Special offer

A Nice Neighbor Showed Up at Open House. Well, Not Really.

By
Real Estate Agent with Movoto DRE #01485322

 I like it when neighbors visit open house at my listings. Usually.

 

Jill Murty Real Estate.open house peeps 

I was was hosting open house at a nice listing in Laguna Niguel.  Visitor parking in the community is limited and an open house visitor parked in an assigned space.  About half of the assigned spaces were open at the time and the visitor randomly selected one.


The open house visitor and his sister who was helping with the home search were in the open house for a few minutes when a neighbor stormed in and yelled "Does someone in here own a white pick up truck?"  The answer was Yes.  "You're parked in my space.  Move your truck now."  The neighbor slammed the door shut and then marched off.  Way to make a great impression.  

 

I was embarrassed and somewhat horrified.  The open house visitors were very nice and the brother said that people like that don't bother him.  It may well be true.  BUT....the neighbor didn't have to take the approach she chose.

 

No one else has given us the slightest bit of grief over having open house and the traffic it brings with it.  In fact, all of the other neighbors have been nothing less than delightful.

 

Did the neighbor's rude behavior affect the visitor's desire to buy my listing?  It may not have hurt, but it definitely didn't help.  Could the neighbor have approached us in a nice way?  Of course she could have; she just chose not to.  

 

Most people are very nice!  Others...not so much, but if they tried it, they'd probably like it.

Posted by

 


 




 

Nearby properties for sale



Powered By RealBird.com



Althea Kippes, Esq.
A.T. Kippes, Real Estate Broker - San Francisco, CA
Serving San Francisco to Silicon Valley!

People can be so rude.  Don't the people living there realize that when your listing sells for a good price, it will benefit them as well?  She could have been nicer, but who knows what's going on in her life.  

Open houses bring in all kinds of people.  I was hosting an open house for another agent, and the elderly lady who lived across the street kept coming over and proceeded to tell the open house guests about the person who lived in the house prior to the seller, and the prior seller, what an evil man he was and how he beat his children and wife, and the guy after him had RVs in his yard that he rented to drug addicts and homeless people.  Luckily my friend was there and was able to pull the lady aside and talk to her.  I think the lady was just lonely.

Aug 27, 2016 07:51 PM
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA

Yeah, the gal at my open house may have been having a bad day.  Unfortunately, I only know her from that day, so there's a chance this is just who she is.


As for your experience, it was good your friend was there to chat with the neighbor lady.  You're probably right that she was lonely and that's kind of sad.  

Aug 28, 2016 07:27 AM
Althea Kippes, Esq.
A.T. Kippes, Real Estate Broker - San Francisco, CA
Serving San Francisco to Silicon Valley!

By the way, I LOVE your interactive property search!  That makes is so easy for people to see your lisitngs and know where they are.  Your Dana Point listing looks fabulous!

Aug 27, 2016 07:52 PM
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA

Thanks Althea Kippes, Esq.  That listing was a rare gem.  I just closed it Friday, so I'll have to put another listing in its place.  The property search is through RealBird.   

Aug 28, 2016 07:32 AM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Hi Jill.  Many would be buyers will be turned off by a neighbor like that.

Aug 27, 2016 09:17 PM
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA

Gabe Sanders 


I was certainly was!  She made a memorable impression.  

Aug 28, 2016 07:33 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Is it my imagination, or have people been a whole lot ruder lately.  I've noticed encounters similar to the one you illustrate seem to be at epidemic levels. Perhaps it will improve after this contentious election cycle.  Alas, I fear another campaign will begin the very next day!

Aug 28, 2016 04:05 AM
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA

It's interesting to consider if the election cycle is related to the lack of civility at open house.  Maybe so Myrl Jeffcoat!

Aug 28, 2016 07:35 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Jill,  the neighbor cast a nice reflection on their personality and what it might be like living next to them.  That may turn so off ... or inspire them.  It could be they were just having one of those days ... no excuse ... yet the behavior may not reflect how they are ... generally speaking. 

Aug 28, 2016 06:19 AM
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA

Kathleen Daniels 


Her bad behavior is all that I've seen, so is this who she is or was it an isolated incident on a stressful day?  I may never know. 

Aug 28, 2016 07:37 AM
Laura Allen, Lake Tahoe - Truckee Real Estate for Sale TahoeLauraRealEstate.com
Coldwell Banker Realty, Tahoe City, CA (530) 414-1260 - Tahoe City, CA
Tahoe Real Estate Agent Helping Buyers and Sellers

Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA - You never know what causes some one to just lose it and react badly, but it's a heads up on not parking in the right place!  Hope your next open house is a better one!

Aug 28, 2016 07:12 AM
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA
Movoto - Laguna Niguel, CA

For the most part, the open houses have been really good Laura Allen, Lake Tahoe - Truckee Real Estate for Sale www.TahoeLauraLuxuryHomes.com.  I've met some terrific neighbors.  One came in today saying she'd just leased a place in the community and she's been blown away at how nice everyone has been. 

Aug 28, 2016 07:42 AM
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

There are kind people out there, but so often a positive experience can be ruined by one "bad apple."

Aug 28, 2016 09:39 AM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Sorry to hear this Jill.

Well now the visitors know which neighbor to not invite to the house warming party.

Aug 29, 2016 04:16 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Jill

There really is no need to be so rude. I can understand the issue with the parking space but to make yourself look like a moron in front of others you don't know makes no sense.  The same issue could have been brought up in a much more diplomatic way.

Jeff

Nov 22, 2017 10:29 AM
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA

There's never a need to make yourself look like a moron, yet so many choose to do it.  It's so much better to just be nice.

Mar 05, 2018 08:16 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Funny story.  I guess there's one in every crowd, or neighborhood.

Mar 05, 2018 08:00 PM
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA

Yep, there sure is.

Mar 05, 2018 08:15 PM