Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Getting along . . . Be nice!

Handling emotions of a real estate transaction going wrong reaches fever pitch. Both sides find themselves in issues where they are right and the other side is wrong. It is human nature that kicks in. The passion to be right with no desire to look at the issues from another viewpoint. After years of working with people, it seems a smooth transaction is harder to come by. The culture today would tell you that it is all about an I - Me - Myself attitude that makes people act the way they do. Self-interest dominates what is right and wrong. There is some truism to that. That is what makes us human and fallible. When each side gets past the issues and looks back it most always seems petty. Why did I get so wound up over the small stuff? There are many facets of getting a transaction to the closing table. From dealing with mechanical issues, to appraisers making a personal opinion that threatens the transaction, to moving day battles over when the sellers should vacate to meet buyers demands for possession, to battles over the personal belongings that should be left in a home. I think back when contracts were simplified. Just record what the buyer is requesting in the deal and what the seller will agree to that will make all parties exited about the prospect of a new home for the buyer and moving on to new experience for the seller. Remember when it was all written on a one page contract. There were limited arguments about what was considered personal property to stay with the house. Was it just a time when people were just nicer to each other? Perhaps that is the key to a smooth transaction. Let's just be nice!