Turns our I AM the bad neighbor!!

Why would she shoot herself in the foot like that? Why did she not want this couple to buy this property? There are other ways of disclosing "problems" with a property. She could have simply said that the area is zoned agricultural, so if they wanted to have sheep or chickens they could.

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Nothing is as strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength - St. Francis de Sales

That is the part of the conversation that would really get my dander up. I'm afraid I'd have to let the agent know that I knew exactly what she was saying about me and my finances. I'd also let her boss know. It only takes one agent that likes to gossip to give a realty office a bad name.

LMAO!!! I like that idea!

I don't think it's a big deal, possibly the realtor wants their client to drop the price so the realtor can pick it up. Either way, the person going in will have foreknowledge of what you do and can't rightly complain afterwards.

I think I would be very direct and go to the RE office to speak with her in front of her coworkers. I would have to remind her that for a business that is built on word of mouth and good public relations, badmouthing and being gossipy are two of the most surefire ways to lose business. I can't stand that kind of pettiness. Ick.

I'm with the camp that says to leave it be. She isn't being very smart by badmouthing you. That's like saying, "And the next house we'll be viewing is a real dump." or "And people keep getting murdered in this house but I think it's perfect for you." Don't they earn their living by selling, rather than just showing, property?

At least you know if she manages to sell it, it will be to somone who understands. That'll cause you less problems in the long run.

/VM

If you can use your column, do it, but do it with class! If not, be certain the her boss knows and also the broker and the property owners should be made aware of her unprofessional behavior!

Goodness, talk about open mouth, insert footitis.

Use your writing, but do it smart. Something funny about the joys of living next door to 'country' neighbors. You never have to mention her, but she would get the point.

Wow, what a stupid realtor. I would just talk to the owner of the lot and ask them if they know that their realtor isn't really intersted in selling their property apparently.

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I agree -do nothing. Her bad mouthing you will keep the lot next door empty - not a bad thing if you ask me.

Welllll, sounds like she's doing you a favor. She's going to make sure nobody buys the property so you won't have any new neighbors there to deal with.

It took me a long time to come around to the best way of thinking.

Elenor Roosevelt said, " What other people think of me is none of my business."

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"be like a turtle; at peace in your own shell."

I wonder if the owner of the property for sale knows she is trying to make it look undesirable?

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Don't think of it as being outnumbered, think of it as a wide target
selection.

Yeah, that was my point...

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Truthfully, I think this is the funniest thing I've heard in a long time... and also sort of scary. Does she know something about our property... like we're being specially singled out in some sort of appraisal or code inspection sort of way that would make it "too expensive" for us to live here? Are we in for a very unpleasant surprise in a few weeks?

Or is she just making an assumption based on our "lifestyle" (such as it is)?

If she is making an assumption... now then... when we DON'T up and leave in a "reasonable" period of time, wouldn't that make her liable for selling the property under false pretenses (the bad neighbors will be leaving soon)?

But seriously, isn't this just the funniest thing you've ever heard an agent say? Right up there with "you only really notice the dump when the wind blows from that direction..."

Yea, sure...

But now I'm feeling paranoid. Like the real estate agents have had a plan to grab property all along... just like some people suspected...

eeep.

help.

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Icelandic Sheep and German Angora Rabbits

Welllll, I guess I am just reactional. This is a realtor who is making unflattering remarks about someone's finances and that someone is in a way a public figure. Can someone say slander???? Were it me, I would absolutely go into the realtor's office. I would request a meeting with the manager/owner immediately as well as the realtor with the loose lips. I would inform them on no uncertain terms, after letting them know who you are, that the realtor was WAY out of line. I would inform them that first of all, your finances are none of her business, and that her making remarks like that could have some real legal ramifications!!!! I mean, how would they feel if you "cleared the air" in your column disclosing their business to the public like she did? Of course that would be the wrong thing to do, but pointing it out to them will let them know how wrong she was. Will it get her in trouble? Probably, but any 2 year old has enough sense not to make remarks like that and she deserves it and you will be doing the company a huge favor and save them from a lawsuit from someone else she does it to.

As much fun as it would be to get the agent in trouble, they sound like the type of person who would flat out deny it, even if you showed them a videotape...."no, that's not me... that's not my car... not my voice..." Going to their office with 'heresay' is a waste of time IMHO.

If you want to feel better and still keep good karma among the neighborhood, just call the owner of the property next door. Tell him that the renter behind you was interested in his property, but really got a wierd feeling because your real estate agent was carrying on about the neighbors and property values and such. Don't tell him exactly what the agent said, let curiosity do its work.

Then tell him that you were told this first hand by the renters, but you might want to give them a call directly to see if they were still interested in his property.

Guarantee he will make the call, and it will come up in conversation what the realtor said. Guess where his next call will be when he gets off the phone.

Owner of property is happy you told him about a possible buyer. Renter may be happy if he can negotiate a deal with the owner. You might have facilitated a deal with a neighbor who you are at least familiar with. Owner might even make the sale directly, saving him some commission and keeping the property values down (so you can afford to live there :}).

Not to mention the agent's broker wouldn't be to happy about a commission he let go because the agent didn't promote good business practices.

Yep, I would be very tempted to go into the real estate agency when she is in. Ask to speak with her and as you are speaking to her, speak in a loud enough voice for EVERYONE to hear. Tell her exactly what your neighbor said she said and that you would like for her to explain her opinion of you TO YOU and let her squirm in front of you and her coworkers/boss!!!!!!!

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Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania

"Everything happens for a reason."

What Pourfolkes said, or . . .

Get some of those fake Billy Bob hillbilly teeth and a chainsaw and everytime she shows that property get out there revving up that chainsaw with those teeth in, hiya folks, rev rev rev, howya doing today, gettin' ready to slaughter a hawg today, rev rev, rev, you get the picture.

Actually what pourfolkes said, the hillbilly act was just a joke

Just out of curiosity, was the agent that showed your neighbor the property the listing agent or was it a sellers agent that he himself used? That would dramatically change the perspective as well. When I have an agent working for me as a buyer I want any possible bad things listed to me first.

Well, then, I'm a bad neighbor and my neighbor is a bad neiogbor, we run chainsaws, rev engines (he fixes cars), run tractors, etc....but Dan is a really great neighbor and would do anything for you, I've given him meat (rabbit), he has gotten me hay when I was broke..etc.....so where the heck is this clown comming from? Oh yes, both Dan and I have shot off guns.