By Delilah (Dea) Kennen
Wheeling Board of REALTORS®
Homeownership Matters… if real estate is in your blood, if you’re doing what you know makes a positive influence in people lives, and most nights when you lay your head down, your gut tells you, “you did good today,” then you definitely know “homeownership matters!”
This past Christmas we had two agents working with clients that some agents would have called, “a waste of their time.”
I want to share this story for multiple reasons: 1) it speaks volumes about the integrity of great agents, 2) it speaks clearly that going the extra mile can lead to rich personal rewards, 3) it’s a story about caring for the people in your community. As Realtors®, isn’t that what we should be about? The people in our community make it possible for us to earn a living, and connect us with the lives of the people where we work and play… it’s called community!
Wheeling has thousands of old Victorian homes, some beautifully restored, but others are gutted and in need of great repair. Our listing agent listed one of those houses on Wheeling Island, the oldest neighborhood in our area. His seller had purchased it two years ago for $20,000. It was 150 years old, had no heat – it was a gutted shell. He needed to sell it because his health was failing, and he had no one but his dog for company. It was listed in the fall and we were concerned about no heat in the property, and of course, his failing health issues. Miracles began to happen when a buyer came along and offered $30,000 for the property, cash deal, but not closing until the end of December. The offer was accepted, and then the real challenge began. Where do we find a house on a tiny budget, and as quickly as possible with the winter closing in fast.
Enter our other agent, who just happened to have an $80,000 house, with a very motivated seller. It was a very long shot, but an offer was made for $25,000. No one was expecting a positive outcome. The home was old and had a very unattractive exterior, and it wasn’t in the best location. However, inside it was clean and tidy, with a newer furnace and updated bath, neither of which our elderly client had in his old Victorian. And then another miracle occurred, they accepted the $25,000 offer! No one was expecting that outcome…
Both our agents were so excited for our client, and they quickly called a couple more of our agents. They all went over before Christmas Eve and put up a Christmas tree for him. They cleaned the house, and put new bedding on his bed, and left some food in the refrigerator!
Later as they ushered him into his new home, he was clearly overwhelmed and deeply moved! Even though it took a couple of real estate miracles, we all saw how important “homeownership matters” in the lives of the people we serve!
