Nashville Real Estate Stories - Part 1

This story can be found at NashvilleRealEstateNow.com

Would you trade your comfortable job to sell Nashville Real Estate?

Let’s look at one day in my crazy life. If you can put the needs of others ahead of your own, this may be the job for you!

A few years back, I received a new foreclosure assignment in Hermitage, a suburb of Nashville, TN. The first steps with a new foreclosure are gathering information and checking to see if anyone is living in the home. I assembled as much as I could find on this property, printed a map and headed out the door. I had no idea what to expect when I arrived at the home, but I know it will always be an adventure.

Driving slowly through the neighborhood, I approached the home for the first time. It is a good idea to keep your eyes open to get an impression of the neighborhood. You also want to look for homes for sale and for evidence of other distressed properties. One of my routines is to say a quick prayer before I arrive at the property. A blessing for the home, the occupants and myself is a good way to start.

I was expecting the property to be vacant, as the power had been off for several months. No one answered when I knocked on the door. The front of the home was secure and most of the blinds were pulled tight, so I needed to walk around the exterior of the home. The rest of the home appeared the same as the front. When I get to the back of the home, I found the rear door unlocked.

It is now time to go inside. I always knock hard and loudly yell “Hello” when I enter a home for the first time. It is best to listen and take in the sights and smells when you enter a vacant home. After being in this business for a while you learn to read the clues. For example: If it smells like pets, there is a higher probability that you will encounter stranded animals or fleas.

We are required to tour the home, document the condition, and note any personal property. I found the home half filled with furniture and the garage stacked floor to ceiling. This is not unusual as some people just abandon their stuff and move on. As required, I locked the back door, posted a notice on the front door and headed to the office to prepare reports for my client. An eviction would be filed with the courts and the sheriff. It’s waiting time.

The eviction process can take from a few weeks to a few years to complete. With Nashville Foreclosures, an eviction takes three months on average. At the conclusion of an eviction, all of the personal property is moved to the curb. Typically, the neighbors start to take anything valuable the minute the sheriff leaves the home. We drive by the property weekly to check the condition of the home and to determine if anyone has moved in or out. Nothing on this home changed for a few months, and then one day I received a call.

For the rest of the story:  A Day in the Life of a Foreclosure Agent – Part 1