Neither Rain nor Sleet nor Mother’s Day Can Stop Real Estate Pros

May 16, 2012 - PRLog -- Mother’s Day is that one day we all stop and take time out to honor those special ladies who helped raise us or those who are the mothers of our children.  However, as is the case with most holidays, the buying and selling of real estate does not stop.  For the customers of Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), Mother’s Day is not a day off; but they manage to find ways to do business and still honor their moms.

Melba Bairaktaris of Olympic Realty in Chicago seems to do business on Mother’s Day every year.  However, this year she decided to host a Mother’s Day dinner for her mom, mother-in-law, sister and her sister’s mother-in-law.  She spent the day preparing a wonderful meal, and was prepared to host her guests at 4:00 pm.  “Just as my guests arrived, I tied a little apron around my ten year old Kiki’s waist,” said Melbi.  “At 4:20, I was outside a house in Addison showing it to a nice young couple who were living in their parents’ basement.  The house had just gone on the market the previous night.  By 4:50, we were writing the offer at a local restaurant.  I was home by 6:15.”  Did they get the house?  Does it matter?

Others have found a home and a career on Mother’s Day.  Thirteen years ago while expecting their third child Paul Johnson of Century 21 Affiliated in Chicago and his wife were looking for a home.  On Mother’s Day that year, they decided to pull out the list of homes in which they were interested and visit a couple that were on their way home from holiday brunch.  The real estate agent sitting at an open house at a great little bungalow that day was the listing agent’s son – a gift for his mother on Mother’s Day.  “Not only did we buy the house,” said Paul, “but we used the same agent to list our home.  Years later, I became an agent myself and work at the same office as that gentleman, who is now my Managing Broker, Earl Ruthman.”  A life changing event from a Mother’s Day thirteen years ago.

Sometimes the story has a little harder edge.  Ken Rothermel of Re/Max Action in Lisle moved his family from Arizona up to Wisconsin twelve years ago to be closer to his wife’s family.  So close that they moved into the basement of his wife’s parents’ home – Ken, his wife, their seven year old and their six month old.  On Mother’s Day, Ken’s father-in-law (this isn’t about dads) told Ken and his wife that they had had enough and that they had thirty days to move out.  “We got on the phone and immediately called five local agents,” said Ken.  “Only one of them would show us a home. The others claimed no one would let us see their home on Mother’s Day.  We bought the house he showed us.  To this day, I hold open houses or am in the office on holidays so I can maybe help someone in a similar situation.  Buyers looking on holidays are serious buyers.”

Of course, some end up fighting wild animals on Mother’s Day.  Years ago, Lorraine Tresnak of Realty Executives Midwest in Darien went with her mom to the Brookfield Zoo for Mother’s Day.  Though it was nice out, Lorraine’s mom carried an umbrella just in case the weather turned.  “After seeing a few exhibits, we sat down to rest,” said Lorraine, “when suddenly a monkey escaped and decided to do battle with my mother and her umbrella!  Fortunately, they fought to a draw until attendants were able to get there and subdue the monkey.  I’ll never forget my Mom and how she protected me on that Mother’s Day.”

You thought it was tough sitting an open house on Mother’s Day?

About MRED

Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is the real estate data aggregator and distributor providing the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS) to nearly 8,000 real estate offices and 40,000 real estate professionals, including brokers, agents and appraisers.  MRED has expanded well into the “collar” counties surrounding Chicagoland, and its property information encompasses northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana.  www.mredllc.com.