When we first talked to him a month ago and were planning to list both of our houses, we did so via video chat. He works primarily out of the Flagstaff office or from his home office. He only comes down to Phoenix for a couple days, every month or so.
Apparently, he’s in the office today, so we get to meet him. My first impression is that he’s a rich boy from a rich family. It’s in the way he dresses and the way he holds himself. There’s a certain quality of clothing that stands out in a crowd, which is what Albrecht is wearing.
I’m a little surprised. Yes, I saw some of his shirts over video calls that might have given me the impression he’s a rich boy, but I wrote it off because he was so… nice. Down to earth and understanding of what we’re looking for and how we want to sell.
Every time I’ve spoken to him on the phone, I didn’t get the impression that he was… arrogant. Which I suppose is an unfair assumption about the wealthy. But… is it?
He’s not entirely what I expected of him, though. Even after having met him online several times now, seeing him in person is different. He’s tall with messy brown hair and vivid brown eyes framed in black-rimmed glasses.
His shirt is open to a point where it might be considered inappropriate in a work environment, but somehow, he seems to get away with it. He’s wearing a small wooden pendant and a leather charm on a black chain around his neck.
He smiles when we walk in and offers his hand as he approaches. “Thanks for coming in,” he says.
“Thanks for selling my house,” I counter.
His smile widens. “It’s a nice house. We might have been able to sell for a bit higher if we held off for another couple weeks, but this was a solid cash offer and I didn’t want to miss it.”
“No, I appreciate it. I’m looking forward to getting it off my hands.”
Keno’s looking around the office but turns back when there’s a short lull in conversation. Then Albrecht offers his hand to a smiling Keno as well.
“Just so you know, I think I have a buyer lined up for your house when you’re ready. They don’t even care what you’re asking for it,” Albrecht tells him.
“Really?” Keno asks.
Albrecht chuckles. “Yes. I told them the chances of the toys staying are slim, but they don’t care.”
“Then let’s see what you found for us,” Keno says.
Albrecht gestures for us to follow him. He leads us to an office in the back with big windows. The plaque on the door reads ‘Van Doren,’ as if that’s his name plaque.
“How long have you been with Van Doren?” Keno asks, giving the plaque the same curious look I did.
My eyes snag on a picture of him and another guy sitting on a tall bookshelf. Beside it is a group picture of him with four guys and a girl.
“Pretty much since I graduated college,” Albrecht says. There’s amusement in his tone. “I started with a local agency in Tucson, training under a great guy who’s been all over the place selling real estate. But a couple of my friends married some Van Dorens, and that took us away from Tucson to northern Arizona, where their… home is.”
The way he hesitates in saying home has me glancing at Keno. He meets my eyes with the same interest.
“I think it’s only been eighteen months with Van Doren, so not long.”
I’m surprised by his answer. “How are you already one of the top agents in the area? I’m not even going to tell you how many people recommended you by name.”
He grins. “My mentor says I have a knack for sales. Also, I enjoy it, and I think that translates into what I’m doing. It also doesn’t hurt having the Van Doren name association.” He rolls his eyes good-naturedly.
“You don’t meet many people who enjoy sales,” Keno says as Albrecht sets an envelope in front of me and opens it, offering me a pen.
“I agree. If you’d have asked me five years ago whether I wanted to be in sales, I’d have laughed. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m good at it or because I enjoy researching houses and seeing different layouts and how people use spaces, but Idoenjoy it. I like being a part of making good things happen and, generally speaking, buying or selling your house is a good thing.”
“A step to something better,” I say.
Beside me, Keno grins.
Albrecht smiles. “Exactly. Okay, just sign at the lines where I’ve put the stickies. It’s a typical closing—thirty days. Inspection by the buyer to come within that time. Just to reiterate, there’s nothing we should note about the house?” He picks up the paper reporting any disclosures as he asks.
“No. It’s a perfect house. I had the foundation fixed as soon as I moved in, and I replaced the entire roof when I vaulted the ceilings. Since the HVAC system was twenty years old, I also replaced that. Honestly, if they come back with anything at all, they’re full of shit.”
“I agree,” Albrecht says. “In which case, we have several more offers to consider, which I know the buyers are aware of.”
