Maricopa’s housing market is usually measured in price per square foot, days on market and interest rates. But behind the stats are stories realtors swap quietly at networking events and closings. From yapping Chihuahuas that sealed a listing to backyard naturists seeking privacy, three local agents shared some of their most memorable moments in the field.
Editor’s note: The following Q&A has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Brian Petersheim Sr.
Maricopa Real Estate Company
TMRECo.com/Brian-Petersheim
InMaricopa: What is the most unique reason someone chose to work with you?
Petersheim: It was actually a seller. I was at a listing appointment, and they told me I was the third realtor that day. They had two small Chihuahua puppies that started yapping as soon as I walked in.
Within a few minutes, both puppies jumped on the couch, climbed into my lap and fell asleep. About 20 minutes later, I got the listing. The sellers told me those dogs never stop barking, especially at men. They said the dogs signified I was a good and honest person.
We sold the home within a week, and they moved out of state.
In: What feature sealed a deal that wasn’t initially on your radar?
Petersheim: I was working with Canadian buyers around 2012. They wanted a two-story home with a south-facing backyard so they could get winter sun for morning coffee.
The home I found backed to a road, had no neighbors behind it and only one adjacent neighbor that was single-story. Maximum privacy.
After they decided to move forward, they told me they were naturists. They wanted privacy so they could practice nudism in their backyard without neighbors knowing.
In: What’s the most unique item negotiated in a sale?
Petersheim: I had a listing in Rancho El Dorado during a quirky market. To get extra attention, I put a sign rider in the yard that said, “Offering $250 in tacos for buying this house.”
After closing, the buyers’ agent reached out and asked if I was serious. I told them I was if they were. They preferred a Fry’s gift card instead. I dropped it off at their new house.
In: What’s the most unique reason someone walked away?
Petersheim: It was a property in Thunderbird Farms on acreage. During the inspection period, the buyers saw in the seller’s disclosure that a horse was buried near the fence line. The seller had multiple horses at one point, and one passed away. The neighbor used a backhoe to dig the grave.
We didn’t hear anything further until the cancellation came through. The buyers didn’t want a property with a large animal buried on it.
Jill Comfort
Comfort Realty
JillComfortCom.WordPress.com
In: Have buyers ever chosen a home for something that wasn’t even on their list?
Comfort: Absolutely. I had clients who fell in love with soapstone countertops. The photos made them look odd, but when they saw them in person, they loved them.
Soapstone is softer than quartz or granite. It’s very smooth. The husband was a chef and had an eye for those details. They bought the house because of the countertops.
In: Any other unexpected dealmakers?
Comfort: A husband once made an offer because the bathroom had a urinal. The house was otherwise typical, but he was thrilled about that feature.
Another couple bought a house because there was a cemetery behind it. They figured it would always be quiet.
In: Oddest negotiation?
Comfort: Naked Neck chickens. They’re the ugliest chickens you’ve ever seen. The buyers said, “We’ll take the house, but the chickens come with it.”
James Sanson
Real Broker
MaricopaHomesForSale.com
In: What’s the most memorable reason someone decided to buy?
Sanson: The home had a different flooring type in every room. What made it memorable was that prior to this, my buyers would reject homes with more than two flooring types. But for some reason, this one worked for them.
In: What’s the most memorable deal-breaker?
Sanson: It was political. My buyers were enjoying the home tour. We stepped outside to look at the built-in BBQ area when the neighbor leaned over his balcony and started complaining about smoke.
Then he launched into extreme political commentary and bragged that he was making sure nobody bought the house. That was it. My buyers were done.
In: Most memorable negotiation demand?
Sanson: A buyer demanded the seller’s living room set, even though the listing never mentioned the home was being sold furnished. The furniture was probably worth $500, but the seller refused to include it. The buyer said either include it or they would walk.
The seller held firm. We quickly sold the home to someone else.
