I recently had a fun experience with a seller who is a friend/associate of mine.  This is my third transaction with her and I unfortunately assumed her personality or mental status was the same as before. Boy was I wrong! She was in the middle of a bad break-up with a boyfriend and it was a mess!

In addition to having her cry the whole time we looked for a new home (on his street near him -- stalkerish) I had to deal with manic episodes of up and down emotions.  I wondered if she was even sane enough to sign a listing agreement, let alone consumate a sale and purchase.

I listed her home in one day flat (it SIMPLY HAD TO BE ON THE MARKET THAT DAY) as a convenience to her and because she was buying a much more expensive home and this was my third transaction with her, I gave her a discount on the listing of her home (BIG MISTAKE).  We began her home search and found a lovely home (two doors down from him). We had it inspected -- it was in great shape.  Three days later and just prior to the option period expiring, she changed her mind.  We backed out AND took her home off the market.

Thirty days later she decides she really can't stay in her current home (too many memories of him) and we put it up on the market and again start the search process.  Funny, we find another home (on his same street again).  I work my tail end off getting her house sold and one day after it is under contract she wants the sign down (she simply can't let him know she is moving) .   I tried everything to get her to let me leave the sign up as I was counting on the advertising in the neighborhood when I gave her the discount.  She said it was a safety issue of him knowing what she was doing so the sign came down.   Then I had to work hard to prove the price for the appraisal.  Luckily, it goes through.   Lots and lots of work with her on both sides.  While doing the inspection at the other home she hides her car so he won't know she is in the neighborhood  When doing the walk through, she is upset because a neighbor that knows her drives by and she is sure they recognize her and her car.  At this point, I was wondering who the stalker was, her or him!

Two weeks before the closing on the sale of her home and after multiple, multiple trips back and forth to both homes with and for her, she wants the lock box off. I explain that they had contractors coming next week and the final walk through the week after that and that we had to leave it for the buyer and agent's access.  Two days later I get an emergency text message on my cell at 5:31AM saying he is on his way over and I have to get there and get the lock box off.  She doesn't want him to know she is moving.  At this point I was quite tired of this game and didn't get the message until I checked my phone at 8:30. I was jumping in the shower to head to a closing and told her I couldn't get there in time. Couldn't she just tell him NO or to meet her somewhere else.

Guess what -- she actually went and bought new door hardware and took off the hold hardware and put new hardware on before he got there.  She told me this like it was an everyday occurence.  After he left and before the buyer's needed to get back in, she put the old hardware back on.

This just proves there is never a boring day in real estate.  Also, I will never take a discount listing again where it doesn't state in special provisions that my sign must remain for the entire listing period.  Does anyone else have any other suggestions? 

By the way, both houses have now closed (thank goodness!).....