So I'm fairly new, as most of you know, but I thought I'd throw this little story out there. I'm sure there are many other good stories, but it's still funny, and definitely worth a blog post!
Don't know about the contest? Check it out here!
I have a manufactured home that needs to be moved, and was discussing with another agent in my office how it may be beneficial to do a combined ad in the paper with my manufactured and a plot of land that she has listed where a manufactured home would be okay to move in. She, like me, was excited about the idea, and thought that it would do well. So we began to sling ideas over our cubicle walls, like we agents in this office do.
We wrote up the text and I typed it up and added my picture to it. We attempted a photoshop land graphic, but it looked dumb. We decided we definitely need a picture. Of course, she is much busier than me, and couldn't go out to her listing and get a picture that day. Of course, the ad was due THAT DAY.
Finally, we agreed that I would go out and do it for a small fee. I love doing that. "Oh, you don't have time to take a picture? I'll do it for _____ (Insert desired object here). I get to do all kinds of errands, and see listing that have been around since before I was licensed. It works out great for me and them. Sometimes I get lunch, money, floor time, or whatever else I can creatively come up with. It's experience and knowledge, both of which I'm dying for.
She told me where she thought the best picture would be from, and with my trusty Kodak in hand, I jumped in the car and off I went. It wasn't a far drive, and when I got there I did exactly as she said. I pulled in the driveway, parked my car, and jumped out, camera ready to go.
There are manufactured homes on either side of the land, and I was right next to one. I started shooting, and noticed that there was someone peeking out a window of the manufactured I was directly in front of. I figured I'd get my shots and then go up and let them know who I was, so that they wouldn't be upset or concerned about my mysterious presence.
After about five shots, I heard the door open. I was focused on my viewfinder at that precise moment, and didn't look up right away. When I did, it was quite a shock. Across the land runs an older gentleman in just a bathrobe, the bottom opening as he ran. It was loosely tied, and I was afraid that it was going to come off. He ran straight towards me, waving his arms, his robe slowly falling more and more open. I was afraid to look, but knew that I had to acknowledge him.
"Who are you?" He yells, still about 20 feet away, flailing his arms and running toward me.
"My name is Joslyn - I work with Tina at RE/MAX Select!" I reply, becoming very concerned about what I may see if he didn't stop running.
He slowed, and looked somewhat relieved. "Oh!" He said, and grabbed his robe tightly. He pulled it closed, and laughed a little. "Well then I won't do what I was going to do!"
"What was that?" I ask, and he was now right next to me.
"It's my son that is selling this land, and I told him I didn't want him to. When you get this old, no one listens to you." I grin at his wrinkled face, and notice that he has a bit of a limp. I was hoping it didn't hurt him to run out to me like he had.
"He doesn't listen to me - my son. I just don't know what to do. I really don't want anyone buying this land. So I decided that every time a buyer came out to look at it, I was going to run through the woods without any clothes on. I figured that would scare them away. When I saw you had a camera, I decided that I better see what you were doing first. I hear about those kids and the stuff they put on that internet nowadays, and I wanted to make sure you weren't one of them. So I got undressed just in case, and threw my robe on. I figured that way, if you deserved it, I could drop the robe and run thorugh naked."
I just stared. Now let me say, I have a GREAT broker. He prepares us so well for anything we might encounter in our career. At least, I THOUGHT he taught us how to deal with anything. I was very wrong. I wasn't sure what to say, so I said what I thought.
"Well, sir, can I say one thing? Thank you for coming out to see who I was first."
He laughed. "What do you need those pictures for, anyway?"
I explained to him the combined ad that Tina and I were doing, and he nodded, then replied "Well, dear, should I just go pose out in them woods, because that's what they are going to see if they come out here!"
"Actually," I started, trying hard not to laugh or gag, "I think I've got the pictures I need. Thank you for the offer, though."
He shook my hand, and we went our separate ways. When I returned to the office I informed Tina that I would no longer take pictures on any of her properties unless he payment was really good. The last thing I needed was pictures of a man old enough to be my grandfather streaking through the woods.
I'm sure I'll have many more hilarious stories, but for now this is the best I've got. I don't think I'll ever forget it. In fact, I'm sure of that.
Comments(28)