Broken Chandeliers and Oven Fires: What Happens When a Real-Estate Pro Damages a Listing?
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Broken Chandeliers and Oven Fires: What Happens When a Real-Estate Pro Damages a Listing?

It was a total accident, and their worst nightmare

By ROBYN A. FRIEDMAN
Fri, May 17, 2024 9:00amGrey Clock 4 min

Have you ever accidentally damaged a client’s home?

Debby Belt, senior associate, Hammond Residential Real Estate, Chestnut Hill, Mass.

I was representing the seller of a four-bedroom Cape Cod-style home in Newton, Mass., just west of Boston. It was May 2016 and the house was listed for $929,000. It had a beautiful kitchen, with wood cabinets, granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances.

The house went under contract, and it was scheduled for a home inspection. I wanted the house to look pristine for the inspector and buyers, but the kitchen counters were cluttered, so I frantically threw things into drawers, and I put some glassware, baking tins and plates into the oven. When the inspector walked into the kitchen, he turned on the oven to test it without looking inside first. I was in another room at the time, but I smelled something burning, and then heard explosions as the glass shattered.

When I ran into the kitchen, I saw smoke and a small fire in the oven. There was broken glass all over the place, and the kitchen was smoky. Since it was a gas oven, it could have been much worse. The oven was damaged, and the seller wasn’t happy, so I gave her a $500 discount on the commission to offset any damage or credits she would have to give to the buyers. The buyers weren’t too upset, fortunately, because they were probably planning to update the appliances. The home ended up selling for $920,000 with the oven not functioning perfectly. Now, when I meet the inspector, we both still laugh about it.

Jeffrey Kahn, broker, Broker Associates Realty, The Villages, Fla.

In 1995, early in my real-estate career, I was representing the seller of a condominium in a luxury high-rise building on the ocean in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, just north of Fort Lauderdale. My seller had the mistaken impression that the dining room chandelier was excluded from the sale, so she had it taken down just before closing and replaced it with a less-expensive fixture.

When we did the walk-through the day before closing, the buyer noticed that the original chandelier, which was about 3 feet wide and custom-made from oyster shells and glass on a wrought-iron frame, was missing and, since the contract said that the unit was being sold furnished with everything included in the sale we needed to rectify the situation. The buyer was refusing to close because she loved the chandelier, and my commission—about $30,000, which I was going to split with the other agent—was in jeopardy. The original chandelier was packed in a box on the dining room table, and to make the deal happen, I told the seller I would replace her chandelier with a comparable one if we would rehang the original.

It wasn’t a difficult chandelier, and I’ve done a lot of electrical work in my own homes, so I took down the one hanging from the ceiling. As I started to remove the oyster-glass chandelier from the box, a hairless Sphynx cat jumped on the glass dining room table and rubbed against me. I had never seen a cat in the apartment during the entire listing process, so it scared the heck out of me. I dropped the chandelier, which broke, and I ended up having to pay $8,000 for two new chandeliers and electrician fees. Thankfully, the unit sold for $978,000 and my commission was sufficient to cover the costs. I was just happy the glass dining-room table didn’t break because then my whole commission would have been gone.

Joshua Garner, real-estate agent, The Agency, New York City

In October 2022, I was representing the owner of a Classic Seven co-op on the Upper East Side that was listed for $3.1 million. It had three bedrooms and 2,575 square feet of classic prewar details, with 13 windows and high ceilings. It also had the most particular seller ever. She trusted no one but myself to open up and show the apartment, and it took no less than 30 minutes to prepare and close up each time. There was a written checklist I had to follow, in a specific order, that included the proper angle at which to pull the string for the blinds, how to pick up and strategically fold, stack and put away the series of white sheets she had laid out as runners to protect the bedroom carpets and wearing shoe covers and gloves. She would watch everything from Switzerland via her security cameras and would call me to correct the smallest details.

Prospective buyers were told not to touch anything and to stay on designated walking areas, which were placed a distance from the Ming vases. If they wanted to see the interior of a cupboard or closet, I would refer to myself as Vanna White and would respond to what they instructed. I always warned them ahead of time that she was probably watching and that anything they said or did would be recorded. Buyers would enter with their guard up, which made it difficult. One day, after a showing, I couldn’t get one of the blinds to lower properly. I panicked, but I notified her immediately, and she had a maintenance worker inspect it. The cord had come off the internal spool, and even though it was a quick fix, the seller was livid and ready to withdraw the exclusive.

The only thing that saved the listing was offering to pay $300 to fully replace the mechanism to restore it to new condition. Although there were incidents that upset her during other showings, thankfully, nothing else was ever broken. This co-op, which ended up closing for $2.95 million in October 2023, was the most high-stakes deal I ever worked on.

—Edited from interviews by Robyn A. Friedman 



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Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.

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Carved in Stone

The enduring appeal of marble has gone into overdrive as designers explore the beauty of coloured stone to create truly inviting and indulgent interiors.

By Robyn Willis
Wed, Feb 5, 2025 4 min

Like all design movements, the return of marble to interiors started quietly enough with the rise of ‘greige’ as the dominant colour palette. A warm version of grey, for a while there, you could barely step into a well-considered residential space without being confronted with the ubiquitous neutral tone.

However, to be successful, this look depended on texture, layering and patterning to provide truly heartfelt spaces with genuine depth. And so Calacatta and Carrara marble entered the room, literally making itself at home in kitchens, bathrooms, and living room hearths, as well as in a myriad of accessories and furniture from small bowls and coasters to coffee and dining tables.

As greige made way for a return to colour in interiors, in recent years designers have turned their attention to bolder choices, moving on from the classic tones of Calacatta, Carrara, and Pietra marbles to Verde Indio, Spanish Gold, and Calacatta Viola.

Inspired by the raw beauty of the site, Mim Design used marble extensively in this Mornington Peninsula home Mim Design

Not that there is anything new about marble. First documented for use in construction in 3rd century Greece BCE, with evidence it was also used in ancient Turkey and Rome, it was originally chosen for its strength and beauty, as well as its accessibility, extracted from quarries using hammers and wedges and removed using pulleys, levers, and winches rather than the more difficult process of mining. While extraction methods have improved, especially in recent years, the nature of this popular stone is unchanged.

A metamorphic rock composed mostly of calcite, it is formed when limestone is subjected to heat and pressure. When the calcite in the limestone recrystallises, it forms a rock that is a mass of interlocking crystals, creating what we know as marble.

In Melbourne’s St Ali & The Queen cafe and bar, Studio Tate teamed marble and timber to transition from day to night.

While many countries, including Australia, have marble deposits, about half the world’s supply is sourced from just four countries—Spain, Italy, India, and China. Strong enough to endure extended use, it is also soft enough to be relatively easy to carve while its natural beauty allows it to be polished and honed, giving it a glow that adds depth—and a sense of luxury—to any space it inhabits.

Greg Natale marble accessories deliver on style.

Australian designers have been quick to embrace the use of marble, offering, as it does, the opportunity to create truly unique interiors. Creative director of Mim Design, Emma Mahlook, says while budget is always a consideration, a greater variety of marble has become easier to source in recent years.

“Coloured stones provide an opportunity to create distinctive and striking spaces,” she says. “As such, we are finding that there is a slight shift to bolder and braver choices of coloured stone than the traditional whites and greys.”

For homeowners interested in creating distinctive, outstanding spaces, it is hard to beat, with each piece different from the other.

“No batch of stone is ever the same, which makes it so unique and such an interesting and visually appealing product with colours, textures, and patterns that are sometimes as complex as intricate works of art,” says Mahlook.

She cites a recent commercial project her studio realised for Enoteca Boccaccio, an exclusive Italian restaurant in the heart of the Melbourne suburb of Balwyn, where she specified a selection of coloured marbles to create an intimate and luxurious dining experience that looks to the past, as well as the future.

“The choices of natural stone in Enoteca Boccaccio, which featured marbles Rosso Levanto and Carrara as well as a granite called Domino, were selected to reflect Italy’s streets and embody genuine durability and commitment to the art of preservation,” says Mahlook. “Rosso Levanto and Carrara are archaic marbles with such strong significance connecting to Italy’s rich heritage.”

Colour and Communications Manager at Dulux, Andrea Lucena-Orr, says the interest in coloured marble in Australian design has its origins in more transient hospitality spaces like bars and restaurants, where design is traditionally riskier.

“Typically, it starts in hospitality and commercial environments,” she says. “You tend to get it in high-end homes because it is expensive, but it’s beautiful.”

“That whole natural palette is a huge phenomenon—people are celebrating those imperfections in patterns and shapes now.”

Because no two slabs are the same, Mahlook says there’s the ability to create truly distinctive, personal spaces for clients seeking genuinely idiosyncratic interiors.

“The movement towards coloured natural stones reflects a broader cultural shift towards individuality, sustainability, and innovation in design and architecture,” she says.

For those falling under its spell, Director of Studio Tate, Alex Hopkins, says marble pairs well with other materials such as timber and looks beautiful indoors, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms. However, she cautions there are some things to consider before specifying it at home.

“To ensure marble remains a timeless choice rather than a fleeting trend, we recommend using it selectively and pairing it with contrasting materials,” she says. “It’s crucial to understand its maintenance demands and consider the overall budget, including installation and upkeep costs.”

While it is susceptible to staining because of its porosity, Hopkins says using marble sparingly, for example, in a powder room vanity, can minimise maintenance.

“Different finishes, like honed surfaces, can also help reduce the appearance of wear,” she says. “Working with experienced designers or specialists ensures the marble chosen fits both the aesthetic and functional needs of your space.”

Professionally applied sealants can also make staining less likely.

For those bold enough to take the plunge, Hopkins says the rewards are great.

“Its diverse colour palette and natural veining offer a unique aesthetic that other materials can’t match,” she says.

MOST POPULAR
11 ACRES ROAD, KELLYVILLE, NSW

This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan

35 North Street Windsor

Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.

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