Dear George,

 

We are settling into our new Union Pier vacation home, although Marianne and I have had limited use of it.  It seems our two married children (and one yet-to-be-married daughter) have finessed us out of some weekends wanting to “enjoy the house alone”.  Actually, we are delighted because we wanted this to be a “family” get-away house, and it looks like it’s fitting the bill.

 

I wanted to write and thank you for your help in the acquisition of this home.  What did you do to help?  Plenty.  You listened patiently to us and soon honed in on the type of property we wanted.  Knowing extensively the properties available in the area, you quickly helped us find one to our liking.  Then, you worked hard for us in the negotiation process remembering that, in this instance, you were representing the buyer and not the seller nor yourself.

 

I make a special point of saying this because many agents want to make a quicker sale and often press or try to embarrass a buyer into offering a price closer to the seller’s asking price.  Many agents will say to a buyer, “Oh, you can’t expect me to submit such a low offer.”  If successful, this practice makes negotiations easier for the agent and a sale more likely (including the gaining of a commission), but it does not work to the best interests of the buyer whom he represents.

 

When Marianne and I first met you at an open house in Lakeside, I decided you should be our agent.  On leaving the open house, Marianne asked me why I wanted to work with you over other agents recommended to us.  I told her it was because you said to me, “Jack, I’ll submit any bid you want to make, on any house.”  I told Marianne, as buyers, your attitude would work in our favor.  And, it did.  To determine estate value, we recently had the house appraised.  The appraisal came back at $685,000, without the furniture.  Not bad, considering we paid $170,000 less than that if we attribute a modest value to the furniture that was part of the deal.

 

All I can say is, “Thank you, George Pomeroy.”  (But don’t tell the County Assessor).

 

 

Best regards,

Jack Bankier