This week I was out with buyers showing houses in Palm Bay. I met them at a nice home that was advertised as a short sale. Earlier in the day I called the listing agent for showing instructions on the property. He told me to knock first and then to use the combination lockbox on the front door.
When my buyers arrived, we chatted for a couple of minutes, then headed for the front door. I rang the doorbell a couple of times. No answer. I tried the lockbox code. It didn't open. I tried it again, it still didn't open.
So, I called the listing agent. "Could you please confirm the lockbox code as I am unable to get in to see this property?"
"Okay, let me go through my list of codes of what it could be. Here try this one." I tried it. Nope, that didn't work. I tried it again. No luck again.
"Okay let's try this one. Maybe this is it," he said. I tried it, and low and behold, that was the one. It worked. I thanked him profusely, I rang the doorbell two more times and unlocked the door. "Hello, is anyone home?" I called out, as I always do.
All of the lights were off and the shades were drawn. It was quite dark inside. I began flipping lights on. As we walked into the dark kitchen we noticed that there were 2 pots steaming on the stove. Uh-oh, I thought, someone must be here. I looked at the buyers and they thought the same thing. "Someone has to be home with pots getting ready to boil over on the stove."
"Hello, hello, anyone home?" No answer again.
Feeling a bit uneasy we headed down the dark hall and flipped on a light. I stuck my head in the door of one room while my buyer stuck his head in the room next room.
"Sandy, there's a woman sleeping in the bed," the buyer sputtered. He talked so fast, I wasn't sure what he had said at first.
I turned around, and next thing I know, my buyers were racing through the house towards the front door.
The woman woke up.
We had alarmed her.
She came down the hall and I told her I was there to look at the house and I had spoken to her agent to set an appointment.
"Is this a good time?"
She starting swinging her arms above her head and screaming in a language other than English. I'm not sure what she was saying, but it was perfectly clear that we were not welcome in her home. I knew she wanted us out, NOW.
I headed for the door, apologizing. "I'm sorry, to alarm you. I was unaware that anyone was home. I rang the doorbell several times, and there was no answer. I am sorry to have caught you at such a bad time."
As she continued waving her arms in the arm, suddenly she hesitated, she stopped and shook her head. Then, she began waving for me to come back in. "Are you sure?" I asked. She shook her head.
I called for the buyers to come and look at the home.
The seller began opening doors for us, all the while speaking in a different language.
We finished our tour and thanked her very much.
When we got outside the buyer's wife was shaking. "Are you okay?" I asked. "Oh my gosh, that scared me half to death. How often do you walk in on someone?"
"Not very often. Unfortunately, it's not the first time and it won't be the last."
As a seller I wouldn't want to come face to face with someone standing in my living room, without me knowing they were there. Although I had spoken to the agent and confirmed an appointment earlier in the day. And, I was standing out front talking with the listing agent, to get the correct lockbox code just minutes before we walked into the home.
Just another day in the life of a real estate agent.
I just hope one day I don't walk into the home of someone packing a pistol.
Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate
Brevard County Real Estate & Investing
I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.
that for you
Sandy,
That must have been fun. I have gone to homes without the buyer knowing we were coming but never walked in on them when the were asleep and alarmed.
Having grown up in Brevard County I suspect that is a realistic possibility. Scary thought and I hope it never happens. I did walk in on a couple having sex once but they were surpisingly cool, but a little embarrassed about it.
Sandy - how frightening for you and your clients! I've walked in on couples making out, drug parties, and other things I don't even want to think about but at least all of mine spoke english so I knew immediatley what kind of trouble we were facing. I'm glad it all turned out for the best.
Sandy,
Its always good to preview before bringing clients out, even if the preview time is just before they arrive. I'm glad no one was hurt.
I think I would have had a heart attack! We've all caught someone unsuspecting at home, but I've never had one that dramatic!
Sandy,
I have walked in a few people....I tried not to freak out. Vacant houses are the worst...
Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO
That is a very uncomfortable thing to have happened -- for all concerned.
Sandy - I haven't had that happen to me during a showing. But have had a couple of other memorable events. Once I was out showing property, and drove by a home not on my list to show that day. It was being held OPEN. Since we were in the neighborhood we decided to view it. I noticed a car in the driveway, but that was about it. Well, the OPEN HOUSE must have been really slow, because the agent was sound asleep on the couch.
Oh my goodness Sandy! Not only did it scare you and your buyers, but I agree as a seller I would not want to wake up surprised like that! I often wonder why people don't want lock boxes...maybe they are they ones that have been surprised before. :-) Thank goodness there were no pistols - that's a scary thought!
Sandy, That must have been awful for everyone! Maybe it's a good thing she didn't speak English well but I'm glad she finally allowed your buyers to see the home.
Sandy
Now that was an experience; an experience that we don't need.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Wow! That sounded pretty scary for everyone involved. I have not encountered a sleeping seller yet and I hope I never do.
Some of the most horrifying and dangerous moments in our business. I'm just glad you're OK...
When I was out showing homes, I was always one to knock, yell, knock, yell, and then as we toured the home, I would still call out in some of the spookier homes.
Oompa: ohhhh the stories you have to tell your grand children.
Sandy, I always give a shout out and like you have been startled by unexpected residents. By leading the way on showings you're always going to be the initial contact. Be careful out there!
I can't even imagine being asleep and waking up to multiple people in my bedroom. However as a Realtor this has happened to me also, MULTIPLE times. After you knock 42 times and no answers and then you come in and call out 42 times, your best guess is NO ONE IS HOME. And then la di da! Who knows what is in that room you hear noise in? I am glad it all turned out okay Sandi!
Ted, Yes it does occasionally happen, I have walked in on a hand full of people sleeping, but this was the only one that woke up while we were there.
Tom, It happens. I walked in on a man walking through his bedroom in only a towel. I jumped 6 feet. (He was pretty handsome though -LOL)
Susan, I think that it all does turn out for the best. Sellers know the house is on the market, so occasionally there is bound to be a surprise.
Dee, I always have it in the back of my mind, that someday one may be a bit TOO startled.
Janna, I think my buyer was about to flip and the woman was clearly NOT happy with the situation at first.
Ann, I agree, that sometimes today vacant houses can be the worst. I walked into a house FULL of transients, that had occupied several of the rooms of the house. When I opened the front door they all scattered in different directions. Very scary. But, I had knocked and yelled several times before entering.
Bob and Carolin, I suppose it's part of our business.
Myrl, Too funny. I've never walked in on a sleeping realtor at an open house. Ouch!
Mary, Some people don't want lockboxes, maybe this is the reason why.
Carole, It's probably good that this woman didn't speak English. I don't think she was being too nice at first.
Lou, You're right, the less often that happens, the better.
Irene, Oh, it will probably happen someday. You never know what you're going to encounter.
Paul, I know, she could have hit me over the head with a frying pan. No, seriously, you never know, do you?
Susan, I do the same thing, knock and yell and continue doing so. This woman at first was dead to the world.
Hi TOTO, Between rental house stories and real estate stories, I think I'm going to write a book someday.
Kevin, Calling out along the way helps. I agree.
Debra, The lady actually greeted me in her living room, my buyers were out the front door so fast, it made my head spin. But, occasionally we do call over and over and the owners don't hear us.
Sandy,
I am very leary of looking at vacant houses alone......
Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO
Ann, We can never be too careful, can we? You be safe out there!
Sandy,
Being in a college town we encounter the same thing, ALOT! Stepping over passed out students who don't remember you called the day before to show the home. I've learned to ALWAYS knock on closed doors when showing property ! You never know whats waiting on the other side.
My office colleague encountered a vagrant who was sleeping in one of her vacant listings and entering thru the doggie door. He kept his things in the attic during the day and sleeping, showering and using the kitchen during the night. He had a great setup until someone came to check on the house around 7:30am and found him before he could wake up.
You never know what'll happen. When you write that book, let me know & I'll add a couple of stories. Take Care out there!
Diana, Wow, I bet that you have some stories to tell...walking over the bodies of passed out college students. That's inviting. I agree with knocking on closed doors on properties, you never know what lurks behind any door. I'll take you up on that offer, when I write a book we can add some of your stories too.
Had it happen at a Home Inspection also. Luckily the Agents were both there. They had assured me the home was empty. When I walked into that second floor bedroom, a teenage girl was sleeping there. I left immediately and found the REALTORS and asked them to go see what was going on. Funny thing, when they got to the bedroom the girl was still asleep. Teenagers! They can sleep through anything!
Thank You,
Richard Acree
Comments in this blog posting are the copyrighted intellectual property of Richard Acree, President, HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, and contributing members of the Active Rain Real Estate network, and are intended to educate and otherwise assist home owners, sellers and buyers, building owners, sellers and buyers, realtors, real estate investors, property managers, and lenders in the process of owning, buying or selling homes or commercial buildings. HABITEC is a residential (home) and commercial building inspection company serving Middle Tennessee including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, Dickson, Belle Meade, Columbia, Spring Hill and more! In addition to building inspections HABITEC offers Environmental Services for mold assessments, radon testing and water quality analysis. Additional information about HABITEC can be found on our website at http://www.habitecinspections.com, or call 615-376-2753.
Richard Acree is the author of the HABITEC Home and Building Inspections Blog and founder of the ActiveRain Group Tennessee Home and Building Inspectors. All are welcome to join and see more blogs like this one.
Had it happen at a Home Inspection also. Luckily the Agents were both there. They had assured me the home was empty. When I walked into that second floor bedroom, a teenage girl was sleeping there. I left immediately and found the REALTORS and asked them to go see what was going on. Funny thing, when they got to the bedroom the girl was still asleep. Teenagers! They can sleep through anything!
Thank You,
Richard Acree
Comments in this blog posting are the copyrighted intellectual property of Richard Acree, President, HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, and contributing members of the Active Rain Real Estate network, and are intended to educate and otherwise assist home owners, sellers and buyers, building owners, sellers and buyers, realtors, real estate investors, property managers, and lenders in the process of owning, buying or selling homes or commercial buildings. HABITEC is a residential (home) and commercial building inspection company serving Middle Tennessee including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, Dickson, Belle Meade, Columbia, Spring Hill and more! In addition to building inspections HABITEC offers Environmental Services for mold assessments, radon testing and water quality analysis. Additional information about HABITEC can be found on our website at http://www.habitecinspections.com, or call 615-376-2753.
Richard Acree is the author of the HABITEC Home and Building Inspections Blog and founder of the ActiveRain Group Tennessee Home and Building Inspectors. All are welcome to join and see more blogs like this one.