Neighbors Don't Miss Opportunity To Wheel and Deal
Dear Abby | October 16th, 2025 | Letter 1 of 2
DEAR ABBY: My mother passed away last year, and my father is 90. I am trying to get their primary and vacation homes staged for sale. It is a HUGE job as they were hoarders. They were popular, and when I go to their cabin, all their neighbors want to come and chat with me and Dad. Because the property is unique and valuable, several of them want my father to cut a deal with them. He's open to all of their requests, and while he hasn't signed anything, he has made verbal promises he cannot keep. I have let them all know I have power of attorney, and nothing will happen without my consent. Since my time is limited, I just want to go to the cabin on the few days I have available to clean it out. But these folks keep dropping by and consuming precious time. The cabin needs a lot more care than I thought, and I need all the time I can get cleaning and staging it. These many folks have been my parents' friends and were helpful during every stage of their lives, so I'm afraid it would be rude to tell them to leave us alone to get the job done. How can I inoffensively get them to back off and let me do what has to be done? Also, how can I politely let them know to stop asking about the sale of the property, as I plan to go with a conventional method of sale and not some underhanded trade? -- OVERWHELMED BY IT ALL.
DEAR OVERWHELMED: It may be time to draw the line if you want to get the work done in a timely fashion. When these friendly neighbors drop by, tell them (with a smile) that because there is so much work to be done to get the property ready for sale, you do not have time to socialize. Then refer those who are interested in buying to the real estate agent or attorney who will be helping you with the sale.
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