Buying A Home? Don't Panic! with John Laforme

Straight Talk With East Coast Realtor Susan Ducharme

June 14, 2022 John Laforme/Susan Ducharme Episode 25
Buying A Home? Don't Panic! with John Laforme
Straight Talk With East Coast Realtor Susan Ducharme
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Show Notes Transcript

In this episode i am joined by my east coast cousin Susan Ducharme who is a real estate agent in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Susan recently sold one of my investment properties for me in New Hampshire, So i thought having Susan explain what it was like selling my property in this crazy sellers real estate market. She had approximately 120 showings within 4 days and had 20 Plus offers during the 120 showings.

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John Laforme
Certified CREIA Inspector Member #0155263
Home Inspection Authority LLC

Former President of CREIA Mid Valley Chapter
Former Vice President of CREIA Mid Valley Chapter

Susan also shares her experience as a realtor and gives advice to homebuyers and new realtors. And yes Susan has a few horror stories to share.

If you are looking for a realtor in the Massachusetts or New Hampshire area contact Susan Directly:

Susan Ducharme

East Key Realty

22 Greeley St., Unit 9C

Merrimack, NH 03054

C 978-337-2586

O 603-787-3155

Sue@eastkeyrealty.com

Servicing 

MA 9535756  

NH 072052

Silver Award Recipient 

Luxury Certification 

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John Laforme:

Buying a home. Don't panic. Just listen to the rest of this podcast Alright everybody, welcome back to another episode of Home Inspection authority Straight Talk podcast with me, John laforme. I'm a CREIA certified home inspector from Los Angeles, California. And the topics we discuss on this podcast are about buying homes, selling homes, inspecting homes. So if you're a home inspector, home buyer, real estate professional, this podcast is definitely for you. Okay, so we are now recording I am in full patriots and Red Sox gear. And I'm joined by my cousin on the East Coast. This is a East Coast special, special edition episode of the podcast. And this is Susan Ducharme Did I say it right? On with the Boston accent you know, the Boston accent. How you doing? Good. Are you doing good? So yeah, full disclosure. We are related. you know, I, all these years of you know, living in Massachusetts, I've been in California now for I think 30-32 years. I've been down here for quite some time. And hey, I did not have my own Patriot shirt. So my friend George, we went to school in Beverly mass. And last October, when the when the Pats were playing the LA chargers. He said hey, man, I'm taking you to the game. I'm like, oh shit, no way you guys come to LA. So two guys, two other guys from Boston that I didn't I'd never met before. Came out with him. And he was over the he was in Vegas at the time. So he doesn't live on the east coast anymore. So those guys flew out. And those and the three of them took his RV out here to La they thought the campground and everything and then we got together for the game. And I didn't have a shirt. And all those guys had all this gear on and I'm like, oh shit, maybe I'll buy something there. They don't sell any Patriot shit at a at a chargers game. They don't have anything there. So I'm like, Oh, man I can represent but at the same time, you know, I'm also a chargers fan. So I was like, What do I do? So I didn't have anything. And you know my sister Cheryl. Biggest Patriots fan on the planet. So I let her know that I was at the game shows where the hell's your shirt? How come you don't have a shirt on? I said I don't have one. She goes Jesus Christ. She's like, it was so funny. Her responses are pretty funny. So Teresa, my my better half she bought me this for Christmas. Now you are all set. Now I have one. Now I have one. And my mom got me this hat. This is the 2013 championship. So my mom bought a whole bunch of these hats and she mailed it out to me here in California and that all that she was all proud you know? Terry, you know Ontari she's she's all into that stuff. Oh big time. Yeah. Yeah, so that was pretty cool. So that's why I have all this gear on. I thought it'd be appropriate to do this and, and I see you're also in costume. And you got your Bruins on Are you a Bruins fan?

Susan Ducharme:

I am. I am a Bruins fan. I am in costume, but I have to be truthful. I don't have gear either. So this came out of my husband's closet.

John Laforme:

Yeah, I don't run around to share things. Yeah, yeah, I don't I don't run around with a lot of sports gear on typically. But a I love football. And I love hockey. And I've been to some I've been to a Bruins Game Over here in LA. I've been to some LA Kings games and stuff. So those are pretty cool. Pretty cool ever been. Have you been a hockey game recently?

Susan Ducharme:

Recently, probably want to say three or four years ago. That's as recent. I'm old school hockey. So your cam Neely your Sweeney's your box. Okay, those are the fighting machines. Yeah, I like about it seems like yeah, it just seems like everybody's just blowing whistles and stopping the fights and just letting go at it. That's the best part of the game. Yeah, we live in a different world now, man. Everything's changed.

John Laforme:

Yeah, the old, you know, knuckles in the face type shit. But back then, I don't think they had helmets either, right? No, but it's all politically correct, right? Yeah. Now we have to be politically, getting the right way have all the equipment on not on this show, we're not gonna be politically correct. We can beat the crap out of each other verbally here. So don't worry about it. You could do say whatever you want to me. Oh, good. I'm not gonna be mean. Right. So the purpose of the podcast with you today was to talk about my recent real estate transaction over there in New Hampshire. And I don't know I'd have you ever wondered why I asked you to be my realtor.

Susan Ducharme:

Member I asked you. Did you want to? Why would I tell you what I tell you? You said, because you followed me. You've been watching me seeing the strengths and the numbers knowing that I know my property. I know how to sell properly. Have the techniques. And I'm just like you ruthless. Yeah. So we are visually Massholes with don't live a mess anymore. It's right over the border. Yeah, you're over the border. And ah, now right? Yeah, I'll be here in New Hampshire. So building here, but I'm very interesting to see the difference between maths in Hampshire, you know, because there is a difference. But, you know, still the power of having both states in your back pocket, which is nice. I

John Laforme:

think that's great. A little diverse there. You can, you know, it's not it's not like you traveling five hours. It's like a 20 minute drive back and forth across the across the across the state border. But yeah, the main reason, the main reason I hired you to be my realtor is because you're a bulldog. And you just don't take no shit from anybody. And the reason why I know that is because over the years of me owning that property, I've asked you for help several times with, you know, referring me to some contractors or some, you know, whatever. And you are always like, yeah, I use this guy, and just, you know, and I could tell, just, by the way, you responded to me. She's not gonna put up an ad nonsense. So no, no, so the property that you sold for us, for me, I want to I want to go through that process from the beginning with you, because it was quite overwhelming. And, you know, my reason for selling that was very sporadic. Like I didn't, I had no intention of selling that property in the near future. And, and then all of a suddenly, I had to do this major repair, just replacing two water heaters, and I paid like $4,000. And I'm like, What the hell, four grand for two water heaters. And, and I called many people, and I finally had an old high school friend, go over there and do it. And that was the best price he could give me because of all the work he had to do to the tank, because the Hampshire's very specific on the piping, and how you how you piping in and all the extra valves it needs and, and I don't have the details of what they had to put on that thing. But I saw the finished product. And I could see, I could see what they meant by you know, all the extra bells and whistles that needed to conform to the Hampshire's building codes

Susan Ducharme:

and stuff. Lines. Yeah,

John Laforme:

so it was, it kind of just kind of woke me up a little bit like, you know what, a lot of the systems on that house are getting to that age point where like, the roofing, the heating and cooling systems are starting to get older. And, you know, I'm a home inspector, as you know. So it's like, I see this stuff every day. And I kind of have a good idea of what these costs add up to be. And I was like, you know, I don't feel like spending all that money on this property. And the next five years as I the next 10 years, I mean, within 10 years from now, I'll probably be retired. So I was like, I haven't really had to really think about that. And I was like, man, what do I do? So let's call Susan and see what she says. I was shocked. Yeah, yeah, I bet you were you probably were shocked when I first mentioned that because but but I called you first because I know you you'd have the your finger on the pulse of what's going on over there with the market and I'm like, man, because I was just like all the homes I inspect right now here in Cali. Our way overpriced. So I wasn't sure if that was the case over there. So that kind of got me really thinking. Like, okay, so what is going on here? Is is it just my area? I mean, LA is enormous. Los Angeles is enormous. There's so many houses here. It's crazy. And so I had to ask you, Hey, what's going on? I mean, how much do you You think this thing would sell for right now? Is there a demand for it? Now I'll let you talk. You tell me what you told me what you told

Susan Ducharme:

me. You're in the area exactly what they're looking for. You had the multifamily. You kept it well kept. It was organized. It was controlled, even though you were 1000 miles away, you know, 3000 3000 miles away. Yeah. Yeah, you know, but to have a handle on that we have people that live in Massachusetts, that only unloads and they can't even come over the border to fix something. It's just, there's so many scum landlords in this world. It's just it's like disgusting. So yeah, one of the things that impressed me was because over the years you and I've talked about this, and you would call me and say, Well, what's my house worth? And I'd say, you get this range to this range. And you go, there's no way and I'd say, yeah, there is but oh, by the way, you're still charging attendance a little less than you should have I not told you that many times. Yeah.

John Laforme:

have told me that. And my dad started that. And I had to catch up. When I took over that, to jump

Susan Ducharme:

that leap at the beginning. And that's what I told you. But the let's say the person getting the price now I think.

John Laforme:

Yeah, my, my tenants, I don't think they appreciated me that much. But now they really do now that I'm no longer their landlord.

Susan Ducharme:

They wish john was back in the picture, but one of his tenants is the one that really got him on the bandwagon of selling. Yes, you know, it is kind of hard being 3000 miles away, trying to take care of something. Whether I'm here, you know, call me six hour difference. In six hours, one hour can make a huge difference of a water leak or something happening. Yep. So I think, you know, for the property, the condition, everything it was timing was perfect for you. In the area of location wise, it is a great location. Yep. But just amazing, amazing what they can sell for. And I know given numbers to you was shocking. Yeah, I was floored.

John Laforme:

I was like, you know, what do you what would you list the stairs? And you were like, Oh, well, let's start. Let's just start at 360. And then see what happens. And that's what you did? And you were afraid. Yeah. I was like, because it was a big decision, you know, because I, like I said, I had no previous interest in getting that, that that was going to be part of my retirement, you know, hey, you know, keep hanging on to this property for as long as I can. But then when I realized how much it went up in value, already, yeah, that was like, Well, if you're gonna list it at 360, I'm sure there's gonna be it's gonna come in, I'm gonna get offers way higher than 360. You know, so I was like, well, it was just, uh, it was just a matter of what works for me at the time. What wasn't going to work for me is having to spend 40 to 60,000 over the next 10 years replacing those systems which I really did not want to do that was not in my overall picture of keeping that property like I mentioned, but and then when you said like, let me back up a bit so when like I mentioned in Cali the houses here that I inspect I can't believe what they're getting for these houses. These are basic houses that are probably 1500 square feet and they're they're getting 900,000 without even blinking an eye and then they're and then there's multiple offers and these people are fighting over this stuff. I'm getting phone calls. Hey, John, can you do an inspection tomorrow Mike? No, I can't get out there that fast. Well, we only have a three day inspection contingency period. I'm like, why did you agree to that? So it makes me think wow, it's holy shit it am I missing out on something I had you know, I as I get all these phone calls every day and all these like almost demands for my service or request. It's like what's going on here? Is there is there a reason why people have absolutely positively have to buy a house today? That's the part I don't get. And I really like look at these my customers like why do you have to have a house today? Why can't you wait what is the what is the rush? You know, wait, what's wrong with renting? I mean for a little while until you get what you want. You know what I mean? I mean, why force yourself into this? This bad predicament like rushing your inspections not getting not getting all the answers in the in the cost estimates for what it's going to cost to fix these things. Because trust me, none of these houses were in great shape. I mean, I spent I ours on these reports that just ridiculous a lot of these homes were not built in 1920. I mean, they had all kinds of problems and the flippers out here, most of the flippers in Cali that I've come across. This should be ashamed of themselves. It's it's horrible the work they do. And so anyway, getting back to the sale, it's, I had to consider all that stuff, all this information. So I think I had a good background to really think this through. Like, I had a lot of experience dealing with this every day. So that's why I had to get you on the phone and go, Hey, you know what's going on over there? What can we do? And like you mentioned, you know, that we listed it. And then how so now I want to ask you, because you'll remember this better than me? Because you were there, by the way. Oh, man, it was there day and night. Yes, you made it simple for me. I didn't have to fly out there and nothing you did everything. With JL JL Sweeney, the attorney. And he made it very convenient and very simple, which I really want to thank you again for because that was awesome that I didn't have to take time away from work and fly out there and spend money on airplane tickets and traveling and all that nonsense. I honestly don't like traveling. I'm not a big fan of travel. So thank you again.

Susan Ducharme:

You losing your pay also traveling and every you lose. Yeah. Part of your service as being a realtor, you have to understand when you're working with people that are relocated from another state, another country, I've worked from other countries, too. You have to have a pocket full of everybody in your backing to help these people. If you don't, they're at a whim, trying to figure something out whether it's 3000 miles or 10,000 miles away, am I making the right decision? At the end of the day, I want to make sure all my customers know that I know what I'm doing here. And you're comfortable to stay at home, if you choose to come, that's your choice, right? But at the end of the day, why leave your job when I can sell your house? Get the money in your account in you just keep on living? Because do you really want to come back? You know, there's a lot of things that take a factor when you're looking into selling long distance and understanding the cost that it entails for the seller or come here or the buyer. And if they come here, you better make sure you're giving them everything when they're here, right because they don't want to hear on the phone. Well, we have this issue and they go oh, do I gotta fly out again. That means you're not qualified as agent. And I'm sorry, there are agents out here that a fly by nights think that they can do half assed shit like a matter of seconds. And oh, I'll just slap a sign up and put it on Zillow. And hey, we're good to go. It's not what it's about a multifamily. You respect the tenants and you respect the seller. And it really is a pet peeve of mine when they have a lockbox on the door. And everybody's welcomed know, everybody is welcomed these a tenant in the home, can we have a little respect, but I must say through the process. The biggest thing that I do work with is keeping tenants in a home for a new landlord. That's a good point. That's big factor. That's a big factor. Because there are a lot of people that convince their tenant their landlords get rid of them, it's much easier to sell an empty place. So you want vandalism. Let's start thinking about the big picture. Why does a landlord or a seller have to lose income? Just to sell their house? Do you move out of a single property just to sell your house? No. It comes down to the burden of proof of when the when the agent goes in and they do their job properly. And when they do it, the seller reaps the benefit and a lot of times the tenants do. You know your your case study was one of the top considering you had a two family, which is a multifamily. I've done anywhere from six and eight multi families and had tons of showings. I do my showings personally. Okay, a lot of agents don't like that. I am very old school. I am the only one that knows this house inside and out. And as a buyer coming in. They're asking that question and what is their what is their buyer agent doing? They're looking for a paycheck. They only care about getting you in and out. And in 15 minutes. Do you think they really have done the details? I'm amazed how many of them don't call and ask me about the house. It's like they say Oh, I'm going to send my client to you go ahead. I'll just take them next time they want to buy some then. You know, jump is like

John Laforme:

let me let me jump in real quick. What you're referring to are the absentee realtor's. That's what I call them. The absentee relatives and I want to put it out there for anybody considering buying a home I know we all we all like to get referrals from our friends. And that's great. But I want to just touch on something that I actually experienced back in 2007. When I sold the house that I was living in, I had a very 4500 square foot house on an acre land. It was worth a lot of money. And I just got tired of taking care of this big house. So I just decided no, I just want to move into something a bit smaller. I was over it. So I started. My brother Lenny actually came out from Vegas. And he because he was a realtor in Vegas at the time, I said, Len come on out because I want you to, I want you to help me interview a couple of Realtors in my area. So he came out and we made some appointments. We had two appointments set up. The first guy that came by he, I could tell I didn't like him. As soon as you walk through the door, I could just tell he was a douche. You know what I mean? And he was just a total douchebag. I'm like an LA douchebag to be to be more precise. And if you live out here, you know what I'm talking about. So he comes in and he's walking around like some hotshot like he was like Tom Cruise of real estate. You know what I mean? That's how that's how it is out here. It's kind of funny. And I'm like, so yeah, what he thinks he walks around the house looks like oh, yeah, yeah, I could definitely sell this for you. I'm like, Yeah, I bet you could sell this for me. I bet you I could sell it to, but I invited you over to tell me what you think you would sell it for. That's what I want to know what what number do you think I should sell this for? I didn't give him a number. I didn't tell him what I was hoping to get for it said I want to know what you're going to try to do for me. He goes, Oh, yeah, I could probably I could definitely sell this, you know, 1.7 million. I'm like, wow, really? He's like, Yeah, 1.6 1.7 I'm like, Oh, okay. Wow, that's great. You have a nice day. See you later. Okay, so I said, we send him on his way. My brother was laughing Lenny's like, holy shit, man, that guy's an idiot. So then we then we call the second appointment we had was a woman this time. And she comes in, and she really took the time to look at everything. She, I mean, she spent 30 minutes walking around, we just left her alone. She comes back and she goes, You really did a nice job remodeling this house. I was like, because I did I from 2001 to 2006, I pretty much remodeled every section of the house. And I spent good money on it. And it was high quality materials, not like cheap baseboards. It was all poplar, it was all expensive stuff. So I know how much money I had into it. And I know what I had a number in my head, how much I wanted to sell it for. And she goes, I'm thinking 2 million. I'm like, Yeah, I was thinking about 2.1, something like that. Shows. Yeah, I could probably see right around there. So me and my brother looked at each other. And that's, that's the relative we wanted. So the other guy was a volume guy. And the reason why I'm talking about this is to let the people listening know, maybe your potential future customers or anybody else. listenings future future customers. If you're looking to buy a house, you need to interview your realtor to see where their heads at. Anybody can sell a house. But are they going to fight to get you top dollar and get the right buyers in there? And, and you and I will touch on that because my first offer was a problem. We'll get into that. Anyway, I'm just that was a real life experience for me. And I mean, that guy was almost 400,000 less than what I wound up selling it for sure. I could have said yes to him right away. But I would have lost out on all that money. If I didn't do my research and do my due diligence and just ask around and get a second opinion. We didn't we didn't get a third person because I just felt really good about her. She seemed like honest, like, and she was by the way she was. She lived in that neighborhood so she knows the houses. And that's another important point for anybody who's considering finding a realtor. Make sure that that realtor understands what you're what you're after. Is I see this every day. You know, people call me Hey, can you come inspect my 19 I'm sorry. Let's go 1916 house? Sure. I'm like, well, it's probably got a brick foundation. I guess I'll let them know when I get there. And then I tell the realtor and the relative goes into shock. You know like, What's What do you mean a brick found that and like, you don't? You're not aware that a house this old house probably has a brick found there's a good chance that has a brick foundation, you never know, you know, it varies different houses have different things. But in that era, it's, it's, it's not uncommon in this end to find that in Cali so. So anyway, it's there's a lot to be considered don't just rush into an agreement with somebody because your best friend said, Oh, they were great. How do you know they were great, they should get your friend top dollar, or they just do a volume thing. So you don't want to volume realtor because they're just going to get your house sold to the first bidder, or whatever, you know what I mean? It's is, so that's important. So continuing, that's

Susan Ducharme:

all they want. They just want the numbers, they don't care in Hatun. I want to say more than 90% agents currently do not do their own hope analysis. I do mine. Why that solid trusts me told me everything. I've walked that house, I've done everything in that house, I have notes chopped, you know, top to bottom. I know my notes in my head, I don't have a notepad with me, I'm walking hands free talking to them. So we're having a conversation. So these people watch me know that I have the information. It's correct. And we're talking about the house. It's not about the house down the road. But I will also throw in little areas of oh, that house down the road. You know, it's sold for this amount, the one over here. So for this, when I do my first like when you called me when you said okay, I'm thinking about selling, I scouted out that whole area. So when I sat down with you, over the phone, we talked about stuff I told you about houses that closed I also said to you, you most likely will see these houses on the appraisals that come through. When they have their appraisal. In rightfully so the one that bought it was one that bought off. Yeah, it was their number one on the appraisal was their own house that they just bought down the road. You have to know the house that you're selling. So, you know, making sure that everyone understands that we're in this together. That's the biggest thing. When people go into home, think about when you go into home and you're looking at something, whether you're looking to buy it, this is the biggest item, one of the biggest items they're gonna buy. Okay, let's be real with this. Yeah, it's a biggest item. Okay, so let's be real and respect them. Okay. They're not a number. They're not Oh, I just got to get $1 they need to know what they're buying. At the same time. You have to have the same respect for your solid to make sure they get the most money. You might have the greatest couple that walks through, they're just starting out. They have great baby, everything's wonderful this neighborhood be great. But guess what someone that's downsizing is willing to pay your seller more. You have to have that respect. Now the stories like you and I have experienced when we were selling, I would go back each time after I did X amount of showings and to say we did 123 showings in two days. And both days was two hours scheduled. Ended up being three hours a day. So six hours we did 122 viewings, and that wasn't even an open house one. So we had coming through the door that I personally talked to walk through and made sure they understood what has gone on in this home from when the beginning to where it was at that time. And that's something that you need to know. So if you are going into homes with buyers, I look to see, what did this person buy this home like, you know, they may still have the blue bathroom that was there, I will pull those pitches up and show my buyer Hey, look at they've done nothing to that bathroom. So guess what? Those tiles on the wall could potentially have asbestos in them. And they look at you like oh, what's that? Well, let's talk about it. Let's go in the basement. The nice little rose. It's in the middle of the floor. Oh, isn't that pretty? In the tile? Yeah, not really. Yeah. You know, if you want asbestos and you want this and you want or scare. People don't talk about it. They just talk about the party walls. And unfortunately, that's what a lot of them do. But as an a home inspector, I can tell you, my home inspectors taught me a lot of stuff. So when I was going through the process when I first started, I really just took notes and I would ask them question. Yes.

John Laforme:

Let's stop right there. Hang on. That's a great point. That's a great point. Because it's really, there's so there's so much lack of training with realtors, when in regards to what the home inspectors job is in is not. There's a lot that's outside the scope of a home inspector. And I really appreciate it when a relative goes Hey, John, you know, I don't know about this. Can you fill me in on that? Yeah, absolutely. I'm always happy to help. But when they just ignore shit you Just blow it off and just oh, oh, really? Oh, yeah. Well, they're not worried about that. Well, well, no. Sounds like you're not worried about that. I guarantee if the customer was in front of me, you wouldn't be saying that. And that's the shit that happens. Yeah, go ahead.

Susan Ducharme:

No, it's so true. Because, you know, when I first started on early ages, and I had some home inspectors and I would go through and they'd be like, Oh, don't worry about that. I'm like, Well, I'm kind of concerned. And I'm not buying this house and live in here. That told me right then in there, you know what this inspector isn't for everybody. They're a fly by night agents that love them. And that's okay. You can be a fly by just give who you want to be a fly by Inspector or be a fly by appraiser. That's fantastic. But you know what, let's get to the real super nuts because these people are living in this house. And it's your name at the end of the day, because you sold them the shitty house that's leaking now, and now they have mold in their kids sick. So when you start talking to people like that, they start to listen to you. So I learned that from my home inspector. And I took notes. And I understood, the funny thing is when my clients will go to the home inspection, the inspector will start talking, I work with a specific company, their top on list, I have other ones too, but they'll say, my clients will all of a sudden start laughing. And they go on. Okay, Sue's already told you all this, and they're like, yeah, they already told us this. So but she told us, we had to pay for you because you have to write it down for me. And he's like, correct. And then you climb the roof, where Sue's not gonna. But you know what? And you know what? I'm an agent. I am not a home inspector. I am not an appraiser. And there are too many agents that think there were a home inspector, and think they're an appraiser. Oh, and then all of a sudden, when the home inspector goes in, and something is wrong, they go, Oh, no, there's nothing wrong. Because you know, Mary told me that it's this. Oh, yeah. Good fit. Mary, does she have a home inspector license? And that's what I say directly to them. Good. I'm glad you're a realist agent. You got your inspector license, Joe. You know, because just tell me right now. Because if you do I want to know what you inspected in this house. Right? So people are passing up inspections, I do not believe in it. I do not believe in I will tell my clients No, to win something. We're not in competition. This isn't a game. This isn't croquet. Let's just go roll the dice and figure out we're gonna get No, I don't want to know a year from now you have cancer because mold was growing somewhere? You know, we can sit here and we can joke about it. But let's get real. Yeah. Because there are too many agents out here. Right, that think they're far more than just the agent scope? Yeah, the most frustrating part.

John Laforme:

Yeah, the people just don't know how to stay in their own lane. So you know, when I'm when I'm doing an overview after I just inspected a house and the realtors there and, or, you know, usually it's the listing agent that I have to say this too, because sometimes the listing agents will be there, and I'm okay with that. As long as they just zip it and just let me talk. But then they'd like, oh, well, really the roofs bad. I'm like, Oh, yeah. Then they look shocked. I'm like, oh, so when you inspected it, it was in good shape. That's what I say to him. As that so my point is, Why are you shocked? If you didn't do a pre listing inspection? Why are you so shocked, because I just told you something wasn't in good condition. I don't understand the shock and awe it is what what, what makes you think that you the house you're selling is perfect. It's not none of them are perfect. I see brand new construction, that is just a mess. It's crazy the shit that they do, and they get away with, you know, the building inspectors drive by in the current wave, you know, they don't even they don't even come in, it seems like they don't even come in the house and take a look around. So it's just my message to my message to realtors is just simply this, be prepared. Research the house that your clients trying to buy. If it's an early early construction house, like you know, 1800s 1900s, you know, early, early, late 18, early 1900s, you really need to understand that you are walking into a foundation that is probably over 100 years old. There's going to be problems. Why? Because all these years that have gone by no one's paid attention to the foundation. It's just people that live in houses are not supposed to know how to how to build a house. We should be taught how to live in a house at school. I think we should know how to check for a leak under sink in school. There's things that they should have taught us in school about houses because you know what? We were given you kids in education. And then hopefully you're going to get a job when you get out of school. And then with that job, you're going to make money. And then you're going to you're going to do you're going to you're going to x variance the American dream, you're gonna buy your own house. You're gonna live in your own house, but they don't teach you that in school. Isn't that kind of weird? I think that's kind of strange now that I'm in my 50s. I look back on that. Oh, wow. That would have been some good good information, like, you know, financial information. Like if you save your money, you can buy yourself a nice house. And like, maybe nowadays they're doing that, you know, I don't know. Now, but now. Yeah. So you have you have a

Susan Ducharme:

child in high school? Yeah. No, it's not. It's still the same. It's right. People don't understand. People don't even know about a field stone. Come on. I mean, how do you not know what a field stone is? When you ask me? I'm amazed when I asked my clients, do you have a field stone? And is it a block? Is it a cinderblock? Is it and they look at me go? Well, it's cement. Okay, we have cement ones too. Should you get redone? And they look at you like, yeah, I don't know what it is. So you gotta go downstairs. And then they're like, sir, how do you know this? I'm like, cuz this is my job. Yeah. To understand, shocking, you know, it's, you know, and what's the dead giveaway? Everything's on a pallet on the floor, and everything's up in the air. I just think they have a leak. Oh, no, they never had a leak. Oh, so they just have everything up just just in case they have a leak. Right? You know, it's, yeah, it's just too many things that people are just too busy and want the money you don't want to learn? And that's one of the biggest pet peeves I have with agents out here that what can I get from this? How fast can I sell this? How much can I get my numbers to get to my next bonus level? And just keep on going now, and that's not what it's about? Because these people are buying a mess. And we better make sure they know structural? How many walls Do you see John that have taken down? That the the list agent I see sagging in the ceiling? And I'm like, was there a wall here? I don't know. I said, Okay, so I sent in my clients, let's walk over this to you feel a little hum, there's a dead giveaway. And you drag your feet and you feel the hump. Why? Because I got I taught I was taught that. Yeah. And then when you say to the list agent, no, there wasn't a wall here. You go back several times. And I've done this in Hampden Hampshire, beautiful house. Big Hole, like in the walls buckling out. And I'm like, there was a wall here. Oh, no, she's fighting with me. I'm like, okay, so I came home, and I pulled up the previous before this hormone purchased. And there was a wall there. So I said to the agent, I said, just so you want to know in case you get sued on this house. Here's the old listing. There was a wall there. And she went, Oh, my God, I'm like it. Oh, by the way, there was also a fireplace where I told you the squad member. And she's like, Oh, I didn't know I'm like, but you know, the easiest thing was it was all on MLS, you just had to pull it up, but it's not taken. Man, they just want the dollar

John Laforme:

so hard to push that little mouse and just do a little research. You know

Susan Ducharme:

what it is to sit there? Okay, do you you and I are going to do it. Because we respect our people that we work with, to take that little extra time to know what we're buying into and how we're going to sell that house. Had I not known about your house about a lot of things. We could have just sold it and said things that later on, they will come back to us. Okay, I can't tell you how many people said to me, Oh, you, your cousin. He's a home inspector in California. I don't need to inspect this. I said why? I said do you think he flies home every year and just checks out this house? I said so in California, he I don't think he has snow storms right now. So does he know about moss on this? I said so do you think he's coming here and checking the roof of moss and check on the roof of this? And yeah, when he comes home, he'll check it but he's not doing a home inspection, why he's not selling it. He's selling it and

John Laforme:

and I'm licensed in New Hampshire to be a home inspector. So So anyways, you know, back to it's great back to what you and I do. You know, my parents, I don't know if my parents did it, or if your parents did it, but I have a hard core work ethic built into me that I can't just I can't stop and I've been like that since I was 16 Honestly, I just that's how that's who you and I are. That's how we are. And I think that is what makes us do what we do as far as you know, being diligent and just you know trying trying to tell people the facts and not not bullshit them and stuff like that just hey look, this is a reality that you need to understand is going on a lot of people I meet I just don't I just don't think that they have that that work ethic in and you're right a lot of people are just looking at the paycheck at the end. But my my logic on that is what good is the paycheck if you can't keep it what I mean is so you just rush through a sale you get you get your your buyer found their house, great, everything's closed, you got your check, you get your $30,000 whatever it is, and then a year later, you're getting sued. Because you told your utility client not to do these certain inspections and all of a suddenly they're now realizing that you should have never told them that and guess what, now you're given back that money that you already bought that new car with. So what's the point, I like to sleep good at night, I did my job, I told them what they need to know, it's up to them to run with it, you know, it's not my problem if they choose to just rip up my report and throw it away. But I know I did what I had to do, and I can document I've got it all backed up. So I'm not worried about anything coming back my way. But realtors, and I've had a relative do this before, on a house years ago. And basically, I told her there was I found like, 12 I think was like 12 or 14 different areas of a house that we had moist evidence of past moisture damage, and the house had been vacant for several years. And that that, to me is a red flag, because it's been vacant. And so all these stains might start coming back and that leaks might be continuing. If people move in so forth, they ignored everything. The realtor told the client don't worry about it, you can deal with that later. And then and then of course, they found mold after they moved in. And then they tried to sue me for it and basically told the beach and you know what I mean? It's like it ain't happening because I told you everything you ignored it and everything so that's what happens that's real that can happen

Susan Ducharme:

but once again to its home inspectors that do it the proper way also because not every home you can get a home inspector that will run through a house in 15 minutes or you can get one like my home inspector which I believe you are you're the same exact way moisture control they tell the numbers they show everything in there so it's not about the walls nice and pretty and they put kills on it. Oh by the way there's a leak behind this wall unless try to find it so it's a heads up to the seller also so also tells the seller if the agent and I hear this and I cringe yeah I just have to put kills on it it'll just go away we'll be fine no

John Laforme:

no we know what some bleach on it yeah

Susan Ducharme:

yeah I'm like come on we don't just kills everything here this isn't what we're doing we're not trying to hide stuff you know there's a big case in New Hampshire right now and hopefully we see a lot more because a lot of agents did a lot of things that shouldn't have been

John Laforme:

mean a lawsuit lawsuit.

Susan Ducharme:

Oh nice big one oh

John Laforme:

yeah glory days Tell Me More

Susan Ducharme:

list agent and buyer measuring they went together so how went out they went down is homes a crazy here just like everywhere else. Many offers listing got accepted by the buyer buyer did home inspection for the home inspector to tell them there was an issue with the back deck and they needed to get it checked professionally Yep. Whether they say the solid did it or not they've got to get it checked if they go forward to this house and to be very cautious with this house and don't go on it that's what his recommendations as you know genre at the bottom these are my recommendations list agent so buyer called list agent and said buyer agent said this is what we need done Baba bop all this stuff and list agent came back and said oh yeah, no yeah, seller says it's nothing wrong with that they are all did they have already fixed it. Well, where's the documentation? Listen, let's just get this deal done. This is what the list ate let's just get it done. Okay, let's just you and I just get this done. Let's get it out. We can bang this out really quick to good paycheck let's make this move. Okay, so she goes back and convinces buyers don't worry you can fix it after no big deal seller said it's been taking care of so come to come to fruition when it is they buy in the winter as you know in New England for those of you live in California you see it on TV we have nice big snowstorms went through winter spring came and when spring came they decided well we're gonna get people out here contractor so one contractor comes and said the sheathing on the back they never put the the back of it. They call that helped me out the flashing flashing never put it on. Yep, all this stuff. Immature. Oh, we see this.

John Laforme:

It's called ledger board flashing. It's the it's where the either a two by six or two by eight or two by 10 mounts right to the wall of the house. And then what it should be mounted right to the wood structure and then the flashing should mount to the wood structure come over the top of that ledger board and go down like this. Then you put the siding over that. That's what that is and that's that's one major area. I even pointed out here in California we don't have as bad weather as you guys do. But it's really important on the East Coast and when I used to be when I used to live out there I was in construction and I built a lot of decks and every single one of my decks had that flashing installed because the water gets between that wood ledger board and the building and it rots out the these the perimeter sill

Susan Ducharme:

yeah That's what it did. So guess what? So first contractor came through, told them everything they had three contractors lined up. Second one comes in, comes in the back yard and sees the new buyer there and says, Oh, you're the new buyer. And he goes, Yeah, and he goes, Oh, I was out here last year. Tell him he goes you got about this deck. He goes, Yeah, he goes, Yeah, hopefully hopefully he fixed it or gave you money for it. He goes, I can tell you without even looking Tom how it was all rotted ago come down to the whole thing over needs all wood on the outside of the house. Everything right down. It was just destroyed. Wow. Yeah. Needless say, where did they go? They called their buyer agent and said, Hey, did you know buyer agents out of wiggle warming because she calls list agent goes were in trouble that you may meet

John Laforme:

was doing backstroke, they were doing the backstroke.

Susan Ducharme:

They're in court now. They went right to the board. So it's on. It's on a docket. And you know what? It's about time because what happens? God forbid, had their children been out there in the cloud. That woman Specter, not told them Don't go out there. Can you imagine? What what would have happened? Sure. I mean, it's a nightmare, a nightmare. And this is what's happening, because everybody just wants a paycheck. And that's what it comes down to. Let me just get the fixes that let me just get what I need to fix real quick, make my money. And oh, I don't want to go back and tell them they owe 10,000 on this thing. Let's just tell them to fix a washer. Make them feel good. Can't do that. Or just a whole thing. I'm horrified.

John Laforme:

That's Garrison bullshit. Yep, that's some bullshit right there. Yeah,

Susan Ducharme:

that's like, that's like having a fire down the road, calling a fire truck and having them come out without ladders or anything. And just watch the fire and say, yeah, we're just gonna stay here and watch it till it burns. Because we know it's gonna burn. So why don't you just buy a house? You could just live in it. You know? It's just, it's amazing. What people will do it and including, like I've said many times agents also do it and it's scary. And I've only been in it seven years. So now like I've been here 25 years, right? Doing this seven years and I came in here. Why? Because I had a bad agent. And a bad agent that didn't listen when I was selling a condo and Drake it just a really bad crappy agent.

John Laforme:

And that's what got me a favor, and that's what got you into real estate. You know, it's funny, I had another I had another realtor on my podcast. Sona. Gallatin and she had a similar story.

Susan Ducharme:

Yep, yep. Yeah, no, she was telling me and then I started looking up and then I said, You know what, I'm just gonna go to school for this. I've always wanted to do it. Now's the time to do it. So yeah, called Coldwell Banker went in there went to school. And I'd have what was it I went to call Coldwell Banker school called cobble banker broke cod Well, Cold War Oak Ridge. Cold you call it cold?

John Laforme:

I had to make fun of you there. That's the East Coast accent Caldwell. Caldwell, cold, wet cold clld.

Susan Ducharme:

I do believe you have them out there.

John Laforme:

I know you guys still have that problem saying car. It's Car, car. No. Car, pocket my car. So I goes over and says hey,

Susan Ducharme:

man, when I first keys my car.

John Laforme:

When I first moved here to Cali, I worked for a forklift service company and I was in a van with a two way radio and dispatch would always try to talk to me. Call me on a landline, John, because she could we could not understand our accents. I couldn't get her what she was saying she couldn't get me. It was so funny. I still remember that was a funny moment. So I got a couple questions I want to ask you here. Oh, so you know, we didn't finish up talking about the real estate transaction. So when? Oh, yeah. When we listed it when we listed it. I think you had offers what within two days, same day or something?

Susan Ducharme:

Oh, no. Same day. We had offers. I was literally at the house still doing showings, and we were getting

John Laforme:

offers and how many people showed up for the showings.

Susan Ducharme:

We had 122 Joe they made appointments with me 122. Then we had the open house on Saturday. We had to shut down Sunday. We ended up having it was like on Saturday outside of just the regular listing people we ended up getting another 24 people coming through. Wow get in. Because remember we have tenants and tenants have the rights and I must say because we were really go with these tenants and I explained to them, I'm going to do everything in my power to keep them there, but they got to work with me. They gotta let me in because a tenant in New Hampshire a mass that says no, it means no, if they say you're not coming in, I'm not going in. We were told for one of the tenants, we couldn't take pictures. And I remember you were like, oh, we need pitch. I said, Don't worry, we'll get pictures. We'll do something. But I basically went to her and said, Listen, I have no pictures. I said in John and I are trying to help you stay here. So if you want to help us stay here, you now gotta physically let me in your house, too. So I can show these people. So let's just work this in I must say she did. She let it was terrific. She took both days. She made sure she was there. I worked my whole schedule around both of them. The guy upstairs was great. He was gone to work. He let me in he gave me a key so he didn't worry about it because he knew I was in that house all the time with the people that never strolling around. I basically did it. I at the end, people were saying, Were you ever a tour guide? I never realized how much of a tour guide I am going through houses and how he animated but I guess I am. But it just once again, it comes down to knowing the house and making sure that we're selling the product the right way. And that's what it comes down to biggest investment these people are going to buy and they better know what they're buying.

John Laforme:

Well now we know what you'll be doing when you retire and you'll be you'll be doing a you'd be a tour guide at a home no home remodeling museum or something. No, no, no, no Night at the Museum. You know?

Susan Ducharme:

No, no, I'm gonna be out in Arizona. Nice weather. No, no winters. Yeah, I could drive Gee God, composition. No, just bring your shots.

John Laforme:

I still when I talked to my dad, when I talked to my dad like a dad is a hot over there is hot. It's hot. I'm like, Oh, it's hot. Hu T or H O T It's hot. So what are you wearing? I'm wearing my shots. Shots. Shots. He's so funny. Anyway, so. Yeah. So the company with was is East Key Realty.

Susan Ducharme:

Yes. East Key Realty, I'm with now. Much better pay structure. Good. So that's, you know, that's at the end of the day, I worked my tail off. Yeah. And you pay these brokers a lot of fees. And why? Because they have the name. But the name really, as an agent, what you have to understand which we get drilled in our head is that you need a broker to get leads to all this stuff. Your name, does it. If you do this correctly, you will get the referrals you'll make the business. Yeah, it just works. That's the whole thing. And I mean, I did must say I did have a lot of fun selling your house. It's just It was great to see as many people that came through, and then we had to shut it off on Sunday, because we were up to 28 offers. Yeah, you know, you hear these agents, oh, I want to get all these offers, so I can have my clients look at it, you'll be the first to tell them being a homeowner trying to figure out they all mesh together after a while. Yeah, when I send them to you, you were like, Oh, God, you know, I had my ducks in a row. And I had everything there. And he understood where it was coming from, but trying to read those over and understanding the technology of what was written in there. Because how an agent can make the same offer

John Laforme:

read between the lines. You were you were very good at reading between the lines and explaining that and that's and that's you know, it's all a play of words like like any contract you read. It's a play of words. And these are basically contracts, they're making you an offer, and this is what they want you to do. And a lot of those offers we got I think the person writing them forgot that there was a seller's market, not a buyers market. Yes. And they were asking for stupid shit. And I'm like Now next, next next. And then the guy that finally comes up with the most expensive offer reneges on a cash cash deal as soon as we accept it. And that just rubbed me the wrong way. And then he asked for a credit back on the because of some supposedly floor support that would have taken any knucklehead an hour to fix for five grand he wanted five grand out of me like nope, next and he I knew that if we if I had like, you know, agreed to that I'm I would guarantee you even to this day, that he would have pulled another stunt along the way to find another way to try to get the place cheaper. I just had that feeling about this guy. So I was like you know what, get rid of him. And then you had just the second backup offer all ready to go and we just went with that and I was totally fine with it. Yeah, it was a little it was a little bid less, but I didn't care. It was a simple transaction. And I think yeah,

Susan Ducharme:

but I think at the end of the day me explaining the whole process of why, because you are at first, like, Why do I want this? Why do I want to understand? Just tell me what I need. And I said to you right away? No, I don't tell you I teach you. You understood looking at all the offers at the end of the day? Yeah, a lot of them were in the same group. Yeah. So we could funnel through those. The ones that were really good reading between the lines of what they want and how they want it. Yeah. The other thing too, is you took less because we could have went to another one we took you went down another level, which you lost about 15,000. Yeah. Okay. Let's be real. Yeah. But by doing that, the reason why you did it, which impressed me, one of the biggest things is your exact words. Were so you work so hard to keep the tenants hand and these people are keeping them? Yeah. And that meant something to me, because that's something I did work. But at the end of the day, if it doesn't work out, I'm going to still sleep at night, because I tried my darndest to do it. Yeah, yeah. But at the end of the day, it's a seller's choice. And that right there showed me that you respected me enough to go okay, I know I'm walking away from this amount of money. But I'm willing to do to know that these two have it. You know, and then I had to save remember, I had to save the tenant upstairs because he thought he knew better. And then the landlord. Yeah, this one?

John Laforme:

I'm not great. Yeah, I'm not a greedy guy. I'm not a greedy guy. Yeah, I like money like anybody else. But sometimes you have to kind of weigh the scale. And just go, Hmm, do I want to have a headache dealing with this person? That means I'm, I'm allowing it to happen. And I know better. Just just dealing with certain people. And I even meet the guy. I'm only going by what you were telling me about them what they offered, what the current what their offer was, and, and I think you mentioned to me some of the comments he made to the tenants when he was there. I can see Oh, this guy's just a pompous ass probably, you know, I don't I don't want I don't want him being that I actually said to myself, I don't think I want that guy to be the landlord. If I have control over that, which I did at the time. And I think you know what, you know, I have I do have some compassion. You know, I'm not a pushover, I'm not doormat, but I just thought it was best for everybody, myself included tenants, you everybody in the whole picture of it was just to get past that person and just go to the next one. Because I mean, right away, he says, Oh, it's a cash offer. And then the next day, he's like, oh, yeah, I gotta get my loan. What are you talking about a loan? He just said, yeah, you just agreed to a cash offer. It was in your was in your proposal.

Susan Ducharme:

And we took that away, didn't we? Yeah. He didn't know what he was working with that night, call me the agent. And I'm like, Yeah, I need to see his funds. And she fell for it and gave it to me. So when they call back the next day, remember I said, Now I got funds radio show, I know, you're still a cash offer, because my sellers not gonna let you get a loan. I think that robbed them. But once again, it's an agent that didn't do her job. Because had she done her job, she wouldn't have sent that to me. And I would have had nothing to go back to. Right. But I think you know, it just comes down to the spectrum of just respecting people. And that's what you did you respected your tenants, even though they weren't going to be yours anymore. You respected them to keep it because you said to me several times, if I can't save him, it's okay. I have to but I tried everything. But I'm trying because the market that's out here, let's face it, rents are as crazy as they come these guys were not going to be getting I had them already understanding that their rent was going up significantly. It did go up not significant. And then

John Laforme:

they went into shock. And they went into shock shock. I think we had to revive them.

Susan Ducharme:

Go I was there and and what agent on the list agent and both of them needed me there with them. Now I could have just said it's you know, what's not me just go go along with the buyer's agent. No, I was there. And I explained to them, we had a trust. All of us it was a package deal. And I think that's where it comes in. That's when at the end of the day you and I can sleep and know that we've done everything in the power. They never lost their home. They still can live there. And it's their choice if they don't want to pay the rent and they want to leave to go to somewhere else.

John Laforme:

Right. Here's something else I want to point out to about the two tenants. You know, one of them, I felt I felt almost related to she she's been in that property. It wasn't over 20 years, right. 25 years, 25 years, that tenant was there for 25 years. So that's her home. You know, that was her home and the upstairs tenant. He wasn't there quite As long as her and I mean not even close, but I had he had ties to the park. Is his I guess the baseball park right down on the corner there? Is it a baseball park? Yes. Yeah. So yeah, it's a baseball park. And he's, I guess one of his relatives It was named after him named after.

Susan Ducharme:

So his poor looks right at the park. Yeah, golf the house. looks right at the field. Yeah.

John Laforme:

So it was kind of like, there's some roots there. You know, everybody involved had roots there. You know, cluding. Let's go back in time, my brothers, but I had bought that house initially, and then one brother sold it to the other. So Lenny, and Lew owned it. And then Lenny sold his share to Lou. So Lou became the owner.

Susan Ducharme:

And Lou brought in the tenant downstairs. Yep,

John Laforme:

we brought a tenant downstairs. And Lou Lou was a little sad when I told him I was selling it. He goes John, I actually feel a little sad. He said, You know what, lose a soda. Why? But I'm just looking at I'm looking at down the road. This is not going to be a good thing for me to hang on to. And right now. Yeah, cuz I remember when I first took over that house, it was 40,000 under and I took that chance. I took that gamble, you know? So but I didn't want my dad to get kicked out. So I took over for him and helped him pay the kept paying the paying the mortgage to help them stay there for free. So I did my best to help him out. And it just worked out good for everybody in the long run. But

Susan Ducharme:

But yes, family for a long time. And

John Laforme:

my dad Yeah, that was I was gonna say so then. So then Louie owned it brought in The Downstairs Tenant when he lived upstairs. And then he wind up moving. And then I rented the upstairs. I used to live up there would be four. It was remodeled, and it was a shithole.

Susan Ducharme:

It wasn't selling it it you know, it made harder because like when I was selling it, I was saying okay, it's a family owned home. It started with my cousins. Yeah. And I went through that whole structure. So they understood where it was coming from. And then I said, and you know, the first tenant downstairs, it's like kicking my mother out. I can't kick her out. It's like, you know, when we talked about it, and I said, we can't go into evictions, we put that in our office to make sure in the listing that they understood we would not be evicting anybody, because you and I could not Yeah, there was no way I you weren't gonna get on the phone and call her and tell

John Laforme:

us that's something I wanted to do. No, no. And, you know, actually offered me I actually offered The Downstairs Tenant to purchase it.

Susan Ducharme:

I said, Yes. Yes.

John Laforme:

We've talked about this in the past. I remember you telling me your son wanted to hear from me if I was ever thinking about selling and at the time, I was like, it's not even a possibility. So I went to her. I said, Here's your chance. And my my son says it ain't worth that much. And little did she know it's sold for a lot more nificantly

Susan Ducharme:

Yeah, a lot more than that. So yeah, yeah, on that price. You know, when I first told you, I was gonna list it for you, like, Are you sure we should probably go less? I'm like, No, Jomar fine. And so I called you. I can, I can hear I can still hear you. Are you? Absolutely. I said, John, why am I going to give you this number? I said, if I really wanted to go higher, I could you were like, oh, no, no, no,

John Laforme:

no, I know why. I know. I had some doubt. And I'll tell you why. I had a little doubt because a couple years back maybe three years ago, four years ago, I think it might have been that I asked to I wanted to try and refinance it. So I needed an appraisal and the appraisal came in way low, remember? Yeah, but it's just because that's why I had the doubt I had that's why I had that. Oh, that was the only reason no, I Yeah,

Susan Ducharme:

yeah. Oh, I know you because you said to me, I'm not doubting you. I'm just afraid we're gonna sit here. And I said, What did I say to you? I can guarantee you that you will get over four. I can guarantee you and I remember you saying Oh, come on. I'm like, Okay, John. And when the first offer came in, would you say Holy shit so

John Laforme:

I think we should have went higher. Hey, calm just I said stay calm. We got this together. Don't panic

Susan Ducharme:

and and when it kept coming in you were just I kind of wish some of them I would have FaceTimed you because your voice said it to me. But God, I would have loved seeing your face call huh? Like I just like I'm like, and I made a point to make sure I was on the phone with you when I sent you the totals right. And you saw the offer because I wanted to hear the breath coming out. Really? And then you got a little greedy there because you become like a seller and said to me, Well, I want this total and I'm like alright John, listen We can't

John Laforme:

breezy here. You got me too excited, like,

Susan Ducharme:

No, you're like, I'm like, No, you're not gonna go there. But you know, and then it all came down to appraisal and everything. And I was confident because walking in with my documentation. What did I tell you? You said to me how you're going to make this work? Oh, don't worry, John, he already has all the documents, I walked in your sweating bullets. And appraisal came and went. And we got exactly what it was because I prove to them that they were houses that sold for more that were a junk compared to what we had. And you know, that's when it comes down to agents of understanding what the market is how it works, understanding what your seller needs, and not being afraid to talk to an appraiser because we're always taught not to talk to them, let them do their job. But I'll tell you right now in Nashua, these appraisers, there's many of them that I deal with out there. And they say, so just give me your back. And I love it. Well, there

John Laforme:

was a, there was a problem I had, I had. And towards the end, when everything was all agreed to and everything and everything was signed, we still had to go through the escrow process. And then there was this thing about the the appraisal, and I couldn't get you to tell me how much the final price was going to be. And you told me because because in Cal because in New Hampshire, you're not the they're whoever pays for the appraisal. Like, owns that knowledge and can't share it or won't share it. They can't or they can't.

Susan Ducharme:

They can, but they have to give you permission. They have to they're the ones that have to tell you what the total is. And they were not willing to tell us but you were phrasing it wrong. Also. Oh, so you were asking me what the appraisal price was, and I was giving you the legal terms that we couldn't, until you got upset and you're like, I'm not signing and I said What do you mean, you know, it's signing? Don't get a little pastrami now. You're like, I am signing for the dollar amount. I'm like, dude, okay, so do you want to know the sell the sale price? Or do you want to know the price? The price? And what did John say to me? I should need to know what I'm citing for I said, Alright, here's your price. And I told you Anyway, okay, I'll sign. And I'm like,

John Laforme:

so this whole time? Yeah. But there was a miscommunication there. And I was asking a question, and I wasn't getting the answer to that question. And it turns out, I might have been asking you the wrong question. Which is why you couldn't answer it?

Susan Ducharme:

Yes. Because I can't tell you the appraisal price. And I did go to her several times, right, and ask her.

John Laforme:

Now, if I had known that what it might have known that I just split the cost of the appraisal with them. And we both could have known that information. I'd had no problem with that. There's only a few

Susan Ducharme:

times. Yeah, a lot of times they won't do it, because they feel like that's the only upper hand over you. It's not much trust me, I it's not much at the end of the day, because if they got a lot, they would have told us they would have been bragging, like, Look at me. I see. But ya know that and that's what I kept trying to tell you and just steadfast that if it was a problem, he would have come back immediately. And like I told you that day that I met him at the house, I would have known instantaneously, right then in there. We're gonna have a problem with him getting to the numbers, but he, he didn't even balk at anything. I gave it to him and he's like, you're good. Don't worry. Okay.

John Laforme:

And you see that? You are comfortable with that? I wasn't

Susan Ducharme:

know why. Because you're the seller. Okay, yeah, let's get really comes back to it again. You're the seller. I'm the agent. So I'm doing my job knowing we're okay. Because I understand the process. You're the seller, you don't understand it. Just like when you're doing your home inspections, and you're telling people do this, this this, it's okay. To a buyer. That's scary. Because do I really just want to trust this guy? Because that's your job?

John Laforme:

Well, you've been you being the Bulldog that you are you kept me in line. Yes, I did. And I thank you for that. Because if you are a weaker person, or a weaker realtor, who is just just lets people give them shit and make them do stuff they shouldn't be doing well, then this can my transaction could have went very badly.

Susan Ducharme:

Oh, we it could have blown up. We could have been on the phone turning and saying I was harassing a buyer's agent to get a total. I mean, it all comes down to just understanding and that's what I kept saying to you explain to me what you're looking for. Because when I made you come back to me and function and get back to me get the anger. You got it. You can explain it because you know it because you're frustrated. You're like what the heck is your problem frickin explaining it to her she doesn't understand just she's like a ludicrous is what the hell is your problem? So and you like yelling, I mean, I'm going alright, John.

John Laforme:

Let's join.

Susan Ducharme:

Come on. Alright, so England, John.

John Laforme:

Yeah, I wanted to ask you a few other questions here. So what kind of a message would you convey to somebody who's, who's about to get into the real that wants to be a realtor in your area? How would you? What advice would you give them?

Susan Ducharme:

I'm guiding two people right now. But the best advice that I give them is when you are out searching for a broker. Okay? A broker is the real estate company you're going to be working for and representing and representing and they're gonna, they're gonna work for you because you're carrying their name. They're carrying your name. You know what go in here into these brokerages too many times you hear oh, I know. So and so here. No, you go in you interview that broker, just like they're interviewing you, you have to take this serious, you've got out not only know what you're going into that person that's been with the company might be making x amount of dollars, Oh, guess what you're gonna make peanuts, you're gonna be mad things are gonna happen. You're not getting the same deals. It just becomes mayhem. You got to know about that manager sitting at the desk? Are they a working manager? Or are they just a manager. And when I say just a manager, that means a manager that has had high sales, but they're no longer servicing? The the selling and listing side? That's what you want. Okay, that manager you can go to, and this is why I left my previous because your deal. I was talking to my manager, that wasn't a working manager. But that converted back into it because the market changed. And guess what, John? She had all the information on your home. Okay, and then she brought it by Aaron. Oh, that's it? I will tell you that. No, I didn't do that. Okay, I never told you how I can keep secrets and really no shit. So I was just I was juggling that. Now imagine she's calling me going? Why don't you take my offer? Why don't you take my offer? Why don't you take my offer? And I'm going because I got a lot of appointments. See, she had she knew what we were going for. Okay. As a new agent, the trust factor that you've come into that is I can trust you, I'm going to tell you because you're going to help me because you've been in this business for 25 years. I'm just starting out. But guess what, if they use it against you it is and if I was not seasoned you and I would have fell to that circumstance, and they would have been laughing at us. Wow. And that's the big and I never told you. So there's a lot of things that happen in a transaction. You never go back to that seller, because why do I want to tell you that you're gonna go oh, they're gonna screw me now. You wouldn't have trusted me with her. Right? Okay. By alone, you would have been like, Oh, my God, your company has my information.

John Laforme:

That is totally bias right there. That is that is just like zactly Wow. So that's a common thing that happens.

Susan Ducharme:

That's very common. So out here, understanding what it is, and understanding what you're coming into.

John Laforme:

That's like insider trading. That's like insider trading.

Susan Ducharme:

And you never heard that before. Did you know no one's ever told you? No. But you know what, if you have a good agent, they're going to share that with you. They're going to make sure you understand they're going to make sure you know what's going on. You have to understand what a broker has in giving to you. And you you

John Laforme:

left that broker, right?

Susan Ducharme:

I left the broker good. Yeah, it's it's different, you know, different reasons and things like that. But it was a very, very good, it was a tough lesson. Because when someone flips on you, and all of a sudden they're using it against you. It's like, holy smokes, I wasn't prepared for that.

John Laforme:

That's called deceit. That's called deceit and deceit is a very, very rough thing for anyone to deal with that that's, that's rough.

Susan Ducharme:

And I had three people in my office have an offer on our table, three. And one of them went back, she told me and I couldn't say anything. And she said, Oh, you know, I wouldn't I talked to so and so. And that's the manager and I went, Oh, maybe you shouldn't, but I can't say hey, don't do that. She's got an offer and two, but the person never told her. So how do you think I felt once again, I went, what a betrayal. Because to me, you should have said hey, by the way, I have an offer, so don't tell me. So she knew what her offer was in for. Yet. She came back and changed her offer with us again, unbeknownst to us until after the fact. You don't think that was another kick in the chops. I was trying to keep at anything in a in a pot for us? Did you make sure that nothing was bubbling out?

John Laforme:

Did you flip the bird on the way out? No.

Susan Ducharme:

Because you know why you never never mean,

John Laforme:

you'll be dealing with her again. You guys will be dealing with each other, I guarantee you will, because you're gonna

Susan Ducharme:

really mean she's a great manager. She was a great manager, a great person. choices you make, unfortunately, sometimes come back to haunt you. She forgot

John Laforme:

about that line in the sand that you're not supposed to cross.

Susan Ducharme:

Yeah. And it was hard. Like to me, I felt she should have sent someone else in as an agent versus her because she had my information. Yep. Whether she was telling him or not. And she tells us that she's not going to. You just don't know. You don't know. And so as a newbie, you got to know where you're going. Make sure you're just not going to a broker because your friend is there.

John Laforme:

Right. Right. Like I mentioned earlier, yeah. brokers. Yeah, just you got to you got to really interview people. You know, the world's changed us used to be you interview employees, you need to interview your people you want to work for what do you offer me? You know, you really need to ask those questions. And don't forget to ask how much you're getting paid. Before you sign? Yes. So I'm gonna ask you this. If you're a realtor, and you realize you're a licensed Realtor, and you go to a broker, you have to enter into a contract with them. Correct? Oh, you do? Okay, in a

Susan Ducharme:

contract. So I have been offered. So you have contracts. Plus, you have bonuses. Okay. So sometimes they give you a bonus. And you're like, people, I got a bonus of this amount of money. And you're like, great, because you're locked in there, because they're gonna take that back from you. So if something happens with that broker, you're mainly stuck there for a year. So think about the consequence that could have happened to us if I was stuck there for a year.

John Laforme:

Is that a signing bonus? You're talking about?

Susan Ducharme:

Yes. Ah, Giussani I've refused them. I don't want any signing. But I don't you know what, I'm going in clean. I'm working for what I have. I'm not saying I'm perfect. Yeah, you know, it you sit here and people are like brokers, you got a lot of leads that go Zillow, they do different things, you you're paying for that at the end of the day, right? Why don't you just do it yourself, get your name out there work as hard as you can work to get your name out there and make the money you're making play some with now I pay nothing. I'm gonna tell you next to nothing for fees. I left there to go my the broker I was when I had with you because I thought maybe it's just I was making really great money. But I thought it was messing up. You know, because it was too good to be true. Found out made a big mistake, get back there. So that's what I did. So that's why I'm back with East Key reality. Great company, great owner. She's basically out here, her, her grandmother was in the business. And she's also been in the business. She was out in Las Vegas for over 12 years. And she came back home. And she started here. And she started for all of us as agents to make the money that we need to make out here because we're working the hardest for it, not the broker. So she she's not making the cream of the crop like the other places are, but I'll tell you, she's making it because she's feeding us to make sure we are getting what we're valued at. And I know when I call her I can talk to her and it's not ever going to be held against me and she's not going to bring someone in. I know that. I've already experienced it with her. She sent another agent so and she never told the agent anything. And that's important.

John Laforme:

So as a signing those are the things is a signing bonus a common thing for someone to like a broker, maybe broker maybe heard of you before, Hey, she's a high volume like she she's really good at her job. So if she maybe they throw you a carrot and say hey, you want to come work with us? Here's your signing bonus. But what you're saying is I think is the signing bonus. You have to be there for at least a year.

Susan Ducharme:

Some of them a year. Some of them you have to make dollar amounts, volume amounts. Okay? You got to be very careful. But they'll throw this Oh, I'll give you $5,000 to come with me. Think about this. You have no say you have no business or you're low on your business numbers right now or what have not, even if you sky high and you're going someone throwing extra money at you. No one gives you anything for free. Right? Look at this. I've always been taught that. So when it was first offered me I'm like whoa, no is just going to hand me money just to be able to do something. What is what's the tag line? What is this connected to? How do you get it? You know what, ask the questions. How come the broker can ask us questions? How can people can ask us questions, right but an agent feels they can't ask a broker. Why? You're making the broker money? Yeah, maybe it's time to say no to the broker and go on to do something else. I mean that it just comes down to you got to know what's out here and understand why they're doing the tactics.

John Laforme:

Let me share So let me share a little life experience with everybody that we're talking to you right now. Because before you come before you get into any business, it doesn't matter what it is, what occupation you're talking about. If you are offered a deal, your very first deal like someone says, I'm going to offer you a contract to work here for three years, I'm going to, I'm going to offer you this much money. I'm going to offer you this, this, this and this, trust me, your eyes are gonna go, wow, this guy just offered me this woman just offered me all this money, and all this ability and this opportunity. That doesn't mean it's a good deal. That's the tough part, how to get through your first deal. And I learned this years ago and other businesses, it's like, I had all these people offered me this and like, then a week later, I get this offer. And I get that offer and like, wow, they're all coming in about the same amount of money. So what's going on here, so if somebody throws you like right out of the gate, oh, here's five grand to come with me. Or here's 10 grand? Well, if they're anxious to throw out five or 10, grand, who's to say the next guy went off your 20. And guess who just had a comment on this? I'm not gonna say recent comment, but I just recently saw a video. And I believe it was, I believe it was Lebron James. He was one of his first deals, and he was offered all kinds of like, millions of dollars. And he said no, because he thought that same way. He had, he must have had some experience or someone educated him and said, Hey, look, trust me, the other guys will probably off double that. So I recently watched a video I believe was on YouTube or something. And, and that's a fact. So when you come in, when you come into your first deal, it's going to be a wow moment for you. And that's great. It's an awesome feeling like, wow, somebody really wants you to be with them and work with them. And, and it's gonna change your life. Basically, this first deal is probably going to be very substantial financially. And it's that one acceptance could just change your life, like you could go from the one bedroom apartment to the three bedroom house. And overnight. That's, that's the kind of money you're talking about. But I wasn't trying to say is, you really got to look into exactly what it means and read between the lines, don't be in a rush to sign just because they took you to a fancy dinner. Think about it. Think about it, go home, sleep on it. Think about it, just asked questions. And if they can't answer those questions, like for example, if you say, so I'm going to get a monthly reporting from you on, you know, official accounting of my money coming in money going out. And they say, Well, no, we don't do that we don't we don't share those things, well, then you need to run. Because if there's not full disclosure, on finances, in any business, you need to run if anyone says to you, oh, that's just too much work for the accountant to give you a copy of that. You need to run. And that's I don't care what anyone says you need to run. Because that's somebody already from the get go. Trying to screw you over financially. And by not giving you all the facts and all the numbers. That's my advice to anybody going into any business. And I've I am talking from experience, I've, I've had great deals, I've had bad deals. And I learnt and I always absorbed all that information and learn from it. So the next one I went into, I knew exactly what to ask. And as soon as I got a little pushback on certain areas. See, I was running away next. And that's just how you have to look at it. So remember, just because it's your first deal does not mean it is a good deal. There may be something better out there. So don't let just desperation. Don't be desperate to just jump on the first one. Just Just think about it.

Susan Ducharme:

And don't show the desperation. Yeah, don't ever I'll tell you my mother taught us something very early on, and my parents lived by this. If you're in debt, don't ever tell your employer you're in debt. Don't ever tell them you need that job. Once you tell them or tell someone you need them, they will drive you down to that ground and spit you out and have no respect for you because they know you can't leave. But if you show okay, you know what? I'll walk right out here right now. Can't afford it. But you know what? In your mind, you're saying that? Don't ever show your deck of cards? Yeah, you know, you gotta be smart at this and I'll tell you going back to my very first time you want to laugh? Back at Caudwell banker that's where I started,

John Laforme:

they have a lot of cards over there. And yeah, there's a lot of cod fish over there. So let's call it cod, Baker cod? Well.

Susan Ducharme:

I'll tell you, my manager was incredible. Okay, because she didn't sleep nights when I did my first transaction, because he is so I absorb everything. And I take everything I learned a lesson from it. There's always a lesson to learn. And boy, did I learn one here, I'll tell you real quick. So when you go in, and you are placing an offer, and my first transaction, I have a multifamily. And I got these big numbers, and I'm got it all down. And I know what they have to put down. And I said to him, Okay, you're putting, you know, X amount of dollars down. So you need to put that down for your, for them the good faith, we call the good faith check. And they're like, Okay, so they get it out of their 401k. And they slap over 75,000 and I pay it and I do everything and I get it down. And I think I'm doing great. I'm doing everything. My manager everyday she's asked me, how's it going? Oh, it's going great. No problems doing all this stuff. had a few hiccups, but i i maneuvered it. The very end, John. I sat down after I closed it with my manager. And I said, Okay, we're all done. Here's all the papers and she helped me through this and everything. And she looked at me she goes, so I'm going to sleep so damn good tonight. I said why? I said what's the matter? You? You didn't have any doubt me? And she said, God, no, I didn't doubt you. She goes, but I should I love the process side of you. I said, What did I do wrong? She goes, alright, when they tell you the downpayment, don't ever give it as a good faith check. You could have lost 75,000 on them. I went, What are you talking about? And she says the amount of money the escrow money that you have in their head, they decided to walk away for something stupid. The seller credit kept that money. I went, Oh my god. Do you think I slept good that night? Hell no. I was like I said, so I said, sure. Okay, regroup. Tell me what I did wrong. Have me understand. I wrote it all down. And I've never made that mistake again. But you know what, it's the best lesson that I've learned. Okay, we've all done this. And that's what I'm just telling people. It's okay to make a mistake. As long as the end of the day no one dies, and no one loses money, right? We're all good, right? You can fix something you don't have to go off flying off the handles and throw someone out.

John Laforme:

And you're and you're in the sales market. So sales man, I could not do sales. I I am just not the person cut out for that. I forget, I have customers call me. So you know, the other company I called? They said they do this? Well, that's great. You should go with them. That's my answer. Is that oh, well, you know, you don't offer any of this. Well, sir, you know, I do offer other services. But it sounds to me like you're looking just looking for the lowest guy. And I'm not really here to sell you anything. I just offer a service. That's why you called me and these are the services I offer. Yet you're trying to compare me to somebody else that I don't even know. I don't know what to tell you. So these are my prices. This is what I offer. I'd be more than happy to take care of your your inspections for you. But I'm not here to try to sell you something I don't want to sell you anything I'm just telling you what I offer. I just don't like doing sales and I don't care if they hang up I just don't like because the phone ring again you know, it's it's right the volume out here is so much there's so much volume here. I'm not worried about losing a couple phone calls a week it doesn't matter. It does it doesn't hurt my bottom end or anything like that. So yeah, you being in sales. Me I'm not even in sales, but I would tell my advice to someone who wants to be a realtor in the sales business is to make sure just because you get three deals in ink and they're all moving along pretty smoothly. Don't go buy that new car until you've closed those deals because you're in the sales business anything can go wrong and that money that that imaginary $20,000 You thought you were going to have at the end of June all of a suddenly went and is no longer there. It went poof I don't have a put special effects over here so I'm just gonna go that's all I got. That money is not coming. So it's this is something you really have to I don't know I would say your first couple of transactions bank that money. You have to build a cushion if you're going to be in the sales business you have financially to be to become financially stable. in that industry, and especially just because you're starting, you really need to watch your spending. And you unless you have a rich father at home or rich husband, that's just going to let you do what you want and make all the mistakes and just keep paying all your bills for you. Great. But if you don't have that option, you need to really be tight with your money on your first couple transactions and save, put that money away. Just leave it there for cushion and then keep hustling, keep hustling. Because if you are not a hustler in the sales business, you are going to fail. And you are going to fail miserably and you are going to hate it. And you're going to blame everybody but yourself. That's a fact. That's a fact. You're gonna blame everybody but yourself for not getting out there and doing that extra work and driving that extra 10 miles to that next house. Or I'm not available today, because it's Sunday. Bullshit, you're in the sales business, you're available 24 hours a day, whether you like it or not a week until you build your base. And then you can kind of lean back a little bit. But you have got to hustle.

Susan Ducharme:

The other thing too, you got to take 10% out. So when you start this business, you take 10% out, you put it into a savings account, you call it taxes, okay? Call it taxes, because let me tell you, when you find out what you gotta pay at the end, a lot of realtors do not understand this. So I take 10% out goes into his account for taxes. I take another 10% of calls out for advertising. I put money into a savings account, you have your pensions, and then you have your money that goes into your checking account. Yep. Okay. Every single one, you have to control this, you are your employer. Okay, there's no one else taking care of your funds. You are your employer when you come to tax time. I can't tell you how many times I've gone there. And you know, two years ago, I did really, unbelievably, I had put in 25,000 Just in taxes, because you have to pay in quarterly fees. And then all of a sudden when I go to do my taxes, they like oh, you oh no, that 30,000 Am I Oh, it's me goes. Please tell me. I said come to Jesus, I have the money. Don't worry, I wrote it up off the wind. But had I not been disciplined? Yeah, guess what? When you're gonna go, you're gonna get a loan. So you're gonna keep getting a loan, and then you're gonna have to keep paying interest. You got to be smart at this because I see. Do you how many Realtors ever think about this, John, you have a realtor, okay? They're 70 years old. They're 80 years old. Why are they working? You know why they're working? Because they got a lot of bling on their fingers. And they drive in the best car out there. And they never knew how to save. And when retirement came, they went, Oh, I can't retire. I gotta work till I die. Yep. Who? I'm gonna tell you right now my goal is to retire at 62. Okay, come hell or high water? I'm going to try. I'm going to do it. Okay. But the bottom line is, there is no way I'm going to be out there. 70 years old selling the house. Absolutely not gonna happen. I'm not doing it. Because you didn't live right. And you gotta, you gotta know what you're doing when you're in business for yourself, because ever real is in business for themselves. You've got to understand the business world and the business model. And that's where people don't understand it.

John Laforme:

Well, there's this term called word called, I should say word sustainability. And the best way to describe that is well, first of all, you're in sales. That's risky enough. As far as steady income coming in. That's that's just a risky proposition, you know, for any business. Now, the economy changes. Things change, especially the real estate industry. It goes up it goes down. It's a roller coaster. And what's it going to be like five to seven years for the next one to come up or down? Is that typically the average around five or seven years I'm thinking I think it's about every seven years or maybe 10 years or so everything? Yeah, yeah. So you know, it's gonna go like this. And you know, when it's at its high, you may be rolling in cash. You might be a little you know, in tune to indulgent and you kind of buying everything. You got five cars, you know, gold watches, all that good shit. Yeah, you get the best clothing, you know, you're eating at the finest restaurants. And you're not thinking about what happens when shit goes bad. That roller coaster starts going down. And this is just life advice for anybody. I mean, you don't know this until you're older like you know, I'm older so I get it. I see where I spent money blue money, made money, lost it again came back. That's that's just life. It's nothing is nothing's going to be like this. Unless you just happen to be very Lucky and super, super rich. So you really got to keep that in mind. And, you know, saving money having cushion is the best feeling in the world that's called fuck you money. Anybody will tell you that, it because because if you have a whole pile of fucking money, and then you have a boss who just turns into a raging asshole for some reason, and are you the people, your co workers suck, you can just leave, because you have a whole bunch of fuck you money where you can just kick back, wait for the next good offer to come along, it could be three, six months, if you save enough. And that should happens, you're in control of what you do. When you don't save that money, you're going to be miserable, because you have to stay there. And you have to put up with that idiot of a boss or those co workers who drive you crazy. So you are really, really just limiting what you can do. So save your money. Have a really good cushion. So that you can do what you want to do, and, and dictate your own future. Don't let other people dictate your future. Because basically being in real estate, you're working for yourself. You just under a broker's umbrella, but you're basically self employed. Is that how you do your taxes? Self Employed? Correct? Yeah, 99? Sure. So 1099 Everybody case you don't know means you are responsible for paying all your taxes. That's what it means. No one's giving you a paycheck with taxes already taken out. In other words, you're just gonna get a lump check. And it's up to you to separate how much of that lump check is for taxes and how much is not. Because there's a couple things in life that are inevitable. That's called taxes and death. And that's, that's, that's the reality. So if you're you're really young, and you're thinking about getting a real estate business, remember, it's a sales based business. It's tough, you got to fight through it, get established and save you money, and you'll be good. I think it's a good thing. It's a great, it's a great career choice. But you got to understand that you got to work.

Susan Ducharme:

It's you have to work. It's not a lot of people come in here, it's like a car dealership, there's no one you're not sitting at a desk, have the door open and someone walking in, you have got to hit the pavement, you got to get out there, you have to be known. Your face has to be on bulletins your face right in, we're paying for that all that advertisement that you see agents out there hearing them on radio stations, you know, some of them, yeah, they've got it, they got big, huge teams, they just rolling in the money, you're not going to have them, you're gonna have the teammates. So pay attention to that. Also make sure when you're working, one of the things I always ask one of my clients when I go in for a listing appointment, and they say, You know what, you're one of the three, it's a great, can you do me a favor? Can you just make sure when you talk to the other to make sure you're working, that they're going to be working for you? Not the team is working for you? Do you know if they're going to be here at the open house? And they always go man, I don't know. But asking that question, because I'm gonna be here. You got to be aggressive at this. And you got to tell people, if you don't tell them and a lot of people say to me, Well, I don't want to say that. Because then they're gonna know, you know, you want them to know, how do you think you get it? Because I'm the one that's going to be there. You're telling me, I'm telling them. That's what you want. This is this is something you need to learn. This is not a car dealership. It's not things like that. We're not sitting in just you know, phone ringing off the hook and answering it. You're hustling you're out there. You're just it's just you have to and I think that's something that was driven in me by both my parents if you want it, you gotta go get it. It's not gonna fall in your lap. Yeah. I think and I watched my parents

John Laforme:

on a going on, you know, piggyback on what you're saying there is, I think, what when I see when I go to work every day, just inspecting houses. And I see the buyer's agent and the listing agent show up in the listing agent, they're mostly just to make sure everything's open and we're good to go and then they take off. That to me is awesome. I think that's a good thing because they're actually showing up to make sure everything's gonna go forward. And there's they're, they're really they're showing their work ethic I think when they show up and just they unlock everything make sure they asked me quite Hey, you know, John, what do you need I said, just make sure I have access to the attic make sure all the gates are unlocked around the house. If there's any dogs I need them locked up in a room because I'm not coming on the property without it and make sure there's no lock on the electrical panel that some everybody forgot about because they put it there five years ago and never opened it. You know and shit like that is the gas is the gastroc onto the property that I like to see with realtors. Now the buyer's agents if they come in at least show up in the beginning and then say Hey, I gotta run some errands. I gotta do some Mata. I'll be back into our great, that's fantastic. But when these people don't show up at all, I just shake my head I'm like, Man, why did you pick this? I just want to say to my customers why did you pick this REALTOR at the that busy where they can't service you at it? Don't forget they're getting a fat fucking check when you when you buy this place. I don't get that. That to me is I see that a lot. That bugs a shit out of me. But I got to zip it. I don't say nothing. I'm saying I'm talking about it now, but I'm not. I'm not generalizing the whole industry are saying this. They're out there. And I don't like I don't like seeing that. So how do you how do you want to be found? Do you have a website?

Susan Ducharme:

Alright, this is sudo Shan thank you so much for having me. You can reach me via my website at sudo sham.com. How do you spell the charmer is? Do you see HARME You go. My phone number is 978-337-2586 or you can reach me at SU douche at East Key reality.com Awesome. Feel free to reach out with any questions by our sellers or if you just have information that you need answered. And I would love to help you.

John Laforme:

All right, well, thanks again cuz

Susan Ducharme:

Thank you have a wonderful day. Hey, yeah,

John Laforme:

just Yeah, just a kick, kick it around Sunday. You know, there's a great, great conversation. I had a blast doing this. So I will talk to you soon and keep selling. Keep buying

Susan Ducharme:

sounds good. I'll talk to you Take care. Bye bye.

John Laforme:

Okay, just a friendly reminder, you're buying a home don't panic. Home Inspection with already has got you covered. You can schedule us online or go into home inspection authority inspection authority for seven or you can call us at 800-950-8184. We offer general home inspections, mold inspections and testing sewer camera inspections, indoor air quality testing, swimming pool and spa inspections and light commercial inspections. Use specialized tools to provide the most thorough inspection possible such as drone or roof inspections that are not accessible, crawl bought for under homes and tight crawlspaces to get to those areas otherwise not accessible. And we use thermal imaging technology as well. So give us a call at 800-950-8184 Like I said you can schedule online at home inspection authority.com 24/7