I recently had a couple in town, Sam and Karen who were looking for some eco-investment real estate in Asheville. Karen, however, had also seen a home she wanted to check out which was listed at 2.3 million. The home was situated on 5 acres surrounded by 75 acres already in a conservation easement. about 30 minutes from downtown Asheville. It was a truly gorgeous home, 6000 square ft, custom designed  with high quality craftsmanship, views of 7 mountain ridges from a wrap around deck and wonderful solarium. There was a fantastic gourmet kitchen, double fireplaces between the dining and living rooms, radiant floor heating, a beautiful formal living room with cathedral stain glass windows on either side of a walnut mantled fireplace. This opened to a huge library/office with built in cherry bookcases. Upstairs were the master bath and bedroom with similar views as below with a stone fireplace and balcony, along with another bedroom and full bath. A billiard room also was on the second floor. The third floor hand 2 more bedrooms and a bath. I could go on about the house because it was one of the most beautiful and unique homes I have been in.  Sam and Karen felt the same way and immediately fell in love with it.

The agent showing us the property appeared to know it well and gave us a bit of history about the owners and why they were selling. He also told us that the sellers would most likely sell all the furniture with the house since they were already living in another location. So I prepared an offer at 1.8 million ( you have to start somewhere) including the furniture. The buyers also wanted to do some seller financing which the listing agent indicated was OK with the sellers. The counter comes back at 2.2 million, different financing terms but no furniture was going to be conveyed. At this point Karen and Sam start to get focused on the furniture, They went up to 2.1 million but still wanted the furniture since they would be selling their home furnished and don't want to go through the hassle of furnishing a 6000 sq..ft house. The counter comes back at 2.1 with no furniture. The listing agent finally tells me the sellers really want to keep all the furniture and are not interested in selling it at any cost.  Now my folks are starting to get upset because they were given wrong information from the get go about the furniture. We counter back at $2,025,000 with no furniture. The offer gets rejected outright with no counteroffer. The listing agent contacts me in a couple of days and says the sellers will give her their final offer in 3 days. Sam and Karen ask what I think it will be and I of course say 2.1million with no furniture which they end up agreeing to. I write up the offer but advise that they wait to see what the counteroffer actually is, which they also agree to do. But  at this point they have started looking at other potential properties just in case and lo and behold they find another home they are interested in.

But by now Sam and Karen want to come back up to Asheville and look at this other property along with the first one.  The second home is also 6000 sq.ft,  on 56 acres, good views, about 20 minutes from downtown Asheville with an asking price of 2.8 million.  It was also custom built and very nice, but the home and the views really do not compare to first home.  But I already know they are probably going to be leaning toward this property because the vibe has changed on the first home.  When they get to meet the owner of the second home and spend an hour walking the trails with him on the property I figure the die has been cast.

We finally get the counteroffer back, 2.1 million no furniture. We go back and visit the first home  and its obvious that while they still really like it, the love has faded.  In the final analysis they chose not to go with it because Sam wanted to be closer to Asheville.  Sam and Karen end up buying the second home for 2.7 million.

It always amazes me how deals can get undone.  In the grand scheme of things this furniture was maybe worth 50K, and most of it held no sentimental value to the sellers.  If we knew up front that the furniture could not go with the house Sam and Karen would most likely have bought this home. They are happy with the second choice, but the first home was really one of a kind. So, if you know of anyone looking for a elegant 6000 sq.ft. custom home with killer views, surrounded by 75 acres of preserved land,  30 minutes from downtown Asheville give me a call. And by way, don't even think about getting any of furniture.