I made a comment on someone else's blog yesterday about interesting stories you are never told when you join the real estate industry. I thought everyone would appreciate this one.

            I was taught that door knocking in one of Modesto's exclusive neighborhoods, I was taught it is the right thing to do, and in California's crazy market I needed clients, so that is what I did. I ended up listing a million dollar home in my first month, and I promised my sellers I would per-approve all buyers before they walked through the door.

            One month into the listing there has been a lot of interest in the property but no offers, and then I get a call from a woman, let's call her Rosie. Rosie asks me if I can show her the property right then, (I ignored this red flag, blamed it on the market) I told her you have to be pre approved in order to see the home and she said no problem and gave me her financial advisor's number at Merrill Lynch.

            He faxed me a paper that showed she was worth 3 million liquid and had substantial holdings, so she can afford the house. I set up an appointment for that Friday at 5:15pm, I did my due diligence and arrived 15 minutes early to have my sellers leave so I could show the property without interference, but the client had beat me to the punch and was already there, watering flowers?!?!? I asked one of my sellers how long she had been there and they said about 15 minutes, they weren't going to let her inside until I had shown up and they also gave her permission to look around the 1 acre.

            As I went to greet her near the rear of the property I heard a splash in the fenced pool area, when I opened the gate, I proceeded to find a buck naked women in her early 50's going for a little swim, much to my surprise she casually got out of the pool and walked over to me naked slipped her dress back on and asked if I could help zip her up! Much to my amazement I had no idea what to do, I asked her to leave and went back to my office immediately, and completely embarrassed.

            I called her financial officer and he told me she wasn't all there, you think chief, I could have used that information yesterday! I asked a couple people in my office if stuff happened like this often and I got a resounding no, with lots of laughter. I will forever be known at my first office for this experience.

            It just goes to show that in the end we all grow in real estate, and learn from these debacles.