Adventures in Real Estate...

One thing I love about selling real estate is that no two days are alike and we can make them whatever we want them to be. There are days however that I just wished I had stayed in bed.The following story should have been one of those days.

One of my more interesting and thicker files, took place years ago as I excitedly took my first listing. It was a bank owned home and this was not a down market. I knew that I could find the right buyer and that the while the house was a mess, there was a lot of potential in the 5 acres that accompanied it.

I headed right out and put up the sign, filled the flier box and placed a well worded ad. Then the next thing I knew the phone rang and an offer was on it's way.

It was a good offer and the other agent was great to work with. I wish I could have said the same for her client or her clients boyfriend who had just been released from prison.

The bank took the offer and I let the other agent know. She sounded happy and said she would tell her clients immediately.

I was in the area and I decided to swing by the property and check on the flier box to make sure it was still full. After all we had a deal but not a closed transaction yet.

As I pulled up the twisting drive I immediately spotted smoke coming from the property. Not a good sign. I parked and ran up to the home only to see a large flaming burn pile in back of the house. Nearby was a hose and an aquarium pump spewing the contents of the septic onto the property. The doors to the home had been pried open as the buyer boyfriend hurried around with his busy work.

I managed to explain to them that the buyer had not bought the property yet and that he would need to leave or be accompanied by his agent. He did not agree, so I got the Buyers Agent on the phone to explain.

I thought all was resolved as I watched him clean up and leave. Apparently we were still not on the same page though, as a week later when I stopped by all of the flooring had been removed from the home and replaced.

In the end the property did close with another buyer. The original buyers check did not clear escrow and they eventually moved on. And I finished writing a pile of notes that my Designated Broker read with her mouth open in wonderment. Some clients are special some are VERY special.

So, do you have any stories to share about an adventure in real estate? I would love to hear them!