Just after I listed her home my client told me about the fortune she had pulled from a cookie. She said, “We will sell this home in three months.” As you can see above she wrote the date just to prove it. We got an offer quickly and we joked that we were beating the deadline. Don’t laugh at deadlines given by fortune cookies.
What followed was one of the hardest deals I have been in. Usually one side of a transaction is a little more accomodating than the other. In this case both sides were very determined and up against their own situations. The agent and I got a little snippy with each other at times but we acknowledged that it wasn’t personal; we were representing our clients. I respected him for that, unlike some agents who I think are difficult just because.
As the umpteenth suprise happened my client reminded me of the fortune cookie. She said, “I’m not worried. It will close on the 25th.” Not to be too much of a pessimist I just replied, “We’ll see.” Hope for the best, right?
Much to my surprise it closed on time, sort of (it closed on the 25th and funded the next business day). I did more juggling, negotiating, cajoling, pleading, and heel digging than I think I have had to do in one transaction. There were so many things that were just frustrating but it was satisfying when it was done.
So before you buy or sell, go have a good meal and a fortune cookie just so you have some back up.
