“Hi, I’m Margaret Boyle, with Boyle and Boyle Realtors. I have an appointment with Faith Webber for eight this morning. I’m sorry I’m late.”
“You weren’t late, I’m Faith. Can you tell me what just happened?”
“I’m sorry for that. Jason is a new hire, I mean he’s so new that he doesn’t even have his license yet. He wants to be the next millionaire real estate agent.”
“What’s that?” Shay asked.
“It’s a reality TV show where real estate agents sell property that is expensive. I’m not saying they don’t do their job correctly, it’s just that the property they sell or list only millionaires can purchase. Something somebody like me will never be able to afford. He’s also got a god complex.” She shook her head, closed her eyes, and drew in a deep breath before looking at them again. “I’m sorry, I just get so frustrated when kids like that think they know better than someone with fifteen years of experience.”
“Who’s Richard?” Shay asked.
“My husband, and the other part of Boyle and Boyle.” She chuckled. “I didn’t want to do it, but I had to call him to tell him what Jason tried to pull.” She shook her head again and looked at them intently. “If you had signed a contract with him, and a sale was made from that contract, and the new owners find something wrong with the home,youcould be held responsible,not the new owners, nor the signing agent. If they found out Jason didn’t have a license, they could sue him, you, me, my husband, and the entire firm, all because he couldn’t wait two weeks.”
“What’s in two weeks?”
“The test for the state real estate’s license.”
“Ah,” Faith nodded. “Well, I’m sorry you’re going through that, and I’m glad you got here in time. Did you bring the booties?”
“I did,” she went back to her car and brought out a box slightly larger than what would hold surgical gloves.
“Come on in, we just got done cleaning everything, the windows and doors are open because someone used too much cleaning solution, and we’re airing it out.” Faith threw a look at Shay, and he only shrugged.
At the front door, they paused to slip on the booties, and Faith waved her hand for Margaret to enter first. “I know we talked on the phone, but I’ll let you walk in ahead of us. I’ll let you walk through, then we can talk. Would you like some coffee?”
“Thank you, but I’m good.” Margaret gave her a nod, opened her portfolio, and entered the house. Faith and Shay went to the kitchen to wait for her to return.
It was almost an hour before she returned to the kitchen, and Faith grabbed Shay by the arm to drag him out of the way of Margaret snapping pictures. When she finished, she looked at her with a smile. “I’ll take that coffee now.”
Faith quickly poured her a cup, and they settled at the kitchen table. “Are you taking the appliances, and this table?”
“No, if you agree to sell this house, once I sign on the dotted line, I’m leaving.”
“It’s none of my business, but are you going far?”
“I’m moving to Colorado. The place I’ll be moving into is fully furnished, and there’s no place to store what I’m leaving.”
“Have you ever thought of turning this into an Airbnb?”
“No, I don’t want the hassle.” She shook her head and looked between Shay and Margaret. “I looked into it, and if I lived closer so that I could come and clean after every guest, it might be okay. However, I’m moving eighteen hours away, once I leave here, I won’t be back.”
“Why did you suggest that?” Shay asked.
“Oh, I’m sorry, this is Shay Hall, my boyfriend,” Faith said, and noticed Shay grin and sit up straighter.
“I suggested the Airbnb because you live in the heart of horse racing country. How far are you from the nearest track?”
“Fifteen minutes, twenty to twenty-five on race day, with the traffic.”
“Okay, that’s not a large commute. I’m suggesting this because our agency works with Airbnb, and we have several homes that we monitor. We also work with a cleaning company that will come in and clean after the guests leave. Sort of like a hotel. You have three bedrooms here, with one bathroom. I take it you’re not willing to make any improvements?”
“No, what you see is what you get.” Faith went to the kitchen and pulled out a folder. Back at the table, she opened it, and removed the top two pages. “These are two home inspections, done with two different companies. I had them done in the last three weeks. According to them, the house has a solid foundation, up-to-date wiring, and a good roof. That’s just the basics, you can read the entire report. They say nothing needs to be done in order to sell.”
“Good, this will save me the time to get someone in here, and I’ve worked with these guys before. I made the suggestion of the Airbnb not only for the location, but also for the money.”
“How so?” Shay asked.
“If we list this to sell, you’re looking between two ten and two twenty-five.”
