Special offer

Front Door, Back Door, Doggie Door!

By
Real Estate Agent with Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 SA5376460000

In real estate, it's non-stop doors. Whether we're opening doors, painting doors, cleaning doors, changing locks or locking doors, we deal with lotsa doors.  

 

And then there are doggie doors.  

 

Doggie doors come in a variety of shapes and sizes, based on the size and type an owner might need.  Owners tend to put doggie doors in places that are convenient for the owner and the pet.  Some have plates that slide into place to keep an animal inside. Some have bars to keep other critters in and out. For the purposes of simplicity, we'll talk about one type of doggie door, the kind with a sliding door and simple clip type lock. 

 

I'm intimately familiar with this type of doggie door for a couple of reasons.  

 

I'm currently working with wonderful buyers who are purchasing their first home with this type of doggie door.  They also have a Ridgeback mix "puppy."  This puppy is fairly large at 65 pounds so the doggie door will come in handy. 

 

We are currently "in the inspection period."   During the inspection period it's typical for me to order a home inspection, termite inspection and an energy audit.  

 

The first inspection happened to be the energy audit.  Arriving at the home I meet the energy auditors and access the lockbox. I'm surprised to learn there is no key in the lockbox.  There's also a contractor box and when I shake it I hear a key rattling inside.   Opening the door may not happen at this rate.

 

Calling the listing agent I leave a message that we are locked out of the house.  I'm starting to think I just wasted an entire afternoon.  Reason being that this home  is an hour from my office in the far southwest corner past Maricopa County into Pinal County in the town of "Maricopa."  

 

This "town" is on the other side of an Indian Reservation and is all freeway to get there, but it is still an hour from my office in North Scottsdale. 

 

The energy auditing team and I start searching everywhere for an unlocked door or window, but nothing is unlocked.  Then we spy the doggie door at the back of the house.  Front Door, Back Door, Doggie Door

 

Of the two energy auditor partners, one of them is about 6'3" but also very lanky.  I tell them that I know I'll fit through this door just by eyeballing it.  The lanky auditor tells me, "Nah, I got this."  At first the doggie door isn't going to open.  But after a bit of work, he wiggles the door open and crawls through it and proceeds to let us through the back door.  

 

We are all relieved that an entire afternoon isn't wasted, but the other part of me is hearing "alarm bells!"  If he can wiggle through, so could anyone else of the same size but with a different intent.  

 

It was far too easy to access this house for my tastes.  So if you have a doggie door, make sure that a human cannot access a doggie door with ill intent, much less a small child with a pool in the backyard.  

 

After everyone leaves, guess who crawled back through the door so the house remained locked?  You but I did!  

 

P.S.  This doggie door is 12" wide and 18" tall.    

Posted by

Search the Arizona Regional MLS

Search for Homes

      

 

HomeSmart Elite Group                                  

8388 E Hartford Dr., Suite 100

Scottsdale, AZ 85255                                                         

(602) 620-2699   DIRECT

www.AZGreenRealty.com

www.GotGreen.info                  facebook   Google + twitter   youtube   linkedin   pinterest   

 

Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Jan. I have four doggies but wouldn't have a door like this because of all the reasons you mentioned. What a story.

Oct 09, 2016 11:37 PM
Kathy Stoltman
Ventura, CA
RETIRED

What an important topic for those with or thinking about doggy doors, thanks for sharing your story.

Oct 11, 2016 03:19 AM
Les & Sarah Oswald
Realty One Group - Eastvale, CA
Broker, Realtor and Investor

No doggie door for my four legged friends. I don't want my chihuahua or kitties to wonder outside as there been too many coyote sightings in the neighborhood. I read somewhere that there are collars that trigger doggie door to open and lock...that is high tech to the rescue.

Oct 13, 2016 05:08 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

                                  Thank you Jan Green 

Oct 15, 2016 10:43 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Thank you Garreth Wilcock!  I was really surprised to get it open so easily!

Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI NMLS#1483386 we often take it for granted and don't assist with pets going in and out.  Hopefully this post will alert folks that they aren't as safe as they think!

Good for you   Sheila Anderson !  

You're welcome   Kathy Stoltman .  It is important to make sure owners are also secure when selecting a doggie door.  

 

Oct 15, 2016 10:58 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

I can appreciate the coyote argument Les & Sarah Oswald .  We also have bobcats and brown eagles here  and those small dogs and cats are gone in an instant!  

Thank you   Kathy Streib !  I appreciate your comments and feature :) 

Oct 15, 2016 11:00 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

A smarter solution are the doggie doors that can only be opened from inside or with the unique chip on the dog's collar.

Oct 15, 2016 09:24 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Jan Green - this is a topic that everyone should consider - buyers or sellers need to know the risks involved. 

Oct 15, 2016 11:37 PM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

If anyone tried to get through a doggie door at my country house, they'd be toast with my 3 dogs. However, they would probably welcome in another 4 legged creature. NOT.

Oct 16, 2016 12:17 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Jan

Great for you that this worked out, but it sure points out the obvious security issue.

We see lots of doggie doors here. Problem is some put them in their doors to the garage which means that is no longer a secure fire door.

I know someone back east who had a racoon get in their house through a doggie door. Major hassle THAT was!

Jeff

Oct 16, 2016 12:59 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Jan, what an excellent (and fun) post! You took it a different direction that I figured. I thought you were going to talk about the energy loss from the opening of a doggie door into a home, not sealed properly or something like that. I've heard of people going through doggie doors when locked out, but a guy who is 6'3"?? Wow!!! And you, hope you weren't wearing a skirt!!

Oct 16, 2016 02:21 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

The things we do to sell and inspect houses! Good thing the cops didn't show up during your B&E! Ha.

Oct 16, 2016 04:37 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Yikes....this is not a very good feature as far as security goes. I guess a door this size means a good size dog could be waiting on the other side, but still risky!

Oct 16, 2016 08:33 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Debbie Gartner  that would have been a good idea! 

Sheri Sperry - MCNE and especially when it involves sliding through a doggie door sideways!  

Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor® sounds as if you have some good sized dogs!  Easier to protect a house than little ones :) 

I so understand   Jeff Dowler !  I see doors compromised that way all the time and end up sharing that with the listing agent - argh!  

Oct 16, 2016 08:34 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Realtor (503)755-2905  that is so true!  It is another window without glass that does let air escape.  It was pretry funny watching a 6'3" guy sliding sideways into a doggie door!  We all had a good chuckle over it when I explained that to the buyers! 

You're right   Pat Starnes !  I would have had some "xplainin' to do!

The sellers probably did have a big do  Sharon Tara !  My buyers have an equally large dog, too.  I found out he's a Ridgeback mix, 65 lb puppy!

Oct 16, 2016 08:39 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate

I'm surprised you didn't take a little photo or two. World's tallest "dog"!


Thank God he didn't get stuck. 

Oct 16, 2016 08:57 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Jan when we purchased our current home in 98 there was a very big doggie door.  We had a dog and a cat that like to go out on their own so we didn't give it another thought.....UNTIL one of the teenage kids was able to crawl through the door easily.  Alarm went off.  That door needs to be gone.  We shortly after replaced all the doors and windows and there will be no more doggie doors for us. It was a pain as we had to let them in and out but it all worked out.

 

 

And - I can just see you doing whatever needed to be done to do the best job possible.  You rock!!

Oct 16, 2016 09:09 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

I can imagine alarms going off Anna Banana Kruchten !  I was NOT going to waste an afternoon driving all the way to Maricopa - so in we went!

Oct 16, 2016 12:17 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Jan, I used to have a cat door and came home to a mother racoon and her babies crowded around the cat food bowl.  There are all kinds of creatures that try to come and go through our pet doors!  

Oct 16, 2016 12:45 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Jan Green - now this is not safe for sure! With you on 'Someone with ill intent....'

Oct 16, 2016 02:37 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Oh wow Patricia Kennedy !  I bet that was a bit frighening!  I've had possoms eating my former cats' food when they were outdoor cats.   Those things can be crazy minded! 

You're right Praful Thakkar !  It made me think those thoughts as we gained access to the house that way.  I bet others have done that with the wrong intent in mind!

Oct 17, 2016 02:47 AM