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What kind of Kleptomania is this?

By
Real Estate Agent

What kind of kleptomania is this?


I currently have a condo listed near a very nice forest preserve and walking path.  Very wooded for our kleptomania,area and tucked away.  The 'blunder dog' and I often go to this forest preserve on the walking trails and she gets to 'pretend scuba dive' in the pond area.  

On one of our jaunts I noticed a very well manicured grey haired lady closing the garage door on my listing.  Thinking that I just made a mistake as to which garage door it actually was I thought nothing of it and continued our walk.  The longer I walked the more I became sure that:  a) the lady was wondering who I was and was very interested in me and  b) that was my listing's garage but the seller is a big burly guy that you can't hardly miss and  c) she looked guilty!

Hmmmm.  So I called the seller who immediately called the homeowners association who had been urgently trying to contact him. Well this lady had just decided to start using the garage and another neighbor saw her also and reported it to the property manager.  Turns out she had been using my sellers vacant garage space for how long?  She even changed the garage door security code to one that she liked!

Needless to say the seller drove over and marched into the condo building and left a nasty note on her door telling her to vacate the garage immediately (I know you're in there!).  As it turned out, one of the other neighbors is now renting (and kleptomania,watching) the garage until the condo sells.  

What kind of nerve do people have just moving into another person's garage?

Click - we got ya babe!

We just don't make this kind of stuff up!

Posted by

 

  Lyn Sims    Schaumburg IL Area    Northwest Chicago Suburbs  ●  (847)962-7104
 
 
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Melissa Zavala
Broadpoint Properties - Escondido, CA
Broker, Escondido Real Estate, San Diego County

I'm not exactly sure what to say. Sounds like squatomania, not kleptomania.

Aug 31, 2010 04:33 AM
Debbie Atwood
Century 21 Real Estate Center Everett, WA - Everett, WA
Real Estate Broker

This does leave you pretty much speechless.  I'm glad you followed your gut and checked it out.  Kudo's to you on that!

Aug 31, 2010 04:39 AM
Gerry Michaels
Glasswork Media Arts - Gettysburg, PA
GettysburgGerry Social Meida

it is amazing what liberties people take with others properties...I think I can say I have heard it all....

Aug 31, 2010 04:46 AM
Gabrielle Nemes
RE/MAX Realty South - Tumwater, WA
206.300.8421, S King & Pierce County RE Advocate

Maybe your Seller could have benefited by renting the garage space to her neighbor?

Aug 31, 2010 04:49 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Gabrielle: That's what eventually happened just to another gent in the building, not that lady!

Debbie: I agree, if nothing else I learned to trust my instincts that something wasn't right.

Gerry:  You changed your picture!  You just can't make this stuff up right?  Next week it will be something else.

Melissa:  I guess it would be squatting right? As I said, never had it happen before.

Aug 31, 2010 04:58 AM
Julia Odom
Select Realty Professionals - Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga Homes for Sale

It's OK if he wasn't using it anyway, right? Sheesh, some people.

Aug 31, 2010 05:45 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Julia:  Yep I guess so according to her. Turned out she was actually a prominent person in the community so I'm sure she had the means to rent it from him if she wanted.

Aug 31, 2010 06:03 AM
Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

Some people have such nerve. It's funny how they have such a high sense of entitlement that they think they can get away with such shenanigans.

Aug 31, 2010 06:18 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

That is very gutsy for an old lady...of course you never said old and looking in the mirror, well, never mind!

Aug 31, 2010 07:38 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Lyn, Just when you think you've heard everything. along comes another you'd never expect!

Aug 31, 2010 08:13 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Liz & Bill:  Yep, I was shocked. It's always something.

Bill:  She's was older as I found out later. 

Aug 31, 2010 08:17 AM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Lyn - That's crazy, never heard of a garage squatter before.

Aug 31, 2010 08:39 AM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

What a situation!  Lots of gall.  I'm sure that you had to pick your jaw up...

Aug 31, 2010 08:41 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Michelle:  I guess it would be a squatter right? No permission from the owner.

Judi:  I was shocked.

Aug 31, 2010 09:34 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

I like squatomania. 

I guess I don't understand how initially  the neighbor gained access.   

Sep 01, 2010 04:50 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Maureen:  It's a vacant condo that I have listed, no one in the garage for quite awhile. Nasty lady sees opportunity - Nasty lady pulls in car & changes garage door code - Months go by & Lyn decides to walk her dog & see's Nasty Lady ..........

Sep 01, 2010 08:13 AM