in the pocket area, I'll think of you (too far and I'd get too lost!).
Tamara
Elizabeth: Doing the right thing always comes back in a positive way...someway, somehow. Would be great if more people were like that.
Elizabeth
You have the right idea; I often wonder why many jusat don't do the right thing?
Sincerely
Tom Braatz
I keep thinking of the movie Pay It Forward We all need to do something nice for someone else everyday with out expecting to get anything out of it. Thanks for the post.
Elizabeth - Thank you so much for addressing a very important concept. It is nearly impossible to legislate morality, but I don't know of a time in our history - or at least my history, when it is needed more. I'm doing as you mention, I'm trying to do the right thing more now, than ever before! And I like what Terry has said, about paying it forward! He's absolutely right, we need to try to do something nice for someone else everyday!
Elizabeth, since you know my daughter I'll tell you my story. It was way back when the kids were turning 12 but still looked 10. They could have still paid less to get in the movies but I wanted them to learn honesty and made them fess up to being 12 and pay the higher fee. It was the right and honest thing to do and I hope it made an impression. I also remember standing in line for expensive tickets to Disneyland and the lady asking about tickets. They sure looked young but we paid the correct amount because the kids were watching......and learning.
But Elizabeth... what would we talk about? what would we complain about? what fun would there be in that? where would all our problems go? how would we handle the boredom? where would we store all our halos? ;-)
Hi Tamara: I've been in that situation where I was undercharged. It's tempting to say nothing, and I understand how people might first have that kind of reaction. Like, Wow, I made out like a bandit. But when you consider all the circumstances, the right thing to do is point out the clerk's mistake.
I told a clerk at Macy's that she did not ring up a purchase, which she had placed in my bag. She was very grateful. She went into the back room, returned with a silk scarf and handed it to me as a reward. I wasn't expecting anything.
Hi Barbara: Your daughter still looks much younger than her age. She comes across as extremely ethical, and I'm positive she got that from YOU.
If only the workd were a perfect place? Thanks for a great post.
It is very important to hear this message, over and over again. Karma at work. Thank you Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, doing the right thing just feels right, doesn't it? Way to go! Maybe it will be contagious!
Elizabeth, doing the right thing just feels right, doesn't it? Way to go! Maybe it will be contagious!
Elizabeth,
I bet you get lots of referrals. People can tell when a realtor cares more about them than the sale. Doing the right thing feels good.
Doing the right thing isn't always easy, but it does alwys feel good and you definitely sleep better at night. Besides, the one's you help with your honesty becomes your clients for life.
Elizabeth, just read about 5 of your posts to catch up. You always have great and enlightening things to add to my day. Thank you for that. Have a good one!