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An Unnerving Experience

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Triad, REALTORS

Hello All,

I am new to Active Rain but I had an experience the other day that prompted me to ask my fellow REALTORS this question...

What is the most unnerving experience that you have had in your real estate career?

Here's mine.  I met a buyer-client at an REO property for a showing.  Now, I've been inside some really funky houses before but what I say yesterday was a first for me. 

I unlocked the door and looked in and a strange shape on the floor caught my eye.  I'm a curious person so with my client behind me I walked over and bent down to take a closer look.  After a second or two I realized that it was a snake skin that was about 12 inches long and it still had a recognizable pattern on it.  My client must have realized what it was at the same time because we both shouted SNAKE!  I freaked out almost knocked my client over while backing out the door.  We didn't say another word to each other. We just both ran to our cars and backed out the driveway.  I called my client later after I had regained me composure and I was prepared to tell her that there was no way I could show her that house but before I could get it out she told me that she decided that was not going to be the house for her.   Thank Goodness! 

Let me hear some of your strange stories,

Adrienne

Comments (9)

Michelle Rosser
Maximum One Realty - Union City, GA
Atlanta Real Estate-South Fulton & Fayette
I can't top that but thanks for the laugh.
Aug 14, 2007 03:25 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services
Oh boy - I have had a "restricted room"  - it had flying bats!  Great!  Client wasn't into flying bats -- then I had another showing and my clients headed down to the basement -- I had spraned my ankle and stayed ont he 1st floorr - all of a suddent I hear a scream -- and then I headed down the stairs -- they had found a skull and bones in a dirt basement -- we were out of there!  The agent got a lot of FEEDBACK on that listing.
Aug 14, 2007 03:31 PM
Wayne McMullan
Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty - Belleville, ON
Quinte Real Estate
Welcome to the Rain Adrienne. I haven't had anything unnerving yet but I did find yours quite funny.
Aug 14, 2007 03:32 PM
Wayne McMullan
Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty - Belleville, ON
Quinte Real Estate
Welcome to the Rain Adrienne. I haven't had anything unnerving yet but I did find yours quite funny.
Aug 14, 2007 03:33 PM
Shannon Lefevre
John R. Wood Properties - Naples, FL
Shannon Lefevre, PA Your Naples Smart Girl
Ahahaha That's funny!  I was opening a back slider once when I saw something out of the corner of my eye dart in the house.  I stepped on it, turned around without moving my foot and waved my hands to the buyers as if showing them through the door to the back yard.  As they walked through the door and when their backs were finally to me, I lifted my foot to find that I had nailed a lizard.  It ruined my whole day.  It says somewhere in the Bilble that you're always suposed to welcome unexpected guests are bad things can happen...I thought for sure that's why I hadn't gotten that deal!  Nice laugh on the snake by the way!  Good Luck with your people!
Aug 14, 2007 03:36 PM
Eric Kodner
Madeline Island Realty - La Pointe, WI
CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
About four years ago, one of my clients stepped in a nest of garter snakes while I was showing them a lakeshore lot.  The nest looked like a little boiling pot full of eels!  Eeeeuwww!  Needless to say, she and her husband got out of there in a heartbeat.
Aug 14, 2007 04:25 PM
Court Peterson
Coeur d'Alene, ID

We are lucky enough not to have any "bad" snakes in our area so I have grown rather complacent about them. I got a good laugh and pictured my mother doing the very same thing as you when I read your story though. She is still afraid of any little crawly thing even after raising three boys that delighted in scaring her with every mouse and snake and etc that we could find.

 I had an experience not too long ago that still raises goose bumps o my skin. I grew up looking at houses and old farms with my Mother. I have also been in ghost towns and renovations (before the fact) and many a variety of less than desirable buildings. I used to manage an apartment complex that was a turn of the century hospital here in Coeur d'Alene. Basically I am not a newbie when it come to old and creepy buildings and have never yet been bothered by one until this one.

My Partner was out of town and the bank was requiring clearer pictures for the appraisal on this fixer that she was selling. The appraiser was unavailable to return to the house. I soon found out why since I volunteered to retake the pictures with the appraisers full approval.

As soon as I entered the house I was immediately on guard. It looked ordinary enough but I could feel that itch between your shoulder blades that you get when someone has you in their sights. As I moved around the house it was extremely hard not to keep looking over my shoulder. Someone was there - watching or hiding or....? Upstairs, Basement and main floor - It did not matter where I was. THERE IS SOMETHING IN THIS HOUSE

I finished the pictures required and quickly left. As soon as I stepped outside the creepy feeling was gone. I shot the exterior photos and left with an understanding about why the appraiser was more than willing to let a REALTOR redo his shots and give them his endorsement.

Never before and never since have I felt that strange inside of a house. I know that I will not show this one to any client nor bother to darken its doorway again.

Court

 

Aug 14, 2007 05:01 PM
Adrienne L. Jones
Coldwell Banker Triad, REALTORS - High Point, NC
GRI

Eeeeuwww!  I got the willies just reading the responses from you guys.  Blood sucking bats, nest of baby snakes, lizards, human bones and ghost make a snake skin seem harmless.  At least I didn't see a live snake.

I tell you that's why I love real estate... You never know what a new day will bring.

Aug 15, 2007 04:56 PM
Joyce "Joy" Mahaney Brewster
High Profile Realty - Glendale, AZ
Bats, snakes, and watchful eyes  of something have just about done me in!  I won't be able to sleep tonight!  I'll be keeping my guard up whenever I go into a home!
Aug 15, 2007 05:54 PM