After leaving the closing table, is it time to say goodbye?
I read a blog post today that really struck home with me (yes, I'm a blog reader...in fact, I know I read too much, and don't write enough, but I'm working on it!). Vicki Moore at Agent Genius described perfectly a situation I find myself in often.
While working with clients, I often get quite attached to them. It doesn't always happen, of course, but I can honestly say that it happens more often than not. I learn about them, their families, their pets (a mutual love of dogs is always a bonding moment!) and their lifestyles. I listen to their stories, their wants & needs, and spend hours in their company while looking at houses...searching for the right one, the one that will be their home.
If I'm not given the opportunity (yes, it's an opportunity...not a burden) to drive them around town while house hunting, I miss out on getting to know them...and I love to get to know people. I love learning new things, and hearing about other people's experiences is a great way to do that (the 10 minutes in between houses is a great time learn more!). And sharing what I know about real estate, especially with first time buyers, is always a great way to spend the drive time between houses. Can you understand why I get disappointed when, for whatever reason, my clients are following behind, rather than riding along?
So, we've spent a week, a month, or even a year (it happens!) looking for & pursuing the right home, and now we're sitting at the closing table. It's a happy day, of course, but sometimes it's bittersweet for me because I know that after today (until the next time you need to buy or sell), I no longer fill a need for you. Sure, you may call with a question or two (do you know a good roofing guy?), but for the most part, like Vicki wrote in her post....I'm no longer a part of your day to day life, and it can be a little disconcerting. Unless, of course, we've become friends throughout the process, which thankfully, quite often happens.
I like staying in contact with most (like 99.9%) of my clients (yes, there are a few that I have the same fondness for as I do a distant relative...they're distant for a reason, right?) , and can happily say that I've become friends with many of them. So, even though they're happily situated in their new home, I can call them up just because I want a chat, or a lunch date. And that is one of the great perks of my job. So, thankfully, leaving the closing table doesn't always mean "goodbye."