One thing real estate shows don’t portray well is how emotional bidding on a property is. A few weeks ago my Dad came across the perfect fixer-upper in Langley right beside Latimer Road Elementary. Torn up walls, old scuffed up floors, beat up attic…hellz yeah! After a successful flip in Squamish we’re looking to do one in the Lower Mainland and this was our perfect chance. So we put in a bid. For a few days we never heard back which was kind of suspicious considering it was such an ugly home. Then, a few days later we got a call from the realtor. She said the seller had already accepted a bid and they were waiting on financing to be approved. She said if we wanted to put in up a ‘back up’ offer they would look at that if things fell through. So we did. And then we waited.
The hardest part about buying a place is in one walk through you can picture yourself living there. That room will be the baby’s room. That yard will be perfect for the dog and cat. That plot of dirt will be the perfect bed to start a garden. How can one loosen up when after months of searching you’ve finally found your dream home. Give it to me!
Three days later my realtor called and said the other realtor wanted to meet up. Again, I have no idea why when according to her she was still dealing with the first offer, but the morality of her practice is another story. My parents and me willingly went, hoping this was a sign the place might end up going to us. We shook hands, had another tour, a few laughs. Then we went home…and waited.
As I spent the next week waiting and waiting for some news, any news, a part of my brain wanted to be anxious. Get mad at how long it was taking and demand answers on what was going on from the seller. The other part told me it wouldn’t do any good. No matter what purchase you really have no control whether it will be handed to your not. All you can hope is your bid is good enough.
We didn’t end up getting the place. After dozens of phone calls between my Dad, realtor, mortgage broker, and strata corporation, the house ended up going to the first buyer.
I can’t make myself drive by it, at least for the next little while. That front lawn was supposed to my my lawn, the bright red door the one I opened everyday. Sigh. Like dating, all I can do is pray to the real estate gods something better will come along..and wait.