Please Do Not Show in Inclement Weather

Some things are so bizarre you just couldn't make them up if you tried.  I was showing property today to a young couple looking for some more space.  We're seeing a bunch of older single family homes.  Some are newly renovated as foreclosure flips.  Some have been obviously loved by the families that inhabited them for the last two or three decades.  It's really neat to see these homes.  They all have character in their own way.

The first home on our tour today was one that both the husband and wife were in agreement was very possibly IT.  Yes, the first home we've seen in thirty that they both loved.  I glanced over the remarks on the MLS printout in my hand and the following words might as well have been in four inch, neon and blinking type. 

PLEASE DO NOT SHOW DURING OR JUST AFTER INCLEMENT WEATHER.

I don't like to put a damper on the excitement of a husband and wife who have finally seen eye to eye on a home, but THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call a CLUE.  Roof leak?  Water in the basement?  Leaky windows?  Flooding street?  No matter WHY they don't want agents showing the home in inclement weather, the reasons can not be good.  I sincerely doubt, as it was a vacant home, that it was a matter of the owners not wanting wet shoes in the home.  The remarks would have then simply said something like, "Please remove shoes if wet or dirty before entering."

My Buyers may still have this home a short list, but I can assure you that IF the home still is on their list, we'll be stopping by on the first rainy day we get.  Sure would help us to narrow down exactly what the it is that inclement weather does to this home. 

 

 

 

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker- Licensed in Virginia, GRI, SFR, Northern Virginia Short Sale Specialist. Affiliated with Long & Foster, 7526 Limestone Drive, Gainesville, VA 20155.  To contact Chris Ann, call 703-402-0037 or email chrisann@LNF.com.  Or you can visit her website:  www.nvarealestate.net.

Header photos taken by Chris Ann Cleland.

The opinions expressed in this post are those of Chris Ann Cleland, not those of Long & Foster REALTORS®.

 
Post is included in group: "Whacked"!!!
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81 Comments on Please Do Not Show in Inclement Weather

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

APR
12
2012
982,286 Points 114 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Wonderful catch Chris Ann and I'm glad that you share that information with your clients too!!  That's what we call a "clue" -- yup!!  ;-)
6:10pm • #63
648,394 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Too strange Chris Ann. No you just can't make this stuff up.  
6:42pm • #64
878,695 Points 48 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Wow. I know this is a crazy question, but did you ask the listing agent why? I would love to know what the answer was. Our MLS does not allow you to show without an appointment UNLESS the listing states that you can show it any time. So we could visit the outside, but not the inside without an appointment.
7:44pm • #65
548,416 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Chris Ann:

I haven't seen that before, but there is always a first time.  I see plenty of signs saying "remove your shoes" during inclement weather.  It might be a totally harmless remark, but it certainly does raise your antenna to search for something more problematic.
8:19pm • #66
762,855 Points 106 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

That's why it is so important to use a buyer's agent. A buyer who loves the home might not even read between the lines. Good catch!!
8:53pm • #67
1,352,282 Points 42 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Chris Ann - Things that make you go "Hmmmm!"  It definitely raises questions.
10:36pm • #68
APR
13
2012
1,422,188 Points 41 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Thanks for the great idea Chris Ann!

I'm changing the instructions in some of my short sales today . ..

"Please do not turn on the lights and open curtains while showing!"
2:49am • #69
234,939 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

You are right so bizarre that you can't make them up.   Like others I first thought of tracking stuff through the house but seems that  wasn't the case.    New one to me!   Thanks for the smile this am!  
3:22am • #70
1,068,614 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Yicks....run for cover...not for an offer....sounds like major trouble here !
3:50am • #71
269,968 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

LOL! That is too funny! And in Joliet, that's the best time to view homes because the majority of older homes have leakage after a heavy storm.
5:18am • #72
1,519,636 Points 112 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Carla:  I have a hard time believing it's just for the sake of not tracking in mud.  There are better ways to say that.

Sheila:  It's one of the oddest comments I've ever seen.  Most concerning too.

Joni:  Yes.  Listing Agent says it's because the sellers don't want mud tracked in the home.

Evelyn:  Exactly.  If that's the issue, as they stated it was when I  called the Listing Agent, there is a better way to state it.

Tammie:  Absolutely.

 
12:50pm • #73
1,519,636 Points 112 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Christine:  I know!  I don't this as a harmless request at all.

Fernando:  Even that doesn't sound as bad, does it?

Carol Ann:  They say that was why, they don't want mud tracked in the home.  Just makes no sense to rule out showings entirely on bad weather days.

Sally & David:  No kidding.  Well, the good news for my buyers is they are continuing to look.

LaNita: I have never seen viewing homes in the rain as a bad thing for just that reason.
12:58pm • #74
1,031,627 Points 238 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Chris Ann- good grief.. they might as well put out a "Warning Will Robinson" sign on the door.  I wasn't sure where this was going... like don't show in inclement weather because your buyers might slip and fall or something.  
1:05pm • #75
1,519,636 Points 112 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Kathy:  They swear it's because they don't want mud in the house.  
1:37pm • #76
APR
15
2012
244,267 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

It makes you wonder if the agent realized the kind of things that agents and potential buyers would think.  Talk about causing their minds to race!  Silly to cause such things.  I agree that I would be questionning if there was more to it than worrying about people tracking stuff into the house.  Good luck with that one!
8:20pm • #77
APR
16
2012
1,519,636 Points 112 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Karen:  I think it's not even on the short list anymore because of these remarks.  The couple who viewed it found a cute home over the weekend.  Now we're just waiting to get the offer accepted.  They went in strong.
8:08am • #78
872,774 Points 47 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Chris Ann, that's just plain snarky and stupid! Not to mention underhanded and illegal. Does that agent seriously think they are going to get away with this?

Sharon
6:45pm • #79
1,519,636 Points 112 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Sharon:  I think the answer is YES.  It's a shame, isn't it?
7:52pm • #80
APR
20
2012
111,451 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

OMG.  Ae you kidding me?  Glad you found them something more suitable...and that agent probably wouldn't have been someone you wanted to work with in the transaction.
5:41pm • #81
1,519,636 Points 112 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Marti:  I don't know if the one we ended up working with is much better.  Just posted about her and the ordeal of getting under contract.  
5:48pm • #82

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Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker, Northern VA

Bristow, VA

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Long & Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA

Address: 7526 Limestone Drive, Gainesville, VA, 20155

Office Phone: (703) 402-0037

Cell Phone: (703) 402-0037

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