Let me share one unforgettable case from my real estate journey.
Back in 2016, a prospective buyer approached me with serious interest in a particular property. Driven by my commitment to deliver the best service possible, I embarked on a mission to locate the actual owner. That property, however, was held under a proxy name—the real owner was someone else entirely. It took me two full months of relentless calls, countless emails, and unwavering perseverance to finally track down the true seller.
After numerous emails sent to the owner’s company secretary, persistence paid off. The owner himself reached out to me directly, expressing his intent to sell. I had done it—I secured a quality listing through sheer grit.
But then, for reasons beyond anyone’s control, the prospect buyer wasn’t ready to proceed at that time. And that was perfectly okay. I knew he was a genuine person and a man of his word. The silver lining? I walked away with a solid, marketable listing. Over the following years, we (the seller and I) made several attempts to move the property, but eventually, life moved on—and so did we.
Fast Forward 9 Years Later
Out of the blue, the same buyer contacted me again. This time, he said, “I’m ready now. Let’s make that deal happen on the very same property.”
And he wanted me—yes, me—to handle it.
My first instinct? Track down the seller’s contact information. I dug through my old handwritten notes, scrolled through my older handphone, searched every email thread with the company secretary, and flipped through every file I could find. Nothing. The contact I once held so securely had completely vanished from my records.
Frustration set in. The first time, it took me two months to find the owner. Now, I had no idea how long this new search would take. I tried every method I knew—calling mutual connections, revisiting old databases, even retracing my digital footprints. No luck. Not even a sliver of hope.
The Breakthrough That Changed Everything
It was late evening when my phone rang. A colleague of mine called for a brief chat, and we discussed alternative ways to reach the seller. After I hung up, a quiet thought dawned on me—almost like a whisper: Check the chat history with the buyer.
I opened our old conversation thread and started scrolling backward. Years of messages flew by. And then—there it was. A screenshot from 2016, still intact in our chat history. On that image? The seller’s phone number, clear as day.
I felt an overwhelming rush of gratitude. I reached out immediately, reconnected both parties, and went on to close that deal successfully.
The Lesson I Carry Forever
That experience taught me something profound:
When the buyer is ready, the seller appears—but only if you never stop searching.
In real estate, persistence isn’t just a skill; it’s a survival instinct. You can go months without a closing. You can lose contact, face dead ends, and feel like giving up. But if you stay grounded, keep following up, and trust the process—and your faith—the right door will open at the right time.
This is why I love what I do. Not for the commissions, but for the stories, the relationships, and the divine timing that reminds me: every effort you sow today may bear fruit years later—sometimes, exactly 9 years later.