As Unlikely Is It May Seem... Once In A While... some buyers or sellers in the Fort Worth, Texas area actually use the services of a Realtor other than Karen Anne Stone. This can often be a very trying experience for them... fraught with dismay and disappointment. Here is a case in point:
Pictured to the right... is Ms Ivana Newhouse. Ms Newhouse had been looking for a new home on her own for quite a while. Sometimes looking online, sometimes using the Sunday Paper and just driving around... she had not been having very much luck.
Then, she had the misfortune of using the Realtor team of Ilene and Ben Dover, who had only been in real estate for a short time. The agents had been referred to her by her ex-boyfriend, who it appears was not really trying to do Ivana any favors.
Ms Newhouse was not pleased. It was an absolute nightmare !
Things did not go well. Just before closing, the title company lost her documents, so her closing was delayed. Her loan program disappeared at the very last minute due to the current, ever-evolving mortgage loan mess.
So, she ended up being stuck with a six-month ARM loan program funded by Klingon Mortgage Corp. Although her loan officer from Klingon DID attend her closing, the only thing heard from him was mumbling something that sounded vaguely like "Git'r'done."
Her Home Inspector inspected the wrong house, the termite inspector sprayed her kids and the dog instead of the termites, and the pool inspector brought his bathing suit and a portable barbeque grill, and shows no signs of leaving.
Ivana hired a mover who was unfortunately referred to her by her loan officer from Klingon Mortgage Corp. At this present moment, Ms Newhouse has no clue what has happened to her furniture.
Whew !
After she finally closed and moved in to her home, she was exhausted. The next day she met her new neighbors and told them her long and tragic story.
AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT... her neighbors had sold their previous home thru Karen Anne Stone of The Michael Group Real Estate, and had also purchased their new home using Karen Anne's services as well.
After hearing her tale of woe, and being a part of Karen Anne's By Referral Only "Relationship Base," they did as Karen taught them. They gently planted a "referral seed"... by saying :
"Ivana... the next time you're in a conversation with someone, and they mention that they're thinking of buying a larger or more expensive home... please keep Karen Anne Stone in mind."
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
[ Editor's note: The above story occasionally does happen. HOWEVER... the names of the buyer, Ms Ivana Newhouse, and Realtors Ilene and Ben Dover are all FICTICIOUS... having been changed to protect either the innocent or the guilty, whichever the case may be. ]
Karen Anne ~ cute story! You made me smile the whole way through! And like every great story, you ended with a good moral! (I think we have agents named Ilene and Ben Dover here in Denver as well!)
Dawn: Thank you. Smiling is a wonderful thing to do for a Sunday Afternoon. Ahhh... and Ilene and Ben seem to be appearing just about everywhere, these days.
If we want referrals... we need to "plant the seeds"... and teach folks exactly how to refer us.
Karen - love your story and I need to learn to spin some of the same tales. If you don't ask you don't get and We all need to perfect the art of asking. Too many of our clients don't realize that we depend on referrals.
Very clever story Karen, and a great way to illustrate the point of referrals.
Loved it.. Thanks for making me smile today, it was more than needed!
And to all who didn't know it yet & are interested in New Construction in the Fort Worth area:
Don't negotiate with a builder alone, call Karen Anne Stone!
hahaha.. love the bendover and ileandover.. funny.. and the story does happen sometimes.. :)
Leah: Thank you. Telling a story is often such a great way to get a point across. It is so much better for someone to conclude on their own... the points you are trying to make... instead of you (or me) just trying to "tell" them.
These clients don't realize that we depend on referrals... cuz we don't TEACH that to them. It's really our fault, not theres... so... we teach. <smile>
John: Yes... telling stories works so much better that simply "telling" someone. And I will bet that it will happen for you, as well.
Andrea: What am I going to DO with you ? Gee... I just love the way you end your comments. I have never had anyone do that for me before. Thank you.
Smiling is a good thing. I bet you look even prettier when you smile. <oh gawrsh> And yes... Aunt Karen specializes in selling builder's homes... and can usually end up having the builder pay ALL of the buyer's closing costs. All of it.
Sheila: Yes... there are so many people out there that we really do not want to "Ben Dover" in front of. Ouch... <crinkly smile>
Sure the story happens. That's why we need to really, really take our buyers and our sellers... and teach them how to refer people to us. But I am sure you do that all the time.
Karen Anne, you are such a talented writer. Please think about being as prolific here as you once were. I miss your posts.
What a great read from word one on! Thanks for the delightful and important tale certainly don't want any more sad stories. Use Karen Anne Stone!
Lorrie: Bless you for your kind words. I have written and posted eight blog posts in the last four days. If I try and do any more... I'm afraid my hands might fly off my arms and go into orbit... LOL. But thank you for your kind words.
I have missed writing, as well. But... with this broken heart of mine... many days I am just so worn out that the most I can do is comment. But... thank you. And... eight in four days is nothing to sneeze at, is it ? <dorky smile>
Karen, you think it would be wrong to rent a billboard across the street from a new development and slam that slogan on there? ;-) I think a new blog entry is due about how you save your clients all that money for closing costs .. I'm sure you've already done that, but it's never too much to highlight the good!
Karen very cute. I'm just wondering if Ivanna Newhouse is related to Ivanna Humpalot (Austin Powers)
Clever and clever again, she really made one big mistake not using Ms Karen Stone
That's quite a story Karen - I wouldn't wish Ivanna's experience on ANYONE! You are so very funny!
I love real estate whimsy with a moral, Karen Anne. I can't wait until I meet someone who needs an agent in your area. I so want to refer to you!
Hi Karen - This really should have been featured. Very cleverly written.
By the way, there used to be a news reporter on the radio in Southern Califonria named Benjamin Dover. He never went by "Ben", but I often wondered why he didn't use his middle name, because he must have heard all the punch lines about his name.
Karen Anne, tears our coming out of my eyes, I was laughing so hard. Such a sad story but the names had me rolling over......I am so glad it will have a Happy ending when Ivana Newhouse moves out and lists with you. I doubt she will be using Ben Dover as her listing agent:))))))))))))
Ivana Newhome? Ilene and Ben Dover? Where did you come up with this stuff? I loved it and had a great laugh! You go girl!
Endre: That is the point of any and all of my blog posts... to make people cry... <dorky smile> Thanks for letting me know I was successful. I think Ben Dover might be the buyer's agent. Ilene Dover would be the Listing Agent. LOL.
Rhonda: This stuff just "comes" to me. Like a visitor in the middle of the night... leaving these dorky pearls of wisdom... LOL. Wish I could pump iron like you do, though. <she said... enviously>
I am glad I made you laugh. And... you Go Girl, as well... in the Nationals ? November ? Or was it October ?
Karen, I love it. Great example of using humor to make a great point.
Now Karen, that one was a hit! You have taken a very serious subject, add humor to it abd there you go...a featured
Karen, this is so funny but true! Too often buyers make a wrong choice of their agent and it can be very costly.
I have 'liked' your comments on this blog to add a few more points to your total.