In the Trenches captures the odd and funny incidents that invariably happen in real estate. Here are just a few of the memorable stories real estate professionals all across the country submitted in 2006. Don't forget to submit your own funny story for 2007!

January: Best Laughs of 2006

Give Thanks to Proofreaders

As a listing coordinator for a large real estate team in Atlanta, one of my responsibilities was to create flyers for each home that was listed. For one particular property, priced in the high $600,000s, I created a very detailed flyer with descriptions and pictures of the many upgrades and special features. In describing the kitchen area, I gave special mention to the “two butler’s panties” located in the rear area of the gourmet kitchen. Fortunately, I always have one of my coworkers proofread my work before it leaves the office!

— Kathy Harrington, business coach with Metro Brokers/GMAC in Atlanta

An Innocent Question

While previewing waterfront homes for out-of-town clients, I called to make an appointment with the owner of one of homes. The listing identified the owner’s first name as “Gay,” and the answering machine had the message: “Hi, this is Gay. Please leave a message after the tone.” I left a message and proceeded to preview the home.

Two days later, I called back to set the showing appointment and received the same message. While the prospective buyers were looking at the home, I noticed photos of an attractive blonde woman that I assumed was the owner, Gay. We concluded the showing and were standing in the street in front of the home discussing how wonderful it was. I looked up the street and saw an attractive blonde woman riding in a brand new golf cart. In mere seconds, I deduced that this was the owner. I said to the buyers, “Here she comes!”

As the woman approached, smiling at us, I called out loudly, “Are you Gay?” She yelled, “No!” and pushed down on the accelerator of her golf cart. It took me about 30 seconds to realize what had happened. I only wish I could have explained.

— John R. Johnson, e-PRO, a sales associate with Tarbell, REALTORS®, in Temecula Valley, Calif.

The Disappearing Two-Flat

I had an appointment to show a vacant brick two-flat in a fast-appreciating area of Chicago. I met the client on a Friday and showed him the property, and he said he would like his partner to see it on Monday. When I returned on Monday, the partner was already there walking around the front of the property. When I walked over to him, he asked, “Where’s the house?”

To my amazement, the house was gone. All that was left was the foundation. I called the police, and when the police officers arrived, they said it wasn’t unusual for someone to come by with a bulldozer and level the house and haul away the bricks to resell.

My parting comment to the client was, “I guess you don't want to buy it?” Ironically, the property sold for more than asking price as a vacant lot three months later.

— Chuck Stuparits, a sales associate with Imagine Realty in Oak Brook, Ill.

I Thought It Was Your Dog!

During my first year “in the trenches,” I was working with a family that included three young, energetic boys. As the boys ran around the home and the yard, a small dog tagged along. The dog played for a few minutes with the kids and then jumped onto the sofa and promptly went to sleep.

I showed the buyers around the home for about 45 minutes longer, and when everyone was ready to go I tried to pick up the dog and put him in the back yard, where I assumed he belonged. But he growled at me and looked irritated at being disturbed, so I left him there on the couch where he looked right at home. I locked up and went on to the next house.

About 5 minutes later, my phone rang. On the other end was an irate lady who lived at the home we just visited. “Whose dog did you leave in my house?” she shouted. All I could say was “Yours?” Obviously, I was wrong! It turned out that the dog belonged to a neighbor one street over.

— Missy Horst, Coldwell Banker Graham & Associates, Madison, Miss.

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