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Were You Born In A Barn?

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

Were you born in a barn is a question I was asked a lot as a kid. As an adult I understand why, it's expensive to heat the whole outdoors and even though my dad made good money back then there is no reason to throw it away.

I'm way up North but I would guess parents of children down South ask the same thing when their children are trying to cool down the whole outdoors in the summer.

Just curious, have you ever gone to one of your empty listings to check on it after another agent showed it only to find an open window or door left open by another agent?

Back to "born in a barn": if you were you are in good company.

 

 

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Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

Can't say I have ever found a door or window left open, but I have found the A/C or heat turned way down or up on a vacant house😠

Feb 07, 2025 03:48 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I found an open door one time and my carpet cleaner was missing. No sign of forced entry. The lock box told me which realtor was there last and he denied it. I was so disappointed as I always thought of him as a good guy until then.

Feb 07, 2025 07:35 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Bob... I have gone to show a home where the door has been open or not locked by the prior showing agent. Fortunately, I've not encountered this with one of my own listings.

PS I was not born in a barn. I was born in an RAF hospital in German after WWII. :) I don't think I've been inside a barn more than half a dozen times in my life.

Feb 07, 2025 04:03 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Nina Hollander, Broker in my teens there was an enterprising farmer (Herb Johnson) who held teen dances in his nice clean barn. Lots of fun and a bit of hanky panky as well. BTW the acoustics were pretty good for the live bands that played there. I wish I would have know you then 😍.

Feb 07, 2025 07:39 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bob - I have often said, time spent in real estate and a longer residency on this planet, has "shown" me many things.  Finding properties for sale that are askew are not uncommon.  And it's not always the agent's fault.   

Feb 07, 2025 04:43 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

True Michael Jacobs . Being I worked mostly with new builds I usually encountered crime outside of the listing with stollen building materials. Today I understand the biggest problem in our area is keeping homeless out of unoccupied homes.

Feb 07, 2025 07:41 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Bob. I am familiar with that saying and have used it many times over my lifetime. And, I have checked listings where the door had been left unlocked or the rear patio sliding glass door was left unlocked or open. Enjoy your day.

Feb 07, 2025 04:51 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thanks for the reminder of glass sliding doors Wayne Martin . I started keeping a few pre-cut 2X4's in inventory for listings with such doors.

Feb 07, 2025 07:43 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Oh yes, my dad definitely used the term, "Were you born in a barn?" That was just one of the terms used to try to get us to pay attention to leaving doors open (and other terms for turning off the lights)

Feb 07, 2025 04:51 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Yup. When I was a kid NSP (Northern States Power) advertised that a 60 watt light bulb cost only pennies a day to keep on... my Dad never bought into it Kat Palmiotti .

Feb 07, 2025 07:46 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I often wonder that about some people and it definitely comes down to how one was raised.  There needs to be more respect in the world, haha.

Feb 07, 2025 06:15 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

More respect in the world would certainly go a long way in improving it Brian England .

Feb 07, 2025 07:47 AM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thanks for sharing this fun and relatable perspective, Bob "RealMan" Timm! It’s a great reminder that even in real estate, paying attention to the little things—like closing doors and windows—can save us a lot in the long run.

Feb 07, 2025 01:31 PM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Bob and I have had doors unlock or even back doors left open on listings.  Others make us look bad in our profession.

 

Feb 07, 2025 02:09 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

It was rare with my listings Will Hamm but that is probably because I worked out of model homes.

Feb 07, 2025 06:45 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Bob- Larry and I say that to each other when one of us forgets to close the door tightly. 

Feb 07, 2025 06:51 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

That's funny Kathy Streib . Carol and I always joke that a big purchase is going to be on her or my side of the bed.

Feb 07, 2025 07:22 PM
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

Most showings in my market have the listing agent showing the apartment- available to answer questions about the apartment, building and neighborhood. On occasion, if the apartment is empty- sometimes the listing agent will leave keys for showings with the doorman- but this is a minority of the showings. 

Feb 12, 2025 09:23 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

A doorman Adam Feinberg ? Do they also have elevator operators? Just curious, keep in mind I am from North Dakota. 😌

Feb 12, 2025 01:25 PM
Adam Feinberg

Bob "RealMan" Timm  - Yes and Yes. While there are plenty of buildings that do not have doorman- plenty of buildings do have them. As to Elevator Operators- most buildings do not have them- but a handful still have them. In many cases it's because it's a union job- and difficult to eliminate the position. In others- the owners in the building love the charm of being in a building with an elevator operator. In some smaller older luxury buildings - you might get someone that serves as both doorman and as elevator operator. 

Feb 12, 2025 01:34 PM
Peter Mohylsky,
Property Management International-Destin - Inlet Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

I was always asked if I intended to cool the entire house with an open frig door.  how time does fly.  

Feb 19, 2025 12:29 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I remember being asked that as well Peter Mohylsky, . Thanks for the flashback.

Feb 19, 2025 01:51 PM