I was showing condos to a buyer I didn't know very well - it was a second foray to the streets of Washington. He was looking for a great place at a great price. (OK, when's the last time you had one who said he wanted to pay too much for a dump?) And I had five great possibilities.
Quite by accident, I saved the best for last. It was big, well-priced, had a great view and nicely renovated kitchen and bath. And the owner was home, having explained when I made the appointment that she had a deadline on a huge project and would keep hidden away in the little den where she had her office.
All would have been fine except for one little thing.
My buyer forgot his manners.
In a booming baritone voice that could have filled the Opera House at Kennedy Center without a microphone, he began to trash the place!
"Shhhhh," I admonished. "The owner is home."
He ignored me, whining about the Silestone counter tops (they looked great), the space saving Danish refrigerator that I was coveting, the shade of the stain on the beautiful oak floors, and the depth of the shelves in the ample linen closet. What a turkey!!
Is he behaving like such a boor because he wants to make an offer and is trying to justify a low ball with this indirect communication to the seller? Whatever, he was really obnoxious.
This guy scored a great big "F" as in flunk on the Fun Test! If he had wanted to make an offer on Place Number 5, I might have sucked it up and written up the offer. But the idea of schlepping this idiot through any more condos was about as appealing as gum surgery. So I referred him to a less judgmental colleague.
So bottom line, when you are looking for a new home, be nice! If the owners are home, try not to piss them off! If you decide to buy the place, you will have plenty of opportunity for that later on - between the time you start negotiations and settlement day you'll annoy each other plenty!
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