Sellers find out their buyer does not support use of face masks, but he’s coming back with inspectors — so what should they do?

Q: We believe we undersold our home of 40 years. Yes, the accepted price exceeded our wildest expectations. However, today we learned there is a home in our neighborhood with an asking price higher than the selling price we accepted. Our friends live next door to the house for sale and are reporting a stream of buyer’s agents showing the property to their clients. Interestingly enough, the seller’s agent for this newly listed property represented the second-highest bidder on our home. He also is an office mate of our seller’s agent. Even more disconcerting, tonight, my husband “researched” the winning buyer online to find him debasing the use of face masks to stave off the spread of COVID-19. Our buyer’s digression into this 100-year pandemic proclaims the use of face masks is to “control us.” We’re in an at-risk age group and live in our home. This buyer was in our house the day before last, and he is due back with inspectors on Tuesday and Thursday. It was our understanding that all agents and homebuyers follow strict safety protocols. Regardless, we think this homebuyer probably has and will put our health at risk by not wearing a face mask in our home. We now want to cancel the sale and the listing and wait out the pandemic. Any suggestions? A: Stay calm and professional. You might talk to a real estate attorney, but he or she probably will not take the case. Your seller’s agent did his or her job. Your home sale is sparking a bump in neighborhood prices. That’s not uncommon. I suggest you make it clear to the agents involved that you expect everyone to wear face masks and observe COVID-19 home sales procedures in your county. Additionally, to ensure people are wearing masks, make sure one of you is in the front yard and one in the back. Open every window and affix each door wide open. Please make yourselves comfortable, pull up a chair and let them feel your watchful eyes. Complete this great sale and bank your proceeds. Menacingly misguided fellow citizens like your buyer can unnecessarily drive our economy downward, and perhaps, eventually, home prices with it. Questions? Seeking proven strategies when brokering real estate? Full-service Realtor Pat Kapowich is a Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager and career-long consumer protection advocate. Contact Pat at 408-245-7700, or Pat@ Siliconvalleybroker.com Broker License 00979413