Today, I went to a trusted dry cleaners; Pride Cleaners in Herndon with two silk blouses I’d picked up from a cheap (no name mentioned) one day dryer cleaner yesterday.  I’d taken these two blouses in for cleaning last week and noted the underarm stains when I initially took them in.

When I picked them up the next day, nothing was said or noted about the stains not being removed.  So when I went to wear one of the tops, I was shocked to see the stains still there.  I took them back to the store and the clerk said no problem they would take care of things.

Yesterday, when I picked up the blouses, I removed the plastic cover and was sorely disappointed to see the stains still there.  Long story short, when I spoke with the manager he basically said, “all stains don’t come out and there’s no way the front clerks can know everything about dry cleaning to be able to tell clients this when they bring a garment in for cleaning”.

I challenged him a bit, by saying “is it my responsibility to know what you can and can not remove?”  He brushed it off by saying; “In any store, the front clerks are not going to know all there is to know about the business”. While he graciously refunded my money for the dry cleaning there was still major concern over getting my blouses cleaned.

That’s what landed me at the Pride Cleaners where I’d been referred before. It’   out of the way and costs a bit more but the person working the front counter (the manager) could explain he wasn’t sure if he could remove the stains completely since  they’d already been treated before. But he could have readily done so if he’d had them on the first go round.  I should have gone to him the first time!

So how does this relate to buying or selling a home.  I tell my clients quite often, you don’t know, what you don’t know to ask.  As a Realtor®, I am the expert and am here to give my very best to my clients.

I work the front counter as well as the back.

I don’t expect them to know the real estate business the way I do.  That’s why they selected me as their agent.  I educate my clients so they are well informed and can ask questions to clear up details about how the selling/buying process works.

I say this so you won’t be “taken to the cleaners” the next time you’re buying or selling a home. Using a discount broker may not save you money in the long run and you may be left with issues a more experienced Realtor® could have helped you handle. It falls in line with… you get what you pay for.

For Questions, please contact me at 703-919-0254