Listening is always beneficial ... in real estate and in life. 

Discernment if a powerful tool as well ... it helps with separating the bull from the bullcrap. 

Here's my most amazing story:

I had a buyer who told me that they wanted a 3-bedroom single-family home with at least a bath and a half, or better.. between $350,000 and $400,000.

I found them a 3-bedroom, single-family home with 2 full baths, listed for $405,000.

And here's the amazing part:  We negotiated it down to $370,000 and they bought it!  I know, Amazing, right?!

I once had a relocation buyer tell me their last agent had to show them 60 homes before they could decide. I told her I wouldn't need to show her 60 homes.  She found out I was right because I listened. I showed her about 5 homes, including one in an area they said they would absolutely NOT buy in. As it turned out they HAD to have THAT house.  Listening is a powerful skill.

At one time at I had a pecan shelling business listed for sale, and a prospective buyer came in to the office to discuss it. In the course of a lengthy converstaion he gave me his first-hand account of the Lubbock tornado that occured on May 11, 1970. It was an F5 tornado that tore through the downtown and northeast area of Lubbock killing 26 people. He was a resident of the northeast area and was present in the thick if it. I still get goosebumps thinking about him telling it. People like to tell their stories, and for most, I am willing to listen. To me, it is what builds authentic relationships.

Listening is a skill acquired, not born with that we all must practice.

And in the next chapter of this thriller...

1st off ... Romanian Communist Party is no longer. Did this happen years ago? Must have. In his bible, I'm sure there is a passage on fibbing. This is a big one that might count as 2.

There are so many great & no so great stories that hear. Can't think of one to beat this one. If I do, I'll stop back.

Have not met that many in Real Estate, but working in the woods as a Forester for the last 35 years I have met many interesting characters like this one, some I believe, others I am a bit skeptical about.

Oh my Gaga! 

One of the more interesting benefits of real estate is the variety of people we meet and get to know, if we allow ourselves.

Annette,

In the course of our lives we have heard many stories, including family stories.  We both are excellent listeners, and still work on perfecting our skills on this subject....and we do have a dear Romanian friend., and we negotiated 3 locations for him.    A

I now many great stories Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041 but I can not think of a single one related to my Real Estate life.

taking the time to engage and listen.... getting to know people....and finding a common ground, if possible..

Some of us need to work on our listening skills.

Listening to people is never a bad thing when you work as a real estate agent.

Jehova Witness have a problem . Scores of Geneva Bibles from 1580-1640 still exist . The 1611 King James still reads the same in 2020 . The 1975 New America Standard agrees nearly word for word with these two(above) Finally the 1978 NIV Bible also agrees. The Jehovas Witness Founded around 1875 have Bibles that have been altered to read different then the Four Bibles above ranging from 1540-1980 . They deny the Lordship of Jesus which grieves the Holy Spirit( the Only unpardonable sin !) . It is a religion based on works . Without Faith it is impossible to please GOD . My Sunday Sermon for today .

I met a woman that went through the Nazi concentrate camps in her youth and then was freed to end up in a Russian camp for years digging coal in mines that were freezing for the rest of her youth. She showed me her hands that had deep coal splinters in them never to come out. Her face was the face of the ages. Her speech calm & truth driven. She learned to respect life. She believed in never selling the land but to hand it down through the generations. She was a type of recluse but over several weeks I penetrated into her world to the point where she had me in for home-made cookies & revealed her personal self. Her son shows up and couldn't believe her sharing with me. Old, tired but refusing to give-in or give-up and realizing that this was her life she remained a rock of love. I wept driving all the way home a better man