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"Did you really mean to schedule to show my home during a hurricane?"

By
Real Estate Agent with Results Realty

Showing homes during a hurricane in Spring TX"Did you really mean to schedule to show my home during a hurricane?"  Centralized Showing Service called me back with that question yesterday when I was scheduling appointments for today.  I told them to let the seller know that if the weather got where it was not safe I would call and cancel the appointment but yes I really did mean to schedule the appointment.  This was one of two sellers that expressed concerns that I was scheduling appointments with Edouard on the horizon;  this one was a little more forceful in their concern.

I have actually lived here long enough that I have realized you don't know what is going to happen until the storm hits land.  In this case I did buy extra water and filled my car up with gas.  I then watched the news as they were tracking the storm. I could tell it wasn't going to be a storm like Rita so went ahead and scheduled my appointments knowing I could cancel if need be.  I was showing in Spring within 15 to 20 minutes of my house so knew I would not have to traverse any freeways. 

I grew up in Kansas which is tornado country and there is no preparing for a tornado. I have memories of running to our neighbor's storm cellar when the tornado sirens went off but a hurricane is totally different.  With a hurricane you do have some time to see where it is heading and how strong it is going to be.

As a seller I guess you can know that if someone is scheduling appointments with a hurricane/tropical storm on the horizon they must have a motivated buyer.  I have an out of town buyer who just got in and they have a limited time to find a house.   Now had this been a storm like Rita I would not have been scheduling appointments but I could tell it was not going to be anything like that.  I figured if I needed to cancel I could but these buyers are on a time crunch.  As it turned out we got the good side of Edwardo and all we ended up with was some much needed rain.  Now we did end up getting fairly wet but to be quite honest it was a bit of a relief after how HOT it has been lately.  I think I found them their house also.  We are going out again tomorrow so they can be sure but we found a house that they fell in love with.

This is the second time that we have ended up on the good side of the storm.  If you are going to be in a hurricane the left side is the side to be on.  The right side is considered the dirty side and you get a lot more wind and rain.  Before moving here I didn't know that there was a better side of the hurricane to be on but I do now.  So my friend Deb in Huntsville I hoped you weathered as well as we did. 

Comments (44)

Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

I've been out in blizzard confitions, but we do not have them very often, by the time a coastal hurricane gets this far inland it is pretty weak - glad yours was a minimal storm,  Karen

Aug 06, 2008 09:25 AM
Brenda Tressler
Crye-Leike Realtors - Clarksville, TN

You go girl! I have shown home in snow, wind & rain... I had one customer that said anyone can go out on a nice sunny day. I know you really care if you are willing to go out in this weather. But they had limited time in the area too. Glad it did not hit you bad! Have a great day Brenda :)

Aug 06, 2008 12:45 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

TREY, we got 3 inches of much needed rain.  I wish we had received more but then I remember Allison and you don't want too much of a good thing so we will take the 3 inches.

STEVE, I guess I was kind of surprised that these sellers were not jumping at the chance to have their house shown.  If someone is going out in inclement weather they must be REALLY serious.

Aug 06, 2008 12:57 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

JENNIFER,I learned about that left/right stuff first through Rita.  Those of us on the left side of the storm had lawn chairs blown over.  Those on the right had downed power lines, roof damage yada, yada, yada.  As the storm hits land they start tracking so you an idea where you are going to be in relation to the storm. 

CYNTHIA, I am usually on the right side of most issues but when it comes to a storm I will take that left side any day.

 

Aug 06, 2008 01:00 PM
Roland Woodworth
Blue Cord Realty - Clarksville, TN
Blue Cord Realty

Good Luck with your showings... Good Lord willing the storms won't be so bad or even take a different course and you can make the sale

Aug 06, 2008 01:04 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

GARY WOLTAL, Thanks for featuring this in Dear Diary.  It was a Dear Diary kind of a day!!

GARY WHITE, These are really in the hands of God.  I do like the fact that modern technology can at least let us track where it is heading and we can stay somewhat informed of the conditions.  I was within 20 minutes of my house so felt fairly comfortable.  Now had it been a "Rita" I would not have been scheduling those appointments.  It was a little scary back then watching that huge storm come at us right after the destruction in New Orleans.

Aug 06, 2008 01:08 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

PATRICIA, My Mom just called from Thornton and was thrilled that they were getting some much needed rain.  To be quite honest had this not been an out of town buyer I would have stayed home myself as showing in the rain is not my favorite thing to do but when it is an out of town buyer time is limited.

MIKE, tomorrow they are deciding which house to place their offer on.  They are moving here so it is just finding the right house.  We have narrowed the field to three but 2 were from that first rainy day of looking. 

Aug 06, 2008 01:13 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

DEBBIE, that is very fortunate.  We really got hit by Allison a few years back.  It was just a tropical storm but dumped about 15 to 30 inches of rain; depending on where you lived.

KAREN, one of the worst hurricanes we have been in was when we lived in North Carolina and we were 4 hours inland.  It even blew a tree over in our back yard.

Aug 06, 2008 01:17 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

BRENDA, I have not had to deal with the snow elements in real estate but I did in a different life time when I was in a home party plan.  I have many memories of going out to demonstrations in snow and ice when we lived in Colorado.  YUCK I don't miss that. We got some much needed rain from Edouard. 

ROLAND, I don't even think those on the right side of the storm had too bad of a time.  It did give the media something to talk about.  I normally don't listen to the news because of all the murders.  It was amazing that they seemed to disappear when Edouard appeared.

Aug 06, 2008 01:25 PM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Marchel.

I like this blog; it shows you are not imitated by weather but also have a lot of common sense. I grew up in West Texas where tornados lurk but live in Austin now and the only major problem weather wise is that is too HOT! Have a great week and keep showing!

Aug 06, 2008 03:46 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Funny, I had an appointment in Spring that night, and got a call from a friend that said there was no way I was getting anywhere fast on I-45 N bound.  So I postponed.  Thank goodness, we just had some limbs broken here in League City.

Aug 06, 2008 04:45 PM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

Marchel... we may have to deal with grizzly bears and -60 in the winter but I'm glad we don't have to deal with hurricanes and tornado's.  I remember tornado's as a boy and am glad not to have to put up with it now.  I would think as a seller that if you're calling to show my house during a hurricane you've got one serious buyer... or you're both daft. :)

Aug 06, 2008 07:08 PM
Audrey June-Forshey
RE/MAX Realty Services - Darnestown, MD
GRI, Gaithersburg, MD

Marchel, Bless your hearts.  I have had people insist on seeing houses after we had one of the worst blizzards in '93.  Now we are used to snow, but not as prepared as some of the more northern area where 18 inches is no big deal.  It was really challenging to say the least to be out driving around in that stuff.  We made it.  You are right though, if they want to come during such times they must be motivated!!

Aug 07, 2008 10:24 AM
Sabrina Kelley
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Woodland Park, CO
Woodland Park Colorado Mountain Homes and Land

I struggle with the same aspect of scheduling showing but with the element of snow involved.

You really can't stop doing business because of the weather.

Some states need their galoshes and other their snow boots.

Aug 07, 2008 10:44 AM
Judy Tuscano
Prudential Verani Realty - Nottingham, NH
NH Real Estate Professional

Marchel - I would have done the same thing. You can't trust the weather - it can change in the blink of an eye so keep on going and you can always cancel if need be. Glad to hear your buyers found a home.

Aug 08, 2008 05:25 AM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

RUSSELL, I like to think I have common sense so thank you for the compliement!!  I do think I prefer hurricanes over tornadoes; at least you can plan for them.  Tornadoes just pick and choose.

CINDY, NO WAY would I have traversed the freeways.  I live in Spring so was showing in my own backyard which was way cool.

Aug 09, 2008 01:58 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

JESSE, I was really amazed that these sellers were questioning me showing.  If someone wanted to show my house in bad weather I would say GO FOR IT!!  Those tornadoes were scary stuff!!

AUDREY, When we lived in Colorado I was doing home party plans and I have LOTS of memories of driving around in snow storms.  My scariest was on black ice up next to the foothills.  The only reason I went forward was because I was afraid to turn around. 

Aug 09, 2008 02:03 PM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

SABRINA, We lived in Colorado for 15 years so I know the elements you are talking about.  The last house we bought there faced north.  Obviously we bought in the Spring as no fool would buy north in the middle of the winter. 

JUDY, My clients are under contract and I'm exhausted but we got it done tropical storm and all.

Aug 09, 2008 02:11 PM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Marchel, ha,ha,ha, I really was wondering the same thing! :-) Deb

Aug 09, 2008 02:34 PM
Robert Monk
100% Realty, Inc. - Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Florida Real Estate

Hurricanes are wet and windy, but if you've grown up around tornadoes, hurricanes are not so frightening, since that are predictable, sort of...

Aug 09, 2008 05:42 PM