Looks Like We're Staying

Our real estate agent emailed a week or so ago. He stated that it was time for another "review" and to schedule another open house.

Paul and I are SO not down with that. There has been NO activity or interest on the property. The probable reason is that it is overpriced for today's market. Since we are listed at our most bottom acceptable price, there is no reason to pursue a sale effort.

I responded to the agent's email with a negative - "we see no reason for an open house, since the lack of activity is not due to marketing deficits, but a price not conducive to selling, and since we are not going to reduce any further we are content to let this contract run out and take it off the market."

And we HATE the open house thing. They are wicked inconvenient and apparently nonproductive since the last open house ended up with 3 of our neighbors viewing our property. And I don't think the dogs really appreciated coming to the casino with us.

The curious thing is that we've received no response to this from the agent. No "I disagree", no "thats probably for the best", no "its been a pleasure", no "fuck you", no nothing.

Which leads to a situation that bugs me:

Sometimes I don't understand today's business methodology. Sometimes I feel like businesses don't really want my business. Sometimes, when I place a call to a business, and a human doesn't answer so I leave a message and never hear back, well, sometimes I get pretty mad. Especially when the business relationship has begun, but they drop the ball midway through the transaction.

I think the single most important criteria for good customer service is prompt responses. Thats the element that will eventually make my choice of whether to do business with these people, or not. Although price and quality are two very important elements, the one that will clinch the deal is the follow up, the concern that I, as a supporter of their merchandise or service, am considered important. That my business with them has value. Then I feel certain that I will get what I pay for.

We had what I thought was a relationship with a local plumber. Someone we thought we could count on for various plumbing needs or emergencies in our rental home. He did come to fix an emergency, but didn't do the job correctly. When I called him the next day, a Sunday, to return, I left many messages, but was unable to contact him, and NEVER heard back. We sought someone else. We are good customers, and ALWAYS, and PROMPTLY pay for the service rendered. But apparently this plumber's business was fine without us as customers.

Gabe is in the middle of some grant applications. He's been busy, so I tried calling the writers to get a status update. On Wednesday I left a message. No call back. On Thursday I called again, only to be directed to voice mail, again. I couldn't even leave a message because the voice mailbox was "full". That is distressing, and indicative of neglect? They sure were easy to talk to before they received the money.

So ends my morning rant.

Today I am determined to pick up some graph paper and colored pencils. I need to make a landscaping plan for this area - since it looks like we will be staying. Paul and I are going to a matinee to see Hancock, and we'll swing into WalMart (shudder) to pick that up. We have been doing a little of this and a little of that, which is the wrong approach, and leads to costly mistakes. We need a plan. And that is what I am good at.

Sean's alarm is going off, which seems to alarm everyone but him. He's promised to clean his room today. It's bad. There are dishes in his bed. I'm going to go try to rouse him, keeping my eyes closed. Can't smell anything anyway, with my stuffy nose.

One last thing - good movie, which I saw on Comcast On Demand - "Being Julia", with Annette Bening. Very fun.

Peace