Walk A Mile In Someone Else's "Checkbook"?
By: Brad Rachielles
Yes... You're right. The often used phrase is said to be a wise old Indian adage and more completely is possibly "Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins". It's all about empathy... cautioning one to think about what a person may be going through that caused a decision or an event to be done differently than what we might have done, given our own very different lives.
A news story this morning about gas prices causing financial problems for families seems hard to relate to.... for me. Then I thought about a recent real estate class covering home owners in financial distress and the empathy thing kicked in.
30 days cash reserve is all that many many American families have. If forced to use this small cushion for emergencies like an unexpected doctor bill, unforeseen auto repairs, an adjustment in an Adjustable Rate Mortgage, if the wage earner is sick for a couple of weeks or if day-to-day expenses (maybe high gas prices contribute here) chip away at the budget reserves, hard choices will be forced upon the family. Pay for gas to get to work or pay the insurance bill. In all too many cases... pay for food, or pay for shelter. Very tough choices. This doesn't even include any of the really devastating circumstances life can present.
Some choose to walk away from their homes with the idea that starting over without that burden is the best solution. In the extreme, it may be the only solution, but too many do not understand the long term consequences of this action.
The title was purposely changed. With the growing number of families facing foreclosure, it is SO IMPORTANT FOR REALTORS(R) TO BE ABLE TO WALK A MILE IN OUR CLIENT'S CHECKBOOK in these situations and to be able to present viable potential alternatives to foreclosure if one exists. Sometimes, guiding a client to specialized professional (an accountant, a lawyer, a lender) can solve the problem. A distressed homeowner likely has CHOICES to foreclosure that they don't know about.
Walking A Mile In Someone Elise's "Checkbook" may help you present these choices.
Photo Credit: heidielliot in Flickr CC as of 3/1/2012 AM
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It's All About YOU! Brad Rachielles, REALTOR, Upland, CA
Brad Rachielles, REALTOR. Helping Inland Empire Buyers and Sellers with their Real Estate needs in the Communities of: Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Claremont, Ontario, Chino, Chino Hills, Pomona and La Verne, CA.
Cell: 909-816-7333
Web Page: http://www.BradRachielles.com
e-Mail: bradrachielles@dslextreme.com
