Love Thy Neighbor

The listing I have is a home that was custom built. The owner built is for her ministry helping a segment of society most of us deem undesirable. However, my client did not check the right boxes with the city and county. Besides that, her ministry did not sit well with the neighbors, who (rightfully) escalated the situation to get her to shut it down. My client then moved to a new location, with the blessing of the new city she lives in. However, the neighbors are a bunch of whiny bitches who need to get a life.

First, the neighbors made up a bunch of crummy stories about my client and her ministry. To be fair, I am not a fan of what my client is doing, and the truth alone about her ministry is pretty ugly. But on top of that, because at the time the news was getting a bit bored with the topic, the neighbors added hyperbole and a bunch of ugly lies. No, my clients weren't running a child pornography ring. No, their grandchildren were not being sold as sex slaves. And lots of other bizarrely horrible comments that the local media did not bother to vet before airing.

Second, my client has moved. In fact, she moved more than six months ago. But I still get ugly text messages and hostile phone calls (my sign is in the yard). Seriously Mr. and Mrs. Neighbor. THEY ARE GONE. Get on with your life.

Sunday I had an agent ask to show the home. He did. Then he sent me a bizarre message saying because of what my folks (who do not live there) believed in with their ministry, their client isn't interested. The agent then got very detailed about his opinions of my clients, the folks they help and me, for taking the listing. Ok, that's fine. I have a few opinions too about people who feel they need to provide seriously unkind unsolicited comments. But more to the point, I am curious why he bothered to show it at all if he knew the history. I didn't ask but I have an imagination, coupled with experience. And that put me on edge. It wouldn't be the first time the neighbors took out their frustrations on me or my clients.

What I am concerned about is if this agent was a neighbor. Or, perhaps his client is a neighbor. The agent texted me a few pictures of the news stories from two years ago. So, he (or his client) readily knew what they were seeing. And that begs the question, was Sunday's showing by this agent (or client) a sabotage on the home?

As I didn't have time to go over and make sure quick-crete wasn't poured down the potties, I called my client and asked her to jet over to make sure the home is secure. Who knows, maybe these folks left a window unlocked so they could go back later on? At any case, someone needed to make sure the home was still intact. I also asked my client to call the sheriff's office to check on the property later this week. Perhaps I have an imagination. Or perhaps I have experience. Either way, it is time to get the neighbors to chill out. My folks moved on. I wish the neighbors would too.