Stalked by wild donkeys in the Virgin Islands, I got the deal done. A wild summer Real Estate Story!

Stalked by wild Donkeys, I got the deal done in the Virgin Islands🏝

I never saw it. Pacing the beach, on the phone for forty minutes of negotiations, I never saw this creature behind me. Until... Here's what happened.

In this 2-minute read you'll find: Real Estate Stories: Read about how I negotiated a tough deal while on vacation in the Virgin Islands. Does it sound like an HG TV show? In real life, it didn't feel that glamorous! Updated Summer Listings

Part 1: The House

Magnolia 4401 Brygger Drive West 3 BD 3 BA 1910 SF $1,375,000

Five days before I left for vacation, the sellers and I agreed to reduce price. This gorgeous home was finally getting the attention it deserved. As I boarded the plane, I was trading calls with three interested agents: planting seeds, generating offers. I was feeling the buzz. We were close.

Part 2: The Virgin Islands

SUNDAY: My brood met my sister's family, plus my Mom and step-Dad on Saint John for our annual summer vacation. Ten of us in all. For all of you asking, "Why not go to Hawaii?" ... you've got a good point. BUT, you simply won't find beaches like this in Hawaii. Soft white sand. Gentle, crystal-clear, warm water. Great snorkeling.

AND TWO OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS: First, cell phone reception is remarkably good. Second, two thirds of the Island is a National Park, and home to feral donkeys. More on that later.

Part 3: The Offers

MONDAY: My phone calls had paid off. Two offers in hand, and one more interested party. But there was a problem. The two written offers were BELOW the price we just reduced to. What the heck? "Agent Miller" was way low. Was I mis-reading the market? I really liked this house and thought it was worth the new list price. What to do? "Agent Smith" wasn't too far off the mark, but was putting the pressure on big-time. "If you won't take our offer by 12PM Tuesday, we have another house on Queen Anne we're going after." Should we take it--bird in the hand? Or was he bluffing? Lurking in the background was the third potential offer from "Agent Jones". She wanted to bring her buyers back for a second look--the same day Agent Smith was demanding we respond. Was there time for Agent Jones to show her clients the home again before Agent Smith pulled the plug?

Part 4: The Negotiation

TUESDAY: On the island of Saint John, there's a little town called Coral Bay. If you're a tourist, let's just say the drive to get there is a little ... harrowing. Then you have to drive a little further to get to Miss Lucy's, an old house converted into a Caribbean restaurant.

You sit outside under a dense tree, about fifteen feet from the shore. There are no other restaurants around, just small houses surrounded by thick brush. It's a place Jimmy Buffet could have written a song about. I had barely finished my lunch when the phone calls started. This was the time. The other nine family members would have to wait. "I need to take this call." I started pacing the beach. Agent Smith to Me, keeping the pressure on: "What's it going to be? This is as high as my people will go. Will the sellers take it, or should I go after the Queen Anne House?" Me to Agent Smith, staying firm: "I understand, but you need to know my sellers want full price and there's another party who might give it to them. I need more time." I turned around, paced back to Miss Lucy's, and called Agent Jones. She was showing the house again at that very moment. Me to Agent Jones, keeping it cool: "I've got a bit of a deadline here. How did the showing go? Any news?" Agent Jones to Me, oblivious to my plight: "By any chance is there a walking trail in the back yard? And do you know how old the roof is?" Me inside my head: A WALKING TRAIL? DISCOVERY PARK IS TWO MINUTES AWAY. WALK THERE! These sounded like "first look" intro questions! How about some "let's negotiate" questions? I turned and paced back to the beach, head down. Me to Agent Jones, turning the heat up: "I know your clients don't want to be rushed, but I'm in a tricky situation here. I'm feeling the pressure from another offer and I have to give them an answer. Everything you've said tells me this is a great house for your clients. They can get it, but they'll have to act now." We ended the call. I turned and paced back to Miss Lucy's, head down. Text from Sellers: "What are the agents saying? What should we do?" Text from Agent Smith: "Need an update. I'm scheduling an inspection for the Queen Anne house." I turned and paced back to the beach, head down. I needed to call the sellers, update the-- I sensed something very close to me. I raised my head. Two feet away from my face:

A FERAL DONKEY! I nearly jumped out of my flipflops! I sprang backwards, almost dropped the phone, and turned around to run back to the restaurant. And saw my family--nine people who had been waiting patiently for the last forty minutes--rolling over in laughter in their garden chairs. As I tried to make sense of this, the phone rang again.

Agent Jones to me: "They're going to do it. I'm heading to the office now and will have a full price offer to you in two hours." What the heck just happened? Three days of tension, then in the space of two minutes: crazy donkeys, hysterical family members, and deals that fall into place! I hung up the phone. Dazed but beginning to see how great this was. My sister to me: "Didn't you see the donkey?" It was actually quite gentle. Just very unexpected. Me to the family: "Clearly, I did not!" My wife to me: "Is the deal done?" Me to the family: "After 40 days, yes! The deal is done! Okay everybody, get in the Jeep. It's beach time!

People work with me because I negotiate 110%. If need be, on vacation.

My clients have worked hard to have the homes they do. They need me to work hard to get those homes sold. It's never easy. It requires skill to work with people, say enough without saying too much, know when to take a deal, when to stall, when to wait, and when to push!

Check Out My Instagram for a funny story about driving in the Virgin Islands!

My Summer Listings from the Last Newsletter have all gotten accepted offers! Stay Tuned for More Listings Soon!

Wallingford 1505 North 43rd Street 4 BD 3 BA 2800 SF $1,575,000

Magnolia 3613 22nd Avenue West, Unit B 3 BD 4 BA 1780 SF $887,000

New Holly 3713 South Holly Park Drive, Unit 4 3 BD 3 BA 1809 SF $684,000

Thanks for making it to the bottom of the newsletter.  In all aspects of my business, my goal is to empower and delight the people I am connected to.  I’m glad you are part of my community. Please forward this to anyone who might enjoy it.

Contact me today

Matthew Koenig Lic. Realtor® M: 206.234.5574 matthew.koenig@compass.com

Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

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