Buyers Will Go to All Lengths to See a House

[satxproperty]

I got a call last night about 6:45pm. The caller was sitting in front of one of my listings. She wanted to see it right now; as if she was expecting me to come running out of the house to open the door for her.

I told her the seller has a no showing after 6 policy. Then I asked if she was working with another agent, she said no. Then I asked if she was pre-approved and she said no. I asked if she would call her bank or lender to get pre-approved and we'd be happy to show her the home.

She said she wasn't even sure if she was going to buy a house, her mom lives just around the corner, she was just looking and didn't understand why I wanted her to get approved before I showed her the house.

I told her unless she was willing to get pre-approved that I wouldn't show her any houses.

Anyway, I began eating my dinner... and the phone started ringing. I didn't answer. I got 4 calls, they left no message.

The 5th call, they left a message. The voicemail went something like, "Hi, this is Susie Smith, I want to see your listing at 123 Main, just as soon as possible. I am pre-approved up to $150,000."

Thinking something was up, I google the phone number and it came back to a house around the corner. It was that ladies mother!

I don't get it, does she think I am stupid?

[Micheal Pannell Realtor]

lol, That is funny.

[DMG]

Perhaps Mom & Daughter were not aware of caller ID & that thing called Google:-) Good story - so what happened then, did you call Mom back?

[satxproperty]

Perhaps Mom & Daughter were not aware of caller ID & that thing called Google:-) Good story - so what happened then, did you call Mom back?

Not yet, haven't called back... I don't want to play the little game...

Do I call her bluff and ask for a copy of the pre-qual or name/number of the loan officer?

[DMG]

It would be funny to call back and do the same routine with the Mom, see what she comes up with.

I dont have a "showing" story like that but I had a neighbor pull a deal on me the other day. One of the rentals I own is for sale and when I bought it the lady accross the street who has lived there all her life (shes in her 80's I think) came over one day I was there getting it ready for a new renter and she came un-glued more or less. Did not want renters, how I was going to ruin her neighborhood and on and on... blah blah blah. I rented the home for several years and every renter told me she was always in their business. The last year it was difficult to rent in the area where the home is so I decided to sell it.

So one day last week my phone rings, it was the county health office and the cities housing inspector on a conference call to me, they were calling saying I need to come to my rental home right away and meet them as someone has turned me in for owning a home that is full of mold, mice and needs to be torn down as its a public health threat...

(keep in mind this is a custom built 1990 2 story, 3,000 sq ft, steel siding, tile & hardwood, gazeebo, deck, newer carpet, appliance etc, very nice home worth about $250k in an area of average homes selling at $190 so it is a nice place)

I said "what?" no way - they said I must come right away or they would need to take further steps against me. I went and met the people, they walked through and the only comment about the house was "this is a really nice house, what are you asking for it anyway?" After I locked up to leave I asked the city guy who complained he would not say but when I asked if it was the neighbor he gave a look that gave it away. After he pulled out the neighbor lady drove by with her daughter who is the main trouble maker, the daughter rolled down the window and said "are you the city inspector?" I said inspector - no - why would you think an inspector would be here? She mumbled something but really gave no reply - I then said no I am the owner and I got a phone call today from the city saying I had to take time off work, interupt my busy day to drive 30 minutes to get here to prove there was no mold in this house because apparantly some "nut job" called in stating this nice house needed to be torn down - do you know anything about that?? She gave me a wierd look, rolled her window up and took off in her car. I found that part funny Later a neighbor told me she has been saying she will do anything not to see another landlord or renter have anything to do with that house, funny the house has always looked great and I also found out I bought it from her best freind who had moved out of state, guess she missed that person and was taking it out on me.

[maryd]

ya gotta love people!!!

[NancyDennisAssociates]

People just need to get a life. If they actually had a life they wouldn't want to be in other people's business all the time.

[ResaleBroker]

Hey Randy... been there done that. For a long time I thought I was the only one who got those type of calls.

My receptiveness to offering assistance to certain people drops when I feel a lack of respect and or honesty by those people.

[satxproperty]

Hey Randy... been there done that. For a long time I thought I was the only one who got those type of calls.

My receptiveness to offering assistance to certain people drops when I feel a lack of respect and or honesty by those people.

I didn't bother to call her back.

Well, last night she called twice and didn't leave any message... then I received 3 or 4 calls from "blocked" number. (Left no message.)

Now, I'm insulted, too. ... she does think I am stupid.

[Puyallup Agent]

Or the alternative:
You drop what you are doing, inconvenience your seller client by kicking them out of their home for an hour, rush over to show the home and one of two things would happen.
A. Buyer can't qualify due to poor credit-a direct result of her impulsive nature...OR
B. She writes up the offer with her friend who is a barrista, that she "forgot" to tell you was trying out real estate on the side. Then you find out she can't qualify due to poor credit.

Yeah, I'm speaking from experience.