When I was in mortgage banking (other than my “stint” as a loan agent) I enjoyed “banker’s hours”, weekends and holidays.  When I started selling real estate in 1989, I quickly learned that there were no “holidays”.

I spent a decade working on holidays, granted most was just telephone and computer work, but about ten years ago, I showed homes to a very motivated buyer on Thanksgiving.  We negotiated the offer on Thanksgiving (it was accepted).  A week after Thanksgiving he canceled and he bought something else (with me still as his agent).  Hmmmm…. I thought what was that all about?  That mad Thanksgiving rush?!!??! 

A year or so later, I received an offer on Christmas Eve on one of my listings, written by another agent… “Oh this buyer is motivated; this needs to be accepted today”.  We negotiated back and forth both Christmas & Christmas Eve, and entered escrow the 26th.  Again (for no apparent reason) in about a week, escrow canceled. I have come to understand that for many people the holidays bring anxiety, loneliness and depression. 

I no longer show property or negotiate on major holidays; while there are always motivated buyers; most are less motivated during the holidays as they are often distracted by all the preparation the holiday entails. 

So if you are an existing client phoning me on a holiday, you will get a return call, but if you are calling on Thanksgiving or Christmas because you saw a sign in front of a listing, I most likely will not return your call until the next day.