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Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

I had buyers who thought that they were cool.  They were buying a property where they were flattered by the seller... 

Buyer and seller became "buddies" and even went out together for breakfast.

I reminded them that this was a business transaction and it was not in their best interest to chit-chat or go out with sellers.  Buyers thought I was just a big stuck in the mud...they ignored my warning to keep it arms length.

Day of closing, we go do a walk-thru and lo and behold! the top of the line $2000+ refrigerator is missing.

Seller said that buyers told him they did not want the refrigerator (which is part of the contract)...buyers denied saying that. 

Seller signed off early and is already across the state line with the buyers refrigerator...buyers are too embarassed to do anything.

I think to myself "I told you so..."

Eve

Mar 18, 2017 11:22 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I have seen a lot, missing mail boxes and even shrubs

Mar 18, 2017 01:32 PM
Rainmaker
711,852
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

The hoarder seller (we represent the buyer) had not moved out nor even started packing. Her son and two other women her son's age were "asleep (or passed out from what looked like meth)" in the back. We told our buyer to contact the police to start an eviction process.

Mar 18, 2017 12:45 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,409
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Son and girlfriend of seller having one last fling! Scared the buyer to near death. It was a 55+ community and the buyers were in their late 70's. She was not amused!

Mar 18, 2017 12:02 PM
Ambassador
5,049,455
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Nothing scary but some sellers left a freezer full of meat in their garage!

Mar 18, 2017 11:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Just experienced it. The house was flooded during viewing. My shoes got wet. It had a level 3 storm before closing. The question was how much more water was accumulated. I was relieved when the buyer did not seem to mind. Yes it has about 2 in more water on the front. Done.

Mar 18, 2017 11:25 AM
Rainmaker
628,814
Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

One of my early sales 30 + years ago, went to the walk through w/ Buyers, the old man "seller" was kicked back in his lazyboy recliner and had not moved one thing out of the house. Said his listing agent didn't tell him he had to move out on the day of settlement?

Mar 18, 2017 05:37 PM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

    Walk-on, not a walk-through, of a lake front lot.  Buyer from Alabama bought here in Tallahasssee, sight unseen, after looking at photos, plat maps, etc.   I insisted that he come to Tallahassee and meet me on the property, the day before closing. 

  His car was parked about 100 yards away from the lot.  I walked over to greet him, and I realized as I approached him that he was LOOKING AT THE WRONG LOT.   He thought he was getting about 100 feet of prime lakefront; the actual property had maybe 50 feet. 

   I don't remember if he forfeited the deposit or what, but he canceled the sale.  And he owned up that it was entirely his fault.  He had mis-read the plat map or something.  Yes, it was a waste of time, but it could have been a disaster.

Mar 18, 2017 02:05 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Just a crap ton of unwanted sellers worldly possession left behind. No dead bodies. We got it all cleared out.  

Mar 18, 2017 01:57 PM
Rainmaker
444,170
Dianne Goode
Raleigh Cary Realty - Raleigh, NC
Realtor/Broker

Well, there was the time, the morning of closing, when we walked into the kitchen and found a big hole in the ceiling!  A leak from the bathroom above.   The seller promised he would get it fixed and we proceeded to close.

Mar 18, 2017 06:34 PM
Rainmaker
1,543,823
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

The hoarder house looked the same as the day we did inspections, 5 days prior to close in San Carlos, East San Diego. My client's wife started crying; I assured them it would be ready.

It was a Thursday and they had a busy weekend, because Monday, the day we funded, it was spotless. I drove by every day Fri-Sat-Mon and there were trucks, dumpsters and PODS in full production 3/4 days I drove by. I kept my clients calm by texting video clips of the activity. I felt like a spy or P.I.

I also caught a guy cheating on his wife while on stakeout and made extra as a P.I. that day.  (and if you have to ask it's "no").

 

 

All worked out!

Mar 18, 2017 06:17 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I showed up to do the final walk through the day before closing and found the buyers had moved in, lock stock and barrel. It was my listing and the other agent had given them tehe key to move a few things in the garage. They even had pictures on the wall.

Mar 18, 2017 05:50 PM
Rainmaker
5,005,659
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

The one that sticks out is the seller took all the drapes (they are in the contract to convey). We called the listing agent right away..she had to send them all back!

Mar 18, 2017 04:48 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Worst one was the pipes burst because the seller turned of the electric and gas.

Mar 18, 2017 02:08 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

nothing exciting.... and for that, I'm thankful...

Mar 18, 2017 01:29 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

My funnier stories are about inspections. Ask that question at a later date.

Mar 18, 2017 11:56 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I had a buyer who was African American and the seller was a racist and left the place a pit saying black people know how to clean, that is what they do for a living. I hired my maid and I assisted in making the place spotless. The seller was the classless clown.

Mar 18, 2017 11:15 AM
Rainer
5,840
Loree Nichols
Coldwell Banker Alpharetta - Alpharetta, GA
Real estate agent serving the North Atlanta area

Well, I don't know if this is interesting, it's definitely not funny, but could be considered scary.  I had a seller (75 year old woman) who had gotten a loan in her name for her son who had promised to make the payments.  The home was a gorgeous 4,000 sf home with pool in a gated/guarded golf community.  The son was upset when the mother decided to sell after 2 years of him not making the payments.  So, we did the walk through and went to the closing, but while we were there the son went back to the home and urinated and smeared his feces all over everything.  What on earth?!

Mar 18, 2017 11:07 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Brittany Royer - I remember an agent telling an uprooted basketball hoop in the driveway as a fixture!

I am sure there are many more - just can't remember.

Mar 18, 2017 08:38 PM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Too Long to post here

Mar 18, 2017 05:13 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Nothing that interesting, did have a listing agent walk off with a foozeball table from an REO that we bought the day of closing.

Mar 18, 2017 03:05 PM
Rainmaker
1,045,440
Dave Martin (703) 585-4687
Fairfax Realty - Fairfax, VA
Making Realty Dreams a Reality #WeWillGetYouHome

I suppose the worst final walk through the sellers neglected to leave the utilities turn on ... this delayed settlement and nearly caused a law suit.

Dec 11, 2017 07:24 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Have had many Sellers remove the window treatments and rods right before closing, and is pre-printed in our contracts.

Mar 21, 2017 09:42 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,705
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Walk paper rid off half the walls before closing and dirty diapers in ever room.  They figure we would not do a walk thru.

 

Mar 20, 2017 03:41 PM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Going through it right now - trying to close on a condo - there is a tenant who has changed the locks and locked themselves inside

Fortunately I always put a walk through clause in all my contracts so we are walking away and buying one down the hall LOL

Mar 20, 2017 07:13 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Storage shed was full of thing

Mar 19, 2017 10:34 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Back in the day when people did repairs, some of those were scary.  Now days, credits are king so as long as the house is still maintained there really aren't too many horror stories.

Mar 19, 2017 09:47 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,419
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

No stories to share.

Mar 19, 2017 09:12 AM
Rainmaker
599,274
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

Not my worst, but my first walk-through was on the first home I bought. We did the walk-through the day prior and the tenants were only 75% out and hadn't done any cleaning. They assured us it would be done and my agent said it should be fine. Closed the next day and went to the house to drop off some paint; they still weren't done but assured me it would be "clean as a whistle" when I came back the next morning. Long story short, I went back three times the following day before they were out and they didn't even sweep. Instead of painting that weekend, we spent all our time scrubbing, mopping, washing windows, etc.

Mar 19, 2017 07:41 AM
Rainmaker
758,035
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

Biggest pet peeve is people leaving behind the stuff they don't want. I tell clients they have to take all their personal possessions out of the house. What happens is they leave behind the stuff they don't want. Well, nobody else wants it either so somebody's going to have to pay for a junk hauler so we can close! I have one on speed dial. 

Mar 19, 2017 06:02 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Had one where the sellers were still living in the home with no clue that the closing was the next day.

Mar 19, 2017 05:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Refrigerator not the same as during the home showing and contract period. No problem as we note the make, model and serial numbers as an attached addendum that both parties sign. Needless to say, the seller was upset that their switch failed.

Mar 19, 2017 05:48 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Barbara Todaro nailed this one!

Mar 19, 2017 05:33 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

In one coop I sold in NYC, the tenant who had moved out took all the antique glass door knobs out of the home (we had them recovered).

Mar 19, 2017 04:34 AM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Well, there was the time that I had a listing and sold it quickly and the buyers and their agent were a dream to work with.  Things went so well that the husband seller started cussing me out and saying I did nothing to earn my commission.  He was degrading and I took it and took it and took it right up until the final walk through.  After the walk through a car went through their house.  I managed to keep the deal alive right up to and through to the end of the close of escrow.  The husband seller never said another word, no even I'm sorry.  I still send them my mail outs twenty years later but still no response.  I'm relentless.

Mar 18, 2017 11:20 PM
Ambassador
5,230,113
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Buyer in a fairly nice neighborhood arrived when the moving van was pulling out of the cul-de-sac.  Not thinking anything about it, we leisurely went in through the garage to the kitchen and within a minute or two, the buyer realized that the refrigerator was missing.  As the husband dashed out the door, he instructed his wife to phone the police, give them his number and let them know that he was in pursuit of robbery suspects!  I immediately notified the listing agent, who notified her sellers (who had already signed the documents and left town) and had them notify the movers to return to the house and reinstall the refrigerator.  

The buyer said that by the time he caught up with the moving van, they were turning around to head back to the house!  The police showed up at the house and got a good laugh out of the buyer's pursuit of a slow-moving van line...and the refrigerator was successfuly reinstalled!  

Mar 18, 2017 09:53 PM
Rainmaker
1,617,916
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

the ac went out but fixed it three hours later

Mar 18, 2017 03:20 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Brittany,

No stories, all was well.  A

Mar 18, 2017 02:10 PM