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Beep...Beep...30 Seconds to Disarm the Alarm-Outrageous Real Estate in San Antonio TX

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Real Estate Broker/Owner with RE/MAX Associates 574299

Beep...Beep...30 Seconds to Disarm the Alarm-Outrageous Real Estate in San Antonio TX


Hmmm, when I heard of the contest hosted by none other than Eric Ramus Tell Us Your Most Outrageous Real Estate Stories, I thought, well....I don't really have that many or anything too exciting to share.  Then I thought about it some more...

Perhaps I could tell about the time when I scheduled a showing on a rental that was still listed in the MLS as Active and available, through Centralized Showing Service and given the green light to show.  When I showed up, I knocked on the doorPlunger of the folks who had rented it days earlier and who were all moved in with dinner cooking.  

Then I thought, no, not that one.  Although it's pretty outrageous as all parties get notified via e-mail (listing agent) that there is a scheduled showing and no one thought to perhaps let me know that the place had already been rented....

But...I pondered, there was probably a better outrageous story.

Here we go, I will share the story of one of my listings... I stopped by with my family to do grab up some of my "staging stuff"...you know, a few potted fake flowers and such, as the home was due to close in a couple of days.  My daughter decided she had to use the restroom.  No problem, until she came out all red faced and giggling..."mom", "I clogged up the toilet"...REALLY!  You couldn't Wait for that!?  Well, off to Walmart to pick up an emergency plunger as I didn't have one on me..."note to self...start carrying emergency plunger in Realtor® convenience kit".

Now that was a good one...but I just felt really strongly that I should share this little outrageous happening.  Now, this has probably happened to all showing agents...however, for me, this one triggered my post traumatic stress disorder...(I am an Iraq Vet after all).  

One day...long, long ago (about a year and a half), I meticulously scheduled showings through our Centralized Showing Service.  This is a handy way to schedule showings because (as I noted above), all parties, listing agent, buyer's agent and the home owner get notified of showings via e-mail, text, phone call or smoke signal (just kidding about that last one).  Everyone is in on the showing.  They know the approximate times, etc.  Showings through CSS are approved by the home owner (usually) if it's a courtesy showing or appointment only.  Well, you get the picture.  Everyone is supposed to know when there is a showing.  ADDITIONALLY, within CSS a listing agent can INCLUDE showing instructions for such things as ALARMS and PETS and little things that the Showing Agent probably needs to know when conducting a showing of a possible buyer to their home.

Can you see where this is going?

Panic ButtonSo, on that day, all showings were set up and planned out.  I had my codes and my instructions if there were any included and off we go a showin...all is going along swimmingly until I get to the second home.  The buyers and I walk up to a beautiful home (as far as curb appeal) and one of their top choices to see for the day...I use  my Supra Key and open the door and hear that dreaded things that no agent likes to hear...beep...beep....beep....you know that thing that tells you that you have about 30 seconds to disarm the alarm....

Which wouldn't have been a problem EXCEPT THAT THERE WAS NO CODE INCLUDED in the INSTRUCTIONS to shut the darn thing OFF.  

Panic sets in as I race around the house looking for the alarm thinking (in my delirium), that maybe the owners wrote the code on the alarm just in case...(yes..yes...all owners write down the code near the alarm for convenience for us agents and any burglars who may happen by)...no such luck.  I call the listing agent...no answer and I call CSS, they don't have the code and as you can imagine 30 second came and went fast so now we are treated to a blaring siren like noise.  At this point there is nothing I can do but wait for the cops to show up.  I am quite sure I am all red faced, sweaty and panicked looking.  

I actually show the home while the alarm is blaring..buyers don't look comfortable and in comes the police.  I get to show them my drivers license and my business card and fill out the report.  GOOD TIMES.  The cops are laughing, my buyers are too...me too (not really).  

Turns out the owners didn't know they had a showing scheduled and had gone shopping.  They wouldn't have set the alarm had they known...(I only scheduled the prior day)...OOPS.  How is it POSSIBLE that they DIDN'T know they had a showing?!  I can't answer that...

What I do know though is that every time I hear the beep...beep...30 seconds to disarm the alarm, my heart starts racing. 
Posted by

Brenda Mullen – San Antonio Texas Real Estate Professional

Brenda Mullen Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent
 
Selling a San Antonio Texas area home involves many steps and having an experienced  San Antonio  Texas Real Estate Agent by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your San Antonio Texas Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the San Antonio Texas area with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.
 
As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent, I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home.
 
As your San Antonio Texas listing agent I am well versed on the local San Antonio Texas area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your home to be competitive in today’s market with an in depth comparative market analysis, and advice on staging. I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your San Antonio Texas area Realtor® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your San Antonio Texas area Realtor® is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Home” is my number one priority.
 
 
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Brenda Mullen
Broker-Associate/Realtor®, ALHS®, MRP®, ABR®, ePro®

Team Leader The Mullen Group with RE/MAX Access - Helping You Find Home
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Comments (33)

Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Hi Sussie-Me too...Even when I do know there's an alarm and I have the code, I panic as I am afraid I won't be able to find it lol :)!

Oct 08, 2012 12:11 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I have heard a few in my time.  The code, the location... all so important and I don't understand how they can forget.

Oct 08, 2012 12:44 PM
Andrea Bedard
Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD
Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

Hi Brenda, it appears that rentals are conveniently forgotten around here, too. I don't know how many times I've scheduled showings just to find out later that it had already been rented a few days prior. What is up with that??

The dreaded alarm .. I've had a similar experience but left before the cops showed up. The alarm was so incredibly loud that there was no way to stick around. I called the showing service, listing agent's office and listing agent himself .. the only ones who picked up was the showing service.

My heart starts racing as soon as I read 'alarm' in the showing instructions!

Oct 08, 2012 01:25 PM
Debbie Cook
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc - Silver Spring, MD
Silver Spring and Takoma Park Maryland Real Estate

Happened to me last week - someone called when it went off and I told them who I was - they said OK - BUT DID NOT turn that loud blare off!  Tried to show the home but it was too awful and they alarm kept saying where we were in the house - Motion detect in Basement - Motion Detect in Living Room - Motion Detected in Foyer.  Could not wait to get out of there!

Oct 08, 2012 01:39 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Brenda alarms used to alarm me earlier on...and  now they can be annoying especically if they don't give, leave or share the code. One of my first years in the business (late 80's) I was going to show a home in our country club area and set off the alarm that wasn't supposed to be on. Police did show up but after that I was never embarrased again. Almost every home has an alarm in our local.

Oct 08, 2012 02:24 PM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Brenda - I had this happen on my OWN listing!  The owner gave me the wrong security code.  She was so used to just punching in the numbers that she didn't really think about what the numbers were.  She had to go to the system and punch in the numbers so that I could write them down.  I think real estate agents hate alarms more than the burglars do!

Oct 08, 2012 03:05 PM
Laura Allen, Lake Tahoe - Truckee Real Estate for Sale TahoeLauraRealEstate.com
Coldwell Banker Realty, Tahoe City, CA (530) 414-1260 - Tahoe City, CA
Tahoe Real Estate Agent Helping Buyers and Sellers

Brenda - Great story. This is why I don't like to deal with alarm systems!

Oct 08, 2012 03:41 PM
Andrea Curtis United Country Premier Properties Certified Military Relocation Professional
United CountryPremier Properties - Harker Heights, TX
U C INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR OF MILITARY PROPERTIES

Brenda I can empathize and sympathize with you!  I have had owners give me the wrong code or change the code after showing, that was fun, because they didn't want anyone to have it?  I think we should have what is your funniest alarm code story LOL

Oct 08, 2012 11:33 PM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Hi Tammy-Apparently they didn't forget...they didn't know.  How that is possible, I will never understand lol :)!

Hi Andrea-What killed me was that CSS notifies you whenever you have a showing.  One would think that the agent would have called me and said, that one's been rented already.  I called her after and she was like, oops.. (eye roll).  My heart starts racing too with an alarm...however, at least they let us know.  This time, no information on an alarm being there, much less a code to turn the thing off lol :)!

Hi Debbie-I am guessing the buyers passed on that home lol :)!

Hi Anna-No reason to be embarrassed anymore but wow is it annoying lol :)! 

Hi Gail-Too funny.  It's sad when the owner doesn't even know lol :)!

Hi Laura-Me either lol :)!!

Thanks all for stopping by!

Oct 08, 2012 11:39 PM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Hi Andrea-That would be awesome to read everyone's alarm stories...if you are in Real Estate, you probably have one...just like a tequilla story lol :)!  Thanks for stopping by!

Oct 08, 2012 11:42 PM
Lisa Hicks
Hoang Realty - Augusta, ME
Serving Central and Southern Maine

I'm having so much fun reading these stories..."yes..yes...all owners write down the code near the alarm for convenience for us agents and any burglars who may happen by..."

LOL!!!

Oct 09, 2012 12:39 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Brenda I can imagine the look on your face as that alarm was going off.  But the picture I want to see is you working that plunger ........... LOL

Oct 09, 2012 09:59 AM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Hi Lisa-Yeah :)!!  I Love that someone got the sarcasm I wrote in that!  I was starting to wonder lol :)!  

Hi George-Too funny!  I did have a look on my face that was probably priceless lol :)!

Oct 09, 2012 10:07 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Now that is a funny one, Brenda.  Good thing the cops didn't come in firing :)

Oct 09, 2012 02:00 PM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Hi Jane-No doubt...that would have really made for a story lol :)!

Oct 09, 2012 09:20 PM
Than Maynard
Coldwell Banker Heart of Oklahoma - Purcell, OK
Broker - Licensed to List & Sell - 405-990-8862

I hate it when they don't tell you the ONLY keypad is in  XXXX room an dhow to get there. I have found them in master closets (across the house), utility rooms, entry ways (thank goodness) and behind furniture!

Oct 10, 2012 01:55 AM
Robert Bob Gilbert
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Anderson Properties - Katy, TX
Your Katy TX ( West of Houston) Real Estate Expert

Hi Brenda,

I know how you feel as I set off an alarm at a home when the code CSS gave me was incorrect. The alarm company called and I answered. I explained the situation and then the owner called and hung up on me with a loud crash. My clients thought it was hilarious and also thought the owner a total jerk. They scratched that home off the top of their list!!. I have emphathy and I hate it when an alarm is set. I feel like I am playing baet the clock..

good story and good luck with the challenge.

Oct 10, 2012 02:43 AM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Hi Than-I hate that too...it's great to have the code, but if you have to go on a rushed hunt for it, it can make showing a harrowing experience as well lol :)!

Hi Bob-Beat the clock is a very good analogy and thank you :)!

Oct 10, 2012 04:34 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Clogging the toilet of a new listing is definitely one I haven't heard before.  You are quick thinker.

Oct 11, 2012 02:26 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

LOL, Brenda. Not being able to stop that Alarm is frightening. This has happened to me more than once. Each time I called CSS, and the first thing the said when I called was, "We can hear your Problem". Sometimes, I would forget the instructions that had those alarms, and one time, there were instructions to use some remote which took me two hold minutes to find it and to shut thing off. 

Oct 11, 2012 03:29 AM