From the very start Whitt Glover told me he was going to be my most difficult client ever. And I will grant you, he was picky. But honestly when you are purchasing your first home you have every right to be picky. He wanted the perfect house. He loved the modified A-frame style, but then when shopping for the perfect lake house it is not just "house" that is important. He wanted good fishing, good water and a fabulous view. And budget was pretty tight.
We spent weekend after weekend looking. And while he was picky about house, location, view and water he became a wonderful friend while we were house shopping. He had a wicked sense of humor. Once when we rolled up to a police officer during our search at a license check, as I rolled down the window, he leaned over and told the office I'd kidnapped him. While the officer put his hand on his gun Whitt burst into laughter.
We never found that perfect house on that perfect lot, so we started looking at building sites instead. I represented a builder on a new development that build the modified A-frames and he had 15 acres he was about to do a Planned Urban Development on and I took Whitt by to check out the location. We parked at the street and went tromping through the woods and weeds and thorns to find the lake.
When we got down to the water we walked back and forth along the half of mile of shoreline to find the "perfect" view and water so he could have "that" lot. I was walking in front of him and stepped into a stump hole. I vanished into the ground up to my waist. He doubled over in laughter and laughed for a good five minutes before helping me out of that hole and asking if I was hurt. I laughed as well.
Right behind that stump hole turned out to be "the perfect spot". Whitt bought his first home in 1996. His was the first finished and sold in the subdivision and he let me keep a key to show other buyers the finished product while the other 11 were built and sold. He gave out countless numbers of my business cards and took me at my word when I told him I come with the house. I did him lots of favors over the next 16 years.
Next month I will do the hardest thing I have ever done in my career. I will be listing that home for sale. Whitt passed away a year ago. I miss his humor and smile and his love and pride in his home. He was a client first, then a friend, and someone I will carry in my heart forever.
