My Broker-Pal, Good-Old-Dennis called me almost collapsing with laughter the other day. He knew I'd love his latest great real estate story about an old B& B his client was considering.
Like you and me, he gets his fair share of questions but what he told me just made my day...so I just had to share it with Y'All .. . .
It seems that Dennis had received an email from a relocating client that had him shaking his head. It read:
Dear Dennis,
I like this property very much. It could be almost perfect. But I need to ask a few questions please:
1. Is this property next to a railroad track?
2. How many owners have had this B&B?
3. Who owns the property above it? Is there a graveyard up there?
4. Are the current owners willing to remove the old car in the back yard?
5. I know it is at 4,000 feet elevation, but has it ever flooded?
6. Are there ghosts in the building?
You don't know Good-Old -Dennis, but I can tell you, he is a Trooper with a capital "T"! (You'd have to be with four boys under the age of 6.) Dennis was on it. He could answer #1-5 with ease. In fact, he already knew those answers. But...ghosts?
Now, I don't know about you, but I've seen some places that could make a person shiver. I've heard some pretty eerie sounds in the old mansions around Asheville. And I've imagined what it would be like to step over an unwelcoming threshold, all of which contain elements of great real estate stories within them. But I've never confronted a ghost...nor been asked to be a ghost confirmer... Dennis inadvertently had joined an exclusive club of the greatest real estate stories ever told!
What to do. What to do?
Dennis called the Listing Agent. He explained that his client seemed mightily attracted to her listing...of course with the exception of the old car. Possibly they would have forward movement ...but there was just one small matter ... He paused. There was, as he described it "...a weird, pregnant silence in the air..." . He took a deep breath, a very deep breath... and got on with it, fully expecting gales of laughter .....
"Say," he asked in as diplomatic a tone as he could muster, " I wonder if you happen to know, or if you could confirm for me.... are there any ghosts in there?"
Now here's the greatest real estate story part... (and for my friends over at the ECO-All Stars Group, true proof of dedicated stewardship, wouldn't you say? )
"Oh, Yes!" without hesitation the Agent replied in a solemn tone, " There a little girl that likes to turn the water on at the kitchen sink, and giggle...and there's a surly old guy that hangs out upstairs...and a young boy that likes to get behind the wheel of that old car, and a couple of others, I've been told...although I cannot say for sure..."
"But none of the ghosts has ever seemed dangerous, so I really didn't think it was a material fact.. . ."
Don't you just love the stories we get to be a part of every day?
PS///I'm posting this to "Senior Issues" =)
That's definitely funny :)
Jonelle Simons
Windermere Real Estate - Park City
http://www.jparkcity.com
Hi janeAnne - oh what stories we can share, huh? We used to have 'supernatural forces' or something like that on our disclosures, but that was removed a few years ago. How does one actually measure that anyway? Some are more susceptible and open to those and may experience supernatural things that those who are closed to their existence never experience. So..........
Ann
janeAnne, UNBELIEVBLE! Well, I've heard that people will pay big bucks to stay in 'haunted' places. Did his potential client look at the ghosts as a positive or negative?
That's too funny.
Jim~
Absolutely...Nothing like a little "uncommon" entertainment to attract a crowd...and I would like to add that many B&B visitors seem to enjoy ghost tales (if not genuine encounters) ...Have you ever run into one as you visit places?
Sally~
Right on...maybe it has something to do with the fact that they lived right here in the beautiful mountains near Asheville...the "Happiest City in the USA"...what do ya' think?? I bet y'all have pleanty of happy ghosts running around there in HA>
Jonelle~
I think it's funny, too. And it feels good to have some levity (pardon the pun) at times when the practice of real estate can be challenging. I love great real estate stories with uplifting vibes. . . ~^~
Ann~
It is interesting to me that you had " 'supernatural forces' or something like that on your disclosures. !! I wonder why this item was removed ...Good point: How does one actually measure that anyway? And you are so right...there are those of us who are more "attuned" to certain spectres...mostly vegetarians I've heard tell ..(LOL)
Stephanie~
I'm not sure how his clients responded. I will find out and let y'all know! Maybe I'll even drive by and see if I can grab a photo of one of them... (the ghosts that is) =)
Joni~
I'll get back with you on the desirability of uncommon spirits around the house and Good-Old-Dennis' clients... Now tell me one of your ghost stories...I bet you have a batch of them up there in your neck o' the woods!
janeAnne, I'll have to write a post about the creepiest experience I ever had on a listing appt. I would not even stay inside the home to visit with the seller...a discussion that lasted all of about 3 minutes before I got in my car and booked it home.
I would love to hear if his clients actually wanted ghosts or not. That's sure to open an amazing conversation here on AR. :)
janeAnne, This could add value to the home if he marketed it to the right corwd.. And yes, it would be great if you could go and try to catch some photos of the friendly ghosts!
janeAnne, One of the most exclusive hotels in our area is haunted. The Hotel del Coronado has a ghost that "lives" in one of the rooms. If you want to stay in that room you have to pay extra and the hotel is already expensive.
Bill Roberts
I have one question. Is the presence of a source point haunting a material fact?
Source point refers to contamination, however, the term seems to be appropriate here.
Boo!
John Thomas
You will have to give us an update on whether the person buys the haunted B&B. Sounds like he may have a lot of help.
I love it! And the ghosts sound absolutely delightful - they should be featured as a selling point. ;-)