OMFG, you would not believe the last 48 hours I have had. After a very long Saturday with the open house and following up, I even wrote a long blog post and all… Well, whatdya know. At almost 9pm, I received a text from one of few the couples whose contact info I did NOT collect. They had stopped by when the house was swarming with visitors so I didn’t get to gather their deets.
Anyway, the text said he was at the open house. He looked me up and saw that I was a fellow Dukie (first time Duke has actually hooked me up!). He wanted to see the disclosures. Would I be able to submit an offer if they wanted to bid on the house? Of course. We spoke briefly on the phone then later that night, back and forth on email about the strength of their package– what it takes to win in this market and esp in this neighborhood. I invited them to meet with me and my guru in the AM to discuss strategy. They had plans the next morning and also wanted to see a couple of other places Sunday on their own; maybe stop by my open house again in the afternoon. Ok.
I stayed up super late re-reading the disclosures and calculating pricing. By morning, they emailed saying they changed their plans and wanted to submit an offer. Bc I had moved offices, I lost access to my e-signing program, and I had not yet gotten set up on the new office’s system. Long story short, I wanted the personal letter to be hand-signed so I suggested we meet before my open house at the property. Then began the chaos of the day. I was trying to assemble the docs and get clearance from my guru. The printer wasn’t cooperating. Bubs cut his nose while shaving and was bleeding profusely. We couldn’t find bandages. Then the printer ran out of toner. We ran out of regular paper. Argh!! I decided to print out at the office. Meanwhile, my laptop has been having more and more issues with shutdown and blue screen. I ordered a new one last week but it’s stuck in Asia due to some mechanical airplane failure. When we get to the office with Bubs driving like a maniac, my badge doesn’t work. Are you fucking kidding me??? We drive to Staples to print from my laptop, and ONE service person is helping an old man who doesn’t know what he’s trying to do with some newspaper layout. Time is a ticking, and I am freaking out. The shit gets printed. Then we arrive at the house and my ekey doesn’t work. It was wonky the day before too. Thankfully, I got the combo key for a spare in the side yard. I enter the side yard and it’s a letter-lock not number-based combo lock. WTF? I call the list agent. When he answers, I realize I am in the neighbor’s yard. Duh. Ok, we get inside and my people sign and we chat for a bit.
Then they head off and the open house begins. I’m trying to assemble all the finance docs to show proof of funds. J goes to Staples again to scan in my signed docs. Then, my T-mobile hotspot service is super wonky, which means my wifi sucks. Everything online takes forever. The house is a trustee sale, so I want to be sure the title names are correct. I text a bunch of people to confirm. No reply, so I just send in the doc. Later, list agent says the seller name needs to be the Trust. Have to redo the docs. This time, I get the help of my colleague to send it in. All day, the shit is like that. I’m fumbling around with the e-sign program and then some sig spots were missed. I’m worrying that the buyer is thinking this is totally Mickey Mouse. Open house picks up crazy in the last hour. By late Sunday, listing agent says offer looks good.
On Monday, we’re waiting. I check in in the morning with the list agent, and he says they received others but we are well-positioned. By Monday end, we’re asked to go up bc other party increased bid. My buyer refuses. Fortunately, we get the acceptance despite having the lower offer. I am overjoyed and ecstatic.
On Tuesday, my buyer is asking me again about the solar panel lease. He’s researched the company and is worried. Doesn’t want the panels and wants seller to pay off the lease. I tell him, we would have to reimburse seller and he refuses, saying the lease contract has nothing to do with him. Umm, what? That begins the first of many uncomfortable conversations with multiple parties. Meanwhile, since Monday, I’ve been trying to speak with a live person at the solar company. No callbacks, no email replies. WTF. I probe with my buyer to really see what it is that he wants. Is there another path that would satisfy him? Yes, compensation to take over the lease. Then I get a number for that. I tell the list agent, we want the seller to remove the panels at their cost. List agent calls me like what are you talking about? We told you there was a lease or payoff option. Yes, but my buyers say it’s not in the contract. Yes it is. No it’s not. Finally, I give him a number the buyer wants for compensation.
On Wednesday, I hear the sellers will split the difference and my buyer is upset that I didn’t give them the original number but instead talked him down. He wants to hold firm. I go back to the list agent, and the shit hits the fan. He warns that if we don’t take this deal, sellers will request a contract cancellation. My office insists they can’t do that and are contractually obligated to move forward… We’re on the phone in the mail room with the list agent and the big guns come out with voices raising… OMFG. More back and forth and then ultimately, we acquiesce to the deal with me throwing in the remaining amount the buyer wants. Now, we’re hoping to move on. That was just Thursday.
On Friday, I’m waiting for the sellers to sign the addendum agreeing to the buyer credit. Late afternoon approaches and still no signature. I begin to worry that the sellers are having second thoughts. Ugggg. Meanwhile, I meet the appraiser at the house. The lender keeps bugging me that we need the signed addendum. Turns out the seller was having tech issues with e-sign. Imagine that. We’re good to go. I then get on the phone with the solar company to begin the lease transfer papers. On hold for freaking ever again. I finally get a little bit of breathing room by week’s end… And I’m off again prepping for another open house. I figure I’ll try to keep the roll going. Scored a 2 BR/2 BA condo in my stomping grounds. Yup, I’m keeping my foot on the gas, Chuck Yeager style!
The following week: Monday and Tuesday, I was out of the office bc my nieces were in town. That didn’t stop me from having to make MORE calls to push and prod the solar lease people. Jesus Christ. It was seriously ridiculous. Understaffed, behind, doing the best they can… blah, blah. Meanwhile, I am combing through the disclosures and inspection reports, calling the inspection companies even to learn more… so that I can properly advise my buyers on next steps. I’m also checking in with the lender, making sure all the loan docs are on track. I keep being told everything is on schedule, then suddenly Thursday rolls around and I call the escrow officer. She says she hasn’t even spoken with the lender. Huh? I mean, it’s so weird but like all the parties are so busy they don’t even check in with each other… it’s very bizarre. So then I’m tracking down the lender again asking them when they are planning to give the estimates to the buyers. By Thursday evening, the lender tells me we might need to get an extension “bc of the major holiday.” Say what, lady? I check with my mentor about the timeline. Even with the holiday, the contract requires us to close on Monday, July 10. Ugh! I push back to the lender: look, I negotiated big time to get the sellers to choose OUR BUYERS over the other families. We have to get this done on time. On Friday, the buyers still have not received the loan doc estimates. I’m CC’d on emails where the escrow and lenders are sending spreadsheets back and forth. I’m finding errors including my name listed as the seller. Meanwhile, my mentor is telling me this is supposed to be the part where those two parties take care of shit without my prodding and checking…. Figures, MY deal would NOT be the norm. By Friday night, the lender calls and tells me there is an error in the docs from the escrow company that would potentially cause delays. By then, it’s after close of business and the escrow officer has gone home for the July 4 holiday weekend. She is completely unreachable. Yup, I was shitting bricks.
Thankfully, the lender worked things out on her team’s end and proceeded to the next step. I got in touch with escrow on Monday for the corrections. Whew!
So, we’re through another hurdle. Loan sign off occurred on Wednesday for my buyers. The sellers signed off the next day, and we are positioned for funding on Monday morning and close Monday afternoon. Just in time as my parents and Bubbey get back to town! Of course, the solar papers are still dragging ass behind the schedule they promised, but it’s not going to clog the deal, so whatever. Sigh. I mean, I’ve definitely learned a shit ton on my inaugural deal. 🙂 While all of this is happening, I’m researching kitchen reno ideas, washer/dryers, kitchen designers, etc. Also, attending training, hustling for open houses on the weekends, prepping for the open houses, studying the market and comps, AND doing a buyer consult meeting completely in Mandarin. Haha, I suppose this job is a dabbler/generalist’s dream with all the multitasking.
