Valerie's Belfair WA Real Estate Blog: I love a good mystery but would rather not be part of one....

I really do love a good mystery, but I would really rather leave the mystery out of my showings!

I have spent the last week showing Hood Canal and Puget Sound Waterfront Homes for sale to clients. Waterfront properties and homes are one of my niches and I love walking through the many unique choices along the waterfront and their pristine settings, finding just the right one that fits a certain buyer. 

And I thought I had found just the right one right up until I went back to the house the 2nd time. 

I previewed the home last week. I wanted to just re-check what I remembered before I took my buyers to the home. I happened to take my partner with me (glad I did) for his opinion too.

We drove right past the house figuring we'd see the sign so we were not paying attention in detail to the house numbers. No HOME FOR SALE"sign anywhere. No remnants of one either. Hmmmm doesn't say anything about not having a sign in the MLS. Okay fine no prob.

We find the lockbox (okay so it does have an agent somewhere)...We enter the home immediately looking for a light switch. Found it!  but no lights.....~~sigh~~ Doesn't say "POWER OFF" in the MLS either....ok no prob.

The living room is fairly bright with a wall of view windows that let in lots of natural light. Beautiful view. I wander to the first bedroom which is very dark and as my eyes adjust, I am thinking - "something is wrong here..." I call my partner and he looks - something is wrong... All the drawers are open from what we can see and their contents are spewed all over the floor.

But its hard to see... Was the homeowner just having a bad day? Or is this how they keep house? hmmm... The rest of the home seems to be neat as a pin. We keep looking around and head towards the bathroom. UH OH  the sliding window is pushed in.... Has someone tried to and made their way into the house? Nahhhh that window is PRETTY  darn small..Or is it because it is an old home and needs repair? hmmm curious....

We leave and call the listing agent. Goes right to his voice-mail. No prob we leave a message telling him that we were at the house and our concerns and to please call us back.

He never calls back. Sunday I leave a message for him again because I would like to show the house but would like to know if electricity is off and/or why its not noted in the MLS if it is. Maybe they do not know it is off.  No call back.

 Monday I call again because I am showing it the next day and really want to know the agent is aware of the concerns that we had on our previous visit. No call back. grrrrr.... ok no prob.

Today - I show the home. no sign, no power, the front door is unlocked and now the entire HOUSE has been ransacked.

And if you don't think that didn't give me chills and goosebumps up and down my spine!!!!! I directed my client OUT OF THE HOUSE not knowing if someone were still there....trying to be calm, cool and collected (I couldn't get out of there fast enough).

I immediately called the agent determined to talk with them this time or someone -even if I had to go to the seller and/or the sheriff....   no answer. no callback.  Was I being paranoid and maybe the seller just has a little anger management problem??

As well as it giving myself and my buyer the creepy crawly willey's, it made me really wonder too about when was the last time the listing agent had been out to the home?

Mrs./Ms./Mr. Listing Agent when was the last time you were out to the waterfront home you have for sale? And why have you not contacted me for feedback for your seller?? I've been there 3 times - but I'll go ahead and tell you now.. ~~SIGH~~ My buyer has decided to pass on this one....Guess first impressions really do make a difference...

I hope you have received my messages and the mystery has been solved as to what has happened or not happened in your listing!