When Uncle Bob Ruins the Showing

A December Real Estate Story

December always brings a special kind of chaos to real estate. There’s the rush of holiday travel, the unpredictability of seller schedules, and the occasional last-minute attempt to “clean up” that somehow makes things worse. But nothing compares to the moment when you unlock the door for a showing, step inside with a hopeful buyer, and realize you’ve just walked into a living room that has been transformed into Uncle Bob’s temporary bedroom.

You know the scene instantly. There’s an air mattress parked right in the middle of the room, covered in a holiday blanket that’s seen better years. Beside it sits an open suitcase, a half-finished plate of leftovers, a scattering of snacks, and the unmistakable sound of snoring that echoes through the house. The buyer stops. You stop. The holiday decorations twinkle in the corner as if they, too, are unsure how to react.

This kind of moment happens more than most agents would care to admit. Families come into town. Guest rooms disappear beneath piles of coats and wrapping paper. Sellers forget a showing is scheduled. And Uncle Bob—who lives by his own rules—decides the living room is the most comfortable place to set up camp. For the buyer, it’s a shock. For the agent, it’s a delicate dance of professionalism and silent disbelief.

There’s always that first stunned pause, followed by the slow head tilt and the classic whispered question: “he is not included, right?” Meanwhile you’re trying to recover the experience, assure the buyer that the home doesn’t normally look like a holiday campground, and mentally wish you had a time machine.

But beneath the comedy is a real truth about selling homes in December: life happens. Houses get messy. Families get busy. Unexpected guests appear out of nowhere. Yet the demand for strong first impressions never goes away.

This is where 3D virtual tours change everything. They present the home exactly as it should look—clean, polished, bright, and welcoming—regardless of what’s actually happening inside at that moment. A virtual tour doesn’t care if someone overslept on the air mattress or if half the living room is temporarily dedicated to storing luggage. It keeps your listing show-ready around the clock. Buyers can explore every room without interruptions. Out-of-town shoppers can “walk” the property from anywhere. And you maintain control of the presentation, even when the seller can’t.

So while December may be full of surprises, your marketing doesn’t have to suffer because of them. A great 3D virtual tour ensures the home is always shown in its best light—even if Uncle Bob is still asleep in the middle of the living room.

Wishing you a happy holiday season—may all your showings be merry, bright, and totally Uncle-Bob-free.