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Hi, I'm a Realtor and would like to come over and set off your burglar alarm!

By Patricia Kennedy

Real Estate Agent with RLAH@properties AB95346

January 10, 2017 07:34 PM

I used to set off burglar alarms on a weekly basis. I had a little phobia, and on more than one occasion, I had to root through my purse for my real estate license when Officer Friendly pulled up in her patrol car and I had to justify being at the scene of what she thought might be a crime.

But since I got a system of my own, I've gotten over my phobia and learned to use one. Yet I continue to set off my share of alarms.

And there is nothing quite like that awful blare and the police to combine and ruin a showing.

Nobody will notice the fresh paint or newly refinished floors. The beautiful staging job won't matter because they'll be running for the nearest door.

So my advice? Unless you live in a neighborhood where you really need an alarm system (and few of us do), just keep it disarmed when your home is for sale.

And if the place is vacant, you have no excuse!

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Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Gloria, I'm just dyslexic enough to transpose two digits when I'm punching them in. Oops! And I agree that the alarm really needs to be off for showings.

Jan 10, 2017 10:02 PM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Chris Ann, you must have made it stop blaring quickly!

Jan 10, 2017 10:03 PM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Jeff, when it's in a gated community and vacant, they really don't need it.

Jan 10, 2017 10:05 PM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Paul, I know what you mean! Last time it was really loud and nasty and it wouldn't turn off. It was really awful.

Jan 10, 2017 10:14 PM

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Once the alarm went off as our home inspection group went in a house and the agent put in what she was told was the code. It did not turn the system off. The police showed up in force. So, while the alarm screamed loudly, and the little realtor was showing her little card trying to explain why we were there (the cops bought nothing), I continued with my inspection while things were finally sorted out with the homeowners, who "changed the code after the house sold, and forgot about the alarm that day."

Idiots.

Jan 11, 2017 03:17 AM

Kat Palmiotti

eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT

Helping your Montana dreams take root

I do get a bit anxious when I have to open a house that has an alarm. I'm always hopeful they put the alarm in the place the instructions say it is. And I have my reading glasses ready so I can see the numbers and find the "end" or "disable" buttons.

Jan 11, 2017 03:49 AM

Lottie Kendall

Compass - San Francisco, CA

Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Yep; alarms need to be off when a house is on the market. In my area, homeowners are often assessed a fee for false alarms -- that helps remind the owners to turn it off.

Jan 11, 2017 06:56 AM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Jay, alarms are a lot easier to set off than to turn off. That must have been the inspection from hell with all of the noise and craziness!

Jan 11, 2017 10:27 AM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Kat, I love it when they include the number that corresponds with "end" at the end of the code, and I'm never sure whether or not to add it.

Jan 11, 2017 10:28 AM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Lottie, in some of the suburban areas they do this, and I think a few of the alarm companies do as well. I heard of one owner who demanded that the buyer agent who set it off pay the fine. Good luck with that!

Jan 11, 2017 10:29 AM

Dick Greenberg

New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO

Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Pat - I totally agree. I almost always set them off too, and since I'm far and away not the only one, we always recommend to our sellers that they just disarm them when there are showings.

Jan 11, 2017 11:15 AM

Gloria Todor

Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA

& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Patricia, No not fun setting off an alarm..and like you said pulls a buyer's attention away from the showing. Good advise for sellers.

All the best in 2017!

Jan 11, 2017 01:22 PM

Sybil Campbell

Fernandina Beach, FL

Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

Patricia, that reminds me of the time when some colleagues of mine told me that the police were about to handcuff them as they were laying face down on the drive way!

Jan 11, 2017 03:57 PM

Myrl Jeffcoat

Sacramento, CA

Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I love your title line, Patricia! I'm smiling at the comment left by Sybil Campbell . I had an incident several years ago, that had the police showing up. However, no handcuffs were involved! Perhaps because it wasn't my birthday!

Jan 11, 2017 04:48 PM

Elyse Berman, PA

LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL

Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Patricia Kennedy I have set off a few alarms in my time. I have not had the police show up. Usually a quick call to the listing agent has worked.

Jan 11, 2017 05:43 PM

Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®

Lewisburg, WV

Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Patricia, I had a listing last year that the alarm would not turn off. I called the seller and finally got it off. When the buyer arrived she had her builder with her to discuss renovations. The builder found the problem with the alarm and it worked great.

Jan 11, 2017 06:32 PM

Joe Pryor

The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK

REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Boy do I wish I had a dollar for every alarm set off in my 26 years I wouldn't still be working.

Jan 11, 2017 06:47 PM

Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089

Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI

Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

I know what you mean! One of my current listings has this and I have set it off by mistake. At least I know the safe word and was able to call off the cops before they set out. When that alarm goes off it is really unnerving!

Jan 15, 2017 05:44 PM

Shirley Coomer

Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living - Phoenix, AZ

Realtor, Keller Williams Realty, Phoenix Az

The last time I set off an alarm, the police showed up! Nice police officers. Great advice to leave it off while the house is active on the market.

Feb 10, 2017 06:19 AM

Frank Rubi

Frank Rubi Real Estate, LLC - Metairie, LA

FrankRubiRealEstate.com

Patricia Kennedy great tip on not setting off the alarm system. Fully agree just leave the security system off while marketing your property.

Feb 10, 2017 07:28 AM