I got a call the other day from a man that indicated he was "good friends" with my seller over on 12345 Main St. here in Melbourne Florida. He indicated that he had looked at my seller, 'Bob's' house for the second time in a week and he wanted to buy it.
I smelled skunk. RED FLAG #1 - I have known my seller for years. And he's very conscientious. Why was this 'buyer' calling me and Bob hadn't called to tell me this ahead of time? Not like Bob, at all! AND, I know I had not made any appointments this past week for showings on this particular property.
He told me that after speaking to Bob, inside of his house for 45 minutes today, he and 'Bob' had come to terms on a sales price. I smelled skunk! RED FLAG #2! Again, not like Bob!
"Are you working with a REALTOR?, " I asked. figuring I already knew the answer to this question.
"No, I'm not."
"How long have you and Bob been friends?" I asked. I wanted to sniff this skunk out!
"Oh, well, umm, well, umm," he stuttered, "we met this week." OFFICIALLY A SKUNK! I KNEW IT! RED FLAG #3! Three strikes and you're out. Dead in the water. I knew it! HE LIED TO ME - EVEN WORSE!
My first thought was...OH NO, my seller let a perfect stranger into his house without even knowing who he was! This is one of my greatest fears in being an agent! And, the first sentence out of the guy's mouth was a lie! OH NO!
When I take a listing I always tell sellers NOT TO LET ANYONE IN THEIR HOMES unaccompanied by an agent!
I don't like lies and deception and I especially don't like people that play games. I was not happy at all. I wanted to get this guy off the phone.
"So, what is your offer?" I don't like to do anything verbally in real estate. I like everything in writing. But, I could imagine what this guy was going to tell me next!
"Well, Bob and I have already agreed to everything, but he told me that I needed to talk to you before we went any further."
This guy continued on and on and on, as I interrupted and interrupted and interrupted because the more I talked to him the more I thought the guy was a wheeler dealer - the type that I really don't care for! I wanted to get him OFF the phone!
"Look," I said, "just get to the bottom line here, what is your offer?"
Well, the bottom line was, he had no lender, he was offering $160,000 on a $120,000 listing. But, told me that he'd like to have 2 separate contracts with 2 different sets of numbers on them. (Don't waste my time, buddy!) He wanted to take possession of the property immediately, with an open date for closing. He even had the gall to tell me that he would give me a $5000 kickback, after closing, if I would agree to do this transaction and not tell anyone about the kickback! Unbelievable! I WAS APPALLED! He reminded me 6 times that he and my seller had already come to terms on this transaction. I was not at all surprised by his offer. When he was finished, he added that he and I could go into partnership together and make lots and lots of money together! He said he could show me all "kinds" of creative ways to make serious money!
Under the circumstances, I remained very professional, and hung up on this joker.
Needless to say, the minute I got off the phone, I contacted 'Bob' immediately. As, I previously mentioned, we have know each other for years. I know I sounded like his mother. "What are you doing letting a perfect stranger into your house? You don't know him, you know better, yada, yada, yada..." I spewed. When I finished giving him his 40 lashes, I asked him if he had arranged a "deal" with this guy. I presented the offer to my seller, as my job is to present any and all offers, verbal or written.
"Sandy, I told this guy that this sounded illegal and I would not do anything that is illegal and I would not do anything at all without my REALTOR!"
I commended Bob.
Bob also told me that this guy was adamant about NOT getting Bob's Realtor involved. Said they could do it without a Realtor and it would be more money to Bob.
Well, needless to say what this guy was proposing was 100% ILLEGAL!
SELLERS BE CAREFUL! DO NOT LET ANYONE IN YOUR HOME THAT IS UNACCOMPANIED BY YOUR REALTOR OR A REALTOR THAT HAS A PRESET APPOINTMENT TO LOOK AT YOUR HOME! BOB was LUCKY!
This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL REALTOR.
It is the exclusive property of, and may not be used without the written permission of Sandy Shores, Brevard County, Florida Space Coast. All information is believed to be accurate, but is not warranted. Copyright 2008.
that for you
Good smeller there Sandy. Unfortunately, this "crook" will probably find someone to bamboozle, more than likely someone in trouble.
Oh yeah, he's just playing to the desperate. Some poor soul is going to get taken to the cleaners. Good for you for sniffing him out!
Hi Fred, If you had gotten this guy on the phone, you would have also had him pegged within the first couple of minutes! I am certain he will, in fact, find someone in trouble. People must be so careful these days!
Hi Susan, Yes, he is playing to the desperate. But our sellers must know not to let these people in their homes! I truly hope he doesn't find someone needy, but this is how these crooks get their kicks.
Sandy,
WOW! Some people are really unbelievable! I am happy your seller knew better than to take the bait.
Ann
only one word comes to mind- INCREDIBLE ! I hope the skunk gets caught.
Thanks for the reminder warning, Sandy!
When you ask all the right questions like you did then it is easy to spot the trickster.
It is too bad that our industry has to deal with these types of characters.
Sandy, This guy gives skunks a bad name. As a professional we see phoneys all the time. This is such an old scam. If I were him I would go after a FSBO or two...
Sandy, What amazes me is no matter how detailed I am with my sellers about not letting anyone in, they still do it. I wish they would listen!! The danger is crazy, so easy to get in with a good line!
Sandy, wow this market brings out all kinds, huh? We have bottom feeders, but an honest bottom feeder you know what you've got, this guy is a crook. Why are we in this mess with the banks??? loans by and for people like this.
Unfortunately the crooks are alive and well! Great gut feeling from the beginning. Your seller is luck he has an agent he trust so much. Some would have thought they hit the jackpot.
Print out copies of mortgage fraud articles and give them to your seller. Unbelievable. Did you by chance get the skunks name and phone number? Would be worth alerting agents in your area to him.
Hi Ann, I am glad that my seller was smart enough to do nothing without me, but I was really upset that he let this guy in his house!
Hi Mary, I'm sure that someone will get caught in his trap, and I, too, hope that he is put away. But, somehow these guys seem to crop up everywhere.
Hi Sabrina, I think alot of it is in asking the right questions. But, the funny thing is, so often you can spot these guys right when they open their mouths.
Hi Paul, I have to say, these guys usually do go after the FSBO's- pretty gusty going after one with an agent involved. We do see phonys all the time and must be cautious.
Unfortunately it only takes one lousy Realtor and I desperate seller for this guy to get what he wants. Good job getting this out there.
Hi Lorene, I think that you hit the nail on the head. ANYONE can get into someone's house with the right line - and that is very scary!
Terrylynn, Unfortunately, I think that there are crooks in no matter what market you're in. And, if people weren't giving in to these crooks then they wouldn't be able to do business. Luckily, my seller told him to call me. We must just be sure that everyone knows to alert our sellers about issues like these.
Hi Valerie, Thanks for nice compliment. Yes I do agree that some would have thought they hit the jack on this one!
Hi Kris, There are others in our area that have heard of very similar stories to this one. So we are all keeping our eyes and ears peeled.
I definitely would like to have gotten his name, number and address so I could forward it on to the local police department or the FBI for loan fraud... also sounds like a dangerous person, be careful.
Hi Mary, Unfortunately these slimey characters are always lurking around somewhere. I think the argument by this guy could be that he knocked on the door, and the homeowner let him in. And, in this situation he had done nothing wrong YET. Don't know how many times he had done it in the past. I think he has to be caught in the act, don't you? Seems there are always loopholes for the criminals.
Great to pass this along - there are always some unscrupulous people out there.
Sandy,
At least your seller did not do anything without you there!
Ann
Good grief-that guy had some nerve. I guess he thought you would just go along. Sounds like you handled it quite nicely!
Sandy,
When the little hairs on the back of my neck go up, it is almost impossible to get them to go back down......great job!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Hi Carol, You're so right - isn't it sad though. No matter what type of market we're in, the snakes always seem to slither out from under some rock, somewhere to hunt for their prey!
Hi Ann, My seller is great! We're still friends today. I was a bit surprised he let this guy in his house. And I told him so. He was lucky!
Pam, Yeah, unfortunately there are always those gutsy, nervy people we must all look out for! I hope that in the future an owner, any agent's owner doesn't wind up in a terrible situation due to one of these crooks!
Dan, I think you're right. I always go with my gut. It hasn't failed me yet. Thanks and take care!
Sandy,
Yes, he was very fortunate.
Ann