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WE REALLY DID TRY TO NOT GIGGLE!

By Paula Swayne

Real Estate Agent with Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 CalBRE # 01188158

August 15, 2010 10:49 AM

We are suppose to be professionals, but there are times when the general public really makes it difficult - the ending result being our human side coming out in unrestrained laughter. This generally happens when we are touring homes. I don't know if the agent didn't know how to approach their sellers or simply chose not to. Anyway, here are a few items that will give us agents some hilarity or just a plain ewww:

Please don't leave the whips and chains hanging on the back of the bedroom door!

While hanging a sexy-posed photograph of yourself over the bed may have initiated a new enthusiasm for your relationship, it is just a little too much information for visitors!

Square dancing may be a great way to exercise and a wonderful hobby, but filling an entire bedroom with your netting skirts makes it just a little difficult to actually see the room!

You may want to remodel enough so the toilet isn't still situated in the middle of the house, to be viewed by all!

Please, oh please, if you are not going to flush the toilet, at least put the lid down!

I know that California is very near legalizing pot, but it probably isn't a good idea to leave your bong out...some of us actually know what it is!

Just for clarity, these events are true..they have not been altered to protect the innocent! Anyone is welcome to share their own "I can't believe it" moments! I am sure you can top these!

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Joan Whitebook

BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH

Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Too funny -- I think I have seen all of these or something similar. It is amazing what sellers sometimes leave around the house.

Aug 22, 2010 04:02 PM

Catherine Ulrey

Keller Williams Capital City - Salem, OR

Equestrian and Acreage Property Specialist

We went on broker tour once, a bong on the night stand! Underclothes left laying around seem to be pretty common too.

Aug 22, 2010 05:29 PM

Paula Swayne

Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA

Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Marilyn!
Evidently, stripper poles are getting more popular...you are the second person to mention one...but the shoes are a first!

Hi Sonja!
I had too, until I saw these things! And now, I have learned even more through these comments! Wow!

Hi Betsy!
I am still amazed as I think about what these people must have (or not have) been thinking!

Hi Joan!
I just pray that someday, when and if we ever sell our home (we are a Realtors nightmare...been here 31 years), I don't accidently leave out my underwear or something. I don't have any exotic stuff, but just the same!

Hi Catherine!
Yep...I can only believe that the owners forgot that they were on tour!

Aug 22, 2010 06:30 PM

Gita Bantwal

RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA

REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Interesting post. This is where staging the house helps the seller. It is not enough to get the listing and enter the data in mls.

Aug 22, 2010 11:53 PM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

On an office tour (new listings in my office) we found the seller on his throne with his pants around his ankles. The women in our office were laughing our heads off while the men just shook their heads!

Aug 23, 2010 03:33 AM

Ann Allen Hoover

RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL

CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

Those are pretty funny......whips and chains? I gotta say I haven't seen any of those when showing property.

Aug 23, 2010 04:32 AM

Debbie Gartner

The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY

The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

OMG, this is too funny. Where is the common sense? I guess it isn't so common after all. Thx for starting my day off right.

Aug 23, 2010 04:33 AM

Lesley Wagstaff

Re/Max Results Realty in Vancouver, BC - Coquitlam, BC

For Real Estate and Mortgages

I don't know, Canadians must just be a shyer bunch. In 23 years I can only think of one house I have seen anything like this. Hey it make make house showing more fun!!

Aug 23, 2010 04:54 AM

Joetta Fort

The DiGiorgio Group - Arvada, CO

Independent Broker, Homes Denver to Boulder

There was the time buyers had to step over condoms on the bedroom floor to see the master bath. Which was a mess, of course.

Aug 23, 2010 06:36 AM

Ellen Caruso

Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Once there was a very bitter divorce and the sellers house showed she was trying to avoid a sale.

Underwear on the floors, laundry piled high at the foot of staircases... but the icing on the cake was when it sold, the new owners found bathroom walls smeared with feces. UGH!!!

Aug 23, 2010 08:02 AM

Paula Swayne

Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA

Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Cynthia!
Okay...you gave me my belly laugh for the day...I can only imagine!

Hi Joetta!
That definitely falls into the eeewww category!

Aug 23, 2010 08:03 AM

Robert Amato

Bob Amato of Empire Home Mortgage Inc - East Meadow, NY

Cynthia,

Really???? A guy sitting on the commode??? I can't believe it. Did you see it or you heard about it? If you heard about it it is hearsay and is inadmissable in court.

Aug 23, 2010 11:01 AM

Susan Neal

RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA

Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Paula - Once when I was still in Southern California, I made an appointment to preview the home of a police officer. I was told that would be fine because the husband was visiting his mother and the wife could take the kids to the park while I was there. It was a 4 bedroom home, and 2 of the bedrooms clearly belonged to very small children.

Sitting right on the coffee table was the officer's service revolver! I didn't want to leave it there, but I also didn't want to move it, for fear of getting in trouble. I called the wife and asked her where to put it and she said to put it on the kitchen counter where the kids couldn't reach it (she apparently didn't know how easily kids can climb).

I told her I would rather put it on top of the refrigerator, and then I left a note on the front door that said, "Don't forget the top of the refrigerator!" I never went back to that home, but kept expecting to hear of an accident or a gun theft there.

Aug 23, 2010 11:46 AM

Lyn Sims

Schaumburg, IL

Real Estate Broker Retired

You can't make this stuff up! I could write a book with all the oddities I've seen!

Aug 23, 2010 01:27 PM

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, ePRO, GRI

Keller Williams Indianapolis Metro NE - Carmel, IN

Carmel, Fishers, Westfield IN Real Estate Expert

There are sellers who get embarrassed if they left the tooth paste out after brushing and then there are sellers who don't mind sharing their lives with us!!

Aug 23, 2010 06:17 PM

Don Sabinske

Don Sabinske, Sabinske & Associates Inc. - Zimmerman, MN

Sabinske & Associates Inc.

I have seen quite a few bongs and other smoking paraphenalia. But, as for the rest, I will take a vow of silence.

Aug 24, 2010 12:40 AM

Debbie Atwood

Century 21 Real Estate Center Everett, WA - Everett, WA

Real Estate Broker

I think I have seen all of the mentioned and few more....

Aug 25, 2010 12:04 PM

Karen Feltman

Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA

Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I think that I have seen one too many strange books in the master bedroom, especially the ones on the nightstand.....and then there are the things that are accidentally left out of the nightstand too, like the KY his and hers for example. Yikes. It was like they left for the day, got a call for a showing and did not even think about "what happened last night"! lol.

Aug 26, 2010 06:09 PM

Robin Dampier REALTOR®

Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC

Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Wow, I love the post and comments. I guess we live a pretty tame life here in sleepy little Hendersonville NC! Or, I'm not paying enough attention.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Aug 26, 2010 06:18 PM

Paula Swayne

Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA

Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Karen!
I am sure there are times when sellers simply forget to take that last scan of the house before they leave...many times they would have been so happy that they did!

Hi Sue!
I use to feel that way about Sacramento...now I am not so sure!