Imagine going on the final inspection of the home you’re all set to buy – and encountering a gaping hole where the built-in refrigerator had been and was supposed to still be! Or discovering a mini-warehouse of left-behind furniture, gardening equipment and other assorted “stuff” the departing family was supposed to have taken with them but ended up leaving you with a “surprise package” you had no intention of “unwrapping!”

The fact is, sometimes transferred or relocating parties find themselves really up against it. There are impossible deadlines, last minute details and the general confusion that sometimes can get the best of us. It’s not that they intend to leave issues unresolved, but the time-crunch adds pressure, and accidents happen. It gets even trickier when parties move not simply to another town, but out of state or even out of the country.

Fortunately, as relocation specialists, we operate from a position of preparedness. To every extent possible, we anticipate problems from the get-go, taking a proactive approach and, in most cases, averting problems from the start, instead of having to put out 11^th-hour fires.

Sudden departures of, say, a spouse, while the other may need to remain behind for a time, can be daunting, as they’re now left with numerous details. Wouldn’t you feel a little overwhelmed if your spouse had to relocate for business purposes with just a few days’ notice, and you were left alone to somehow juggle all the details?

We all know the saying about how an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but it’s absolutely true – and it underscores the way we handle property sales. When we list a house, we carefully go through a comprehensive series of guidelines and timelines, so our clients know exactly what to do, how to do it, and when. This averts a crowding up of details at the last minute, which can cause things to slip through the cracks – and leave parties with headaches they don’t need!

            For example, we once had a relocating buyer who, on a sultry summer day, entered his new house to find that where the “permanent,” built-in refrigerator was supposed to be was now, for all intents and purposes, was an unsightly hole in the wall!

            The following scenario was sort of funny. We once rented a home for the owners for 10 years, because they thought they’d eventually return. They reserved a corner in the basement for “treasured boxes” of their children’s belongings. We told the tenants that corner was off-limits.

            When the owners finally decided to sell after all, and did a final check on the property, they ultimately left behind their now “un-treasured” boxes!   Time changes people’s views in lots of ways, so we “relocated” the former treasure to curbside on trash day. We consider it part of our job description.

            The good news, of course, is that we’re set up to avert such glitches from the start. We have a vacant property checklist, which we go over with the owner before their departure, to see who’ll be responsible for the house in their absence. The broker/agent is responsible only for the marketing and sale of the property. We’re not the caretakers, but there simply are times when we go that extra mile.

            In one case – though a departing client assured us he had everything covered regarding maintenance and safety issues – nothing was in place, which we discovered when a neighbor was actually mowing the lawn. The real estate agent pulled some weeds from the garden beds. After all, you can’t sell a house without curb appeal.

            When we encounter situations where the former owner left things behind that no one expected – from ping pong tables to old rusty lawn mowers -- we check first with the new owners, then either call our list of service providers to dispose of it, or charities to collect the useable items. By the way, van lines won’t pack houseplants for long hauls, so we’ll find good homes for them, too.

            Another fall-through-the-cracks issue involves alarm systems. People must notify their alarm company that the phone is disconnected. If they don’t, the alarm will give off a constant beeping. Similarly, swimming pools must be taken into consideration, with the ongoing maintenance they usually require.

            On another occasion, while it wasn’t our listing, one of our agents tells of the time they viewed a house with their buyer that the seller claimed was “just painted,” only to discover that – after the sellers had moved prior to closing – the new paint job went around the existing furniture. Patterns of headboards, dressers, mirrors, and sofas were everywhere. Here again, the agents and attorneys worked out a satisfactory solution.

            Finally, we’ve walked into empty houses expecting them to be “broom clean,” only to find them not quite so pristine. Then opening the refrigerator finds it full of food. As I’ve noted, people sometimes feel rushed and make mistakes. It happens.

Because we’ve seen it all, we’re able to assure clients that the home buying process – while it can have its “darndest things” moments – will go smoothly and within the timeframe in which they’re operating.

            Relocation specialists who are true professionals are prepared from the start to calm any rough waters. We virtually never dismiss anything as “not our job.” We focus on solutions, not problems. We do the proper planning up-front. Yes, sometimes people do the darndest things – but you can bet we’re ready for them!