Can it be that at the most difficult times in your life, you often find that the world seems to be against you?  Ahem, I know you all can certainly relate.

No one said that real estate is easy. And I for one am actually happy about that.  I often think that it will help weed out those who are in it for the so called “easy money.”  Those that survive are above those who don’t…simply because we are good at what we do. And we will survive!

I recently had the pleasure of meeting a sweet woman who, due to personal reasons had to sell.  She wanted to talk to me about listing her penthouse that her and her husband had owned in a highly desirable location and building in West Hollywood.  In July of last year, I listed the same penthouse for $950,000. in the next door “sister building” and am glad to report that, despite the condo needing a complete overhaul, it sold for $939,000. in just 8 days.  I was able to do this because of my research and in-depth understanding of not only the building, but also the area.  And certainly my relationship within the real estate community.

So when I received the “call” from the homeowner saying that she had chosen someone else to represent her, I was shocked.  First, how could she tell me to put together some pricing and research/analysis and not even give me the respect to review it with her.  Second, as I do with all my clients, I told her that she may have a different opinion of what the unit was worth, and that we would discuss it and come to an agreement.  So why did she choose another agent? Because she said that the agent came in with a higher list price.  Again, I was shocked.  “How much higher!” I thought to myself.  I gave her a ballpark without research of somewhere between $850-$900,000.  I knew that it would fall somewhere in there simply because of my sale last year, which was a stronger market.  Certainly she could not have listed it higher than $939,000. That just would not make sense.  Granted it is a cleaner unit, but it needs everything-kitchen, carpets, bathrooms, pergo flooring, you name it.  It needs everything!  Like a punch in the stomach leaving me winded, it just hurts.

I can not believe for one moment that I will build my business by lying.  By inflating a price only to get a listing just seems unethical to me.  And for that in and of itself I must not take it personal.  It is not how I do business and it is not how I will do business.  And for that….I will survive!