Underpromise... Overdeliver. · Multifamily Agent Academy

Underpromise... Overdeliver.

Hey everyone, I wanted to share a valuable lesson I learned recently with my listing at 136 E 5th Ave. We initially listed the property, but then had to take it off the market due to some permit issues with the City of Escondido. On top of that, we weren’t getting any serious offers, so my client and I agreed that if we could at least get the permit process started, it would improve our chances. That’s exactly what we did.

During this time, my client (the seller) was under a lot of stress, especially since he was losing money on the deal — by “losing” I mean he was really struggling, with multiple flipped properties sitting on the market. He gave us a week to get the property under contract — just one week — and the permits were still uncertain. We even raised the price by $30,000 compared to the original listing. If we didn’t deliver, he was ready to switch agents.

I wanted to tell him we could absolutely get it done in that timeframe, but that is overpromising, which if I didn't deliver not that promise, the company, our brand and my image would all be ruined to that client. Instead, I put my head down and let the results speak for themselves. I assured him that I understood his position and promised to do everything I could to meet his expectations. I decided not to overpromise but to underpromise — that way, I could focus on giving it my all. The result? Not just one, but two offers over asking price, and everything worked out in the end.

It’s easier said than done, and I had a ton of support from my team lead, so a big shoutout to him. But the takeaway here is clear: You can’t promise what’s out of your control. The key is to focus on what you can control — stick to the basics, work hard, and overdeliver. Have ya'll ever had a similar experience?

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