Agents Recall the Headache of a Fragile-as-Glass Home for Sale

It was a studio duplex in NoHo and the proprietor was a buddy. The apartment was on the sector for a few months because it was so distinct. It was about the leading: marble flooring, a lavatory with a frosted-glass wall, customized-developed carved-wooden cupboards. My buddy, his flavor degree is extremely variety of Liberace-ish. Just picture another person walking down the street in floral denims and a floral shirt and a ton of jewelry—not in Miami, New York Metropolis. He experienced gotten married and the partner hated the area. Each working day that studio did not sell, I was remaining hated far more and more.

My friend had this magnificent glassware on open shelves, all antique signed Tiffany items: wine eyeglasses, water glasses, champagne glasses, goblets with twisting Florentine stems. They were being all his grandmother’s. He experienced them appraised and they were being truly worth $20,000. Ahead of the open up household, I explained, “Maybe we need to take this glass off the shelves in which another person could get to their hand out and decide on a person up, and set it in this kitchen cupboard in which it will be risk-free.”  

In the course of the open up household, this youthful Wall Road man will come in with his broker, carrying a Starbucks and he has a authentic mindset. I have a further few there in their 50s who pull me aside, indicating, “We will need to chat to you, we want to give you an offer.” Then we all hear this crash. I transform all around and see the dude with the espresso cup has ripped the complete cupboard off the wall. My friend’s Tiffany glassware is all crashed on the ground in tens of millions of items. The person is however keeping the cup in his hand. He suggests, “I could not find the doorway to this cabinet.” He was pulling on the front, making an attempt so difficult to open up it, he pulled the total cabinet off the wall.

I wanted to cry. I was the one liable for putting the glass in this cabinet. As a listing broker, you are accountable for everything that happens at an open up dwelling. 

The kid says, “Oh well,” and heads correct out the door—bye-bye, see you regular Wall Streeter earning much too a great deal revenue.

Meanwhile, the more mature couple receives on the floor and aids me choose up the glass. When they are on their arms and knees, they make an all-cash provide on the house—full check with.

I identified as my mate and explained, “Do you want the great information or the negative news? I got you an give, all hard cash, comprehensive check with, ready to close.”

He claimed, “OK, give me the undesirable information.”

I claimed, “You know your grandmother’s Tiffany glassware? It’s long gone, shattered.”

He reported, “Oh, thank God. I hated that goddamn glass and I didn’t want to have to shift it yet again.” 

AnneMarie Tamis-Nasello

Associate serious-estate broker, Triplemint, New York City 

It was a 3-bedroom apartment with a patio in Lengthy Island City, priced at about $1.8 million. All the things was extremely significant high-quality and highly-priced. The sellers had been seriously picky about their home, so obsessive about cleanliness and perfection. You did not dare wander in there with shoes on you had to have building booties on. And they experienced these video clip cameras just about everywhere, like a nanny cam but all in excess of the apartment. When I handled the open homes, I’m certain they viewed.

The apartment was not marketing. I decided it would be a good concept to have this excellent wine-tasting event and use the wonderful patio. I bought all this wine and champagne and treats and things. I had everything elegantly established up. The owner place out her finest crystal for the wine tasting—beautiful champagne flutes. She is all about perfection and model and elegance, and God forbid we deliver plastic cups into her household.

I was really anxious because I experienced completed a whole lot of advertising for this event and I was not getting a great deal of response. I experienced a sixth feeling it wasn’t going to get a big turnout, and that was earning me even far more anxious. I went to set some bottles to chill in the refrigerator, shifting a little something above, and the whole shelf fell out. A h2o-filter pitcher that was in there shattered into hundreds of items, spilling water everywhere you go. 

I was equipped to set the fridge shelf again in put, but then I have received this broken h2o filter I’ve received to swap before the sellers occur house. I’m looking it up on-line and contacting my husband frantically. In the meantime, people today are starting to ring the bell for the open up residence.

I was definitely thrilled my husband was able to obtain that h2o filter before the sellers came again.  

I advised the sellers what happened and apologized profusely. They have been charming and gracious. I was far too embarrassed to check with if they had viewed me on digicam. It wasn’t a great turnout by the way, but all’s perfectly that ends nicely. The condo finished up marketing at a file rate for that building.

–Edited from interviews