The Real Deal New York

From the January issue: Being a broker isn’t always easy. Supposedly loyal clients can dump you, a million dollar commission can slip through your fingers or an eagerly anticipated open house can go horrendously wrong. But it is usually the latter that provides the most entertaining stories – at least for those not directly involved. A recent cluster of thefts at open houses on the Upper East Side illustrated just how vulnerable sellers can be and underscored the need for broker vigilance. In this case, two women wearing disguises slipped into high-end open houses and made off with expensive jewelry, luggage and even a bottle of champagne. Needless to say, brokers at those open houses did not have a good day. Here are the tales of other brokers who have also had less-than-stellar experiences at open houses.