Andi Grant's Blog - Everyday Real Estate with a Twist

...I knocked on the door to preview a short sale/pre-foreclosure house with a buyer.

Teenage son:  Mom someone's at the door asking to see our home?

Mom/Seller:  No, I'm sorry you've got the wrong house, this home isn't for sale.

Me:  Oh my goodness.  I'm so sorry.  The agent must have transposed the address numbers on the MLS by mistake.  [embarrassed I stepped back to look at the address then the MLS printout.  I notice that the MLS photos had the same flower pot in front, same structure, everything] 

How strange, it's the same house, same address. I'm not sure how this happened.

[Without being able to see her eyes and facial expression behind the white screen door, I wasn't able to discern what was happening]

Mom/Seller [steps out of the house]: S*@%&$  My kids didn't know the house was for sale and now thanks to you I have to explain it all.

Me:  I'm truly sorry mam.  I would've never come if I hadn't gotten text confirmation from *agent's name* stating that it was ok to show and that you were expecting me. 

Mom/Seller:  Let me see the text.

[*aw hell the phone was in my hand*  I showed her the chain of texts from her agent's number that included her address, showing time and his confirmation.]

Me (watching buyer shift uncomfortably):  Is there any way we can still possibly see the home.

Mom/Seller:  No, absolutely not

[*we start to hear crying in the background*]

Me:  Gosh, I truly understand.  I'm so sorry for the mistunderstanding. 

I felt so bad!  If it wasn't in such poor taste and she didn't look like she wanted to punch me in the nose, I would've given her my business card because obviously her agent was an unprofessional bonehead, knowing that her kids didn't know and not following up with her.  Poor family!  It explained no sign on the front lawn. 

THE MLS REMARKS STATED APPOINTMENT ONLY.  THE SELLER NEVER GOT A CALL.  I called the listing agent afterwards and left a voicemail.  I never heard anything back.  It makes me wonder if he did it on purpose?

 My life as a Covergirl Realtor.

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photos courtesy of Creative Commons

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