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Caution in showing vacant homes on the market, especially in the rural parts!

By
Real Estate Agent with Vintage Shoppe Realty

I had a vacant home listed several years back now, and this home was located in the middle of a 5 acre tract of land that surrounded it, also for sale. This was a very much older home in great need of TLC, the owners had left the power and water on, and it did have a few very old furnishings in it. I had just met an appraiser that morning at the home, we locked it up and left. I went back later with an agent out of my office to show her the listing, only to find that there was a homeless person living in the back bedroom, needless to say that when we walked in the house, he ran out the back! He had been storing his belongings in the closet of the bedroom. I was so glad that I had not had a buyer with me, and that I did not come alone! I told the homeowner that they needed to secure the property if we were going to keep it on the market for the safety of the agents and their clients. That was pretty scary, makes me laugh now, but it sure wasn't funny at the time... 

Even to this day, when I show vacant homes, I always remember that experience, and how glad I was that the person living in the home ran out the back....

Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Real Estate One - Commerce, MI
Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

I had a squatter in a house we were buying.  At least it was a HUD home and they got rid of the squatter.

Apr 30, 2009 01:35 PM
Suzanne R. Wright
Vintage Shoppe Realty - Burleson, TX
Real Estate Broker / Owner

That sure is something that you never forget, huh? Especially in these times, lots of folks could hide out in the vacant homes.... thanks for your comment Russ!

Apr 30, 2009 01:38 PM
Rosalinda Morgan
Brookville, NY
"The Rose Lady"

That must be a scary thing.  There are times when I really feel real estate is a very dangerous profession.  You never know what you'll find in an empty house.

Apr 30, 2009 01:43 PM
Suma Kakani
Northern IL Realtor - Keller Williams Success Realty - Prairie View, IL

Suzanne, Really. Wow, It is pretty scary. thank god that you didn't go alone. good to know.

Apr 30, 2009 01:45 PM
Judy Schneider
eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

I have not experienced any Squatters yet in any of the listings I have shown! I did open the door and found a very large dog at one home that was vacant. Also very scary!!

Apr 30, 2009 01:49 PM
Dan Callahan
Callahan's Home Inspections - Casper, WY

I'm 6'2" 265 lb weightlifter and I use that size. I walk loud, talk loud. Anyone in a vacant house knows I'm coming. My worse case was a teenage son of the sellers that didn't want to move and hated everyone because his parents were selling the house. He started to make my inspection tough until I got back in his face.

Apr 30, 2009 11:49 PM