It seems like more and more of the homes that I'm showing are vacant... Many are already bank owned or are short-sales where the sellers have moved on in anticipation of foreclosure.
I had an experience in the early 90's while renovating a home in Winter Park that has made me very aware of the pitfalls of vacant homes. While the home was for sale, I stopped by one afternoon to find a vagrant had moved in and was enjoying the luxurious master suite. Needless to say... it was a rude awakening for everyone involved. Since that experience, I've become very aware of the hazards of vacant homes.
I was out showing property Saturday afternoon when I walked up to open the door of a home... The door was not only unlocked it was ajar. Before entering the property, I telephoned the listing agent to advise him of the situation... I left a message 48 hours ago with no return call.
Would you have shown this property?
Do you routinely check on your vacant listings?
Licensed Real Estate Professional, ALHS, e-PRO @ 407.758.1020 or Debbie@CasAndDebbie.com
We check on our vacant listings but I know it can be eerie especially when you are in a rural area. I once found a squatter in a vacant home that I went to to do a CMA. (Keys were mailed to me). It was frightening!
We always have to stay on our toes. Good for you to call the agent. That was thoughtful.
There was a foreclosure in my neighborhood that was under contract. Whoever was there working on the home left and didn't even close the door. The door was wide open. I left a message with the listing agent and I emailed as well. I guess he didn't care because he never acknowledged my messages.
I owuld have never shown that property and moved away from it as quickly as I can. There is a lot of elements of crime or trouble lurking around on these vacancies and no comission check is worth your safety
It is very hard for me to understand putting a lockbox on a property that I have been entrusted to sell. With designated agency, if my agents don't represent the seller at a showing, it is hard for me to understand how they can justify earning a commission. We (as the broker) do all the advertising for the agents, so it isn't their marketing skills, necessarily. I've heard that agents can't be in two places at once - that's why they put a lockbox on the home. Well, that's true, but if you can't represent the listing, you shouldn't have it. There are plenty of other hungry agents out there that will drop everything that they are doing to show a home, or manage an open house. I've yet to hear a reasonable response to why it's ok to put a lockbox on a home. Anyone got a clever answer?
I always check my listings every few days. So I only take listings within about 20 miles from my home. If I can't reasonably and reliably represent a seller I will give them as a referral to an agent that specializes in that neighborhood. Good for you for letting that listing agent know something was amiss. I am glad you played it safe! Good luck!
Betina
Jean - I hope that your first call was to the police... If I was alone, I would have never entered the property.
Melody - It was the right thing to do... He probably didn't know the door was so swollen from the rain that it will never close, it is a no-win situation. Hopefully I wasn't the first one to tell him this.
I like it Betina, good job! I don't know how you guys could do your jobs safely without a concealed weapons permit and some back up. It is amazing that showings gone wrong is such a rare thing. Be SAFE! - Randall
I showed a property last weekend that was vacant. There was no furniture in the house. When we walked in the front door a person came out of the bathroom and said that they had just rented the house and hadn't moved in all their furniture just yet. It was kind startling for my customers and I.
Angelia - It's too bad that he wouldn't give you the courtesy of a follow-up call or email... I don't understand the lack of common courtesy.
Betina - Good for you... I agree with you 100%.
Randall- I'm with you Betina is right on track... I guess that I'm lucky, I've had just a few occasions where I had a really bad feeling about a showing.
Rob - That has also happened to me, it is very uncomfortable... The funniest experience I had was catching the homeowner's of a vacant house "in the act" during a showing... No furniture... No problem. I was scared for life from that one.
I've seen this happen. I had a realtor partner call me because a home was wide open when she went to show it. She was early and didn't feel safe going in alone so she went to her car and waited for me to show up. Thankfully, no one was in the home, but I have to admit I was a bit nervous as well. I think the buyers could feel the discomfort we had and decided against writing on the home. I spoke with the listing agent and he was unaware the home was vacant.
Warmly,
Travis Egan, Delavan, Wisconsin
Excellent post Debbie! Besides the safety elements you mentioned, consider this, many standard HO3 homeowner's insurance policies will not cover claims submitted for properties that have been vacant for more than 60 days. This exclusion varies from state to state so I would recommend every RE agent check with the owner before you allow a home to remain vacant for more than 60 days. I've heard of storm damaged vacant homes that are not covered. Now that's a rude awakening!
Travis - I'm glad that you went over to help your partner, I would have been nervous too.
Bobby - Excellent Point! Always consult with your insurance professional before vacating your property... Thank Bobby!
I had no idea about the insurance exclusion. Thanks for helping to get the word out. This is critical info in these critical times!
I showed a home in Orange County on Sunday. When I arrived at the front door, the combo was set to the code to open the door before I got there...and it was a vacant house. I added homefeedback.com to all of our listings. So, as soon as an agent shows the home, they are sent a survey for follow-up and I'm sent an email.
Atleast I can track what agent has been there...but when going to a vacant home...proceed with caution...who knows who's there.
Hi Debbie, we do try to visit all our vacant listings once a week, and make certain nothing is awry. We have had a report from a Portland OR agent that they pulled up to a vacant home for a showing and a car was in the driveway. Turns out a robbery was teking place right at that time -- and the agent did not call 911 right away. I'd call the cops first, and show the home later! John
Hi Debbie, we do try to visit all our vacant listings once a week, and make certain nothing is awry. We have had a report from a Portland OR agent that they pulled up to a vacant home for a showing and a car was in the driveway. Turns out a robbery was teking place right at that time -- and the agent did not call 911 right away. I'd call the cops first, and show the home later! John
Hi Debbie, we do try to visit all our vacant listings once a week, and make certain nothing is awry. We have had a report from a Portland OR agent that they pulled up to a vacant home for a showing and a car was in the driveway. Turns out a robbery was teking place right at that time -- and the agent did not call 911 right away. I'd call the cops first, and show the home later! John
I actually had something like this happen last year in Sheeler Oaks I called the agent. We had a weird feeling inside and things didnt seem right so we left then I remembered the agent telling me there were all new appliance but when we showed it there were none. There was a tooth brush some body wash a small tv and a mattress on the floor I think a transient was living there. It's scary. Cant believe the agent never called back. Bank owned or not.
OMG, 48 hours an they havent even called back... i gotta think it was the kind of message that would have gotten their attn. that is unless, they acted on the msg and fixed it but were not courteous enough to thank you.
huh
chris the implementer
p.s. in light of Heather's comment above, i think she may be on to something... that this housing crisis and the homeless crisis amy have negated one another out!!!... just a thought! =0)
chris [again]
Eva - I'm sure we will have a disclosure soon that advises sellers of their insurance liabilities with vacant homes.
John - The agent should have dialed 911... I'm sorry my safety and the buyer's safety comes first.
Heather - Very CREEPY... I had a showing at my vacant Lake Mary listing yesterday, I'm going to stop by this morning and make sure everything is locked up.
Chris - I'm hoping the agent has done something... I also provided feedback in an email to him with no response... There was only 1 photo of the home, do I see a trend?
Debbie - I went to inspect a vacant property in the country a few weeks ago and was glad my husband was along for the ride the doors were wide open and I was inside before I realized it had been broken into. While we all take percautions one wonders if the are enough. That is a first for me in 35 plus years of real estate ... A Rude Awakening
I phoned the listing agent's office and he was back to me almost right away and the police were in touch with in a few hours
I ran into a similar situation this past summer. I quickly opened the lock box and locked up the house and left. I called the listing agent and haven't heard back yet. Over 2 months ago.
Wow Debbie, that is not only scary but terrible that an agent would not know this but didn't promptly return your call. If I was the seller and found this out I would not be happy in any sense of the word. Shame on whoever did not properly secure the door too after leaving - whoever it was. I think you did a great thing with contacting them and not taking any chances. I have heard horror stories of the way listings are left after clients come through with their agents - the best advice I know of is stop by and visit your listing often enough to make sure all is secure and all is looking well. ~ Anne Marie
Sweetie, please be careful. I do a drive by and pop in at unexpected times enough that the neighbors will call me if they see someone lurking around. I always make it my business to introduce myself to the neighbors and hand out lots of business cards.
Kathy - I'm glad that your husband was along for the ride... Safety first!
Anne Marie - You are exactly right, I feel responsible for the vacant homes that I list and I think that it is only right to check on them on a weekly basis.
Carolyn - That 's a great plan... plus it can lead to more business.
A Big Concern! We had a situation where the neighborhood Kids - (hoodlums) had a party just two days before COE. Not good.. The REO Company ended up paying many $$$ to clean it up to close!
I would have called the listing agent too. I would NOT go in if the door was ajar when it was supposed to be locked!
There are all kinds of issues with vacant listings. I do check up on them on a regular basis and I encourage my clients to do the same.
Hi Debbie:
I had vagrants spending the night. They would go in a basement window. I also caught people having sex in a townhouse (not the owners). I guess I could go on and on.
Best
Richard
That does worry me with vacant listings, especially isolated rural ones which are pretty common around here. There was one about two years ago that was broken into multiple times. I never get out of my car until my buyers are present because of the concerns like these.