Like all good sales people Realtors will tell you that they are going to do their very best to provide you a service that their competition will possibly not do as well. If you really think about it, we are all providing the same service. So what makes one of us stand out more than the others? One promise to this end is to provide a “seamless transaction”. What exactly is a seamless transaction anyway?
I believe the concept comes from the second definition in the Encarta dictionary, “perfectly smooth- free from awkward transitions and creating perfectly smooth continuity” That does sound good doesn’t it? That is something all of us want when investing in or selling off our biggest asset. We want the transaction to go smoothly. Who wouldn’t? But it is not something a Realtor can promise. In fact I think it is a disservice to you to make that kind of promise. I think that it would serve you, the consumer, a lot better if we were honest with you and told you that there is going to be at least one moment. The moment will be of panic, angst, doubt, or discomfort. We never know what the moment is going to be about or when it will come but there will be at least one.
It could be in the beginning when you get multiple offers and panic that you think you priced the house too low, or as a buyer, it could come after the inspection and you are reviewing the thirty page report for the first time and feel like the things that need to be done are insurmountable. Maybe it is when the mortgage contingency is up and you don’t have your mortgage and you need an extension. There are hundreds of times and places that the “moment” could occur. The good news is that it will pass, because most things in most transactions are workable or according to Encarta “able to be accomplished or carried out”.
This is really what your Realtor is saying. She is saying that she has the ability to work things out, to be there for you when the moment arrives and help you get through it. Just don’t let her say that it will be “seamless”. After all, residential real estate has a personal component and most of the time that is why there are “moments”. People are complex and everyone is unique, causing each of us to bring something different to the table when we are interacting with others. It could be a past experience, it could be our personalities, our upbringing, it could be any number of things, even our horoscope if you ask some! The point is that our individuality is what makes every transaction different and unpredictable and what makes some moments bigger for some than others. It can be an emotional journey that takes you by surprise but it doesn’t have to take over the deal.
What your Realtor should tell you in the beginning is that she cannot promise something that she has no control over. She can promise to be there for you every step of the way and to help you work through each moment!
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