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Did You Really Squeeze Super-glue Into The Keyhole?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Mike Bell, REO Broker - Realty World MBA

Unbelievable.  The old adage is true: “if you come to the ballpark every day, you’ll see something you’ve never seen before.”  Agent behavior never ceases to disappoint me, like vandalizing listings.  Have you heard the one about agents that steal keys from lockboxes to discourage competing offers on hot listings?  Well, today my Realty World colleague, Derek Miller, told me a real whopper.  This takes the prize (to date, anyway) for the most classless act I’ve ever heard of.  To my shame, it made me belly-laugh.

Derek took some clients to look at an aggressively priced bank-owned listing and couldn’t get the key to work, only to discover that someone had squeezed super-glue into the keyhole! So, of course, Derek and his clients couldn’t get in to view the property.  Neither can anyone else, which I guess was the intention. Obviously we can’t say for sure that it was an agent, but . . . what would be the point how of something like that be for an ordinary prankster or delinquent?  If it quacks like a duck . . .

From the window Derek could easily see that there had already been a lot of agents showing the house.  Even though the listing was only a few days old, given the lack of inventory, there are bound to be numerous offers anyway.  So why bother vandalizing the lockset?

Can we really be so desperate to win that we’re reduced to vandalism and stealing?  C’mon already.  Further disappointing is my anticipation that my posting a blog about this will actually contribute to the problem, because it will give the idea to someone else.

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Sonja Patterson
Keller Williams - BV - College Station, TX
Texas Monthly 5-Star Realtor Recipient for the Hou

Wow, that is REALLY low!  Amazing what lengths people will go to in order to achieve what they want.  I hope the guilty party is caught.  I would think you couldn't use that trick more than once...or they could eventually find out who the guilty agent is!!

Oct 10, 2009 10:10 AM
Lina Robertson
AMAX Real Estate - Springfield, MO
REALTOR® Serving Springfield, Nixa and Ozark, MO

Wow, that one really takes the cake.  I've experienced agents taking the keys before, but not this.  Of course, these days, nothing should surprise us.

Oct 10, 2009 10:16 AM
Melissa Anderson
Be My Neighbor Mortgage - San Antonio, TX
Your Texas Lender

Maybe it was the previous home owner.

Oct 10, 2009 10:20 AM
Charles Stallions
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pensacola, FL
850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

I go with Melissa's theory, no agent would do such a thing. I am proud to be a Realtor, do you know we are held to higher standards just under MD's.

Oct 10, 2009 11:14 AM
Mike Bell
Mike Bell, REO Broker - Realty World MBA - Santa Clara, CA

This is an REO, the previoius owner is long gone.  You really think no agent would do such a thing?  We should compare shenanigan stories.  Maybe it's ust a left coast thing, but nothing surprises me anymore.  These are unusual times. 

Oct 10, 2009 12:11 PM
Aaron Majors
Portland Realty Hub LLC - Portland, OR
CNE. Principle Broker

Wow!


Aaron

http://www.PortlandHomeAuction.com

Oct 11, 2009 03:01 AM
Frank Sauer
CENTURY 21 Garner Properties - Independence, KY

Not sure how it would benefit another agent although I guess it would be a creative way to avoid multile offers - my guess would be neighborhood kids.

Oct 13, 2009 02:03 AM
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

It's all about the commission. We've had things happen here and you can only assume it's an agent who wants their offer to go. Maybe they're desparate.

Oct 21, 2009 09:19 AM