I was hold a brokers open the other evening and I was happy when I saw a car pull up that looked to be an agent with his clients. But, what started out as happy for me ended up actually turning in to anger.

You see I don't drink, never have and I have no problem with those who do. But, once you have had a drink, you better not get behind the wheel of a car, because now your drinking can affect me and those around you. 

drinking and driving


This home was a vacant home so I didn't mind letting the clients and their agent look around the property by themselves, but I would stay close if they needed me to answer any questions for them. But, when the agent told the clients to go ahead on their own, I was a little shocked. (I like to know what my clients are thinking)

So, now this agent is standing there wanting to talk about business, my company and even politics. (I didn't go there on that one) But, quickly I realized he had a slur to his speech and smelled of alcohol. That is when I noticed the flask in his inside jacket pocket. This agent was drunk and even worse he was driving clients around with him.

I took the couple outside to show them the special features of the neighborhood. (OK, really there weren't any, but I wanted to get the license plate of this car and turn this guy in before he killed someone. Too me this is giving agents a bad name, but it would have been even worse had he killed someone.

I did call the police and I don't know if they ever found him, but at least I feel better for having made that call. I just wish he had his name on the side of the vehicle or had given me a card. I wasn't thinking about getting a card when I smelled his breath, I was just thinking I need tog et this guy off the road. Would you have done the same?



Twitter Bird by Janko.


Todd Clark (broker w/ Ken's Home Team)
Keller Williams Realty
Todd@IFoundYourNewHome.com
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)746-9573

 

 

 

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 I am a licensed Realtor who specializes in Washington County, Oregon and also work in both Clackamas and Multnomah Counties including the cities of Aloha, Beaverton, Canby, Clackamas, Gladstone, Gresham, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Sherwood and Tigard. All information contained in these posts are copyrighted and cannot be used without prior written approval authorization from the author me Todd Clark. If you are looking for an outstanding agent please give me a call I would love to help you with all your real estate needs.

 

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24 Comments on Please don't drink and show homes! Especially if you are the one driving

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

DEC
06
2009
122,675 Points 3 Featured Posts

Todd - I honestly don't know what I would do.  I'm shocked to think this would ever happen.  I would expect that the buyers didn't know he had been drinking but how could they not?  And then I'd be even more shocked to know that they were willingly driving around with him in this state.  I agree that folks like this shouldn't be on the road. 
2:42pm • #5
312,108 Points 10 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Hit Router

Todd ---- thank goodness you called the police -- how terrible for our profession.

                                                                   
2:53pm • #6

Todd,

Good for you! Shame you didn't get his card so you could also notify his broker. Drinking and driving isn't okay - and it is rarely the offender who gets hurt the worst in an accident. 
3:07pm • #7
222,909 Points 6 Featured Posts

Todd, I might have warned the clients and suggested they get another ride home, even if I had to drive them. This guy was putting their life at stake too. He might have been mad at you- okay, he definitely would have been mad at you- but his clients would have been impressed.  They were probably going to be ex- clients  after that day anyway.
3:11pm • #8
842,602 Points 85 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Good for you!!!!!  Too bad that you were in that situation though!
3:29pm • #9
230,320 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Sorry that yuu were in such a dreadful situation.  Calling the police was the right thing to do. 
5:06pm • #10
536,310 Points 38 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Todd,

You blew it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a time to be confrontational! I'd have offered to take all of them home or back to their car. I'd have mentioned the flask! And, if possible I'd have blocked their car until the police arrived.

Think how you'd feel if he'd killed some one. There are times when we must be our brother's keeper! Still you did more than most would.

Bill
5:16pm • #11
196,611 Points 34 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I'm with John and Bill on this one. I really hate when people drink and drive so I would have been confrontational about it. It's a shame that people act like that.
7:38pm • #12
971,333 Points 102 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

That's what use to scare me at brokers open before they prohibited beer and wine. Some of my fellow agents use to fall asleep at their desks after touring...
I hope you had a great weekend =)
Paul
8:04pm • #13
990,453 Points 50 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Todd - Drinking and driving with clients?  Wow, that's a new one.  My husband was in a horrible car accident, the driver was never given a sobriety test, but when I went to the tow yard the next morning there were numerous empty beer bottles in his truck bed. 

Unfortunately it's usually the drunk driver's who walk away from a car accident, not the innocent people driving down the street.
9:19pm • #14
410,411 Points 17 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Todd, amazing isn't it? Working with your clients and drinking? Yuck!!! How clear minded could this agent be. As you know, I am a non-drinker, and think anyone that drinks needs to stay HOME!!! After all of the many people killed by drunk drivers, you would "think" drinkers would get it! Hopefully they do before they kill someone. Can't imagine what THAT would feel like. ;-)
9:52pm • #15
569,437 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

I hope I am as quick thinking as you were. Keeping them off the road in that condition needs to be all of our concern.
10:09pm • #16
763,852 Points 107 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Todd, this was a tough call.  I also would have called the police but I might have called before they even left the property.  I probably would have been confrontational because that's who I am.
11:10pm • #17
DEC
07
2009
397,063 Points 17 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I agree with Tammie, its a tough call. Honestly, getting his card would have been good if you were positive he had been drinking. Personally, I have not witnessed that before, so Im not positive how I would react. I almost want to think I would ask him about it and see if he 'thought' he was okay to drive. If you were POSITIVE he had been drinking, and it wasn't just a slur, then I would think you would want the police there before hand so they didnt leave your property in that manner. Not only for him, but for the family getting in the car and everyone on the road.
9:36am • #18
1 Featured Post

That is mind blowing that can happen. I would have wanted to say something to his clients, their lives could be at stake and so they should be able to make a decision based on knowing the possibilities!
10:17am • #19
1,914,847 Points 386 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Todd, the ones who are really scary are those who don't slur their words and seem to be functioning.  I had a woman come to my listing on a Sunday morning to present an offer, and she totally reeked of booze, and we're not talking Chardonnay.  Yikes!
3:24pm • #20

Todd I have never had this happen to me in real estate but when I sold cars I had quite a few show up at the car lot ...that I knew were drunk. and they wanted to test drive I wouldn't let them in fact one guy I drove him home and another one was close to fighting me until he feel down .... that was kind of scary .... but thankfully I never run into this in real estate.....you did good calling the police at least you did something and not turn your cheek to it......peace zane
4:41pm • #21
DEC
08
2009
584,438 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Todd -

You did the very right thing.  Tough I, too, might have called him on it on the spot.
3:28am • #22
DEC
12
2009
1,929,886 Points 155 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I wish I had thought of some of these things while he was there, but when you are in shock of what you have just seen it is hard to know what to do. I hope the police did catch him, but I do know there were no accidents that day. I checked the police website to see if any accidents had happened within 2 hours of that time.
3:24pm • #23
JAN
07
2010

Just googled this scenario and this blog came up - I am an appraiser not new to the field             [been inspecting homes since before J McCain was getting into hot water w/ those 4 others]

What happened today has never happened to me before - the listing agent on a short sale gets me access and while I'm shooting the living room photo, he cracks a beer! I looked at him, his beverage and him again ... then he offers me one! WTF!

Later in the inspection I went out to my vehicle and low n behold there's an `empty' on the front lawn! WTF x 2!!!

I have since contacted our local badges and made sure they were well informed, contacted the state to double check to make sure Idaho hasn't amended their agent professionism standards, and will be notifying the Lender/Client in the morning ... amazing

BTW he is/was the Broker!!!
Cjimmrun
8:54pm • #24

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