Linda Lee - An Unbelievable Example of Culture

Linda Lee has been with Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners in Daytona Beach, Florida since February of 2008, when she transferred from the Savannah KW office. One of the reasons she moved was to be closer to her daughter. She has done very well considering the shifted real estate market, being new to the area then, and newer in the business. She attends office training classes and consults with her Team Leader regularly. Linda is a leader in the office, and this story is just one that explains why.

In September 2008, the Daytona Beach market center lost a well-liked agent named Tim Bjork. Tim passed quickly and unexpectedly. After the initial shock of hearing the news, the Team Leader, Michael Leadlay, & the MCA Kelli Swafford wanted to be sure to take care of Tim’s clients. They had a hard time reaching the seller on Tim’s listing to pass on the news. Finally Michael drove to the listing and realized it was vacant.

He spoke with Tim’s wife Marsha that same day to offer his condolences. When he saw her at the funeral a few days later, they agreed to meet so that he could help her with any business related items that Tim had. Michael found out the seller of Tim’s listing was the former pastor of their church, and he called them to see if they could still help them sell their property.

Not only was the listing a short sale (roughly $125,000 short), it was also not going to be an easy sale. Further, Marsha could really use a commission off of it selling, so Michael wanted to find a way to sell the listing and still figure out how to pay the commission to Tim’s wife.

Michael was sharing the story when Linda said she would work the listing and not take a commission on the transaction if it closed. The house had some challenges with condition and though the local agents understood the value, unfortunately the bank did not.

The house had five contracts turned into the bank. The first four did not go through either because the bank was not realistic or the buyers got tired of waiting and cancelled. This was an extremely time-consuming process on each contract: Linda handled the bank, the out of town sellers and getting paperwork signed, as well as the agents representing the buyers.

Linda did all this knowing that she was not working towards a commission! The home did finally sell after 13 months: the sellers were very appreciative that they were out from under a very difficult situation. Marsha (Tim’s wife) was shocked when they presented her with a check for the same amount that Tim would have made if he had sold the home himself – they never told her that they had planned on that if the home sold.

Linda had a fantastic attitude and was happy to help throughout the process. Michael Leadlay complimented her “She is an unbelievable example to me of our culture, and I feel blessed to have her apart of our office.” Linda loves KW and will do anything for anyone – which is why she thinks what she did for Tim and Marsha is no big deal. However, we all think differently and know what a big example it was of KW culture and being a quiet hero.