While I understand this is not the most delicate of subjects, it does remind us just when you think you have seen everything, you haven't. I was showing a home recently to a client when we traipsed upstairs to review the bedroom layout. Lo and behold, just outside the bedroom windows facing the rear of the house appeared something that caused me to scratch my head and wonder how a dog managed to get out on the roof. Upon further reflection, and noticing the trees within climbing distance from the roof, I could only conclude that a possum or raccoon had made the seller's roof a not so Porta John.
It was also apparent that the possum or raccoon had either been visiting for a long period of time or had brought many of his or her friends. I can only imagine the reaction had my buyer's wife been with us at the time. Hardly a way to leave a good impression. Upon leaving feedback with the agent who listed the home, I did point out the situation and suggested they might want to take care of the problem. I did offer photographs as proof if so desired. (What can I say? My buyer took the photos to discourage his wife from taking a look at a home that needed a lot of work [which she likes to do] which was one he was not prepared to do such work on.) The moral of the story is that we need to avoid our tendency to not check up as often on our vacant listings. While this problem may be a simple matter of cleaning the roof, it may also be reflective of a more serious problem of something other than bats in the belfry. I hardly think it a pleasant phone call to a homeowner who has already moved or to a lender who has taken the property back informing them that some time in the last month since we last visited the property some varmint had managed to get into the attic and work their way throughout the house.
Just a reminder. Not quite as subtle as most, but still a reminder.
Jeff Fanto, Associate Broker
JTC Realty Group