“Sorry, I’m late.”I jogged up the driveway in my heels. “My other showing ran long and then I had to head back to the office for a closing.”
“Wait, you have other clients? I thought I was getting an exclusive service.”
“Ha, ha very funny. This place just dropped on the market, and it won’t be there for long. You are one of the first people to see this home.”
“Love the area.”
“Up until now we’ve been pretty conservative with staying within your budget. But I thought I’d show you what you could get if you bumped it up just a smidge.”
“How much more?”
“I want you to view it first …” Aldridge rolled his eyes. “Keep an open mind and we’ll discuss price at the end.” Typically, when people knew the price point right off the bat their financial bias kicked in. We’ve all done it, you go shopping and you spot a beautiful pair of leather boots, but they cost two thousand dollars. Knowing the price up front is like dumping cold wateron the fantasy that you could be a showstopper on a night out with friends.
“Sounds expensive.”
“First look at this outdoor entrance. It’s impressive, opulent but understated.”
“It’s nice.”
“At night when it’s all lit up, it’s perfection.” Unlocking the front door, we walked inside. “Upon entry you are immediately greeted by this living room. The walls and floors are neutral which allows you to determine the direction you want to go in aesthetically. High vaulted ceilings lead to the dining room in this open floor plan.”
“I can see that.”
I went about ticking off all the unique and interesting features of the home. It had been a long day and I was hoping to wrap up this showing, head to my condo and crawl into bed for the remainder of the weekend. “The property is wired with surround sound throughout. The chandelier over the dining table is custom-made and imported from Italy. And you have these big, beautiful sliding glass doors which lead to the courtyard.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah of course. Why?”
“Because you’re being real formal, real professional right now.”
“I’m working.” Even after all these years it was difficult to fool Aldridge, he knew me. When I was upset or worried, I tended to shut down and just stick to the facts. Today was no different. If I could have canceled this showing I would’ve, but like I said there would likely be multiple bids on this house by the end of the weekend.
“Yeah, but it’s me and you’re over here pointing out wall sconces and surround sound.”
“I’m not here to entertain you.”
“I know that Danessa; the vibe is just off.”
“Are you here for the vibes or are you here for the house?”
“Look if you’re having a bad day we can pin this for another time.”
“I’m not having a bad day. I’m trying to do my job and you want a comedy show.” I dropped my purse on the dining table. “How many real estate agents does it take to change a lightbulb?”
“I don’t know.”
“None, the lightbulb and wiring are in perfect working order and bright enough to illuminate an entire city block. You could search a lifetime and never find a lightbulb brighter or more energy efficient.”
“That was a horrible joke.”
“Moving on to the kitchen.”
Aldridge grabbed my arm, stalling my steps. “Did I do something? Are you mad about the other night?”
“No, no, no.” I pushed out an exasperated breath. “I received an email.”
“Oh okay … like about … was it about me?”
