Rescheduled

     Today, the first business day since I started this blog, I was re-scheduled twice.  My first appointment was with another agent to talk about the structure of the "testimonial" video we plan to make for a local builder/developer.  That agent had to move our appointment back an hour, and my schedule was a little too tight to accommodate him, so we're meeting tomorrow after the office/team meeting instead.  My second appointment was with one of the buyers that I mentioned in my previous post.  I heard back from their lender and learned that they won't qualify for a loan for at least six months.  They're anxious to get out of their tough living situation and asked to talk about looking for a lease option.  I don't really feel comfortable advising someone to attempt to purchase a home when they don't currently qualify for a loan, and I've made that clear and they still want to see what's out there.  I emailed them all of the lease option listings and will research the homes that meet their needs.  If I'm successful in finding them a home and negotiating a offer, it will be my first transaction of this type.
     The rest of my day was spent working on some emails, and making phone calls.  I received a call from a past client, who inquired about selling her home, even though she only purchased it a year ago.  I advised her to hold on to it for at least a few more years and to rent it out if necessary.  I'll have my lender contact her in the morning to counsel her on the feasibility of getting another loan while she rents her current home out.  I followed up with a few other leads and left a quite a few messages.  I also made some maintenance calls to help keep my two contracts in escrow, on schedule.  As for those two contracts, one of them took another step toward closing when my buyer went in to sign papers this afternoon.  This contract is with a bank owned property and will probably take a few more days to close, as we have to wait for the contract to be signed by an out-of-state bank representative.  Nonetheless, I am thrilled to be so close to receiving my first paycheck of 2011.
   My plans for the rest of the week are to work on prospecting FSBO(for sale by owner) and expired listings.  I'll also be calling my sphere-of-influence to see if I can get a few referrals and I'll be working on getting price reductions on two of my listings.  One I know will be fairly easy to negotiate.  I took them to see three competing listings last week, and I think they got the message.  The other reduction may not be so easy.  He's an elderly gentleman who has been hard to convince thus far.  I just wish I could get him to take a look at the competition, or at least get him online so he can see some pictures of the homes he's priced over.  I might have to chisel away at him for a while, but I will get a price reduction.