Just a couple of months ago I helped a young couple -- first-time buyers -- purchase a lot in Madison County. They were looking for a place to build their first home and wanted to stay in a particular city.
The pair came to me via a floor duty call. Their original question had to do with a lot listed by our agency. I gave them the pricing and told them a bit about the land. It was out of their price range, so, of course, I offered to see what else was available that would meet their needs. The wife said, "You'd really do that for us?" Well, sure.
I came up with several possibilities, called them back and one property in particular intrigued them. The wife confessed, "We saw that one listed online and called to ask some questions about it. They were mean to us on the phone, so we didn't go see it." (Ah-hah. Now I was beginning to see why she was so shocked that I would help them find an alternative lot. Apparently no one else had wanted to "mess with" such a small deal.)
Not being "mean" myself, I urged the couple to drive by anyway and then told them I'd do some research on the property. Long story short, I became their agent and we successfully acquired the lot.
The wife and I correspond by e-mail periodically, (she has me in her address book as "Nice Realtor Nancy" -- that's so cute) but I didn't have a recent update on their plans for the lot. Last night I was in the neighborhood and decided to drive by to see if they had done any prep work to the site. Much to my surprise, there was a lovely, new ranch home on the lot. It looks like it might be just a few weeks from completion.
It makes me feel great that I played a role in this family's happiness. The moral? Maybe it's just that sometimes being nice can get you "a lot."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
About the Author: Nancy Milton, GRI, is a REALTOR with the GoshenRealtyGroup at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Kristina Pratt help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs with special emphasis on homes for sale in Madison County and the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville, Troy, Bethalto and surrounding areas.
Goshen Realty Group takes its name from the earliest nickname for Madison County, Illinois -- the Land of Goshen -- coined when the region's first settlers compared their new home east of the Mississippi River to the biblical land of peace and plenty.
For more information, visit GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Nancy at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com. Text or call Nancy at 618-791-8007. REMAX Preferred Partners is located at One 157 Center, Edwardsville, IL 62025.
Please note that individual listings periodically mentioned in this blog are accurately described in terms of availability and price at the time of the posting. Because properties are constantly coming on and off the market, please contact Nancy for the latest information on those that are of particular interest to you.
