If you are over 25 years old, I’m pretty sure you have worked with at least one real estate agent at some point in your life, and if you’ve had experience with more than one agent, you’ve found that picking the right agent can make a huge difference. I have been representing both buyers and sellers for over 25 years and have worked with great, and not so great, agents.
As an example, in the “not so great” category, I recently saw some seriously flawed real estate listing blunders worth sharing. Do you want to buy a “Charmin Santa Monica Home. Neer beach, Fwy. Shopping mol. School, Restorant”? Or how about one with “New garnet counter” and “Three badrooms”?
Along with funny spelling mistakes, sometimes showing property is hysterical.
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Years ago we had a distressed listing on Berkeley that featured a large Koi pond off the patio and a gazebo at the very top of the sloped lot. The house had been vacant for a time before we began marketing it. At this particular showing when we got to the backyard my assistant began speaking about the ocean views from the gazebo above. The Buyer’s agent strolled right up to the edge of the Koi pond stopped at the rock edge and began “helicoptering” his arms as if joking about falling in…only it wasn’t a joke! The very next moment he was in the middle of a full belly flop right into the stagnant pond water. He went completely under! He shot up and out and while spitting out water, began unloading his pockets- wet phone- check, soaked wallet- check, dripping Mercedes key fob- check, bleeding hand- double check. His poor client was speechless, and honestly so were we. To make matters worse, the house was vacant and staged, meaning there were no cloths to borrow. After a quick and I am sure embarrassing shower, we were lining his car seats in fluffy white stager’s towels and off he went. Days later I arrived to show the house and on the doorstep found a trash bag full of smelly pond water towels. I can’t help but think of that showing every time I tour clients near any sort of water.
Crappy situation:
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Another time we were showing a property and while the buyers were strolling in the backyard one of them stepped in dog poop. The buyer and we were unaware of this until he came back through the home and tracked poop all through the carpeted floors. The buyer’s agent noticed and felt terrible. Once the buyer was gone and with the help of the buyer’s agent we got the mess cleaned up.
Here are a few other fun real estate blunders recently featured on the Ellen Show.
Here is your up to the minute real estate market info:
Painfully slow start to 2014:
There are only fourteen homes available to buy North of Montana Ave with 425 12th St and 724 San Vicente Blvd hitting the market in the last week. There are nine homes in escrow. Closed sales remain at eight homes year-to-date same as last week. Agents are clamoring for inventory to sell as there seem to be many B properties priced at A pricing.
New Listings this Week
537 Lincoln Blvd. - 5bd + 5ba. $3,988,000. Built in 2004. Mediterranean over 4,200+ sq. ft. Shows beautifully, elegant living room, outdoor patio. Lovely guest suite w/high ceilings. Last sold in August 2006 for $3,400,000. Lincoln sometimes sells at a discount for the misperception of a busy commercial street so this sale will be interesting.
425 12th St. - 6bd + 6ba. $3,595,000. Renovated and upgraded in 2007. Features professionally designed Chef’s kitchen, huge family room, large secluded grassy yard w/bbq area, spa, beautiful master suite. Last sold in July 1999 for $1,275,010. The floor plan is unique and the garage is a 1-car and the house is priced accordingly.
724 San Vicente Blvd. - 4bd + 4ba. $2,395,000. Charming 4bd + 4ba home. Remodel or build new. This home has living room w/fireplace and picture windows, formal dining, den, eat-in kitchen. Close to Ocean Ave and the beach.
New Sales this Week
309 21st Pl. - 4bd + 3.5ba. $3,549,000. Last sold in September 1994 for $349,000. Remodeled Cape Cod home. Took a few months to go under contract again after falling out of escrow once.
452 21st Pl. - 2bd + 2ba. $2,678,000. Unique 9,000+ sq. ft. (usually they are 8,949). There were many offers on this and the seller opted to go with not the highest offer but rather the best terms. It is under contract for just under $3 million. Last sold in November 1988 for $900,000.
No Closed Deals this Week
Pence Hathorn Silver Active Properties:
2009 La Mesa – 6bd + 8ba - $18,900,000
502 16th St. – 5bd + 7.5ba - $8,495,000
6415 Meadows Court – 6bd + 7ba - $5,995,000
601 17th St. – 5bd + 6ba - $4,495,000
728 25th St. – 5bd + 6.5ba - $4,595,000
1014 Berkeley St. – 3bd + 1.75ba - $1,895,000
416 Entrada Dr. – 3bd + 1.75ba - $1,575,000
Search for more homes, see real time analytics and learn about the North Santa Monica / North of Montana Ave. community on our North of Montana blog. Add your comments (scroll down to the “Add Your Comment” section) and read other blogs. And please call my mobile phone (310) 924-4014 with any questions.
