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I Locked Myself Out at an Open House

By
Real Estate Agent with Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, TREC #0492321

Never thought I would be writing about this unpleasant incident, but my friend from San Jose, Ms. Kathleen Daniels has a contest going on called, "I can't believe I just did that", and it's was NOT featured on the Contest page. However, Thanks for Kathleen's reminders, and a reblog from Sussie Sutton, I am able to respond, and share this embarrassing moment.

House KeysI had often heard about other agents talking about how they got locked out of a home, and left the keys inside by accident. I actually remember going to the rescue a couple of times for some agents with my Supra Key to get them back inside. But, I never actually thought it would ever happen to me personally.

Well, It was about three years ago while I was hosting an open house on this lovely home in a North Central community in San Antonio. I remembered that I didn't have many visitors, but I did have one real estate agent, who stopped by for a preview for one of her clients. The home had met all the criteria that her client needed. I always ask all visitors to register, and I normally ask any real estate agents for their business cards. Open Houses were a great way to obtain new buyers, or even pick up some new listings too. Therefore, I always asked for contact information from everyone, who stopped by.

Smartphone eKeyWhile I was hosting the open house, I had been using my smartphone to access the Internet with my Mobile Hot Spot App, since it gave me something to work on while I was waiting for visitors to stop by. At end of the open house, I turned off all the lights, and secured all the doors, and packed up all my things and laptop computer, and everything that I had been working on. In my haste to leave, I accidentally left my smartphone in the house. No problem, I would just get back into the Supra Lox Box where I had placed the keys, and go back inside. But, I had recently switched over to using my Smartphone as my Supra eKey, and that's when I panicked, and realized that I couldn't get back into the house.

I immediate went next door to a neighbor, and asked to use his phone, so I could call the office to see if any agents were available, who could come to my rescue like I had done for others in the past. It was a weekend, and just about everyone had plans, and no one was near my location, or could get there within the next hour or two. That's when I thought about the real estate agent, who had stopped by for a preview.  Luckily, I had her contact information from where she had logged in as a visitor. I quickly gave her a call, and explained how I had left my smartphone in the house, and it happened to be my Supra eKey, which I needed to gain access to the house.

She was out shopping in a nearby retail store, and said that she would be glad to come back and use her Supra Key to help me out. Boy, was I ever glad and thankful that she responded, and was able to come to my rescue. I never thought it would happened to me, but it did. So, I made a personal promise to always remember to packed up my phone, and make sure I had it before locking up and leaving any home.

What an embarrassing moment, and "I can't believe that I actually did that".

Comments(62)

Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

I have locked my keys in the house - like everyone of us has - Now I check my pockets for my keys, my key card, and my phone - always looks like I am patting myself down- before I shut the lockbox - 

Nov 28, 2014 10:17 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hi Lise, That's a very nice habit to have these days. Wishing you a Wonderful Weekend!

Nov 28, 2014 10:33 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Jerry, what a story, and think many of us have been in your shoes.   Good thing the previewing agent came to your rescue!  

Nov 28, 2014 10:49 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Jerry, I've had agents who've called me to say that they accidentally left their lock box key in a home of mine that they were showing. Neither situation is very good!

Nov 28, 2014 11:38 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Yes, Joan. She was a lifesaver alright. Enjoy your Weekend in Denver!

Nov 28, 2014 11:45 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Yes, Nina. I have also had to call the listing agents a few times when I had trouble securing the home, and one time I broke a key in the lock box.

Nov 28, 2014 11:47 PM
Les & Sarah Oswald
Realty One Group - Eastvale, CA
Broker, Realtor and Investor

Jerry, I been there and done that. Glad you were able to resolve the issue right away with the agent who came to preview. Hope you had future interactions with this agent but under better circumstances. 

Nov 29, 2014 04:13 AM
Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production

Jerry....I love the ways that we think that we can get in.  If creative, you can, but not always.  I scooted through a window well once.  Not a fun place to be in!

Nov 29, 2014 05:16 AM
James Brockway
Brockway Realty, LLC - League City, TX

Great story, Jerry.  Nice reminder that we are all human.

Nov 29, 2014 06:22 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Thanks, Sarah & Les. I never know when I might see her again, but it would be nice to work a deal with her in the future. Have a Blessed Weekend!

Nov 29, 2014 06:31 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

No, Larry. These type of situations are never fun to be in. I would love to be able to avoid them in the future if possible. Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Nov 29, 2014 06:32 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Yes, James. A typical human mistake. Have a Blessed Evening!

Nov 29, 2014 06:33 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

That is not so unusual, Jerry.  I'm glad you were rescued by a friendly agent. 

Nov 29, 2014 07:03 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

We don't have Supra anymore but with Sentrilock I was 'saved' by the one day code & got myself in. But .... I had to go to the neighbor to use the phone who wouldn't open the door at first because she thought I was a nut in a suit. Her words ....

Nov 29, 2014 10:02 AM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Jerry, I love it when Realtors come to the rescue of Realtors!  We need to have some sort of organizer where we put everything, so we know at a glance when something is missing, like keys and phones.  I have put the iBox cup back into the iBox so many times with the keys in my hands.  The good news is that I generally realize it immediately.

Nov 29, 2014 03:26 PM
Timothy Mattingly
Louisville Homes Team Louisville KY louisvillehomesreport.com - Louisville, KY
Louisville Homes for Sale

Locked my self out on a second floor patio once - door handle that was always locked on the outside.  I could see my keys, phone and papers on the counter- had to use a neighbors phone (still had a home phone) to call my partner to call the owner to let me back in.  Now the home key stays in my pocket with my phone. On - had to jump fron from the second floor deck and stained my pants.  Go figure...

Nov 30, 2014 05:34 AM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

Nice that a visiting agent was able to come to the rescue.

Dec 02, 2014 02:04 AM
Doyle Davison
Hawaiian Beaches Hawaii - 714-968-6767 - Huntington Beach, CA
30 years as your Concierge services listing broker

Good reminder to agents viewing property. I have showed few homes with spring doors that automatically close and lock sending me looking for something like the dog toy prop open the door..

Dec 02, 2014 02:29 AM
Barry Kessler
Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. - Simi Valley, CA
Barry Kessler

Jerry,

I never thought about the phone and supra thing. I still am a dinosour I suppose and have one of each. I have locked my supra key in a house. As a matter of fact it was an open house as well!!

Dec 02, 2014 01:58 PM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Jerry Newman 

I never had this happen to me ( even I locked myself out of my own house numerous times), but I visited few open houses where agents had the same situation. It is really not fun, but it happens.

Dec 07, 2014 04:32 PM