To Our Valued Clients,
The good news is that there is finally much good news in the housing industry! Pricing is stabilizing for our sellers, and buyers have historic affordability conditions. Sales are good and getting better. However, everything in our industry getting back-up! Reduced staffing levels for 5 years means that everyone is working long hours feverously trying to ramp up for greater workloads.
- Lenders are our greatest source of frustration. Late closings have always been a source of irritation but things are getting worse. We, and our clients, do all we can to keep constant pressure on this process but we must be prepared for some disappointment. Underwriters are not customer service driven!
- Appraisers are back-logged and take longer to start and complete the appraisal. It is not uncommon for them to be called back by the underwriter to address questions or re-inspection issues. Response times are not impressive because this industry has been decimated. We recommend buyers hire the appraiser early in the transaction now.
- Inspectors and Contractors: For five years home inspectors and repair contractors have been ‘on call’ and available within 2 or 3 days. This too is changing requiring more notice.
What about us? Yes, Realtors® are very busy and we also are under a great deal of pressure right now. The increased demands mean we work longer hours and more aggressively to insure that our levels of service are not compromised.
Last fall, we hired Rena Herring, an accomplished and seasoned veteran Realtor® to join our team as our administrator. Rena works full time and by now, many of you have met her and been the recipient of her services for us and to you. This summer school break, we hired a master’s student as another full time administration specialist for us. She was very good and now has now been replaced by Becky Simpson, who works full time, and does a great deal of support work for our clients.
We built our company around an extremely high level of client services and we are not going to let these current demands compromise our promises to you. Our communications have been the most challenging. We are focusing on this right now.
What I want you to know with full confidence is that all the services and advertising we promised you has continued for over 5 years without compromise and with continuously expanding services and venues. Our busyness has no effect on the attention your property receives, or our availability to immediately respond to our buyers for showings or offers. Every transaction receives the most diligent personal attention.
From the beginning we have asked only this: If we are faithful to do all we promised to you, we ask only for your continued loyalty. We only get paid if we are successful. We build our reputation on your opinions of us and your willingness to tell others of our work.
Best regards,
Randy
