Why I Do Short Sales - A Realtor's Perspective

I get asked this by other realtors all the time.  

Why in the world do you DO short sales?

​The problem most realtors have with a short sale transaction are issues that most come with.  #1 on the list are the banks.  Here are the common complaints about the banks:

• Constant submittal of the SAME documents: negotiators often ask for the same bank statements or pay stub 3-4 times.  This has more to do with the volume of files they're working with and the limited time they have to spend on each file, than with trying to actively piss you off.  They have pages and pages of documents for each file, so rather than hunt through the system for the exact one they're looking for, it's usually faster for them to ask you to resend. 
• Long hold times: Yes, the banks are BUSY, we get that, but calling on certain days (Monday) at certain times (9am) will get you an earful of annoying, upbeat hold muzak. No fun at all.
• Leaving messages that are never returned: see "constant submittal..." The negotiators work so many files at once, despite their "I will get back to you within 48 hours" voicemail, they often don't. I'm not offended.

What I learned after getting a few under my belt is that the negotiators don't take these files personally and neither should I.  They really are trying their best to get as many files closed as they can, and they really aren't trying to make my life a living hell.  They ask, ask again, ask again, then move on.  If they don't get what they want from me, they move on to the next file.  I've learned early on that I can be a big baby and whine about how mean and unprofessional they are, or I can suck it up, and send what they want, RIGHT AWAY with a big smile on my face and a "is there anything else I can provide to make this go faster?" 

At that point it becomes a lesson in smiling like you mean it (even though they can't see you through the phone, and therefore can't see the accompanying hand gesture!).

But what I love most is the satisfaction of actually helping someone move on.  A lot of my sellers have melt downs throughout the transaction, and it's not always a smooth ride, but just about all of them feel so much relief and are very appreciative when it's all done.  At the start, most are reluctant and feel like they're forced to move on, but that changes as we get to the finish line.  The fresh start makes it all worthwhile.

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