Several clients and friends who read my articles regularly suggested that I share with you some of the more humorous stories of my adventures in showing homes. Over the past several years, I’ve worked with home buyers showing literally hundreds of homes in the central Ohio area. Even after years of it, I still consider it a privilege to assist home buyers to find “the one”. I’ve had some unique showing experiences that may help some home owners know what not to do when your home is set to be toured. Here are a few that were downright laughable. Proof positive that a sense of humor is a requirement for selling real estate.
A nice young couple seeking their first home, a Condo. We entered one that apparently was not expecting us and the dirty laundry was just everywhere in the living room, socks, “skid marks”, you name it. But it gets better. Unannounced to me, they had a dog. My client was allergic to dogs. I opened the garage door entry and in ran (like lightening) what appeared to be a long haired Dachshund. A cute little fella that was REALLY scared that people were in his house. He proceeded to tinkle on the new pergo—and not just a little bit, all the way through the kitchen, and ran like the dickens to get away from us. So I scrambled for paper towels as my client held his breath stating he was very allergic (To imagine this, hold your nose and say “I am very allergic” - and I could not laugh at the time). My clients ran out the door and I managed to wrangle the little guy back into the garage. Needless to say, that condo “was not the one”.
A beautiful newer home was on the market for a great price. Over and over I brought buyers in for a peek. However, when you got to the master bedroom, “the peek” was a bit more than anyone bargained for. The home owners apparently had some pretty risky photos done of the wife in her pregnancy in little more than her skivvies and a feather boa to add some pizzazz. The first clients I brought through alerted me to this oversight (but maybe she was a bit of a proud exhibitionist). I alerted the listing agent in my feedback, but the photo stayed. So every time I showed the master after that, I would make my way in there to hide the pic and re-hang it as we were exiting. None of my folks ever picked that house—but I wondered if the home owners remembered it was there when they sat down at the table to close with the new buyers. Talk about curing nervous jitters by picturing someone in their underwear—wow.
And I have to add the infamous “poo shoe” story: Showing a pretty large family with several very active boys a home. It was spring and the kids were bored and wanted to be out in the yard while mom and dad toured. There was no indication of a dog there as the home was vacant—but apparently the “land mines” had not been part of the move for them (or a gift from the neighbors?). Back inside come the kids, and “what’s that smell?” Their Nikes had been the lucky winners of some pretty stinky souvenirs. Fortunately, I have my trusty basket of tools that might be handy when touring, and did have carpet cleaner spray and a scrub brush in my car and took care of that. The parents fussed at the kids and with some water, paper towels and elbow grease, we took care of their tennies and went on to the next home. We found them a house, but it wasn’t that one—and still we all talk and laugh about the infamous “poo shoe” tour.
These are just a few, I could write a book with tales like these. (Maybe I will someday) Do you have some great, or not so great, tour stories to tell? It really helps sellers to see their homes from "the buyers eyes" - do they know they get 15 minutes or less to make an impression? I share these, and other true tales with many, not only does it help to break the ice, but get's them thinking. One thing it does make it clear. Our career is not just a job, but an adventure!