Do you believe in magic and dream homes? Well I do. When folks are buying and selling homes, they are emotional, full of hopes and dreams and visions. They may get disappointed a couple times during the buying and/or selling process, but in the end, things usually work out so they have a happy ending. The following is a favorite story of mine.
I represented a couple who had a young son. They wanted to move closer to some family members and nearer a school for their son. They also needed to sell their current residence. We decided to go out and locate a replacement home first. After searching for a week or so and being disappointed with just about everything they saw, I suggested we go and look at a property they noted online but had previously decided they did not want to see. After looking at homes with them for a while, I had a good idea what they would like and felt strongly that this one had potential. We took separate cars, and as we drove up the street to the property I suggested, the soft spring breeze was blowing the white ornamental pear blossoms off of all the lawn trees and blowing them across and up the street in front of our cars like a flower girl spreading rose petals in front of a bride walking down the aisle. That is when I knew that this was THE home.
We all went inside, and immediately my clients had a strong emotional reaction to the property. It was the right size, had the right amenities, and it had decor and details that had meaning for Mrs. Client. Mr. Client fell in love with the pool, the RV access, the corner lot, huge updated kitchen (he was a great cook) and the condition of the home. He had always been a bit subdued, but now he almost grabbed me and said "where do I sign?" We wrote the offer, but someone else had already submitted an all cash offer. We had to wait a couple days to hear back from the seller.
My clients decided to list their current home, and it sold in a week; much sooner than expected and for a price higher than their asking price. However, just prior to receiving this offer, we heard back that the seller of the Dream Home had accepted the cash offer. My clients were very disappointed, and we had to go out looking at properties again. My clients were dragging out responding to the buyer's offer, unsure if they could find a home as good as the Dream Home. Mrs. Client did not want to go looking, but Mr. Client agreed to look at a couple listings I chose for them. After being disappointed by both, my client and I got back into my car and decided to just head back to his house. They were thinking of taking their property off the market until they found just the right home again.
However, before I could start the car, the agent of the Dream Home called me (Mr. Client sitting next to me). I almost jumped through the roof and nearly droppd my phone when I saw who was calling, certain of the reason for her call. And I was right; the other buyers, the cash buyers, were cancelling the deal, and she wanted to see if my clients still wanted the Dream Home. I was shaking, and my client was sitting next to me agog at the news. I was actually teary-eyed. Yes, they still wanted the home! She was sending over a counter offer to our initial offer for my clients to sign and accept. The home they fell in love with was theirs.
Needless to say, Mrs. Client was stunned when we got back to their home after Mr. Client told her the news. It was somewhat unreal. But she felt it was magic and meant to be that they got that home. And I tend to agree with her. Profoundly. I do believe in Dream Home Magic. I do. I do.