This may sound like admonishment from your Mother, but it's really a warning for those of you showing distress sales to buyers. Don't open that refrigerator.
I learned the hard way, and a showing today brought home the lesson loud and clear once again.
I was taking new buyers around short sales last year in San Marcos, CA - fortunately he was the son of our good friends and neighbors, who were also present, so we all had a good laugh. Well, more of a gag.
The home was beautiful, practically new, with gorgeous kitchen and stainless appliances. And a fabulous price. Who would have thought such an attractive scene could harbor such, well, not sure what to call it.
I have a habit, a bad one I suppose, of opening the refrigerator, the dishwasher, and cabinet doors in vacant homes. And I did here as well. Hopefully you are not eating right now, for the smell that emerged from that innocent looking refrigerator was beyond description. Truly. And of course it permeated the house (it was a warm day) within seconds, so the remainder of the house tour was a tad bit shorter, accompanied by lots of laughing, gagging, and ribald comments, and a continuous reminder of the toxic mess left behind. I pity the next bloke who opened that door.
Lesson learned...DO NOT OPEN A REFRIGERATOR DOOR IN A SHORT SALE, FORECLOSURE OR REO.
I was reminded of this today, where thankfully I headed the silent warning to myself. This time, however, the refrigerator was clearly full of something that had gone beyond a simple science experiment and was leaking out on to the floor and...well, nuff said. A clear warning to NOT open that door.
Too bad I did not have my camera with me to show you the floor in front of that frig. I won't go into a description for fear of insulting your sensibilities. It was perhaps the worst refrigerator scene I have witnessed.The bank will need the EPA on this one.
Should there be warning in the MLS listing?
Or maybe a prudent and thoughtful agent should post a notice on the door ‘WARNING, Hazards may exist within. Proceed at your own risk"
All kidding aside, there are homes out there that possibly contain toxic hazards, or certainly unhealthy conditions (e.g., swimming pools, dishwashers, sinks, toilets, dirty carpets) and it pays to be careful. Truly bad smells don't arise innocently.
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All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits
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