It looks like many of us will be without gas with prices skyrocketing.
It also looks like many of us will be without rice too as Sam's Club and Costco just announced a rationing of this grain.
Wake me up somebody...please!
Is this America? As in the United State of America? In my history I do not remember such a time.
With the sub-prime mortgage crisis in full swing and home prices in a free-fall, this is a reminder that being personally unaccountable affects everyone.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Being Enterprising at Best
Being enterprising at best is being in full service to others. Being enterprising at best is maintaining good relations with other while serving. How can we better serve you? How do you find our products? We're sorry that didn't work for you? You can return it no questions asked? Can we interest you in another? How is Spot? You look great this morning!
Enterprise (at its best) = An emotional, vital, innovative, joyful, creative, entrepreneurial endeavor that elicits maximum concerted human potential in the wholehearted service of others: Employees, Customers, Suppliers, Communities, Owners, and Temporary Partners.
--Tom Peters
Enterprise is all about people; its soul is the basis of others. Enterprise is service. What are your thoughts on the embodiment of enterprise as service to others?
Enterprise (at its best) = An emotional, vital, innovative, joyful, creative, entrepreneurial endeavor that elicits maximum concerted human potential in the wholehearted service of others: Employees, Customers, Suppliers, Communities, Owners, and Temporary Partners.
--Tom Peters
Enterprise is all about people; its soul is the basis of others. Enterprise is service. What are your thoughts on the embodiment of enterprise as service to others?
Monday, April 21, 2008
Being Bullish in a Bear Market II
Being
a
contrarian
or
responding
effectively
counterintuitively
requires
substantive
observant
actions
all
along.
This
is
preparation
for
being
bullish
in
a
bear
market.
a
contrarian
or
responding
effectively
counterintuitively
requires
substantive
observant
actions
all
along.
This
is
preparation
for
being
bullish
in
a
bear
market.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Being Bullish in a Bear Market
Yesterday morning my partner, Connor, and I went to one of our housing inspections. During the inspection something became very clear: being bullish in a bear market can net great results. It also became very clear that acting upon your gut based on positioning, preparation and profit is important.
My partner tends to be more conservative than I but he is also quite the contrarian investor. It did not take him very long to see the possibilities in the midst of the nation's housing crises, especially in Michigan, but it sometimes takes my clear voice of reason to dissuade doubt. Here is an email that I sent my partner this morning that I wish to share.
Although Connor and I have know each other for quite a while, there is still a constant need on both of our parts to re-evaluate things, considering all things anew. The email speaks to being bullish in a bear market; it also speaks to stepping out in spite of dissenting external voices. The names have been changed.
Dear Connor,
Sometimes when others, purposefully or not, fill out heads with junk we do not think the best thoughts or make the best decisions. (But often times we come around if it's not too late.) I do not know what was said when you and Hilda spoke during the inspection, but what I could see immediately was a difference in attitude about certain areas. (Hence, my "snobbery" comment in the car.) What was apparent immediately after your extended conversation with Hilda during the inspection, while I had to take other calls, was a somewhat dismissive attitude about certain areas where the houses were owned by minorities.
Now, I have always known that Hilda had some issues in this regard. This was the puzzling thing about my friend, Bella, who passed last year whom we both loved dearly. Bella remained close to Hilda, though she was very much different. We may understand something about someone but look for the best in them. This I try to do also. I brought Hilda into our investment process in the spirit of our beloved mutual friend, Bella. As you know, I have been out of the real estate business for some years now and thought that she could write up the purchasing agreements without signing an exclusive agency with her. This way we can keep our options open.
I know the real estate business well and we need her only to show the houses that I have found and write the offers. But it appears that she cannot even do this. Taking a week vacation without assigning someone in the office to negotiate our deals was not acceptable. Since Bella's passing, Hilda's business, by her own admission, has plummeted. I understand this. Bella was the genius and charm behind their partnership. I learned many of my sales techniques from watching her and joining her for social events. I wish you could have met her.
Seasoned real estate agents of Hilda's age (she's almost 70) have a way or redlining that is quite subtle but downright scary. (I have seen this in action myself in the swank real estate office in Birmingham in which I worked part-time those many years.) The bad thing about this is that Hilda herself, though she lives in Birmingham in a very modest house, bordering Royal Oak, struggles herself, especially since the passing of Bella. The house is quite cute with a little red door. You know, adding a red door adds to the prestige of any house. Right?
Hilda does not have much and neither do any of her children. (This is not a putdown, but rather a fact in light of her snobbery about the area in which we wish to invest.) Hence, her strong suggestion to you about her mechanic son who cannot keep a job but who, nonetheless, do what you do. Not! The last I checked you were a senior executive engineer with a Fortune 500 with a MBA from a prestigious school with great investment successes. Her son has most certainly not accomplished these things. God bless him, nonetheless.
Hilda's attitude also displays a real arrogance that does not serve us best in economic terms. Her comment about the other houses not meeting our standard because of the area they were in is not so. This is a solid middle class community that has been affected by the housing market. (In fact, we found 30 houses in Birmingham last week within three blocks.) Where will these people live? Where will those live who have lost their homes? Will they be able to get credit anytime soon? They haven't lost their jobs? What about the displacement of children in the community during the school year? Will they not make payments like those a couple of miles down the road?
Hilda has very little zing and business scruples. Years in the business do not necessarily render expertise. Weak ones, after dropping the ball, do not apologize forthrightly for having done so but will often seek to displace their lack, often sublty depositing fear in order to elevate their postion and standing. This will not happen. We don't need this. I know the current housing market well and this community in particular. I say we charge ahead as planned being bullish in this bear market!
It is always better to handle business appropriately and timely the first time than lame conjectures the second time around that is not sound economically. This is why I hit her hard on several occasions yesterday to let her know that in no uncertain terms will she step over her simple boundary. I tried to be kind in my words. It is not my objective to make her feel bad. But it is my objective to win, looking after our best interest. If she would have just done her job effectively, she too would have benefited, not only with this deal, but the many that will come after. By the way, after this deal, she's out!
Injecting subtle fear tactics (though wisdom is always in order in investing) and being snobbish will not put money in our pockets or provide a great product! Neither will fear of certain areas based on the ethnicity of its people. My first real estate mentor, Cheryl Ann, the self-proclaimed "southern baptist deeply rooted red head hillbilly blue-collar multi-millionaire," who dropped forty thousand or so monthly in cash at the Casino, understood this well! She is brilliant, action-oriented, and brave.
Instinctively Cheryl Ann knew that being bullish in a bear market paid big. She bought nearly 30 houses in the depressed housing market of the 1970s. My years with her were more relevant than the ones I spent in the swank Birmingham office. In fact, she would say to me, "Judith, those people up there don't know what the hell they're doing. Should we compare bank accounts and investments?" Her multiple properties were in various communities ranging from upper to lower; some of the areas were indeed not the best.
Cheryl Ann also leased her homes and sold them on land contracts to anybody who could pay, not asking a lot of questions about credit and work history. She did, however, get the potential renter's or homebuyer's place of employment, number and address. She also insisted upon three references. She owned the houses free and clear and if the homeowner defaulted on the land contract she did not care much; she would then call the cleaning crew in to get the house ready for new occupants. Cheryl Ann made tons of cash each and every month that the likes of likes of Hilda will never make! Though, I wish her well.
The neighborhood that we visited after the inspection was a great neighborhood, though this particular area is predominately African American. I say "though" here for there is still the notion in some places that African Americans will bring the neighborhood down upon arriving in a community. This is not so but neither should this be a problem because money has no color, save green. Wall Street understands this well. Wall Street also understands that African Americans spend twice as much as white Americans even when they make less. Those who are striving to put the best face forward will often spend needlessly no matter the ethnicity.
While I'm not proud of the fact that African Americans are great spenders, it is very much the truth. Why don't we offer them and all others a respect, an equitable contract, good housing, and competitive housing leases and interest rates on our land contracts? We can make a bundle in this market if we're bullish at providing valuable housing and services! Cheryl Ann was a stickler for getting what she wanted while providing well maintained properties for her tenants and homebuyers. She drove a hard bargain and was quite successful. I watched her in action for years and learned a ton!
This is not a lesson on fairness or the virtues of equality only, but a lesson in how to make some loot in this bear market! It is a lesson on how to beat a system that tries to beat you. It is a lesson on putting aside the snide suggestive comments of others in order to see the larger picture. It is also a lesson on being very aware who deposits into our lives.
This note is one on buying and selling in a bear market with the bull charging ahead! It is also a lesson on being aware of what and whom are influencing you. Subtleties are dangerous things. Beware. You have taught me much over these years and I value your words immensely, as I know you value mine. I am also very aware of my role in our partnership which includes seeing beyond the obvious to make better decisions. Now is the time for us to really do some extraordinary things in these extraordinary times. I think a very astute man once told me these exact words recently, one whom I greatly respect in business.
Our vision these past months are not the stuff of pipe dreams or thoughtless investments; they are the stuff of reality, with the potential of great rewards. Cheryl Ann bought the bulk of her homes in the 70s when she was strapped for cash, striking while the market was hot. We are in a much better position than she was then. Let's continue to be bullish in this bear market with our planned agenda. Let's continue to strike while the iron is hot and use judgement and wisdom, not fear, to temper ourselves and to choose areas from an array of communities. My bet remains in Oak Park where there is diversity and a strata of solid middle class incomes. Between the two of us, we will not go astray! The time is sooooooo right! In the spirit of the aforementioned man whom I respect greatly, let's monetize! And I'd like to add let's provide valuable service and a sense of dignity for all.
My partner tends to be more conservative than I but he is also quite the contrarian investor. It did not take him very long to see the possibilities in the midst of the nation's housing crises, especially in Michigan, but it sometimes takes my clear voice of reason to dissuade doubt. Here is an email that I sent my partner this morning that I wish to share.
Although Connor and I have know each other for quite a while, there is still a constant need on both of our parts to re-evaluate things, considering all things anew. The email speaks to being bullish in a bear market; it also speaks to stepping out in spite of dissenting external voices. The names have been changed.
Dear Connor,
Sometimes when others, purposefully or not, fill out heads with junk we do not think the best thoughts or make the best decisions. (But often times we come around if it's not too late.) I do not know what was said when you and Hilda spoke during the inspection, but what I could see immediately was a difference in attitude about certain areas. (Hence, my "snobbery" comment in the car.) What was apparent immediately after your extended conversation with Hilda during the inspection, while I had to take other calls, was a somewhat dismissive attitude about certain areas where the houses were owned by minorities.
Now, I have always known that Hilda had some issues in this regard. This was the puzzling thing about my friend, Bella, who passed last year whom we both loved dearly. Bella remained close to Hilda, though she was very much different. We may understand something about someone but look for the best in them. This I try to do also. I brought Hilda into our investment process in the spirit of our beloved mutual friend, Bella. As you know, I have been out of the real estate business for some years now and thought that she could write up the purchasing agreements without signing an exclusive agency with her. This way we can keep our options open.
I know the real estate business well and we need her only to show the houses that I have found and write the offers. But it appears that she cannot even do this. Taking a week vacation without assigning someone in the office to negotiate our deals was not acceptable. Since Bella's passing, Hilda's business, by her own admission, has plummeted. I understand this. Bella was the genius and charm behind their partnership. I learned many of my sales techniques from watching her and joining her for social events. I wish you could have met her.
Seasoned real estate agents of Hilda's age (she's almost 70) have a way or redlining that is quite subtle but downright scary. (I have seen this in action myself in the swank real estate office in Birmingham in which I worked part-time those many years.) The bad thing about this is that Hilda herself, though she lives in Birmingham in a very modest house, bordering Royal Oak, struggles herself, especially since the passing of Bella. The house is quite cute with a little red door. You know, adding a red door adds to the prestige of any house. Right?
Hilda does not have much and neither do any of her children. (This is not a putdown, but rather a fact in light of her snobbery about the area in which we wish to invest.) Hence, her strong suggestion to you about her mechanic son who cannot keep a job but who, nonetheless, do what you do. Not! The last I checked you were a senior executive engineer with a Fortune 500 with a MBA from a prestigious school with great investment successes. Her son has most certainly not accomplished these things. God bless him, nonetheless.
Hilda's attitude also displays a real arrogance that does not serve us best in economic terms. Her comment about the other houses not meeting our standard because of the area they were in is not so. This is a solid middle class community that has been affected by the housing market. (In fact, we found 30 houses in Birmingham last week within three blocks.) Where will these people live? Where will those live who have lost their homes? Will they be able to get credit anytime soon? They haven't lost their jobs? What about the displacement of children in the community during the school year? Will they not make payments like those a couple of miles down the road?
Hilda has very little zing and business scruples. Years in the business do not necessarily render expertise. Weak ones, after dropping the ball, do not apologize forthrightly for having done so but will often seek to displace their lack, often sublty depositing fear in order to elevate their postion and standing. This will not happen. We don't need this. I know the current housing market well and this community in particular. I say we charge ahead as planned being bullish in this bear market!
It is always better to handle business appropriately and timely the first time than lame conjectures the second time around that is not sound economically. This is why I hit her hard on several occasions yesterday to let her know that in no uncertain terms will she step over her simple boundary. I tried to be kind in my words. It is not my objective to make her feel bad. But it is my objective to win, looking after our best interest. If she would have just done her job effectively, she too would have benefited, not only with this deal, but the many that will come after. By the way, after this deal, she's out!
Injecting subtle fear tactics (though wisdom is always in order in investing) and being snobbish will not put money in our pockets or provide a great product! Neither will fear of certain areas based on the ethnicity of its people. My first real estate mentor, Cheryl Ann, the self-proclaimed "southern baptist deeply rooted red head hillbilly blue-collar multi-millionaire," who dropped forty thousand or so monthly in cash at the Casino, understood this well! She is brilliant, action-oriented, and brave.
Instinctively Cheryl Ann knew that being bullish in a bear market paid big. She bought nearly 30 houses in the depressed housing market of the 1970s. My years with her were more relevant than the ones I spent in the swank Birmingham office. In fact, she would say to me, "Judith, those people up there don't know what the hell they're doing. Should we compare bank accounts and investments?" Her multiple properties were in various communities ranging from upper to lower; some of the areas were indeed not the best.
Cheryl Ann also leased her homes and sold them on land contracts to anybody who could pay, not asking a lot of questions about credit and work history. She did, however, get the potential renter's or homebuyer's place of employment, number and address. She also insisted upon three references. She owned the houses free and clear and if the homeowner defaulted on the land contract she did not care much; she would then call the cleaning crew in to get the house ready for new occupants. Cheryl Ann made tons of cash each and every month that the likes of likes of Hilda will never make! Though, I wish her well.
The neighborhood that we visited after the inspection was a great neighborhood, though this particular area is predominately African American. I say "though" here for there is still the notion in some places that African Americans will bring the neighborhood down upon arriving in a community. This is not so but neither should this be a problem because money has no color, save green. Wall Street understands this well. Wall Street also understands that African Americans spend twice as much as white Americans even when they make less. Those who are striving to put the best face forward will often spend needlessly no matter the ethnicity.
While I'm not proud of the fact that African Americans are great spenders, it is very much the truth. Why don't we offer them and all others a respect, an equitable contract, good housing, and competitive housing leases and interest rates on our land contracts? We can make a bundle in this market if we're bullish at providing valuable housing and services! Cheryl Ann was a stickler for getting what she wanted while providing well maintained properties for her tenants and homebuyers. She drove a hard bargain and was quite successful. I watched her in action for years and learned a ton!
This is not a lesson on fairness or the virtues of equality only, but a lesson in how to make some loot in this bear market! It is a lesson on how to beat a system that tries to beat you. It is a lesson on putting aside the snide suggestive comments of others in order to see the larger picture. It is also a lesson on being very aware who deposits into our lives.
This note is one on buying and selling in a bear market with the bull charging ahead! It is also a lesson on being aware of what and whom are influencing you. Subtleties are dangerous things. Beware. You have taught me much over these years and I value your words immensely, as I know you value mine. I am also very aware of my role in our partnership which includes seeing beyond the obvious to make better decisions. Now is the time for us to really do some extraordinary things in these extraordinary times. I think a very astute man once told me these exact words recently, one whom I greatly respect in business.
Our vision these past months are not the stuff of pipe dreams or thoughtless investments; they are the stuff of reality, with the potential of great rewards. Cheryl Ann bought the bulk of her homes in the 70s when she was strapped for cash, striking while the market was hot. We are in a much better position than she was then. Let's continue to be bullish in this bear market with our planned agenda. Let's continue to strike while the iron is hot and use judgement and wisdom, not fear, to temper ourselves and to choose areas from an array of communities. My bet remains in Oak Park where there is diversity and a strata of solid middle class incomes. Between the two of us, we will not go astray! The time is sooooooo right! In the spirit of the aforementioned man whom I respect greatly, let's monetize! And I'd like to add let's provide valuable service and a sense of dignity for all.
Judith
Are you being bullish in this bear market? How might you do so in relevant ways that will benefit you and your customers? What are you thinking? Are you thinking possibilites?
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Being in Purpose
What I cannot see I cannot be.
What I will not hear I will not see.
What I will not fashion will not fashion me.
What I will not say will never be.
Being in purpose is seeing, hearing,
fashioning and saying that which is me.
What I will not hear I will not see.
What I will not fashion will not fashion me.
What I will not say will never be.
Being in purpose is seeing, hearing,
fashioning and saying that which is me.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Being in the Best Interest of Self
Here comes a rather obvious question: have you ever been irate about bad customer service when all you want to do is buy a product? Have you ever been incensed by poor treatment when a simple apology would have alleviated your anger? When corporations or customer service reps would just own up to their mistakes or apologize for our troubles, it is so much easier to let it slide. It also easier to let some things slide when your best interest is at risk. When I'm particularly annoyed about a thing, I can't tell you how those three little words, I am sorry, can resolve a great many issues or at the least the potential for bad feelings. Not that the problem would be fixed immediately, but it does calm a live nerve and the despondent can move forward in relative peace, perhaps even moving forward with purchasing the product. But when an apology isn't offered, when you are made to feel that their problem is yours, what then?
Just the other day I longed for those three words but was simply not going to hear them. Instead, I had to talk to myself repeatedly on the virtues of understanding and the necessity of what is my best interest here. I was successful with the latter, but not particularly the former. I came across a house for sale the other day and called on it. The well-known listing agent has 200 or something houses in this terrible market in Michigan and had to contract the showings out to other buyer’s agent, not being able to show so many houses. Because my partner and I want the option of working directly with the listing agent to perhaps get the best deal (their commission would be 6% for dual agency instead of 3%) and ascertain the best knowledge of the house, we had not signed an exclusive agency with no one particular agent.
Well, I called this top producing listing agent and was told to call Eleanor, her buyer's agent. I made my dutiful call to the agent who promptly wanted to get all of my "information" as if I had already seen the house and wanted to purchase it that very second. (I was already a little miffed by not being able to speak with the listing agent, as my whole idea was to have her sell me the house directly.) I halted Eleanor in mid stream, telling her that I had not seen the house yet and the information requested was premature. She went on to tell me that she had to get this information before showing the house to find out whether I was a serious buyer and if it was worth her trip to show it to me. What? This put me in a rather foul mood immediately.
Trying to alleviate her concerns, I told her that my partner and I (in our side business) had just recently bought a house for cash and had just yesterday put in three cash offers. This did not move her at all. She continued bombarding me questions and telling me about the price of gas and that she could not "risk" coming out and showing me the house without the requested information. She wanted everything except my bank account card with pin for immediate withdrawal and my social security number to check my FICA scores. She herself was acting in a dual role as agent and mortgage broker. But I didn't need a mortgage!
I tried to reason with the buyer's agent because I really wanted the house, telling her that while I appreciated her time and understood the high gas prices, as a buyer, I needed to see the house before giving such information. (It would not have even been wise to give this woman whom I've never met the requested information.) She proceeded to go on and on about the necessity of the information and continued with the now all to familiar line about the price of gas and her invaluable time, now wasted in about a 15 minutes of unnecessary conversation. Has it gotten this bad for agents out there? Perhaps so, but the more reason to hustle, the more reason to be amenable. I tried to be reasonable, but I was incensed. In fact, I was quite irate. I did manage, however, to hold to a certain amount of dignity. I continued trying to reason with her but instead was rebuffed with her own agenda. I then lost my cool.
Angrily, I informed her that I would call the listing agent to request a showing. She quickly retorted that there was no way she could even show me the house, seeing that she has so many. Before hanging up she said, "Ms. S will never show you that house and it's obvious you're not a serious buyers." Had I not told her that I just purchased one house recently and that I had just put in three offers the day before? As she hung up the phone she fumed, "what a bitch!" I could not believe my ears. All I wanted to do was to call the listing agent, have her or someone from her office show me the house, and put a cash offer to purchase it...IF I liked what I saw. But this was apparently too much to ask. This listing agent had to contract buyers agents who had to first find out where I worked, if I had a certain amount of money in my account, and whether I was really in the market to buy a home all before showing the house. Maddening! Did I not initiate the call?
I phone the listing agent back to tell her of my dismal experience and got her assistance. She was no better. I relayed the experience to the assistant and asked if the listing agent could call me back. I could hear the agent in the background wheeling and dealing before being placed on hold. I was on hold for about 10 minutes or so before the assistant came back informing me that the listing agent could not accept my call momentarily and that it is up to the buyer's agent how she handles her business. “With whom is the house listed,” I shot back? “And is your boss best representing her clients,” I continued? The response: "we have over 200 homes and there is no way that Ms. S can show every house and address every complaint." I was livid. "Does she not care about her business or her contracted buyer's agents showing her houses," I asked? "Does the Century 21 not care about how they are being represented in this buyer's market?" The assistant responded, "how the buyer's agent handles her business is not our business. You could see the house with your agent if you'd like and you can make a formal complaint with our broker."
It was apparent that Ms. S and her staff could care less if I bought that house, or seemingly the other 20 that I am in the market to buy. She has 200 others and whether I bought this one or 20 others seemed irrelevant. She was undoubtedly didn't need my money and seemed impervious to my concern. I appeared rather insignificant. This was not a good feeling. There has been two days since I made this call and I am still determining if I would even make a call to the manager of Century 21. It would probably do no good at all. They would undoubtedly care more about their top producer than one person who is, by the way, in the market to purchase quite a few homes beyond the 20 that I told them of without a mortgage. (And since banks are having such a liquidity problem, we thought our money would be good there...obviously not, at least in the view of these agents.) Having been so blatantly disregarded by the listing agent, her buyer’s agent and her assistant, the broker would undoubtedly be unmoved too. I was very angry.
Had the listing agent simply gotten on the phone, had another buyer's agent phone me, or called me back to apologize the matter would have been resolved quickly. I thought that I would deal directly with the listing agent, apparently in this case, this was not good. I did go and see the house yesterday with a broker friend. I waited a day to calm down and reason with myself. Had it not been in my best interest, I would have vowed to never deal with this listing agent or Century 21 ever again. But it was not in my best interest as I saw it and did the next best thing: I put in an offer with a broker friend to purchase the house. Maybe our best interest is the problem. Maybe nothing will change if we always thinking of our best interest. I'm sure this has happened to others but because it was not in their best interest, handled it as I did, not dealing with the issue itself. I guess there is also the most important issue of choosing your battles. The battle I chose was not to release any of my personal information to the broker, but chose not to battle with the listing agent or her broker, Century 21.
How would you have handled this situation? Is acting in our best interest a cumulative problem?
Just the other day I longed for those three words but was simply not going to hear them. Instead, I had to talk to myself repeatedly on the virtues of understanding and the necessity of what is my best interest here. I was successful with the latter, but not particularly the former. I came across a house for sale the other day and called on it. The well-known listing agent has 200 or something houses in this terrible market in Michigan and had to contract the showings out to other buyer’s agent, not being able to show so many houses. Because my partner and I want the option of working directly with the listing agent to perhaps get the best deal (their commission would be 6% for dual agency instead of 3%) and ascertain the best knowledge of the house, we had not signed an exclusive agency with no one particular agent.
Well, I called this top producing listing agent and was told to call Eleanor, her buyer's agent. I made my dutiful call to the agent who promptly wanted to get all of my "information" as if I had already seen the house and wanted to purchase it that very second. (I was already a little miffed by not being able to speak with the listing agent, as my whole idea was to have her sell me the house directly.) I halted Eleanor in mid stream, telling her that I had not seen the house yet and the information requested was premature. She went on to tell me that she had to get this information before showing the house to find out whether I was a serious buyer and if it was worth her trip to show it to me. What? This put me in a rather foul mood immediately.
Trying to alleviate her concerns, I told her that my partner and I (in our side business) had just recently bought a house for cash and had just yesterday put in three cash offers. This did not move her at all. She continued bombarding me questions and telling me about the price of gas and that she could not "risk" coming out and showing me the house without the requested information. She wanted everything except my bank account card with pin for immediate withdrawal and my social security number to check my FICA scores. She herself was acting in a dual role as agent and mortgage broker. But I didn't need a mortgage!
I tried to reason with the buyer's agent because I really wanted the house, telling her that while I appreciated her time and understood the high gas prices, as a buyer, I needed to see the house before giving such information. (It would not have even been wise to give this woman whom I've never met the requested information.) She proceeded to go on and on about the necessity of the information and continued with the now all to familiar line about the price of gas and her invaluable time, now wasted in about a 15 minutes of unnecessary conversation. Has it gotten this bad for agents out there? Perhaps so, but the more reason to hustle, the more reason to be amenable. I tried to be reasonable, but I was incensed. In fact, I was quite irate. I did manage, however, to hold to a certain amount of dignity. I continued trying to reason with her but instead was rebuffed with her own agenda. I then lost my cool.
Angrily, I informed her that I would call the listing agent to request a showing. She quickly retorted that there was no way she could even show me the house, seeing that she has so many. Before hanging up she said, "Ms. S will never show you that house and it's obvious you're not a serious buyers." Had I not told her that I just purchased one house recently and that I had just put in three offers the day before? As she hung up the phone she fumed, "what a bitch!" I could not believe my ears. All I wanted to do was to call the listing agent, have her or someone from her office show me the house, and put a cash offer to purchase it...IF I liked what I saw. But this was apparently too much to ask. This listing agent had to contract buyers agents who had to first find out where I worked, if I had a certain amount of money in my account, and whether I was really in the market to buy a home all before showing the house. Maddening! Did I not initiate the call?
I phone the listing agent back to tell her of my dismal experience and got her assistance. She was no better. I relayed the experience to the assistant and asked if the listing agent could call me back. I could hear the agent in the background wheeling and dealing before being placed on hold. I was on hold for about 10 minutes or so before the assistant came back informing me that the listing agent could not accept my call momentarily and that it is up to the buyer's agent how she handles her business. “With whom is the house listed,” I shot back? “And is your boss best representing her clients,” I continued? The response: "we have over 200 homes and there is no way that Ms. S can show every house and address every complaint." I was livid. "Does she not care about her business or her contracted buyer's agents showing her houses," I asked? "Does the Century 21 not care about how they are being represented in this buyer's market?" The assistant responded, "how the buyer's agent handles her business is not our business. You could see the house with your agent if you'd like and you can make a formal complaint with our broker."
It was apparent that Ms. S and her staff could care less if I bought that house, or seemingly the other 20 that I am in the market to buy. She has 200 others and whether I bought this one or 20 others seemed irrelevant. She was undoubtedly didn't need my money and seemed impervious to my concern. I appeared rather insignificant. This was not a good feeling. There has been two days since I made this call and I am still determining if I would even make a call to the manager of Century 21. It would probably do no good at all. They would undoubtedly care more about their top producer than one person who is, by the way, in the market to purchase quite a few homes beyond the 20 that I told them of without a mortgage. (And since banks are having such a liquidity problem, we thought our money would be good there...obviously not, at least in the view of these agents.) Having been so blatantly disregarded by the listing agent, her buyer’s agent and her assistant, the broker would undoubtedly be unmoved too. I was very angry.
Had the listing agent simply gotten on the phone, had another buyer's agent phone me, or called me back to apologize the matter would have been resolved quickly. I thought that I would deal directly with the listing agent, apparently in this case, this was not good. I did go and see the house yesterday with a broker friend. I waited a day to calm down and reason with myself. Had it not been in my best interest, I would have vowed to never deal with this listing agent or Century 21 ever again. But it was not in my best interest as I saw it and did the next best thing: I put in an offer with a broker friend to purchase the house. Maybe our best interest is the problem. Maybe nothing will change if we always thinking of our best interest. I'm sure this has happened to others but because it was not in their best interest, handled it as I did, not dealing with the issue itself. I guess there is also the most important issue of choosing your battles. The battle I chose was not to release any of my personal information to the broker, but chose not to battle with the listing agent or her broker, Century 21.
How would you have handled this situation? Is acting in our best interest a cumulative problem?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)