Hey, Bel Air Crew! Lanette here, surviving the winter real estate hustle and bustle. This weekend's showing, though, was an adventure on a whole new level, and I've got to spill the snow – I mean, tea.
Picture this: a property on a busy street, no street parking, and a driveway that looked like a snowman's haven—untouched by human hands or shovels. It was practically a winter wonderland, but not the good kind.
It was Fresh as the New Fallen Snow
As I approached, my buyer had already taken the plunge and parked—or should I say nestled?—into the untouched snow. I don’t think you heard me. My buyer, brave soul that they are, was already parked—somewhere. But where exactly? Who knows? It could’ve been the driveway, but it if we’re talking possibilities here, it also could’ve been the front lawn. The exact spot remains a mystery, considering the fact that the entire exterior of the house looked like fresh fallen snow’s twin brother.
And Here’s Where it Gets Interesting
Because driving an all-wheel vehicle doesn't make me a snow superhero, I was not about to park in an unplowed driveway nor on a snow-packed lawn. Mama, AKA Realtor Bae, chose the "across-the-street, flashers-on, make-my-own-parking-spot" strategy. So, off I go, turning the exit of a large apartment complex across the busy street into my makeshift spot. And you know the apartment dwellers probably loved that boss move! [insert sarcastic eye roll here]
But Wait, There’s More . . .
Now, I'm all for adventure, but sliding down somebody’s slippery, unsalted steps, post-showing, is not my idea of a thrill. Did I mention my acrobatics on the way out? No? Good. Let us not go there and let us just thank goodness that my buyer was there to play the role of superhero. My friends, it was a virtual lawsuit waiting to happen – personal injury and negligence flashing like a neon sign.
And it Would Not be a Realtor Bae Tale Without a Little, “Damn, damn, damn!” Thrown In.**
At this point, you might be asking whether I called the listing agent? Why, yes, trust and believe, I did indeed call him. Before even attempting to brave the snow-packed battlefield, I dialed up the listing agent – a pre-emptive strike, if you will. There was a piece of my mind, liberally seasoned with a few choice words, heading his way. I may have expressed my sentiments quite passionately – because, honestly, it needed to be said. Translation: I let him have it, it was necessary, and it felt good.
But Here's the Kicker:
From the looks of the new fallen snow, it almost appeared as if the seller was a FSBO. Almost. But this seller was not of the DIY FSBO variety. Nope! [insert another eye roll here]! Because even though it felt like a textbook FSBO fiasco . . .
This seller had a whole live real estate professional to guide them through this hot mess of ridiculousness.
Which brings to mind my thoughts on sellers going all FSBO and everything. Remember my post on the perils of solo real estate journeys? (Check it out here: https://activerain.com/blogsview/5826000/fsbo-vs--fafo--the-risks-of-going-solo-in-real-estate). But I digress.
And Here’s the Bottom Line:
In the end, it's a seller's responsibility to shovel away the risks – not just for convenience’s sake but also to avoid any foreseeable legal snowstorms that lie in wait. Slippery steps and a snow-packed, unplowed driveway can easily result in the perfect storm of personal injury claims and negligence accusations. So, sellers, shovel your paths! Let's not turn real estate showings into winter sports. Until next time, stay warm and sane, Bel Air crew.
Winter woes and associated real estate drama notwithstanding,
Lanette in Bel Air
**For all my Goodtimes afficionados—IYKYK
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