Adam Miller | REALTOR®

Real Estate's Worst Nightmare

Snow Storm Jonas: One Reason to Use a Local Agent

It was January 22, 2016, and what was a mild winter - one without snow and temperatures more in line with September rather than January - was soon to change.

That same day I was scheduled to have a closing. A retiring couple from Long Island, New York were looking to relocate to a place convenient to Washington, D.C. with access to good hospitals in an established area that would suit their lifestyle. After a few weekends of shopping we had decided that a single-story villa in Falling Waters, West Virginia was perfect for their needs.

I found that the buyers were capable of receiving veteran's benefits under a USAA program, but also referred them to a local lender to get the process started quickly. After putting them into the USAA program, they decided to instead go with a mortgage through Quicken but still got their veteran's benefits. I had not really dealt with Quicken first hand, but from what I heard things were not always the best. I think some of that goes with a big name, big reputation, and I expect that everybody is competent enough to do their job until proven otherwise. With some careful planning, constant communication, and high standards, I could stay on top of the mortgage processor and guide them to the smooth transaction that my client's deserved.

The property was tenant-occupied which can sometimes cause issues, but that was not the case here. Working with a local real estate colleague on the listing side went as planned. They kept the place very neat and clean. The home inspection and all other inspections went well. The mortgage, processed through Quicken Loans, went superbly. The closing was actually supposed to take place a week prior, so everything on the buyer side was finished in advance. I have to commend Heather Barry there at Quicken who did a great job of communicating every requirement necessary. It was a little rough at first; we probably jumped through four mortgage agents in a week, but once I was able to connect with Heather, we were golden. The appraisal of the residence came in over asking price so we were set to close.

The one-week delay in closing stemmed from the sale of their home in New York. The mortgage process for the buyer in New York was delayed, delaying our West Virginia closing. That one-week did not put the deal in jeopardy, but it could not have come with worst timing.

Now we come back to January 22, 2016. My New York buyers were settling on their sale in New York on January 21st which was a Thursday. Immediately following, they were driving into West Virginia where they would stay the night and then close on the home in Falling Waters on Friday at noon with a local settlement attorney. Movers were set for Monday. The worst blizzard in at least ten years was set for two o'clock Friday afternoon.

It could not have come at a worse time. Four feet of snow stretched across a half-mile between their hotel room and their new home, not to mention every metropolitan area in the northeast. I was concerned for their safety ahead of time, but they assured me they would be fine. They were going to remain in the hotel for a few days while the storm was cleaned up. Still, the hotel only had a continental breakfast and no restaurant so I implored them to contact me if they had any needs. Apparently the local stores had decided to remain open and have employees stay at the hotel as well.

As the weekend passed and snow continued through Saturday evening, it was clear by Sunday that moving day was going to be delayed. On Sunday evening the buyers called me saying the movers were postponing to Wednesday but they were still not able to make it to the home. From my general contracting connections, I know the guy that plows the street and does the lawns in the spring, so I gave them his number to contact. Unfortunately he was tied up with work obligations and that was not going to work out, but they were on schedule for spring. From my connections at the local high schools, I know a young man just living on the same block who just got his license and would likely be looking for some gas money.

By Wednesday, most of the roads were still in hazardous condition, but the move-in went as planned. Having a local REALTOR made the process much easier. Most of the snow plows in the area were tied up all week, and they could have paid a small fortune getting an emergency response. My clients are extremely happy with the home they found - and I think they appreciate the local service they received.

One Reason to Use a Local Agent | Written by Adam Miller | www.adammiller.realtor
Coldwell Banker Premier Homes | Shepherdstown, WV