As I write this, I am sitting in the waiting room at Discount Tire on Charlotte Avenue. They are plugging a slow leak in the right rear tire. This is the eighth flat I’ve had in this car – which I have owned for just under five years.
In 1984, when cars came with five full-sized tires, I bought a brand-new Volkswagen Jetta. Within six months, I had picked up a nail in all five of those tries.
My 2012 Mercedes Benz came with one of those little donut spares that are designed to last for about 150 miles max. I had so many flats in that car, the donut wore out. One day while the donut was on the car waiting for yet another flat to be repaired, it gave up the fight and spontaneously blew out. Loud bang! No more donut!
I could tell you more – like about the 1976 Fiat that arrived on our shores with 4 defective tires that had to be replaced within the first year I owned it – but I think I’ve made my point.
I have bad tire karma.
This has been going on since the early 1970s, so I’m (sorta) used to it. And of course, I relate everything in my world to the real estate business, so how about a few insights …
Be prepared for the unexpected (or in my case the semi-unexpected). My current car, a BMW, has no spare at all – not even a donut. I never know when or where my next flat will occur, so I keep my AAA membership current, and I keep a small electric tire pump in the trunk. In the course of a real estate deal almost anything can happen, and maintaining resources and work-arounds, is essential. I try to keep my wits about me and stay flexible. And I stay on good terms with my broker, my closing attorneys, and my go-to lenders.
Roll with the punches. As noted above, with tires and real estate, anything can, and often does, happen. Maintaining an active sense of adventure is helpful. Furthermore, moaning over setbacks – like being unable to get to a showing (because a tire had gone flat, and yes, this happened) or a deal falling apart because of a terrible inspection – is not helpful. Move ahead and look for something you might learn from the experience.
Celebrate the victories! Roadblocks and setbacks are there to keep things interesting, to challenge us, and to make the eventual victory feel even sweeter. Nothing feels quite like cruising out of the lot at Discount Tires with 4 healthy, fully-inflated, tires. Likewise, nothing feels quite as sweet as sitting with a satisfied client at the closing table after a couple of surprises (shocks, even) on the way to closing.