This story goes back to my early years in the business, when I was just beginning to find creative ways to stand out. I’ve always loved cooking, so I decided to combine that passion with my work. Whenever I hosted an open house for a new listing, I would prepare lunch for the visiting Realtors. Word spread quickly—before long, other agents were doing the same thing. After all, nothing draws a crowd quite like good food, especially when they know exactly what’s on the menu.
One particular day, I had just listed a condo on the water. Determined to make a great impression, I packed up the food and headed to the building. After hauling one load up to the penthouse, I realized I’d need to make another trip down to grab the rest.
Thinking I was being efficient, I decided to save time by preheating the oven so it would be ready when I returned. Down I went, collected the remaining food, and headed back upstairs.
As I opened the condo door, smoke came pouring out. I was horrified.
What had happened? Well, it turns out the sellers didn’t cook. Instead, they used the oven as extra storage—for bread, cereal, and other pantry staples. When I turned it on to preheat, everything inside caught fire.
Needless to say, that was the shortest listing I ever had.
At the time, I was mortified. Today, I can laugh at it and chalk it up to another real estate adventure. Moments like this remind me how much I’ve grown, how far I’ve come, and how important it is to expect the unexpected in this business.
✨ Have you ever had a home mishap that turned into a funny story? I’d love to hear it! And if you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow along for more of my behind-the-scenes real estate adventures.