Rule #4 (of Elizabeth's R.E. Rule Book) ***TO ALL LISTING AGENTS: PLEASE GIVE ME SOME WARNING THAT YOUR SELLER IS INSANE***

A few years ago...I was assisting a young, Hispanic couple with the purchase of their first home. They wanted a home in a very specific area of Raleigh, North Carolina...a popular neighborhood where homes sold fairly quickly. We had been looking for a few weeks when my client called one afternoon to tell me that she had driven past a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) in the neighborhood...that it seemed to be the perfect home.

Immediately, I checked the MLS and found that the home was also listed for sale through a local real estate broker...with a limited service listing agreement...allowing both the owners and the REALTOR® to market the home. Knowing that my client was anxious to see the home, I called CSS (Centralized Showing Services) to make an appointment for later that same afternoon. The appointment was confirmed for 4:30pm.

Around 3:30pm, I received a call from CSS...stating that the sellers wished to reschedule the appointment for the following day...no reason was given. Since my clients had already made their plans around this appointment and were already en route, I called the listing agent directly to try to work it out. I explained to her that my clients were ready, willing and able to purchase the home. She agreed to call the owners and ask for an exception.

Within minutes, she called me back and told me that the appointment was back on...that the sellers just wanted me to be aware that the baby MIGHT be napping...that we MAY NOT be able to go into the nursery. ::NO PROBLEMO:: I jumped in my car and headed to Raleigh...hoping to arrive a few minutes early.

As I turned into the neighborhood, my clients pulled in directy behind me. Rounding the corner, I saw the home for the first time...a large brick home...on a lovely, corner lot...up on a hill. ::THINKING TO SELF:: "YES...this is PERFECT!" I also noticed that the family was sitting outside...waiting for our arrival.

While my clients were exiting their vehicle and getting their children out of their car seats, I made my way up the hill to introduce myself to the owners. With a big smile and extended hand, I said "Hi...I'm Elizabeth Nieves...thanks for allowing us to take a look at your home this afternoon." I was STILL smiling, and my hand was STILL extended...but they were just staring blankly at me. Thinking that maybe I was at the wrong home, I glanced down the hill and saw the 'FOR SALE' sign in the front yard.

::OKAY...TRYING AGAIN::

"When I spoke to the listing agent this afternoon, she mentioned that your baby might be sleeping. That is no problem. We'll just take a minute to walk through the home, and we'll be really quiet."

At this point, the wife spoke up nervously and stammered..."Ummm, this is just NOT a good time. I've been at a doctor's appointment all day, and I'd really rather you not show the home today. You can call our agent back and make an appointment for another day."

::COMPOSING MYSELF:: "Oh...I see. Well...I DID ACTUALLY CONFIRM THIS appointment just an hour ago with your agent...AND...my clients and I drove from Durham. Since we are already here...please...can't we just take a quick look? My clients are extremely interested in this home, and they are absolutely ready to make a decision today."

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the husband's face turning brighter and brighter shades of red. I chose NOT to look at him, but I was pretty sure I could feel rays of heat radiating from his firey stare. Behind me...halfway down the driveway...my clients were standing silently...aware that there was some kind of conflict. ::WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY NOW?::

Just as the wife opened her mouth and began saying "Oh...I guess it will be okay...", the husband raised his right arm (in which he held a big hammer) into the air and lunged toward me...screaming "I don't care who told you what. This is my &^%*($%# house! You don't hear good, do ya? Git yurself and yur &^%*$%#@ outta my &^%*($% yard right now before I lose control!" ::THINKING AND RUNNING AT THE SAME TIME:: "BEFORE YOU LOSE CONTROL???!!!"

As I reached the bottom of the driveway, I looked back up at the owners. He was still standing there with the hammer raised into the air...shouting racial profanities. ::LIGHTBULB GOES ON:: "Mr. Seller is NOT just INSANE...he is INSANE AND RACIST!"

Shaken but safe in our cars, I signaled for my clients to follow me. A few streets away, I pulled to the side of the road to call the listing agent. Our conversation went something like this:

"Hello 'Christine'...this is Elizabeth Nieves. I just TRIED to show your listing on Brentwood Road."

"Oh yes, Elizabeth. How did that showing go?"

"Well...I suppose it did not go sooooo badly considering that I escaped BEFORE your insane seller cracked my head open with the hammer!!!" ::EXPECTING 'CHRISTINE' TO BE SHOCKED::

After a long moment of silence, 'Christine' replied "Elizabeth, I'm really sorry about that. He is LIKE THAT sometimes...especially when it comes to 'certain races'. When I talked to his wife earlier, she told me that she could keep him under control."

"You are telling me that you KNEW that he was capable of behaving like that, and YOU DID NOT WARN ME? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

Interrupting me..."Elizabeth, this is the first time that a Hispanic family has looked at the home. I knew that he is prejudice, but I never expected him to be violent. What I need to do is get this home sold so that I don't have to deal with him anymore."

::STUNNED:: "NO...what you need to do is get a huge sign that says 'BIG, UGLY, INSANE RACIST LIVES HERE...ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!' and stake it in the front yard. Furthermore, I cannot tell you how to run your real estate business, but IF you are SO desperate that you need to take a listing from someone like this...perhaps you should consider a different profession."

Ironically, a month later I learned that 'Christine' had left the real estate business.

Moral of the story:

IF...in the interest of full disclosure...you need

THIS SIGN-------------->

You might just want to consider passing on

THAT LISTING!!!

(BTW...names have been changed to protect the guilty!)

Rule #1 (of Elizabeth's R.E. Rule Book) ***NO NAKED PEOPLE ALLOWED TO 'POP OUT' DURING SHOWING***

Rule #2 (of Elizabeth's R.E. Rule Book) ***NO! YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE A R.E. LICENSE IF YOU CAN'T COUNT!***

Rule #3 (of Elizabeth's R.E. Rule Book) ***IF YOU WANT ME TO SELL YOUR LISTING...I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW IT!***

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR® -- The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

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