Special offer

I Once Sold a Goat With A House

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Centre Realty AB067113

A few years ago we had a proeprty listed that was an amazing two hundred year old home that we believed used to be a tavern.  The home was almost 4,000 square feet and was situated right along the road which is why we figured it to be an inn or a tavern of some kind.  The home was decorated great to the period and showed wonderful.  If I recall correctly it had almost 12 foot ceilings on the first floor.  The house was sited on over 5 acres and a good part of that was a steep ravine in the middle of the back yard that helped drain the property to a neighboring trout stream.  3095 Birmingham Pike

This is where Flapjack comes in.  The sellers of the property had an old goat named Flapjack.  Flapjack was great for mowing the grass in the ravine.  He was fenced in the area and loved to eat the grass up and down that steep hill.  He was actually a pretty nice fella, as goats go.

We eventually found a buyer for this unique property who decided to move there with her young kids so they would have a place to play.  Well closing day rolled around and qwhile tallying the closing numbers up with the seller I asked, "What did you ever do with that old goat?"  

"I'd actually like to talk to you about that." He said. "Do you think the new owners would like to have the goat because we don't have anywhere for Flapjack to go."

I called the buyer about Flapjack and she him hawed back and forth a little bit about Flapjack.  When I told her he does a great job mowing that steep ravine in the back, she was sold.  Flapjack got to stay.  As far as I know, old Flapjack is still there, chomping the grass on that ravine! 

 

Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Marc,

Well I am really dissapointed. I wanted to read a post about a "goat with a house". But all I get is a picture of a home. I was really wanting to see what kind of home thay had built for the goat.

Kinda like a dog woth a doghouse.

But I do get the point and well played on the title.

Have a great dy in College Station, Pa.

Best, Clint McKie

Aug 25, 2013 10:11 PM
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

HA! That's a great story!

Aug 25, 2013 10:12 PM
Carol Zingone
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Network Realty - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Global Realtor in Jax Beach, FL - ABR, CRS, CIPS
That makes sense - I had to read the blog after seeing the title.
Aug 25, 2013 10:24 PM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Marc, what a uplifting, light-hearted story to start the week. Just another example that we just don't assist folks with the buying and selling of real estate, but are problem solvers that are directly involved in life--changing choices. Your buyer had a good soul for allowing Flapjack to stay. Thanks again for the story.

Aug 25, 2013 10:28 PM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Have had goats on a farm and they eat anything, clean up the culch.

Aug 25, 2013 10:43 PM
Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

Perfect.  Flapjack probably didn't even know the former owners were gone.  It does amaze me tho that they could leave their old friend.

Aug 25, 2013 10:51 PM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

Flapjack served an important function in the maintenance of the property so why not?

Aug 25, 2013 10:58 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Marc, what a great story. Flapjack earned his keep. A co-worker once had a Nubian Goat as a pet.

Aug 25, 2013 11:05 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

That is much more acceptable than the old sofas left behind by the sellers

Aug 25, 2013 11:19 PM
Brian Sharkey
SharkeyRE LLC - Singer Island, FL
SharkeyRE

That sure beats the usual, "what about the pool table or air hockey table"

Aug 25, 2013 11:28 PM
Team Honeycutt
Allen Tate - Concord, NC

I chuckled when I read about Flapjack. I once worked with a lady at a company who sold a cow with a home.  Amazing, isn't it?

Betty

Aug 26, 2013 12:05 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Anyone named "flapjack" is set for life...Being an old goat has its moments as well as usefulness too...good post

Aug 26, 2013 12:20 AM
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

Hey Marc-cute story and how could anyone refuse an old goat called Flapjack? Great name!

Aug 26, 2013 12:45 AM
Suzanne Otto
Six Twenty Designs - Lansdale, PA
Your Montgomery County PA home stager

Aw, that's a sweet story Marc. I love when animals don't have to get relocated (or worse) when their owners move.

Aug 26, 2013 01:02 AM
Paula Hathaway, REALTOR, LBA
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Southampton, NY
...A Local Expert in all The Hamptons

Marc: What a great local post! I hope the goat is still mowing the grass--they are remarkable creatures are they not? I have several good stories about local animals--cows, horses and the like but never a goat!

Aug 26, 2013 02:43 AM
Dana Hollish Hill
Hollish Hill Group, JPAR Stellar Living - Bethesda, MD
REALTOR * Broker * Coach

One of the things I love most about working in real estate is that you never know what to expect next because anything can happen. It's never really a same day twice.

I hope FlapJack likes his new owners.

Aug 26, 2013 03:26 AM
Tamra Lee Ulmer
Arizona Resource Realty - Payson, AZ
NRBA ~FORCE~ Over 1000 REO Assets SOLD!

Marc, what a cute story! I've actually acquired a talking bird once for a Rental years ago because the previous Tenants abandoned it, and the Landlord didn't want to deal with it. It turned out for the best, I ended up loving the 'lil guy!

Aug 26, 2013 05:24 AM
Christine Farkas
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Awesome Customer Service Experience

That would be such a nice little extra. Free lawncare!!!

Aug 26, 2013 07:13 AM
Christine Gerbehy
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox and Roach Northfield - Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Making waves, one home at a time...

AWESOME, lol!  At least she didn't need a mower, lol!

Aug 27, 2013 02:15 PM
Pam Graham
All Real Estate Options - Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville, Clay & St Johns Counties

A built in grass trimmer! I bet the buyer's kids absolutely loved that goat.

Aug 31, 2013 05:01 AM