Posted December 22, 2014
Nick Churton from Mayfair International Realty tells a heart-warming
Christmas story.
Scrooge had been trying to sell his home all year – but to no effect. He was fed up with cold winters
where he lived and longed to move to Florida where he had found a large condo at a very
reasonable price. Now it was Christmas again and there was still no sign of a buyer for his own
property. Scrooge hated Christmas.
Bob, at the local real estate broker, Cratchit and Company, had almost given up on ever selling the
house. Scrooge was far too mean to put the lights on inside or light the fire to make the house look
cosy and inviting. Instead it was unwelcoming and cold. A better word would be frigid. He refused
to let people see his house when they wanted to and only allowed showings when it was very
convenient for him. The few offers he had received he had treated with contempt – even though
the asking price was really far too high – which put everyone off taking it any further. Scrooge was
even insisting that any buyer would have to purchase, at extra cost, the threadbare carpets and
filthy drapes.
That night Scrooge had three disturbing dreams. The first vividly reminded him of what life had
been like before he had become so mean and his wife had left him. The second dream showed
Christmas dinner at his real estate agent’s home. It was a jovial family affair with Bob, his wife and
their small son, Tim, all enjoying themselves. But slowly the scene changed. It showed what life
would be like if Bob couldn’t sell any real estate and had no money. The third dream showed
Scrooge’s grave. He had died an embittered old man who had never sold his mausoleum of a house
or moved to sunny Florida.
Waking up in his bed Scrooge realised that wasn’t too late. He raced round the house putting lights
on and setting the fire ablaze in the living room. He then rushed down to see Bob at Cratchit &
Company, and told him to reduce the price immediately and to tell everyone that he would heartily
entertain any reasonable offers. Scrooge even told Bob that he would increase the commission if
the house sold quickly.
So Scrooge did sell his house and moved to Florida where he enjoyed many long years in the sun.
He even met an attractive widow in the local waterside restaurant that he liked to go to often.
Scrooge never forgot to send Bob a Christmas card, as without all Bob’s hard work he would never
have had his new life.
The moral of this story is to be as accommodating with potential buyers as possible, make your
home as inviting as you can, be reasonable and always try and find a real estate agent like Bob.
Happy Christmas everyone – with apologies to Charles Dickens.
