The Blowhard Buyer in the Age of GOOGLE

Realtors run into all kinds of people with all kings of personalities. Sometimes the worst parts of personalities emerge during the process of getting a real estate deal "done".  I have written before about some of the crazy stuff that I did over the years trying to get the better part of any deal I was personally involved in. I mention this up front just so that you know that I know I am not without egotistical sin.

I once had on a listing on a perfect Conch Cottage in Old Town Key West. It was the perfect dream cottage for many would-be buyers. A new agent (who I will call "Joe" called me to set up the showing.  The sellers were away at their other home up north in America so I could show the listing anytime. I Google searched his name and learned he had a Facebook account. I then Facebook - stalked Joe to find out more about him when I discovered he was a full time bartender at a tourist trap bar on Duval Street. There are about 380 licensed Realtors in Key West many of whom have full time jobs doing something that does not involved selling or managing real estate. Joe was one of those agents. And brand new on top of that.


The appointed time arrived. Joe arrived with his prospects. I put on my smiley face and welcomed the buyers and the agent into my listing. I led them from the front of the house to the rear so they could see the money view first - the pool and gardens. This is what all buyers want. I then explained all the things the owners had done since they bought this home. The buyers paid no attention and started falling in love with the idea of owning this place. Nevertheless, I took them through the rest of the house to point out the renovations that were perfectly executed.

Joe called me the nest day and asked asked if his buyers could come back for a second look in the early afternoon. I agreed and met them at the house an hour or so later. All three arrived with cocktails in hand. That's usually not a good sign.  I let them move about the house and stood ready to answer questions.  The man was feeling his alcohol and started to tell me how rich he was. 

The next day Joe the bartender-Realtor sent me a cash offer.  The offer was about ten percent below asking which I felt was way below real consideration. I called Joe to discuss and told him that most house tend to sell between 94 to 96 percent of asking. I didn't know if Joe knew this. He said his guy would go higher and that the buyer expected a counter offer.

I emailed the offer to my sellers and called them at the same time. I remember both my husband and wife sellers were on the phone. He asked questions about price and she asked questions about the buyer and the woman. I told about the man's swagger and self importance. Did I have proof of funds? Was he real? The wife asked how the man treated the woman - were they married?  Did he treat her with respect? They agreed to a counter offer and gave buyer a deadline of the following day to accept.

I called Joe and relayed the offered which I followed up by email. I remember waking up the next morning and not feeling good about what was going on. I GOOGLED the buyer's name and address. The name produced a shocking result - an arrest record in northern Florida. Florida arrest records and photos are available at all county seats across the state. So I looked and found out Mr. Blowhard had been arrested and convicted of Battery.  There was mugshot which proved it was the right man.  And the photo was scary on top of it. I then GOOGLED Mr. Blowhard's street address and found a modest house in a nice neighborhood but certainly not the type of house one would expect the owner to be able to pay about a million bucks in cash for a cottage in Key West.

Not long after I found the arrest record and GOOGLE MAP map info. Almost simultaneously my seller sent me an email with a link to what I had discovered on my own. He quizzed me to ask if I was aware. I called him and said I had discovered the same on my own. Later that day I called Joe the Bartender-Realtor to ask the status of the counter offer. Joe told me that his buyer did not being given a time specific to respond to the counteroffer and decided not to pursue for the time being. I thank Joe but never told him about his customers conviction or unpretentious house up north.

I know a lot of people start conversations with people they meet casually or in business settings by asking 20 questions. I do not like to do that. I try not to do it. I think it is invasive and not professional.  Thank God for GOOGLE.

P.S. I sold my listing at full price to a couple from up north, in America. CASH.  Old Money. Real Money. 

Open House - 812 Johnson Ln, Key West Florida

If you are in Key West and are out and about today after church or after brunch, stop by my Open House at 812 Johnson Lane in Old Town Key West. I have put a GOOGLE MAP just below so that you can find me. The home will be open 12:00 to 2:00 PM.

812 Johnson Lane is actually located three blocks from Duval Street and about one-half block north of Truman Avenue on a single block that begins at Windsor Lane and ends at Packer Street. Most of the cottage style houses on this block date back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Several of the cottages have been renovated including one across the street that merited a Ceramic Star several years ago. This is a quiet little lane near everything, and 812 Johnson Lane is a bright little star on this street.

The front cottage was totally renovated in 2014. All interiors were gutted and replaced. Today there are two new large bedrooms with ample closet space, recessed lighting, crown molding, and new floors. There's a new travertine marble bath and a cute new kitchen complete with new cabinetry, granite counter-tops, and stainless steel appliances. The house is laid out with two bedrooms up front off the main hallway. The open living area is at the rear where beveled glass doors open out to the covered rear porch that overlooks the heated pool that is 5' deep. I mention the depth because size matters to some people.

 

The covered porch looks not only provides shelter from the sun but also provides a comfortable and protected space for poolside dining. You'll be surprised at how much time we Key Westers spend outside - that's a big part of the reason many of left our lives in the frozen north.

There is a second cottage at the far side of the pool. The owner obtained permission to add a bath and laundry to the cottage. There is also an outdoor shower on the back side of the cottage. The lot extends 117 feet from Johnson Lane to the rear property line. That's deep for a property in Old Town. When you look up to the sky you can actually see the sky and sunshine. There are nice trees on the neighboring houses which the neighbors get to take care of. Here, the owner gets to take care of tanning. This property would make an excellent vacation rental!

812 Johnson Lane is offered at $769,000. Please stop by and see me or CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this really cute two cottage buying opportunity. Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1117 Stump Lane - Old Town - Key West

1117 Stump Lane - Key West

 Just listed by Preferred Properties, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 1117 Stump Lane in Old Town Key West.  Budget buyers who are looking for a place they can move right into and do a little bit of fix-up over time or a buyer who wants to do a major renovation ought to take a look at this home.  The listing Realtor described this 1541 sq ft three bedroom two bath house this way:

"Located in the heart of Old Town Key West, on one of the best lanes between Frances and United sits this 3/2. On the ground level there is a living room, dining area, kitchen, bedroom, bath and laundry room. On the second level there are two bedrooms, bath and a large walk in closet. There is enough room in back for a small pool and patio. Just waiting for someones touches."

This is a property that will probably go under contract as soon as you can say "Jumping Jack Flash" because it is priced to sell and there are a lot of buyers who are getting desperate for a deal.   Click on GOOGLE MAP for an aerial perspective of the location and then us the toggle switch to do a GOOGLE WALK down the block. Check out the other homes on this quiet little lane that runs one direction from White Street to the east and ends at Frances Street on the west. Stump Lane is situated between Southard Street to the south and Fleming Street to the north. You'll pass the residence of a famous writer and individuals who are famous to their families and friends.

The lot is 28.5' x 100'. There is room for a pool in the rear.  Right now the back area is pretty much paved concrete plus some ornamental trees. There is no room for off street parking, but that is not a problem for this area as most of the houses on this little lane are single family homes that are owner occupied. There is no commercial activity competing for parking spaces.

I dug into the old shoe box and found a photo taken of the house in 1965. Compare that pic to the one just below which is quite recent. Not much has changed.

1965

2012

  When you walk inside it's almost like taking a step back in time. The interiors have not changed in decades. They worked well for the prior owner. Please take a look.

Yes, the concrete is 'tinted' green!

CLICK HERE to view more photos of this property and CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet. Do not delay on this property. Asking price is just $619,000.  If you would like to see this property or want more information please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.