Buyers for Midtown asked if I would show them property yesterday afternoon which, as Chris Ann Cleland points out, is a lot more fun than beating your head against the desk after hammering loss mitigators and negotiators all day. The buyers were from out of town and didn't know the Sacramento Midtown area very well, so I decided against suggesting that I drive with them. I drive a roadster, which holds all of two people, so I typically drive with my clients (if there are more than one) or I borrow my husband's car, the oh-so-economical and environmentally friendly Prius.
Driving my husband's car is OK during the day, but I suddenly realized at about dusk that I didn't know how to turn on the headlights. Are they on? Are they off? "I think they are on," said Miss Buyer, "because your dashboard is brighter." I drove around like that for a while before I realized they weren't on. Hey, it's hard to tell at dusk if the headlights are on; it's much easier when it's pitch black.
I suppose they were wondering how they managed to get so lucky as to end up with an agent who couldn't tell if her headlights were illuminated!
Since many of the homes we toured were REOs and / or probates, some had no electricity. If the house did have lights, most of them were burned out. It's a good thing I carry around a portable flashlight in my bag. In one home, I spied a furry ball on the floor. Spotted it with the flashlight. Is it what I think? Stay calm, stay calm, don't freak. I shoved it a little with the toe of my boot. Whew. It wasn't alive nor dead. Just some wad of hair and lint.
Gosh, I just can't get used to the fact that it gets dark so early now. I suppose it could be worse. I could be living in Minnesota or some other state where it's cold and snowing. Sometimes, you've got to count your blessings.
In fact, right now I have to run because Miss Buyer just called to say she wants to buy the house with the scary wad on the floor . . .
Photo: Big Stock Photo
The Short Sale, by Elizabeth Weintraub, coming from Archer Ellison in January 2009
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Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout Sacramento. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. DRE License # 00697006.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available through bookstores everywhere and at Amazon.com.
Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.
The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of Lyon Real Estate.
