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Instinct and Diligence Saved The Home Owner

By
Real Estate Agent with Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 BRE# 01494165

Wow, close call. 

I did some house sitting this weekend. Well, house listing sitting. A fellow agent is off in the mountains for Mother's Day weekend and asked me to field listing appointments for her while she was out of cell coverage. 

No problem!

This agent was working on a listing out of our local MLS and didn't own a local lockbox, so she had a combo lock on it with instructions to contact her for the code. My instructions were to ask for a name, brokerage and license number....then to give out the code.

I got a text from an "agent" asking for the combo. I asked for the information, and over an hour later, I got a name, brokerage and a license number. I always check license numbers is the Department of Real Estate....this one didn't check out. It was the license number of the local brokerage, not the agent himself. 

That seemed odd to me. I couldn't see any reason why an agent would "mistake" his own number. 

So I called the agent off his website, and sure enough....it wasn't the agent who contacted me. I called the police and gave them the cell number of the fake agent to look into. 

I just got a call back and turns out, the fake agent had arranged some other "showings" and stolen items from those homes. The cell was a burner and they didn't have much information to use to catch him. 3 other listings in the general area had lost jewelry, electronics and other valuables. 

Whoa!! 

Of course we should use the proper lockboxes whenever possible, but occasionally we just can't. In that case, we need to remember that we do have the ability to check information before handing out the combo code, we need to take great care of our clients' homes. 

Comments (31)

Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

We have fiduciary responsibility to protect our sellers!!!

Of course we should use the proper lockboxes whenever possible, but occasionally we just can't. In that case, we need to remember that we do have the ability to check information before handing out the combo code, we need to take great care of our clients' homes. 

May 08, 2016 01:44 AM
Michael Layton
RE/MAX Desert Properties - Palm Springs, CA
Experience and Trust

Great Job!  I do not use the  combo code boxes at all. I had a cleint about 10 years ago who insisted I put one on so out of area agents could easily show the home! I argued strongly with my client that this was a terrible idea. About three weeks later my listing was up and he dropped me and went with another agent.  5 months later he calls me apologizing. The other agent gave into his demand and did it, the next thing he knew he had squatters in the property and it took him 4 month and untold thousands of dollars to get them out and repair the damage. At least he apologized.

May 08, 2016 02:20 AM
Juan Lacayo
The Keyes Company - Westchester, FL
I know my neighborhood.

Outstanding Job Karen! Unfortunately, this is a fast growing criminal activity nationwide, along with craigslists scams, and social media listings just to mention a few.  Your attention to details saved the day. 

May 08, 2016 02:57 AM
James (Jim) Lawson, DBA
DomainRealty.com LLC - Bonita Springs, FL
Broker Associate, RSPS, BPOR, HI & PE

Super post Karen! I do exactly what you do and am doing it now with a listing. Can't be too careful.

This a feature post must no matter how many comments it receives.  

May 08, 2016 03:05 AM
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

WOW..scary....and glad you were on top of it....what if?? they had the right answers right away??  hmmmm  good post

May 08, 2016 03:53 AM
Matt Brady
Watermark Capital - Del Mar, CA
One of San Diego's Best Equity Advisors

Way to Go! Out-thinking the crooks. The cops should set up a fake listing and meet him when he arrives.

May 08, 2016 04:12 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

WOW is right.  Everyone in this listing seemed to dodge a bullet.  Although, a few didn't.  Good job Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner 

May 08, 2016 05:18 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Wow, good for you for checking! Lockboxes are required in our MLS so we don't have that happen so much. 

May 08, 2016 11:45 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

A belated happy Mother's Day! I hope it was a wonderful day for you! I ended up working but it was still a great day. 

May 08, 2016 01:09 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner that happened to me while ago where someone wanted to break-in! Luckily, it was electronic supra - and through 3rd party. They were made aware of what's going on.

May 08, 2016 03:21 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Good for you for checking to make sure the call was valid, and for taking the right steps when you found out it wasn't a real agent.

May 08, 2016 08:19 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Wow, that's quite a story, so glad to hear you had the sense to check this agent out.

May 08, 2016 08:58 PM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Are you kidding me?

In this day and age you can't do that without exposing yourself to a lot of legal mess.  Just watch what you dong and protect your clients

May 08, 2016 09:12 PM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

Not my listing, just baby sitting. 

May 09, 2016 12:28 AM
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

That is another reason why many boards will not tolerate a combo box.  Membership department will go after you fees.  My MLS will cover 5 counties but Supra is good for a limited coverage. In this case, I will colist with a local neighborhood agent using his Supra and asking him to show so I get as good service.

May 08, 2016 10:19 PM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner

I would never do it myself, but sometimes things happen quickly and this agent needed to handle the listing. I'm sure the combo has been removed by now. 

May 09, 2016 12:31 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

Crisis averted because of a highly trained expert agent! We aren't supposed to use combo boxes here anymore either but there are a few agents that still do and I know sometimes, on a rare ocassion, it is needed. 

May 09, 2016 02:36 AM
Becca Rasmussen
HomeSmart Cherry Creek - Highlands Ranch, CO

Great job verifying the info. Definitely agree that's the best habit to get into for those situations where needed! Congrats on the feature. :0)

May 09, 2016 04:50 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

As annoying as Sentrilock can be, it's so much better than using a combo box, especially if the listing is occupied!  You were smart to check this creep out.  The police should have had you give him the combo and been there to let him in - to the squad car!

May 09, 2016 07:04 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Good job, Karen. We rarely have a combo lockbox on a property, but when we do, we follow a similar list of questions. Sounds like you dodged a big one there. Good show!

May 10, 2016 05:04 AM
Debra Leisek
Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

Perfect! Job Well Done! hope they catch this person and stop them!  

May 10, 2016 06:17 PM
John Herman
Property Up Inc. - Barrington, IL
Licensed Illinois Managing Broker- Property up Inc

Excellent job for sure. So before purchasing, renting, selling property chek the valid licenece.

May 12, 2016 06:04 PM