Funny (foreign) real estate stories: When all else fails, wing it

___

Published Date 9/4/2024

When it comes to hearing some of the most amusing real estate tales, the U.S. is not the only place where agents ROFL (roll on the floor laughing) about the things that take place when showing or selling homes.

Mediterranean Homes’ Tyler Summerell tells a few stories that took place in Spain. The first is where a Spanish agent was showing a property to a couple interested in buying a vacation home. “As they walked through the house, the agent proudly pointed out the intricate tilework in the kitchen and the stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea,” says Summerell. “But as they made their way to the master bedroom, the agent accidentally walked in on the current owners engaged in an intense argument.”

The agent quickly ushered the couple out of the room and tried to regain his composure, but the damage had already been done, and the potential buyers could not stop laughing at the awkward encounter. Despite the unexpected interruption, the couple ended up buying the property, citing the incident as one of the most memorable moments of their home-buying journey.

Summerell cites another story where an agent was showing a luxury villa to a group of wealthy investors from overseas. “As they toured the property, the agent extolled the virtues of the home's state-of-the-art security system and its panoramic views of the mountains. But just as they were about to step out onto the expansive terrace, a mischievous goat wandered onto the scene and began nibbling on the lush landscaping.” Of course, the investors were terribly entertained as the agent tried to get rid of the goat, all while maintaining his professional demeanor. Despite all this, they made an offer on the property. The goat incident became one of those running jokes the new owners could tell at a moment’s notice, fondly recalling the hilarious moment whenever they visited their new vacation home.

Yet another real estate consultant, showing a beachfront property to a young couple looking to buy their first home in the South of Spain, encountered a group of nudists sunbathing nearby. Hard to keep a straight face on this one, but the agent discreetly steered the couple in the opposite direction, all while trying to ignore the giggles and whispers coming from the nudist group. Luckily, the couple found the whole situation hilarious.

One Costa del Sol agent forgot the keys to the property he was about to show, so he started looking for an open window and found a tiny toilet window. He began to scale the wall while standing on a wobbly wooden chair when he heard a cough from behind him. It was the young couple who had just arrived to see the house. “There I was, hanging out of the window like a confused burglar,” he said, according to Summerell. “With no other choice, I had to embarrassingly explain my predicament and ask for their help. It was not the first impression I was hoping to make. But hey, all's well that ends well. They loved the house, put down a deposit the next day, and are now the proud owners. It still puts a smile on my face every time I drive past that property.”

From awkward encounters with current homeowners to unexpected visitors like goats and nudists, one must offer kudos to the agent, who never fails to maintain their professionalism and sense of humor in the face of adversity.

MediterraneanHomes, TBWS

All information furnished has been forwarded to you and is provided by thetbwsgroup only for informational purposes. Forecasting shall be considered as events which may be expected but not guaranteed. Neither the forwarding party and/or company nor thetbwsgroup assume any responsibility to any person who relies on information or forecasting contained in this report and disclaims all liability in respect to decisions or actions, or lack thereof based on any or all of the contents of this report.

“Equal Housing Lender. NEXA Mortgage, LLC NMLS 1660690. I am a licensed mortgage originator, NMLS # 630337, and licensed to originate mortgage loans in the state of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas. To learn more, visit my NEXA Mortgage website at http://lillianwong.net."