May divorce be with you
Back in the late 80's I
was called by a middle aged couple who had lived in
rentals all their lives but were ready to take the
plunge and finally buy. The wife had been appointed
to a high position in the city government and
purchasing had become financially feasible. It was a
big deal for them and their looking style could best
be described as ultra-meticulous. As is often my
method, I had them invite me to see their present
home to get a sense of their personal aesthetic. It
really helps in the matchmaking process. They had
accumulated few possessions but did have two
adorable, but elderly, dachshunds who were clearly
"their children" and the most important things in
their lives.
After establishing their parameters I found an apartment on West 10th Street which I thought would work well. They made their usual thorough inspection--even looking inside the refrigerator. After we left they turned to me and said "Leigh, it's wonderful. We don't have to make any changes, it's perfect just the way it is." I said that was terrific and they should make an offer. They said yes but they didn't think I understood, they liked it just the way it was. I said yes, I understood. They said no they didn't think so, "We wanted it EXACTLY the way it is": they wanted all the furniture, they wanted all the art work, the curtains, the blinds, the wine rack, the wine in the wine rack, all the dishes, the silverware, everything, only the clothes in the closets were spared. This, I figured, was going to be a big problem. I'd been showing this apartment for a few weeks. It was owned by a young couple. Sometimes the husband would be there, and sometimes the wife, but never together. This last time it was the husband and I returned to the apartment to give him the buyers' offer and their very unusual stipulations. I was totally surprised when he said this was a good offer and probably not a problem--he would talk to his wife and get back to me. The next day I heard from them and they had accepted the whole package. Apparently, the sellers were in the midst of a very hostile divorce and neither was interested in keeping anything from their shared life together, so the deal was struck. The sad conclusion to this story is that when the buyers went for their board interview, an obnoxious board member turned to them about 10 minutes into the interview and said "I see here that you have 2 dogs, well, you can keep one of them but you'll have to do away with the other." The wife burst into tears and they walked out of the interview and, of course, were turned down. Bad board behavior, I say; and not the last I'd see.
After establishing their parameters I found an apartment on West 10th Street which I thought would work well. They made their usual thorough inspection--even looking inside the refrigerator. After we left they turned to me and said "Leigh, it's wonderful. We don't have to make any changes, it's perfect just the way it is." I said that was terrific and they should make an offer. They said yes but they didn't think I understood, they liked it just the way it was. I said yes, I understood. They said no they didn't think so, "We wanted it EXACTLY the way it is": they wanted all the furniture, they wanted all the art work, the curtains, the blinds, the wine rack, the wine in the wine rack, all the dishes, the silverware, everything, only the clothes in the closets were spared. This, I figured, was going to be a big problem. I'd been showing this apartment for a few weeks. It was owned by a young couple. Sometimes the husband would be there, and sometimes the wife, but never together. This last time it was the husband and I returned to the apartment to give him the buyers' offer and their very unusual stipulations. I was totally surprised when he said this was a good offer and probably not a problem--he would talk to his wife and get back to me. The next day I heard from them and they had accepted the whole package. Apparently, the sellers were in the midst of a very hostile divorce and neither was interested in keeping anything from their shared life together, so the deal was struck. The sad conclusion to this story is that when the buyers went for their board interview, an obnoxious board member turned to them about 10 minutes into the interview and said "I see here that you have 2 dogs, well, you can keep one of them but you'll have to do away with the other." The wife burst into tears and they walked out of the interview and, of course, were turned down. Bad board behavior, I say; and not the last I'd see.
