We sold our pristine downtown condo, cleaned thoroughly, with our two tidy cats leaving no mess. Three weeks later, the new owner, Gordon, demanded $10,000, claiming a “cat smell.” Our realtor, Petra, said we owed nothing. My wife, Mira, retaliated by accessing the condo’s smart system, flashing lights and messing with the thermostat. Gordon texted angrily, threatening to sue. Mira uncovered his history of evictions and baseless lawsuits against sellers for “odors.” Petra confirmed Gordon’s scam: he’d buy properties, extort money, then flip them.
Mira escalated, setting off alarms at 3 a.m. and changing the WiFi password. When Gordon listed the condo with false “renovated” claims, Mira reported him, and the listing was pulled. She played a looped recording through the smart speaker, calling out his lies. Gordon demanded $2,000 to settle, but Mira’s lawyer friend, Anik, sent a cease-and-desist letter citing his fraud case in another state. Gordon backed off, signing a letter to drop his claims.
Later, Gordon lost financing and sold the condo at a loss to a cat-loving couple who praised its cleanliness. Petra, our realtor, had recommended them, quietly fighting scammers for years. Over dinner, we celebrated with Petra and the new owners, grateful for the justice and stronger bonds we’d forged.
