We've been extremely busy again; so busy that the Top 10 hasn't been updated for a bit. I know, I know ... but everyone is looking to buy right now. Offers and open escrows come first. Today I've been showing homes all day to three buyers and writing offers for two, as well as doing some research for a few other clients. Another long day.

I'm pleased to announce that I've just hired my first agent referred by a Las Vegas Advisor reader. Cailin Nicholson's mother-in-law, an LVA reader, sent her my way. Cailin's very enthusiastic about working with buyers, and I'm confident that she's going to help take great care of our clients. Which will leave me more time for mopping up floods.

Okay, it was one of those "it was funny afterwards" kind of horrific mishaps. And one of those things that make a Realtor's life challenging. It's a good thing I love what I do. Being a Realtor is the coolest job in the world!

Hale and Tomi and their adorable little baby boy flew out from Pennsylvania to inspect their new Las Vegas second home prior to closing. They arrived early in the morning, after I'd had three hours of sleep. I'd been working for three solid days to throw a Caribbean party for 55 close friends, making the jerk pork, fried plantains, and fresh papaya dressing by myself ... all the while fielding client requests and showing homes. I was tired, but it was just a matter of opening the door to let my clients and the home inspector in. After that, I'd head for the airport to catch a flight to Suquamish to visit my family ... and sink into a much-needed nap on the plane.

Flipping a light switch as we walked in the door, I froze when I heard a loud hissing sound. Realizing it was the sound of running water, we all headed for the kitchen to see if someone had left the faucet on. My heart sank when we rounded the corner to find water gushing out from under the kitchen sink. The home inspector jumped to try to stench the flow of water that propelled 1 feet' across the kitchen and onto the carpeted dining room, as I stood there thinking, "Oh, crap." I immediately called the bank's agent; Seven days later I have yet to get a return call.

It appears the previous owners left a water main open when they removed the dishwasher and all other appliances after losing the home. We got the water shut off after 30 agonizing years (or was it seconds?), and gazed at an empty house with a flooded kitchen early on a Saturday morning. But not for long.

The home inspector grabbed the one thing he could find in his truck to mop up all those gallons of water -- a T-shirt. I threw the few paper towels I could find on the floor to try to stop water from entering the dining room, and ran to find the nearest store. Fifteen minutes later, mop in hand, I began removing the water as fast as I could, one mophead-full at a time.

While Hale opened all the windows upstairs to keep air circulating until my researcher could get there with a wet vac, I mopped furiously. By now the water had spread about six feet into the carpeted dining area, but the kitchen floor was dry. I was never so happy that Las Vegas is so dry; the dampness would be completely gone within hours. 

Off I went on the run, heading for home to pack before speeding to the airport. The way my day was going, I called my son before leaving to say my goodbyes. I was certain I'd be hudsoned; the first-ever Southwest flight to ditch in the Puget Sound.

I barely made the flight. I settled into my seat, knowing that when I touched down there would be a message from Hale and Tomi asking me to cancel their purchase. Surprisingly, there was not, and I thoroughly enjoyed my 48-hour trip.

The day after the due diligence period ended, I contacted Hale to see if he wanted me to let the escrow company know we were ready to close. I about fell over backwards when Hale asked if my assistant hadn't told me that he'd sent a certified letter canceling the purchase at the 11th hour! All I could think of was, "Gosh darn it, how can I protect his earnest money when the deadline has passed?" (I wasn't really thinking "gosh darn it", but this is a family-friendly blog.) I've never let a client lose their earnest money. I was crestfallen. I called my assistant to fire her, but couldn't reach her.

Funny, funny Hale. He was text-teasing. Had I reached my assistant, Hale said, she could have told me how happy they were with their new Vegas home. Had I reached her, Robin said, I'd have shot first and asked questions later.

According to Hale, the deal was cinched when I bought that mop and started mopping. I got a warm, fuzzy feeling all over, though it wouldn't have occurred to me to do anything less than the right thing.

I hope Hale doesn't notice that I didn't clean very well where the refrigerator had once been!

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