You know for a lot of people, weekends are a great time to kick back and enjoy some richly deserved time off with the family. It offers an opportunity to spend some time, so you can catch up on those “honey do” list chores you have been putting off for the last few months. And for years now, let’s face it, haven’t we had it drummed into our brains that
“Weekends are made for Michelob.”
But if you are in the Real Estate business, it is more like time to say,
“Stop the presses.”
Weekends are a whole different bag for Real Estate practitioners. The typical weekend will be super busy with a myriad of activities that include, showing lots of houses (because that’s when most buyers have the time to look), holding Open Houses, which will pretty much shoot most of the afternoon (since they typically run from 1-3 mostly on Sundays but there are some on Saturdays too) and you should show up at least an half hour early to set things up, and you should count on being there to deal with stragglers who have questions after the 3 o’clock bell.) Then you have to go and gather up all your open house signs with directionals. After that you might have some time left while there is still daylight to show a couple of houses more.
Of course, if you are doing well at this, you might have to actually write a contract or two for some of the houses you have shown or for the house you just had open. This is part of bringing about a sale and this will necessitate your spending a hefty amount of time explaining the entire process. You probably have already gone over it a few times periferally with “your people” before, but now that you are setting it down on paper (electronically or otherwise) you need to go over it again, because it is real and not just theoretical. This is an exciting part of the process and crucial so that everyone literally stays on the same page.
During the course of your free weekend, you will probably have to make what seems like a kazillion calls, confirming appointments, making appointments, gathering information from mortgage loan officers so that everything runs smoothly. And the worst part is having to deal with buyers who will habitually run late or God forbid simply elect to become NO SHOWS. (If you are reading this last part and you are an agent, feel free to drop a few quiet F bombs.) The best part is you get to the evening and now you can chill. NOT!
The evening hours will frequently be taken up with offers being conveyed and then the back and forth of negotiating, with closing dates, escrow deposits, home inspection timelines, and all the stuff that goes into the meat of making the deal. If it all sounds exhausting, you are right. So my advice to you if you are a buyer or a seller, is give your agent a hug, because by Sunday night they will need one.
Now who stole my Michelob?
“Hey, I wrote the book on Real Estate, literally.”
Author Brendan J. Cunningham is a New York Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker, lead of the Platinum Team at HusVar Real Estate, as well as an accomplished writer, Shakespearean trained professional actor, and podcaster.
Start your home search now at www.husvarre.com