Marc von Grundherr, the residential lettings director for London at Benham & Reeves, tells how he got a bit carried away once when trying to let his own place:

“I was keen to get my flat rented. When this woman came to sign the deal, she insisted on a get-out clause of just one week.” Most contracts allow you to get out after six months, not a single week. Yet even von Grundherr – a property professional who knows better – couldn’t quite wave goodbye to the deal. “She had the cash in her hand, and wanted to sign there and then. I think I was just desperate to get the flat away.”

After several hours of negotiation, however, he decided to knock the deal on the head, and got into his car. “She followed me, and was hanging onto the door handle and shouting. I did the classic trick of telling her to go around the back, to get into the passenger seat. As she did so, I immediately drove off. It was like something out of a movie. She ran down the street after me, but I sped away. Afterwards, she sent me about 100 texts, but by then I had come to my senses.” Von Grundherr thinks that his grip on reality became wobbly thanks to the tantalising lure of the contract. “Driving off like that – it’s not behaviour I would ever advise for a client.”

Story from The Times, photo from brlets.co.uk

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