When you've shown enough vacant foreclosures and short sales, there is one absolute truth that you learn pretty quickly. Don't open the refrigerator door. EVER!
No, "lets just take a peek inside." No, "I'll close it quickly." Trust me, in a foreclosure, it isn't just an innocent looking appliance. It's mean, it's vicious, and it stinks. Keep that door shut!
Besides the petri dish experiment growing inside, the smell that will emanate is pretty much indescribable. And boy, does it have some "hang time."
I swear sometimes that the innocent looking refrigerator sends out silent vibes to clients. "Open me, open me."
There is just something so compelling about having to open a refrigerator when you're previewing a house. Don't!
Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com
Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist
©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved
©iStock Photo - Licensed for Use
Rich Iarossi is a full time licensed REALTOR®, working in Crofton, MD. My coverage areas are: Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Howard, Calvert, Queen Anne, and Baltimore City and County. I specialize in residential real estate, working with both buyers and sellers. Use the registration free search on my website at www.RichSellsHomes.com. If you’re not already working with a REALTOR®...I can help. Call me at 443-995-9595 (Cell) or 410-451-6255 (Office).
SKYPE ME: RichSellsHomes
LOL... yes! And haven't we done it against better judgment anyway? I remember opening one a couple years ago almost like a reflex and regretting it the second I did. I learned!
Why, oh why, do we feel so tempted to do just that?
Featured in the group "Square Pegs!"
Richard - I opened the refrigerator door once to take a peek. Well, I'll never do that again.
Rich, great advice, but often people do not follow great advice. Just recently this very thing happened while I was showing, I told the Mr Client, do NOT open the door. well, he did anyway, curiosity got the cat, it took every bit of breath we had left to get out of the house. Somehow this should be a health department issue?
We have always told our clients to not do it. The first thing they do is grab the handle and pull and then run outdoors holding there mouths. LOL its quite funny!
See there is still something living in that REO, it is bacteria!
Rich - there are times I don' want to open the refrigerator in my house, I'll be darned if I will in a foreclosure!
Rich, that is so funny.... I had a set of clients that did the same thing. They opened a refrigerator that was in the basement of a home (was an in-law)..... and all I can say is "oh my gosh" what a smell. Turned the buyers right off.. So sometimes it is not just foreclosures!
Being a newbie I would have nerver thought to do this but now I am going to think of it every showing.
Shelton
Funny! And you are so right. We all have that overwhelming need to open the fridge and in foreclosure properties, it can be quite a revelation.
It's truly amazing - you just can't believe what it will smell like until you've experienced it.
Your REO's have refrigerators? Interesting. Most of the REOs/foreclosures I have shown the refrigerator has quietly left the premises. Not sure how or why. Maybe the refrigerator had a complex or something.
Silvia, It only takes once to learn that valuable lesson.
Richard, Thanks! I don't really know why we feel compelled to, but we do.
Robert, Lesson learned...the hard way.
Gail, I can't get out of the house fast enough when that happens.
Laura, I guess it is pretty funny.
Mary, Great comment. LMAO!
Mike, Been there, done that.
Susan, Interesting, most of my clients don't open the refrigerator door in an occupied house, but they do if the house is vacant.
Shelton, Don't try it...you won't like it if you do.
Tom, The opener of the door is sorry as soon as they do it.
Joetta, Indescribable.
Barbara, Consider yourself lucky if they're gone in your market. Having to take it out up here should require a hazmat permit.