More on 6715 Oriole, the "Don't Complain House": Owner is an Inactive Real Estate AGENT!

As you know, I kind of sort of liked what the agents did on 6715 Oriole, what I am now calling our “Don’t Complain House”. It reminded me of that scene in the old movie “Broadcast News” “Network”, where the anchor yells out the window “I’m sick and tired and not going to take it anymore!”

It was almost cathartic, and I knew there was a story there. I had plans to call up the agent and broker today, but before I could finish deleting my email spam this morning, the broker called ME: Ruth Yvonne Dower.

I have a new friend –I really like Ruth. This gal has been around the block a few times, she got her Texas real estate license in 1968. She was with Century 21, which then sold to Prudential. In 2007, she bought her old office back and now runs Prudential A Action Realtors. She told me she used to work with Dave Perry-Miller when he was with Prudential, a few moons ago. And talk about branding, check out Ruth’s email:

[email protected]!

Turns out the owner of 6715 Oriole is a real estate agent, a Linda L. Cole. Been inactive since September 30, 2012. Linda worked with Ruth so when it came time to sell this house, guess who she called?

This opens up a whole new discussion. It has been said that doctors are the worst patients, well, are agents the worst clients?

“Diana Sifuentes is the listing agent, but we are working on this together,” says Ruth. “We are doing this to help out a former agent.”

Who seems to be, in my opinion, a real PITA. Like worse than me! First of all, this house was listed way back in June of 2011. Yes, that’s almost three years ago. It was listed at $250,000 from what I can see, and Ruth says there were three offers pretty close to that price. Bam. So she goes to the three and says, OK, pony up your highest and best, which one buyer did at about $15,000 over. Nice work, right? She takes this to the seller, the seller who I will remind you again is a former Realtor. Seller turns them down. Said she needed more to clear everything. Draws a line in the sand, said she wouldn’t even look at an offer for less.

Which is just what Ruth says in MLS. I mean, why waste everyone’s time, right?

Here is the original MLS description:

Property Description: Mature trees surrond this spacious home, located in a established neighborhood within a few minutes from Downtown Dallas and Lovefield Airport.

Directions: Tollway to Mockingbird, West on Mockingbird, Left to Oriole house it’s on your left, next to a vacant corner lot.

Private Remarks: Property is in need of repairs. OWNER IS AN INACTIVE REAL ESTATE AGENT. Possible short sale.

What happened was that agents would go look at the property, see the condition, call Ruth and Dianna Sifuentes, the listing agent, and rip them a new you-know-what.

“The Realtors would show it and call us up and rub us up and down the street because they did not expect to walk into that mess,” says Ruth. “They would say, we cannot get in this bedroom. So we’d say, that’s right, you cannot it’s locked. In fact, two bedrooms are locked. Yes, there are mattresses on the floor.”

BTW, Ruth says she does not know who lives in the Oriole property, but Linda does not. The utilities are not connected, as you may recall. The reason for the 2pm curfew? A relative is known to just come in and start riffing through drawers, as if she owns the place. She is not supposed to be there. She slips in whenever an agent is showing. 2pm is when she’s off from work. So maybe that’s why the bedroom doors are locked? Yikes! Have you ever had to work around such negative parameters?

So there you have it: a three year old (almost) listing. An owner who once had a real estate license who turned down an offer and says it’s going to be her way or the highway. (In fact, she told the agent what to write.) A problem relation who complicates matters. Two former colleagues who are trying to help out a friend. What the hec are you going to do?

Ruth has taken down most of her “don’t complain” message, but I honestly think she should keep it.

Tollway to Mockingbird, West on Mockingbird, Left to Oriole house its on your left, next to a vacant corner lot.

Private Remarks: DO NOT SHOW AND THEN COMPLAIN TO THE LISTING AGENT. WE ARE TELLING YOU UP FRONT THE HOME IS A MESS. SOME ROOMS ARE LOCKED. YOU MUST BE OUT BY 2 PM SELLER WILL NOT LOOK AT AN OFFER LESS THAN THE LIST PRICE. DONT SHOW AND THEN COMPLAIN.

I might add: “Seller is a former agent who won’t listen to anything I or any other real estate expert says. I’m mad as hell and not going to take it any more!”