Q: Our buyer’s agent, standing inches from the front door, was startled as it swung open. As he looked up, the home sellers appeared, greeting us sans face masks. Our buyer’s agent was wearing a face mask, gloves and disposable shoe coverings (“booties”). He was holding the house key that he had just retrieved from the electronic key safe. Our buyer’s agent retreated from the front porch and began removing his booties. As he was securing the house key back in its place, he said we would return another day. Before our buyer’s agent finished speaking, these home sellers started gesturing us into their home. This invitation left us frozen in place; my six-month pregnancy is demonstrably evident, and our buyer’s agent is in a high-risk category. My husband, shaking his head, politely explained that we would be declining their kind invite. The male home seller, appearing agitated, snapped back, “Oh, don’t be silly, come on in, this mask business is nonsense. It’s all about controlling you.” That’s when we said our goodbyes and made a hasty retreat to our cars to finish our tour of homes.
Later, our buyer’s agent explained there was no indication those home sellers would ignore COVID-19 protocols while remaining in their house during showings. Sadly, that property checks all the boxes, such as schools, walkability, floor plan and neighborhood. But we couldn’t leave fast enough, and we will not return. Shouldn’t the seller’s agent on this house alert potential visitors to the situation? And, should we complain about the home sellers and seller’s agent to the brokerage firm or the county health department?
A: You could. But you and your buyer’s agent will be attached to the complaint(s). And should their house fail to sell, which is not unlikely, the home sellers and their seller’s agent will learn that it’s best to vacate the premises — permanently. For decades, I categorized mistakes by home sellers and their agents under “How not to sell a house,” envisioning accidental or purposeful home-selling errors as stacks of “money left on the table.” These home sellers’ minority beliefs and actions will bear the majority of their property’s loss in value.
Questions? Realtor Pat Kapowich is a career-long consumer protection advocate and Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager. 408-245-7700, [email protected] DRE# 00979413 SiliconValleyBroker.com YouTube.com/PatKapowich
