Sorry I can't represent you on 'that' property

Thank goodness you were honest with them and gave full disclosure about the potential or lack thereof for this home.

What was motivating them?  The price??  Sometimes people get so fixated and there's no way that you can reason with them.  You have BananaTude for a reason Anna B!!  And if a savvy real estate professional, such as yourself, can see no redeeming qualiites or beneftis to a property, why aren't they listening?!?

Glad you got out of there alive.  Sounds like it's totally not worth it, glad you stuck to your guns!

I've got to give you the 'Tude award Anna just for knowing when to walk (run) away.

Anna, I had just this situation recently.  A home that had suffered burst pipes and a leaking roof x 3 years.  There was "mold-like substance" growing on the walls, floors, ceilings.  And yet the buyer was in love and insisted everything could be fixed. I will not participate in a health hazard.

Anna, I know what you mean. I recently was asked to list a house and there are Major foundation issues. I'm gonna pass.

I've turned down a few that I didn't feel were safe.... 

Anna, that sounds like a conversation I had with a lender in the Spring.  They asked that I sell an REO for them, and when I saw it I said no.  They begged, and I said I would if they gave me 100% of their REOs from now on.  They said, "Yes," and the house sold in 20 mintues for full price.  Go figure.  I requested that my assistants wear resperators whenever they were in that property.  Nasty, nasty.

Anna - I haven't run into many of those homes, thankfully, though I've seen few and feel crawly just thinking of them.

Anna in Phoenix:  Congrats on your Featured Post.  The post is making me itch thinking of some of the homes I have been through.  Hope your buyers take your advice and MOVE on to the next property!

Different strokes for different folks. I actually have clients that would like to know about this kind of dump. Even if it is a tear down if it can be bought right we have a deal. Some of my smaller builders love these lots because if you tear them down to a certain point and rebuild up from there you can avoid $27,000 or more worth of fees versus building on a vacant lot. It might apply in your area.

Ms. Anna Banana, what is the buyers level of expertise.  First-time buyer versus experienced contractor?  If your disclosure says: "This home may make you sick and may even kill you" and "The agent has recommended against buying this house" and if you still feel that doesn't protect you, then you're doing the right thing.  Some first-time home buyers underestimate the amount of repairs needed and your expertise is vital. 

I had some first time buyers who wanted to buy a dump.  Fortunately, I was able to find them a much nicer home for their budget.  The nice home was smaller and on a busier street, but they saw the value of that home over the one they were originally looking at.

I had a customer put in an offer on a home like this recently. I have to admit that it didn't occur to me to say NO, I won't represent you, though I did make it clear that they needed to have some serious inspections and that the only value of the home was probably in the land. I will say that it was a sigh of relief when the offer was not accepted. 

Anna, sometimes you can make money by losing a sale.

Anna...Glenn is so right.  Other words would be that you save money by losing the sale..