What Actually Scares a Realtor on Halloween

It’s Halloween week, so let me tell you what actually scares a Realtor. It isn’t ghosts.

Ring cameras. If you’ve ever had a seller’s doorbell camera pick up a showing conversation, you know the feeling.

Water in the basement. Usually discovered right when everyone thought the inspection was behind us.

“I did the electrical myself.” Six words that make every inspector, appraiser, and agent take a deep breath.

And it gets worse. Closing is Friday, and underwriting needs one more document. A buyer buys a new truck three days before closing, which can change a loan approval overnight. Or a neighbor says the survey line is actually over there.

Then there’s the one that never gets easier: the appraisal comes in low.

Here’s the thing, though. None of these are the end of a deal. Each one is a problem with a path through it, and that path usually comes down to catching it early, communicating clearly, and keeping everyone calm. I’ve seen all of these over ten years in this business, and we’ve gotten through them.

A few easy ways to keep your own closing boring: don’t make big purchases or open new credit between contract and closing, keep your lender’s document requests moving fast, and tell your agent right away if something looks off in the house.

Happy Halloween. Buy and sell responsibly. If you want an agent who’s seen all of these and lived to tell about it, send me a message.