Luxury Real Estate: Where Showings Get Stranger Than Fiction
As a luxury real estate agent, I get to see some of the most incredible homes on the market. But you know what else I see? Some of the most bizarre, outlandish, and downright unbelievable situations when it comes to showing requests.
Many of my listings are “listor show” properties, which means that either I or someone from my office must be present for all showings—even if another Realtor is bringing the buyer. I also require proof of funds, verify the banker’s name, and sometimes even call the bank to confirm that the buyer is actually qualified. Crazy, right? You’d be surprised how often I get ridiculed for this. But I’m not doing it to be difficult—I’m doing it to protect my clients, their homes, and quite frankly, my own sanity.
The Wild World of Fake Buyers
Unfortunately, I’ve had way too many run-ins with fraudulent buyers. One time, we even made it all the way to closing day before realizing everything—literally everything—was fake. That’s why when a “buyer” calls me directly, my radar goes up fast.
Take, for instance, the time a young woman reached out about one of my $2.2M listings. I asked her for proof of funds, and the next day, she sent me what I can only describe as a Microsoft Paint masterpiece—a “bank document” she had clearly typed herself, complete with a pasted-on bank logo. Nice try.
Luckily, I knew the actual president of the bank she claimed to use. When I called him, he had never even heard of her. So, I did what any seasoned real estate detective would do—I went to Instagram. And that’s when things got really weird.
The Instagram Investigation
After a quick search, I found her profile. Based on her photos, I was pretty sure she was barely 20 and more interested in posing provocatively in front of sports cars than in buying real estate. I called her back, politely declined the showing, and she hung up on me. End of story, right? Wrong.
A week later, I opened Instagram, and there she was—right in the middle of my feed. But this time, she wasn’t posing next to a Ferrari. She was in the pool of the house she wanted to see.
Wait, what?!
As I scrolled, I saw multiple photos of her in and around the property—including one of her in the primary suite’s bathtub! I have no idea how she got in, but thankfully, the home was vacant. Of course, I immediately called the authorities. Moral of the story? If someone gets mad when you ask for proof of funds, there’s usually a reason.
The $17M Screening Process (and the Unexpected Visitors)
Right now, I have a $17M listing that has received over 30 showing requests. Guess how many of those buyers were actually qualified? Zero. That’s right—not one. People don’t realize that luxury homes attract all kinds of dreamers, fraudsters, and social media influencers looking for their next photoshoot backdrop.
But the craziness doesn’t stop at fake buyers. We recently had someone drive through the gated entrance and start trying to open doors all over the property. Do people not understand what “No Trespassing” means? Do they not realize that high-end estates like this have security cameras everywhere? If you think you can sneak in unnoticed, think again—because yes, we will call the police.
Luxury real estate isn’t just about marketing beautiful homes; it’s about protecting them. So, if you’re an agent (or a seller), let me give you the best piece of advice I can: Always get proof of funds. And then double-check that the proof of funds is legitimate.
Because in the world of high-end real estate, you’re not just selling a home—you’re guarding an investment. And trust me, you never know what (or who) might show up at the gates.
Wyatt Poindexter - The Agency - 405-417-5466 - www.WyattPoindexter.com
