Re: My First Call to a manager - baby steps - Posted by Eric NC
Posted by Eric NC on January 08, 2002 at 22:36:15:
I will admit that I actually did talk to a different manager first, but I’ve been trying to forget it now that I’ve learned my lesson.
I started with saying the house was for my wife and I. Then I mentioned I wanted to help a young couple get in. This guy asked, “How old are they? What do they do?” He got another phone call and made me hold. I thought “Oh sh*t. If I keep this up I’m dead.” He came back on and I said actually there’s a number of couples I’m trying to put into homes. Uh oh…
He goes, “Now wait a minute here. First you told me it was for you and your wife, then you told me it was for a young couple, now you tell me you have a number of couples interested. So which is it? I’ve been in this business for 30 years, and no offense, but that sounds a little dishonest if you ask me.”
Yikes!
I told him to forgive me, I’m just getting started in this business, and that I wanted to buy a home in his park, and then finance it for a young couple just starting out. I told him I was nervous and that I was sorry we got off on the wrong foot. Had he ever done that type of thing before? (the financing thing)
He said yes, but he wasn’t sure if we could do business because I sounded a little dishonest with my story.
I apologized again, explained that I was new and nervous, and he said well, maybe we can do business, but he’d need me to come in and talk with him first. He also said we’d have to go through all of the credit, eviction, and criminal checks. I told him okay, I’d call him back, and thanked him for his time.
Well, I think I’ll try boning up on my skills in a different park than his for the time being.
Anyway, the lesson is: be upfront with these guys. Lonnie tells us this in his books. I just didn’t read hard enough.
I won’t do that again. But I didn’t stop trying either. I forced myself to call that other guy today and made sure I was upfront with him. Like the post went, I might not be able to deal on that trailer in that park, but we had a good conversation, and I’m back in the saddle again, not too much the worse for wear and definitely wiser. Good luck to you and don’t sweat it. Just be honest and you’ll do well.
Eric