[Boomer]

We have not yet done a Lifestyle. We have been to TV once. We rented for a month because we have the place under serious consideration and wanted to take some time.

Our rep was professional and gracious during the visit. And so were we. We visited a lot of Open Houses on our own to get a general idea of what was available. When scheduled with the rep, we did not waste her time or ours having her show us anything out of the price range we established. I really try to be conscious of not wasting people's work time.

I asked quite a few specific questions about taxes, contingencies, inspections, title insurance. I was just trying to get my head around the differences between buying in Ohio and buying in Florida. I have bought and sold FSBO a few times and held a license a thousand years ago, but I did not quit my day job. I just wanted to understand real estate better so I got a license. Therefore, I may have had more specific questions than she was used to being asked.

Anyway, I asked the questions, nicely, of course. She answered them nicely. But I have a feeling that maybe she thought I was a PITA. The market was just beginning the slow down. And I think during the peak of the market the questions may not have had time to be asked. Don't know.

We told her that we would be back but would not be buying on that trip. I did not say anything about contact. We left on a nice note. (She was not the same rep as the one in an Open House who told me I would be "sorry" if I did not buy.) The rep we were scheduled with seemed really professional. Maybe she just got way busy or something. It really surprised me that there was no follow-through.

We have never heard from her. That would be OK except for one thing which I found a little odd. We introduced her to people who did buy. She closed a deal on a home for them. Wouldn't you have thought I would have received a little email note thanking me for the referral? That's how I would have handled it had I been on the rep end of it.

I had asked very specific questions about the business end of how real estate sales were handled in Florida. I was asking those questions as a potentially interested buyer. Was asking a lot of business-end questions a blunder of some sort?

I am probably coming off like I am in a snit or like I think I am Miss Manners. Quite simply put though, it mystified me. She did not get business from me but she got business through me. The manners issue is not really the issue here as much as the business issue. Someone who helps you to do business should get a thank you. Thanking someone for the business or for sending the business gets more business. Right?

So anyway, we will return sometime during this year. So we will see what happens. And btw, the MLS rep was great.

ohdearohdearohdearohdear Now I sound like a PITA Miss Manners clone in a snit. Really, really I'm not like that at all. Really. I'm just a little mystified.

Cordially,
Ms. Boomer Emily Amy Vanderbilt Post