[Hopeful2]

We have time until we retire, but we decided that if we find a lot that we love, we are ready to buy it right now. Well, we recently found a special lot ...twice ... (and before it even went on the market) ....but our sales rep said that she was "not fast enough" to get it for us. We are so disappointed and are finding that something that we thought would be a positive experience, has become very stressful. I do realize that the best lots are snatched up as soon as a new section opens, but I'm wondering if the rep makes a difference. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[laceylady]

We found we could not work with the first sales rep we had. Way too pushy. We simply got a recommendation from someone for another sales rep., called him and had a fun buying experience. I suggest you find someone you trust and who listens to you, and makes your experience fun. TV is all about relaxation and fun-- not stress.

[gmcneill]

In a word, absolutely. Good stress- trying to decide what model, colors, etc.- is part of what mskes the experience "fun".

The stress caused by your sales rep is not good stress.

[adichiara]

When I started looking I had a friend recommend a sales person who was terrible. I've been in one form of real estate or another all my life, so I know what to expect. The Villages called me and asked me why I didn't plan on using this person again and wanted to work with someone else. I told them why. Well I was so surprised that they cared enough to follow up. They recommend another person and she has been very professional, works hard for you and is easy to work with. I don't know if I'm allowed to mention her name, but I have done a few deals with her and I find her very good. Her name is Angie Stokes.

[gocubsgo]

Our sales rep REALLY blew it for us when we were trying to sell our house here in Silver Lake. We had 3 months to sell and get into our new house in Mira mesa. She knew that but failed to hit the date. She wasn't aggressive and just didn't seem to care. We ended up losing our new house and alot of money to boot!

[clod]

Two words that might help: Colleen Wotring.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Hopeful2

We have time until we retire, but we decided that if we find a lot that we love, we are ready to buy it right now. Well, we recently found a special lot ...twice ... (and before it even went on the market) ....but our sales rep said that she was "not fast enough" to get it for us. We are so disappointed and are finding that something that we thought would be a positive experience, has become very stressful. I do realize that the best lots are snatched up as soon as a new section opens, but I'm wondering if the rep makes a difference. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Some Sales Reps are very experienced. Some are new. As with any profession, there are different levels of proficiency. I know there are many excellent Villages agents, and many of them have been recommended on previous threads. You should make sure you have a Sales Rep you respect and who knows your goals. That's your right.

[dmorhome]

We had Angie Stokes and she was great.

Originally Posted by adichiara

When I started looking I had a friend recommend a sales person who was terrible. I've been in one form of real estate or another all my life, so I know what to expect. The Villages called me and asked me why I didn't plan on using this person again and wanted to work with someone else. I told them why. Well I was so surprised that they cared enough to follow up. They recommend another person and she has been very professional, works hard for you and is easy to work with. I don't know if I'm allowed to mention her name, but I have done a few deals with her and I find her very good. Her name is Angie Stokes.

[BobnBev]

Chris Wyatt, or his wife, Carol Ann. Both are for you 100 0/0. PM me for phone #'s. if you wish.

[Joanned]

I've been in real estate over the last 20 years and was very impressed with the knowledge and professional ability of our agent ,Craig heron. He was highly recommended from another friend and we weren't disappointed.
Ask for Craig or another but try to use someone that is highly recommended

[Hopeful2]

I really appreciate everyone's response. I was also wondering how many people buy their lot, sight unseen. (We currently live 1000 miles away from TV.) Thank you!!!

[Houselover]

Originally Posted by adichiara

When I started looking I had a friend recommend a sales person who was terrible. I've been in one form of real estate or another all my life, so I know what to expect. The Villages called me and asked me why I didn't plan on using this person again and wanted to work with someone else. I told them why. Well I was so surprised that they cared enough to follow up. They recommend another person and she has been very professional, works hard for you and is easy to work with. I don't know if I'm allowed to mention her name, but I have done a few deals with her and I find her very good. Her name is Angie Stokes.

We had a situation similar to yours but went through 2 other reps before we worked with Angie Stokes. Not only is she very professional but treats you like a person and not just another number..Too bad they can't clone her...

[graciegirl]

To be fair, it probably wasn't the sales reps fault that those deals escaped you. It is a frequnt occurance to have a house or lot come on the market and be snatched up quickly by another person or rep. It can happen in a key stroke and sometimes they are held for a certain amount of time and then released again and sometimes they are gone. We tried to hold three different view lots in one day and waited just a few minutes too long to commit.

We fell in love with a house in Hadley and we called our sales rep to find it had been put on hold for another person. We didn't believe it. That house was sold to a couple who became our best friends as we bought the house next to it. We never let them live it down that they stole our house.

Many people here are annoyed that a furnished model comes on a market and they have instructed their sales rep to hold it for them when it happens but so have many others instructed their reps too. It is announced at a sales meeting and everyone will immediatly grab their I pads or phones and it is up in the air...or the internet or the phone lines as to who gets to who first and who gets back to who first. This has been told to us many times by our rep Jim McLaughlin. I never thought to blame him when we missed a lot or a home we wanted. It is often just luck and being in the right place at the right time prepared to buy.

Sometimes it has nothing to do with a sales person being a slouch but rather the pace of business in this amazing place. The speed of selling homes in this place is unheard of before. And probably will only get worse as the build out approaches.

But if you don't feel comfortable...with your rep, switch. You may find the same thing happening with the new one.

[Golfingnut]

Yes. We had one that I could not be around after one day. Changed to Tammy Griswald and became friends while finalizing our buy in Duval.

[bike42]

Originally Posted by Hopeful2

. . . our sales rep said that she was "not fast enough" to get it for us . . .

Your sales rep was not lying -- at that point it is just luck. The lots in the section we were interested in were released at 4:00 on a Friday afternoon. Our rep called at exactly 4:00 to reserve the lot we wanted. She happened to get through before anyone else who wanted that lot, but she had no control over the phone lines. All of the view lots were gone in 20 minutes.

By all means change reps if you are not happy with him/her for other reasons, but don't blame her for not getting the lot you wanted unless she did not call at all.