It's been almost a year now. I'm a realtor and I still can't get my mind around that sometimes. It has been interesting, hard, fun, hard, challenging, and, did I mention, hard? If I'd known what was ahead this time last year I'd have thrown in the towel early in the game. Truly! But I'm so glad I didn't.....I think. The jury is still out, actually, but I can at least keep my head above water now so I'm willing to give it a little more time.
I have had many interesting and challenging experiences but just last week was definitely one for the blog. And it happened in Collinsville. At my listing in the country. It's a small home on 11 acres and it's been on the market for about a month so I decided to host an Open House. I knew it was a risk since it was a country home and in Collinsville, to boot, but I'd tried lots of other marketing strategies so I felt like I needed to at least give it a try.
And it was pretty much a bust. Nobody showed. But I found a really cute book in the house about the history of Texas so there's that little plus.....yawn!
Soooo, after two sleepy hours I was making my way out the door and noticed the four horses sauntering up from the pasture and out the open gate to the yard. I got a little nervous because I knew the front gate to the property was open and I was afraid the horses would head that direction. So far they were staying close to the back of the house so I called the owner to find out what to do. I know, right about now you're thinking why didn't I just lead the horses back into the pasture and close the gate.......well, as much as I hate to admit it, I'm a city girl and I'm apparently afraid of horses. And there were four of them so don't be so quick!
The owner said that as long as I closed the front gate behind me as I left, the horses would be fine. The front gate is about 50 yards away from the house, down a long driveway. I was parked past the house at the end of the drive so I mosied (I'm in Collinsville after all) out to my car and started to back out but as I looked in my rear view mirror I just about stopped breathing when I saw two of the horses galloping (yes, galloping) down the driveway and out the gate. Are you kidding me? I had on sandals and white capris. What in the heck was I going to do now? Other than panic, I mean.
So I followed them. In the car. When I turned onto the road I saw that they'd stopped about 30 yards away so I slowly passed them and turned around, which wasn't easy on the narrow dirt road lined by tall weeds and trees. But I finally got turned, started back toward the property, and noticed the horses trot back through their gate on their own. Whew! I've had a lot of catastrophes and close calls in my real estate career but this one had to certainly be the most unique.
And if you want to buy a sweet little house in the country, just call me!
