There are oodles of “don’t do this” and “be sure to do that” lists available on the net for real estate advice but I thought I would rack my brain of 25+ years of real estate experience for a few ‘non-traditional’ experiences I have had. Everything you are about to read is true. You just can’t make this stuff up!

My very first real estate transaction was a single family home I sold on Christmas Eve to a woman police officer in my home town.  She also had a great sense of humor! After days of successful negotiations the contract was signed and she was going to drop it off to me — on New Year’s Eve.  We were at a New Years Eve Party at a friends house and she drove up in the Police car with lights flashing in full uniform. There were a lot of very surprised faces when she asked for me.  They said later I would do anything to sell a house.

How true.  When we got to the closing of my second real estate transaction my buyer just happened to work for his Dad’s home fuel oil company.  It is tradition that when you have your home fueled by oil and it is sold, the seller usually tops off the tank, brings the receipt to the closing and the buyer reimburses the seller for a full tank of oil. 250 gallons at whatever the rate was at that time can be significant.  We had completed all the paperwork and when the buyer saw the oil receipt he said he could get the oil at a cheaper price and refused to pay the bill. He wanted the seller to have the tank pumped out so he could fill it for less! After much haggling I finally asked the buyer to find out what the reasonable price that he would pay would be. I pulled out my check book and wrote a check for the difference: $49.00.

What is a bank check?  My Asian buyers took many months to find their perfect home and they were so excited! Because the learning curve can be steep and I consider myself to be pro active.  I walked them through every step of the way so they would be comfortable with the buying process and the closing process. I reminded them their attorney would require them to bring bank checks to the closing for all their closing costs.  We get to the closing, complete all the paperwork and they pull out their personal check book.  A surprised attorney turned to me and then said to them he needed BANK checks.  They said “These ARE bank checks — from my bank!” The closing was delayed while they went to the bank for bank checks which are Cashiers checks or certified checks.  Your personal checks are not bank checks!

Check back later for more experiences that shouldn’t have to happen to you!

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