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Upstaged by Lemonade: An Open House Saga

By
Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart Stars TX #0552717

Upstaged by Lemonade: An Open House Saga.

I didn't know until it was too late to do anything about it.  Lemonade

I had no one through the open house I held this afternoon.  No one.  Not a buyer, not even a neighbor. After the appointed time, I got up to leave and what do I see?  The FSBO down the street is also doing an open house.  But he's got his grandkids in the front yard with a lemonade stand!

Although I have had several conversations with the seller, I had never actually seen the inside of his vacant rental property.  So on my way to pick up signs, I stopped and had a look.  While I was there, several carloads of people came by and while the occupants lined up on the lawn for a cup of lemonade, Mr. FSBO's wife picked off the adults and walked them through the house. What a racket they had going!

They told me they had multiple groups through the house today.  Horrors!  Did I mention I had not a one?

All was not lost, however.  Mr. FSBO and I exchanged contact information.  His property, although similar in floor plan to my listing, has had a garage conversion, has hideous blue carpeting desperately in need of stretching, and has no drive up appeal.  He's got it priced $20,000 less than my sellers.  But he did agree to give my number to anyone who comes through his house who wants a home with a garage.

I continued on my way to retrieve my signs.  Everywhere I had a sign, he had an open house sign AND a lemonade sign.

So who's got a couple kids I can borrow for the open house I'm holding next weekend?

Posted by

Lorrie Semler, REALTOR
HomeSmart Stars

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Comments(13)

Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

That seller was thinking outside his  box and everyone probably thought it was the only house open!

Jul 25, 2010 11:09 AM
Lori Bowers
La Quinta, CA
The Lori Bowers Group

We had a Master MInd meeting with our a few months ago and our lender came up the idea of a lemonade stand at open houses and community events to promote our business. Looks like she was right on target!

Jul 25, 2010 11:09 AM
Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417
HomeSmart Stars - Addison, TX
Real Service. Real Results. Real Estate

Evelyn: You're probably right.  They all had cool drinks on their minds. 

Lori: That's one smart lender.  Let her know.

Jul 25, 2010 11:26 AM
Kristen Wheatley
Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group - Brunswick, ME
Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!

Totally awesome idea.  I'll be bringing my son and his friends to man a lemonade stand at my next open house.

Jul 25, 2010 02:49 PM
Dawn A Fabiszak
Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO
The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Lorrie ~ what a cute story.  Maybe the FSBO will get tired and hire you!  Hope he sends some buyers your way.

Jul 25, 2010 04:41 PM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

His lemonade was your lemon Lorrie! But I'm glad you went down there and talked to him again and who knows, he may send a buyer your client's way or you may get a new listing eventually out of it.  Now I have to ask were they selling the lemonade or were they giving it away?

Jul 25, 2010 04:57 PM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Love this post.  I needed a lemonade stand at my open house today!

Jul 25, 2010 06:04 PM
Robin Rogers
Robin Rogers, Silverbridge Realty, San Antonio, Texas - San Antonio, TX
CRS, TRC, MRP - Real Estate Investment Adviser

Hi, Lorrie:

It sounds like you made a friend, anyway, and had a learning experience! Better luck with your next open house. Maybe it will be when the FSBO gives you the listing, sans blue carpet!

Cheers,

Robin

Jul 26, 2010 02:23 AM
Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417
HomeSmart Stars - Addison, TX
Real Service. Real Results. Real Estate

The FSBO will never give the listing to an agent.  He's had the house on the market for at least 2 years. The best I can hope for is he sends me someone who needs the garage, since his has been converted.  Or he sends me someone who has to sell so they can buy his.

Oh, this is hysterical!  My graphic word at the bottom to post is "lemon".  What are the AR gods up to? LOL

Jul 26, 2010 05:22 AM
Julia Odom
Select Realty Professionals - Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga Homes for Sale

That's just wrong!

I need to try that...

Jul 26, 2010 09:56 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

We'll be reading . . .the rest of the story, when you post about the FSBO you met at the lemonaid stand and listed the house!!

Jul 26, 2010 06:57 PM
Anonymous
Angela Davis

What a funny story!  It's a great lesson learned, though, about always thinking of new ways to reach potential visitors.  Another good idea is hot cider and cookies in the winter- and baking the cookies makes hte house smell nice and homey! 

Jul 27, 2010 03:59 AM
#12
Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417
HomeSmart Stars - Addison, TX
Real Service. Real Results. Real Estate

The sellers for my open house next weekend tongue-in-cheek suggested a margarita machine.

Jul 27, 2010 05:25 AM