The Call I Never Could Have Expected

A few years ago, I was working with a client who was considering relocating to the Austin area from overseas (you will see afterwards why I am choosing not to disclose exactly where he was from).  It turned out later than he didn't get the job, so the sale never occurred.

We spent the better part of a day looking at homes in Round Rock (just north of Austin), and we found several places that seemed suitable for him and his family.  His wife and kids didn't make the trip with him, so we made good time and we were able to cover a lot of ground that day and see a variety of neighborhoods.

At one of the homes, the buyer asked me if it would be alright if he used the restroom.

"Sure, go right ahead.  I'll be downstairs."

A few minutes passed, and he came downstairs so that we could go to the next place.

I never could have imagined that this would lead to problems.

Later, upon returning to my office, my business partner informed me that he had received a call from the seller of that particular home.

"She was pretty irate", he said.  "Apparently, the master bathroom was REALLY messy, and she traced it back to your showing."

Um....gross?

Really?!? 

The sellers didn't even want anything of me.  I guess they were just so surprised and offended by whatever they found that they felt compelled to call and tell me how bad it was, but without any real details.  Unfortunately, that just made it seem even worse somehow, like they couldn't bring themselves to talk about it. 

Did it involve the handtowels, or the floor, or the bathtub?  Who knows?

No matter what the case, I have never forgotten that call, and to this day, I get a bit nervous when a client wants to use the facilities, although I don't typically prevent them from doing so.  I'm not even sure how to prevent that.  Perhaps one of these phrases?

• 
  
• "Well, I would let you use the bathroom, but I had a client one time who...."
  
• "Could you just hold it until the end of the day?"
  
• "There is a convenience store not too far from here.  Wouldn't that really be more comfortable for you?"
  

Thanks for reading!