“How do you not remember me?” she exclaimed a minute into the conversation, in which she was telling me that she got my phone number from a mutual friend who was in my class in high school somewhere back so-and-so many years ago... and truthfully, I didn't remember.
When she came to me with her husband for a meeting at the office about a week later, we recalled more acquaintances and mutual friends, but across the distance of the years we couldn't remember each other.
This is a couple that decided to diversify their investments and buy an apartment abroad. After I explained to them what the process is, what the emphases are, and what can be compromised on and what cannot, we talked a little about the real estate market in the country where they wanted to buy, moved on to talk about the city, and then browsed the internet a bit to get to know the contractor/developer. I gave them more tips and recommendations for further checks, and we parted ways.
About a month later she called and said they had received a draft contract from the contractor/developer. She had translated it into English and sent it to me to read. I made my comments, and she asked to continue handling the contractor/developer on her own.
I asked her to pay attention to the guarantee she receives, the payment terms, the compensation she would receive in case of delay in handover and the way she would receive it, and of course the entire subject of the handover and the handling of construction defects.
“Fire and forget.” About a month ago she called again. This time to announce that they had returned from abroad, and had flown late because they had finally received the apartment. They are really pleased, everything went relatively smoothly, and they even signed a management agreement with the company I recommended to them at our first meeting.
The next day a courier arrived at the office with a huge package of chocolates and other sweets as a token of thanks.
Stories are based on real situations, with identifying details changed. Not legal advice.
Translated from the Hebrew original. עברית