Have you ever paused to contemplate the multitude of individuals involved in the completion of a real estate transaction?
Let’s begin with an initial rundown of roles in a traditional sale:
- Seller
- Buyer
- Seller’s Real Estate Agent/Brokerage
- Buyer’s Real Estate Agent/Brokerage
- Seller’s Lender (providing payoff letter for current loan and mortgage release forms)
- Buyer’s Lender/ Loan Officer
- Buyer’s Lender/ Processor
- Buyer’s Lender/ Underwriter
- Buyer’s Lender/Closing and Funding Department
- Appraiser
- Home Inspector (not mandatory but highly recommended)
- Homeowner’s Association (occasionally)
- Title Company or Real Estate Attorney
- Government Agencies involved with recording and ensuring ownership documents filed properly
That’s potentially up to fourteen individuals involved in ONE transaction. I bring this up to emphasize that this is a team endeavor. Each of us has a distinct role, yet the outcome of the transaction can be influenced by numerous factors, and every participant has a duty to support the Seller’s and Buyer’s objectives.
Currently, the news media is inundating us with stories of hurt, violence, and discord both globally and locally. Amidst all this negativity, it’s easy to jump on the negative bandwagon when something in the transaction doesn’t go as planned and forget about the collective effort everyone is putting in to achieve the goal of buying or selling a home.
In such moments, I urge you to take a step back and remember that we are all on the same team, striving to achieve the same objective. We are all human, and mistakes or unexpected issues may arise, but as a team, we will do our utmost to meet the Seller’s and Buyer’s goals. The entire team is collaborating, working together to find solutions with minimal disruption.
This brings to mind the concept of “meek” (not to be confused with “weak”). Consider that all participants are strong enough to assert themselves and ensure that all necessary actions are completed, yet kind enough to understand that if something goes awry, providing constructive feedback is all that’s needed to get back on track.
Be meek, humble, and kind.
Best wishes in all your real estate and life endeavors. Feel free to reach out if you think I can be of assistance.
