I can smile now.
The seller that left but didn't move out -
I have had many funny things happen to me in my Seattle real estate career so far, though at the time they were not so comical. It is good to look back and laugh now, but I always try to take something from each experience. My very first transaction was very smooth until after close. My buyer was to get possession of the cute little Seattle house three days after close. What she got was a lot more than she bargained for!
It turned out that the seller decided to take her money at close and hop a plane. She literally took her money, put it in the bank, and left the state. The Northgate neighborhood Seattle house was left in a state of abandonment - everything was just as she left it when she went to work that day. Her clothing was in the closet and her food was in the fridge.
My buyer was as inexperienced as I was at real estate at the time and decided that I was not properly representing her by not supervising while the seller moved out. It took a lot of work on my part to convince her otherwise. I managed to convince the listing agent that I needed some assistance getting the house to a livable condition and all ended fine. The seller decided that moving was a hassle and never came back for her stuff! She just left Seattle!!! How weird! Not so, though, as I have heard of this happening again a few times since then.
Do you watch the sellers move out when you are representing a buyer? I know I have hired housekeepers and even done some gardening to make a house shine for my buyers when they get the keys. I want it all to be perfect for them! I know I go over and beyond for my buyers and maybe that first experience was a huge contributing factor!
Do you have any stories that have changed the way you do business? I think every transaction shapes my business somewhat!
Courtney CooperFor all your Seattle Washington real estate needs... courtney@courtneycooper.com
Courtney Cooper
Seattle Realtor, Owner/Designated Broker/EcoBroker
Cooper Jacobs Real Estate
206-850-8841
(Seattle real estate - search all MLS listings from all companies for FREE), SeattleAfloat.com (Seattle Houseboats), GreenLakeLoop.com (Green Lake Blog), QueenAnneBoulevard.com (Queen Anne Blog), MagnoliaView.com (Magnolia Neighborhood Blog)
About Me:
Seattle real estate has been a big part of my life for well over a decade since I began my career in real estate,but also before that time when I was in the process of purchasing my own first home. Buying your first home can be quite overwhelming,but I have managed to help many first time home buyers along the way.
Move up Seattle buyers and other types of specialized purchasing is a great passion of mine! I love Seattle houseboats and you can find me down on the docks of Lake Union and Portage Bay several times a week. Other aspects of Seattle real estate that I adore include Queen Anne Real Estate,Wallingford Real Estate, Ballard Real Estate, Green Lake Real Estate, Laurelhurst Real Estate, Magnolia Real Estate,andSeattle Waterfront Real Estate.
In addition to being a Seattle residential broker and founder of Cooper Jacobs & Seattle Afloat, I am also a member of CBA (Commercial Brokers Association) and head of the Cooper Jacobs Commercial Division in an effort to provide excellent commercial real estate services to the Seattle commercial real estate industry. With a background in accounting and management, it is my great pleasure to coordinate our Seattle commercial brokers.
About Cooper Jacobs Real Estate's Seattle Branch:
My office at Cooper Jacobs Real Estate LLC is located centrally near all my favorite Puget Sound neighborhoods just a few blocks up from Lake Union in Seattle’s Wallingford. Cooper Jacobs Real Estate is a wonderful place filled with talented Seattle real estate brokers and I count myself extremely lucky that I get to spend so much time with these wonderful people. We specialize in different Seattle neighborhoods and suburbs in both residential and commercial real estate and are all very passionate and excited about each of our favorite Seattle neighborhoods and industries!
©Courtney Cooper ©Cooper Jacobs Real Estate LLC
