This is a story about guns and unwelcome guests!

 

I have been working with a buyer client recently and together we have viewed a number of homes.  One of the homes that he liked is vacant, but still furnished.  In the basement there is recreation room that has the heads of many different animals mounted on all the walls.  An avid hunter owns this house!

 

Hunter

 

As we looked around we came across an open storage area that was filled with a bunch of hunting equipment, including several rifles!  They weren't even locked in a gun cabinet....they were just laying on some shelving!  When I called the agent that afternoon to give our feedback, I told her we had found these guns.  She thanked me for letting her know so that she could advise her seller to get them out of there.

 

We spoke a couple of days later and she told me she had talked to her seller about how unwise it was to leave these guns where someone could potentially steal them (or maybe borrow them, shoot someone, then return them).  He was not concerned a bit, in fact he gave her a bit of a hard time about bringing it up to him.  She tried to explain that she was just trying to prevent potential problems, but was not convinced that he took her advice seriously.

 

My client initially had some interest in this house (he is looking for a lease purchase deal), and the seller has indicated that he would consider it, but he wants more than my client thinks it is worth.  The listing agent checks in with me every so often to see if my client has found anything, hoping he may come back to this house.

 

She called me this morning and told me that last week she took an agent caravan from her office to the house and when they got there they discovered the Supra keybox had been stolen.  She had her key, so they were able to tour the home anyway.  Saturday, the owner of the home stopped by and discovered that someone had been sleeping in the house!  No one was there at the time, but it was obvious someone had been there.  He is changing all the locks today!

 

She did not know if he had removed the guns, but can you imagine someone finding them and what could happen!

 

PLEASE REMEMBER THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING WEAPONS, MONEY, JEWELRY AND OTHER VALUABLES WHERE THEY CAN'T BE STOLEN!

 

Ann Allen Birmingham AL Realtor

Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-Pro, SRES, ASP

BIRMINGHAM AREA REAL ESTATE

205.902.4868

Keller Williams

One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150

Hoover, AL  35244

Ann@AnnAllenTeam.com

 

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© 2009 Ann Allen, All rights reserved

 

 
Post is included in group: Club Chaos
Post is included in group: Diary of a Realtor
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Post is included in group: "Whacked"!!!

38 Comments on This is a story about Guns and Unwelcome Guests..........BEWARE!

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JAN
19
2009

Thanks Ann. Yes, I do have a ton of stories. Now all I need is a good ghost writer and I can finish a good copshop book during the winter.
Steve Blehl
2:34pm • #19
655,774 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Anna:  It would be great if all agents could make their clients aware of the danger.

Robert:  Responsible gun ownership is so important.

Gary:  It's seems like it should be so obvious, doesn't it?
2:40pm • #20
655,774 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Connie:  I think this was likely an eye-opening experience for this seller.

Myrl:  Ha!  I didn't say that..........

Michael:  It's creepy, isn't it?

Steve:  I think you should do it!
7:31pm • #21
518,614 Points Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

I actually have a listing coming on where the owner does not want people going into a room because he has guns...so now my problem is...how are they going to see the room.
7:46pm • #22
655,774 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Konnie:  I have a new listing and the owner has a locked gun cabinet with maybe a dozen rifles he is so proud of......he was taken aback when I suggested they be removed to a safer place.  Thank goodness his new bride was with me on the issue.  Maybe you can convince him that since they will be moving soon it might be best to pack them away now.....keep them safe and give them less things to pack away at moving time.  Good luck with him!
8:06pm • #23
142,381 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

Wow, what a story. We sure come up with some crazy ones as Realtors, huh?
8:54pm • #24
JAN
20
2009

My biggest concern with something like this is wandering kids during a showing. When showing houses to families who have kids with them the kids sometimes wander off. Can you imagine what would happen if a curious  4 year old came across a loaded gun? I have no problem with guns. However, gun owners should be more responsible to make sure they are safely stored away.
Chad Beasley - RE/MAX Southern Homes (Birmingham, AL)
8:55am • #25
606,826 Points 71 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Unbelievable. Sellers so often think they know better than the advice from their Realtor....most of the time it hurts the seller..... guns unlocked ???? are you kidding ??? That's truly unbelievable.
9:39am • #26
5 Featured Posts

Wow, I'm shocked that the homeowner was so unconcerned by the guns just laying around in the home and that he thought the real estate agent was out of place by asking him to remove them or lock them up. And then to find someone sleeping in the home too? That is one crazy story; I'm glad that no one got hurt!
10:39am • #27
207,923 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I never thought of this while taking a listing, but I guess, it makes sense to ask if the owner has guns, and if so, please keep them locked away safely
11:45am • #28
653,031 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Ann,

WOW!  That is not good.  Vacant houses can be dangerous. 

Ann Hayden shivering in Wildwood, Missouri
1:09pm • #29
JAN
23
2009
1,057,134 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

When I worked as a home inspector for my marketing guru's company back in 2001-2005, we found some interesting things during the course of the inspection. I think that's what convinced me that I didn't want to be a home inspector -- LOL.
5:02am • #30
3 Featured Posts

Ann, that is a very irresponsible home owner. What if a yound child had a horrible accident in his home. How could he take that back? Some people just don't have a clue.
1:44pm • #31
JAN
25
2009
193,796 Points 29 Featured Posts Outside Blog

This is just unbelievable!! I have to include this is this week in review. What a story!!! ~GBU~
5:11pm • #32
JAN
26
2009
1,352,557 Points 42 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

These are the things that I always advise my clients to remove from the home during the listing if at all possible, and if not to lock in a safe.
12:17am • #33

Wow!  I can see someone "forgetting' that they needed to take extra precautions when letting people in their home but making a fuss after being reminded.  People like that give responsible gun owners a bad name.  I'm sure that if something had happened someone would have tried to pursue the Realtor for not reminding them or supervising buyers etc. 
6:51am • #34
304,064 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Ann,
You would think the client would have thanked his agent-- Go figure, some people just don't get it, do they?
7:09am • #35
1,226,798 Points 79 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Can't believe this guy did not take seriously the Realtors urging to remove the guns! That a huge problem just waiting to happen!!
7:09am • #36
1,100,093 Points 25 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

By all means, guns should be locked up, as well as all valuables.
7:32am • #37
1,914,473 Points 386 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ann, great post!  I declined a listing once because it was like Little Waco.  The owner called me later and said I was the only agent who raised the gun issue and that I was right.  He put the arsenal in storage and I sold the house. 
10:53pm • #38

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Ann Allen CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO REALTOR® ~ Hoover AL Homes for Sale

Hoover, AL

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E21 Realty

Address: E21 Realty, 100 Concourse Parkway, Suite 135, Hoover, AL, 35244

Office Phone: (205) 989-7215

Cell Phone: (205) 902-4868

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I write about people, places, things to do and anything else that inspires me, including articles related to finance and the Birmingham area real estate market.








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