Some of the most inconsiderate people I’ve found over these many years are those who willing and freely make appointments and don’t show up for them. It doesn’t happen so often with people who are looking to purchase, but the ones who are looking to rent are the absolute worst. Twice today I was stood up by two different people who wanted to see several homes for rent. That’s all I can say, “It certainly tells me the type of irresponsibility as well as dis-respect they have towards others.”
I knew a property manager long ago who once said, “If a prospective tenant is late for an appointment without calling ahead and saying they’re going to be late, they’ll likely be chronically late with their rent as well.” My response was, “If they’re more than ten minutes late without calling, I just move on and don’t even bother trying to get in touch with them.”
With my being in the midst of several quirky sales files, I can say even some of my colleagues are remiss in getting things accomplished on a timely basis. I’ve come to the conclusion that far too many people stand too close to problems and are unable to look at the whole pictures. In standing too close, people often forget to consider the number of people involved and the affects they are having on not just one, but many. I’m sure you’ve all heard the expression about standing back and looking at the whole picture. It’s almost like looking thru the window of a downtown building, but not realizing the immense size of the building as a whole. I have to laugh every time someone speaks about my building and sometimes ask, “Do you own the floor above?” I know in many cities there are business condominiums, but here in Mason City, they’re few and far between. I think they ask that because nearly all the other real estate offices in Mason City are only one story buildings.
Since Halloween is approaching, I thought it a good time to speak about another home which I personally considered to have some sort of entity in it. If I haven’t ever been in a home that’s listed before, I try to get there a little early and familiarize myself with it. This particular home had been in the decedent’s family ever since it was built. I’d known of the family but really wasn’t acquainted with them. I distinctly remember that afternoon to be warm and sunny and my spirits similarly mirroring the day. Not but moments after I entered the home, I began to get this weird feeling of sadness. The more I walked through the home the more I was feeling it. My final destination was the second floor, and by the time I was walking down, I was beginning to get nauseous.
It wasn’t anything I could see, touch, taste, or smell, but it was there. When the buyers arrived, I could tell they were not the most chipper by the time they walked out. While walking out with them I asked, “So what did you think of the home?” The wife quickly snapped, “Nice house but wrong fit.” I guess that summed it up pretty bluntly. As I’ve told many over the years, “If it doesn’t feel like it’s going to work, then keep looking.” I should start using the “wrong fit” in a few more conversations because that’s what it’s all about. Better to have the right fit than the wrong—especially when purchasing a home, since you can’t take homes back to the store like a pair of shoes that don’t fit.
