Monday Morning Match is a simple post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.

The week started with such promise. I arrived in Nashville for a speaking engagement and was waiting to hear back on an offer I had made for clients before leaving town. After some quick back-and-forth negotiating, by Monday afternoon, I was excited to contact my client and let them know they were in contract. It’s always such an exciting moment for Realtors everywhere when we can share the news with our Buyers or Sellers that they are now that much closer to a successful purchase or sale of a property.

Due to a mixture of good timing and excitement, the home inspection was scheduled for mid-week and the lender began working on the loan process. Things were looking very positive for a smooth transaction but then, suddenly, they weren’t.

As all of the “little things” from the inspector’s report started adding up, it quickly appeared that there was a little more work needed beyond some general touch-ups, a few gallons of paint, and a possible weekend-long “honey-do list.” When it became clear that the two sides weren’t going to be able to come together on how to satisfy each side’s wants and needs, a Termination Agreement was executed and just like that, as quickly as it came together, it was over.

Do not pass Go! Do not collect $200.

I shared some words of wisdom with my clients that I learned many years ago from a real estate trainer and mentor;

If you’re going to lose a deal, lose it today and not next week.”

It’s never easy to know you’re going to have to go back into the battleground and start the search all over again. Nobody likes losing. Sometimes it just doesn’t hurt as much when you rip the bandage off quickly, instead of finding out weeks later, sometimes a few days before the scheduled closing, that the deal isn’t going to happen. The longer a client stays “in contract”, the more likely the Buyers will develop an emotional attachment to the home, neighborhood, and community or the Seller will start to dream about where they will be going next.

As they say in sports, “you can’t win ’em all,” so it’s probably a good idea to wake up tomorrow and focus on building relationships, solving problems and having fun.

I guess that’s why the rear-view mirror is smaller than the windshield, huh?

Photo courtesy of Ramon Kagie

Photo courtesy of veeterzy