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Help! My New Listing Has a Fish n' Flush!

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel
 Usually, I have no problem.  Most of my clients have outstanding taste, and they either have used the services of a professional decorator or they could come pretty close to being one.  But sometimes I get "one of those".

I admit, I am at a loss.  My new clients have a decorating issue that I just don't know how to address.  I can't find the words to tell them "that has got to go."  Usually, I am fairly plain spoken, even with people that I am just meeting for the first time.  My personal feeling is that if I don't tell them about something that I think might slow down a sale or turn off potential buyers, then I am not doing what they are hiring me to do.

But some times I come across things that I don't know how to deal with.  People take their family pets seriously.  I get that.  Call me crazy, but I think my prospect's Fish n' Flush just might be a distraction.

This is a job for a Reala Stager!  But he is in Chicago and I am in metro Detroit.

Yes, folks, the Fish n' Flush is real.  You can buy them on line.  Should you decide it's a MUST HAVE and a great use of your extra Christmas cash, please remember you'll have to take it out before you put your home on the market.  We would not want the buyers to fall in love with your pet's luxurious home.
 
Kudos to Norm Fisher, for finding the Fish n' Flush and eradicating it from his listings in Saskatoon.

 

Comments(104)

Jeff Link
Asheville, NC
"Your Asheville Real Estate Link"
What happens when you sit down for a little reading time then uh-oh 
Jan 02, 2007 05:20 PM
Sara Lipnitz
Max Broock Realtors - Birmingham, MI
Maureen, didn't I see that toilet at your house last week? 
Jan 03, 2007 12:49 PM
Carol Rumak
Geneva, IL

Maureen, this is hysterical!! I'm less and less surprised by what people have in their homes and while laughing loudly went looking for a home Stager for you to help these homeowners understand that they way you live in your home and the way we market and sell your house are two different things! Mark Reed of the 'Stuff Police' 614-266-0636 would be perfect....

and then I found out you were pulling our collective leg!! thanks for the humor

Carol

Jan 05, 2007 05:42 AM
Carole Cohen
Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office - Cleveland, OH
Realtor, ePRO
MO, I was at lunch with four friends the other day who all work in same proximity as I do; anyway, we are all in the middle of the conversation when one of them looks at me and says 'you sent me a toilet.'  I had to think about it for about 15 seconds and then I remembered, yep, I emailed the fish and flush :-0
Jan 05, 2007 12:00 PM
Maureen Francis
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel - Bloomfield Hills, MI
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel
FUNNY~~!!
Jan 05, 2007 12:03 PM
Carole Cohen
Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office - Cleveland, OH
Realtor, ePRO
Did anyone ever buy one? Inquiring minds wanna know :-)
Jan 20, 2007 02:54 PM
Brett Tousley
Keller Williams Realty - Richland, WA
Tri Cities Real Estate | (509) 420-0013
That's a first for me!  I guess we can all be thankful that only the tank is transparent?
Jan 23, 2007 08:19 PM
Roberta Lee
Century 21 Olde Tyme - Norco, CA
Norco Corona Riversid Homes For Sale

I saw that on line...before this blog, I asked my son, what happens to the fish when they flush.  I OK color me dumb, and yes if you have seen my picture you know I'm a blond, but when was really concerned. So he explained to me there is a liner (insert) for the fish.  OK thats great the fish are safe! He still won't let me have one.

I just loved this post and you just gotta love our sellers. If it was easy everyone would be a Realtor.

Roberta "Dove" Lee

Century 21 Olde Tyme, Norco, CA

Jan 25, 2007 03:17 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Roberta, Loved your comment. You can't be dumb with a PhD behind your name.

But I also have a PHD camera..it's stands for "push here dummy". Welcome to Active Rain!

Jan 26, 2007 12:58 AM
Nick M.
Certified Residential Appraiser- West Palm Beach Real Estate - West Palm Beach, FL
Realtor-Appraiser in West Palm-South Florida Real Estate Appraiser

Florida Real estate appraiserHi Maureen.. ok you got me!! December fools!!!  I didnt see this post before. I'm late to the party!  This is one funny contraption.. what will they think of next. I can see why you wrote the post, even though your sellers dont have one!! haha.. for a minute there I was thinking like Roberta Lee.. I envisioned the fish rising and falling with every flush.. nice to see they have a separate tank from the flushing water. UP & Down we go!!! hee heeee

 

Jan 30, 2007 04:27 AM
Ron Withers ----Retired Mortgage Professional
Kissimmee, FL
Whoa! I'm with Linda Davis on the very first comment to this post. But just wondering if I can potty train our cats and get rid of the cat box?
Feb 05, 2007 10:48 PM
Chris Hendricks
Walnut Creek, CA
From the ridiculous to the sublime....
Feb 13, 2007 09:02 AM
1 2
3 - Chicago, IL
My girlfriend bought me a wall mounted fish-tankfor Christmas and I love the thing.  Everyone that comes over usually thinks the fish are fake and are amazed that I have live fish in a wall hung tank.  They have all sorts of stuff like this on hgtv.com in the products section or the "I want that" section.
Feb 22, 2007 04:08 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

I just can't understand it - How did our street of dreams miss this gem.

 

Mar 15, 2007 01:42 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Maureen, Just opened the May 2007 issue of Realtor Magazine. This picture is on page 49 with ordering instructions. You can even get an optional light that keeps the fish in view in the dark.  And this is NO JOKE. Take a look.

 Now ,this is funny!

Fish N FLush

May 03, 2007 01:25 PM
Maureen Francis
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel - Bloomfield Hills, MI
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel
How funny that they put it there, Margaret!  You have a good eye. I checked it out yesterday after you mentioned it. 
May 05, 2007 03:08 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome
Maureen, Bet there sales have greatly increased because of you post! You have a 100 comments on this post! WOW
May 05, 2007 08:35 AM
Jeff Link
Asheville, NC
"Your Asheville Real Estate Link"
Think about all those poor fish in that tank.
May 05, 2007 10:42 AM
David M. Childress
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Akron, OH
I would love to be your Realtor® in Akron Ohio!

Will they be reading the paper behind my back....hahahaha...what a post and a hoot!!!

Sorry, that is too weird for me, I am too shy to go with my WIFE in the room! I can't do the doodly with all those guy's watching me!!!   ..... and all the bubble noises, I would never get out of the bathroom.....I went.......I gotta go again...I went......etc....  Thanks for the laughs, DavidC

Aug 02, 2007 02:25 PM
Colleen Irwin
Retired - Irondequoit, NY
Creative Real Estate Solutions...
OMG I just came across this again, and it as funny now as it was a year ago..     
Dec 29, 2007 06:35 AM