You might think I’m referring to houses when I title this article They Come in All Shapes and Sizes. Of course, houses do come in all shapes and sizes, and I have always loved looking at homes. You never know what you’ll find until you get inside. Sequim certainly has an incredible variety of architectural plans. Some retirees arrive in Sequim with a home design already in hand after years of planning. Others hire a local architect, and still others hire a builder who has home designs they can choose from and customize.
But in this article when I write, “They Come in All Shapes and Sizes,” I’m thinking about unusual homeowners who have listed their homes and who are often present when I show their homes to my buyer clients. Recently I showed a home to a couple from out-of-state. The owners required an appointment and they preferred to be present during the showing. I didn’t mind at all, and neither did my clients. It turned out to be pretty entertaining.
The owner invited us in the side door and through a messy laundry and utility room into an odd shaped room with weird things in it. From there we entered the kitchen. The man gave us the grand tour. They had remodeled the home in many places, and I felt like we were walking through a labyrinthian maze. But here’s what really struck me and my clients as funny. During the tour, the woman told us, “When we first saw this home, it was a disaster. It was dirty and full of spider webs and spiders, but we just fell in love with it.”
It just so happens I hate spiders. So do my clients. We later laughed in disbelief when we reflected on what she had said. Our rhetorical question was, “How could anyone immediately fall in love with a house that was full of spiders?” I guess she had no idea what a turn off that was for my clients.
I showed a builder’s spec home a while back, and it was listed as vacant. I had a lockbox key, so when I arrived with my clients, I opened the lockbox and started to open the door. I had looked inside the home earlier, and I knew there was no furniture in it. It was just built and put on the market. As I swung the door open with my clients close behind me, I suddenly stood facing a young woman wrapped in nothing but a towel. Surprise! Surprise! Apparently, she was the builder’s niece and temporarily sleeping in one of the bedrooms.
This week I’m showing more houses. Can’t wait. You never know what will happen. By the way, I do ring the door bells incessantly now, even for vacant listings.
Last Updated on May 14, 2012 by Chuck Marunde
