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Nosy Neighbor!

By
Managing Real Estate Broker with Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions"

No you can not come in or see my house!  You are just a nosy neighbor, go snoop around someone else's house.  Today I met the ultimate for sale by owner.  It was a chance meeting but had me in stitches, laughing because I could see this guy doing everything he was relating to me.

We have a winter storm that closed schools and caused travel difficulties except for those of us owning 4 wheel drives or brave any conditions.  I offered to drive my wife to her hair cut appointment.  I took a book I have been reading on some Internet marketing programs.  I was reading my book when in comes a man and his wife for their hair cut appointments.  He sat down and looked at the title of my book and leans over an says, "you don't look like a GEEK"!

I stopped and smiled and said back, looks can be deceiving.  He laughed and says, "why would you be reading that you look my age".  I smiled again and rebutted, "I am not as smart as you yet, I am still learning".  He laughed again, I thought he was a really fun guy right from his first words to the receptionist.

For Sale, My House That is...call the number below.

He says again, "what do you do"?  I am a real estate broker, I replied.  He then shares this story of how he sold his home himself.  He begins by telling me he put out one of these for sale signs you buy at a hardware store.  The one with a space for a phone number.

He sticks it on a little stake by the road.  The nosy neighbor comes by bringing someone he had never seen before.  The neighbor knocks on his front door and asks if they can see his home.  He replies, "No you are just a couple nosy neighbors and shuts the door.

He says they knock again and ask the same question but this time they sell him on the idea that the unknown friend in tow is a visitor from out of state.  She and her husband are thinking of buying a home.  They would like to retire in the same area as their long time friends.  

The seller then tells them, OK you can come in but I know you are jerking my chain.  Don't touch stuff and take off your shoes I just cleaned the floor.  They go through the home with him watching every move they make.  Then the mystery buyer says, "I have to go get my husband, this is perfect".  This seller says, Lady forget it I know you have no intention of buying my house so just drop the charade.  I am laughing and saying you didn't really tell her to drop it did you?  "Of course, they were just having a big laugh at my expense".

OK what do you want now?The nosy neighbor left with the mystery buyer.  10 minutes later the mystery buyer, her husband and the nosy neighbor and her husband knock on the door.  He says, I swing open my front door and say, "you guys need to get a life isn't there something else you can do instead of nosing around neighborhood homes.  His neighbor steps in front of Madeline the mystery buyer and say you big dummy they really want to buy your house!

He starts laughing when he tells me I had no idea they were serious.  I treated them terrible and they came back!  Of course he also relates too them he is firm on the price!  The buyer's asks, "would you take a $1000.00 off your asking price"?  Yeah, he says, he would do that.  In the next breath he asks if they really can get the money.  You guy's are not jerking my chain are you?  

They assured him they were going to buy.  Wrote him a check for $5000 down and asked for a receipt and went over to the title company and had the paperwork put together.

Sometimes you can sell homes and be clueless at the same time.  He was very lucky and did everything you can possibly do wrong and still sold his home because of a nosy neighbor.  I like nosy neighbors coming to my open houses, they tell people everything including your name.

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did hearing this guy tell how he sold his own home.  My only regret I didn't record it for a Podcast!

Don't Try this at Home, it could be Dangerous to Your Health!

Comments (5)

Victor Zuniga
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services California Properties - San Diego, CA

Hi Gary,

What a crazy story! That guy did everything he could to not sell and somehow he did it in spite of himself HA!

Feb 24, 2012 03:04 AM
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

never judge a book or person by the covering; and you are never too old to learn

Keep the chin up and have a gr8t year.

Feb 24, 2012 03:05 AM
Dan & Laurie Pittsenbarger Team
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Lakeside & Coastal Single Family Homes

thanks for the post - sounds like the guy is quite a character. Have a terrific weekend.

Feb 24, 2012 03:08 AM
Chris Lewis
Gracious Living Realty - Front Royal, VA
I want to SELL your home, not LIST it!

It would be interesting to know how the price he got compared to the market value of his home.

Feb 24, 2012 03:50 AM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!

Hi Victor, I had more fun listening to this guy.  He was so serious yet his story was hysterical.  He should write a book, What not to do and Sell Anyway!  Thanks for the comments Victor.

Hi Raymond, thanks for the comments, you never know, he proved it to me.

Hi Dan, he was a blend of Archie Bunker and Tom Brokaw.  Thanks for the comments Dan.

Hi Chris, I have no idea, all he told me was he made money on the property.  What does that mean?  They all say that!  Thanks for the comments Chris.

Feb 24, 2012 05:28 AM