Since this one is fresh in my mind, let's go with a property we received from a national client having been foreclosed January 5th, 2010.
Upon arrival, we weren't really sure if we had the right house. The mailbox was in front of a house but there was a driveway next to the mailbox leading to another house positioned in the woods behind the house we thought was right. Checking tax maps and records it appears that property lines may be overlapping and the house may sit on a property line. With no one in sight to ask, we made an executive decision to approach the house that appeared most likely to be ours...the one with every window smashed out and with what appears to be smoke or fire damage.
Upon entering, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary but it was the day after our January 7th snow storm and it was well below freezing. After verifying vacancy we left and returned the next day to re-key and inspect the home. This time, we heard something...it sounded like sizzling bacon. It was, a copper pipe that had burst and was spraying water into the house at 140 psi. Immediately a search began in the front yard which was still covered with frozen leaves and ice for the water meter to shut the water off from the street. An hour later we still couldn't find the meter and couldn't cut off the water.
Our next bright idea was to call the county water department's emergency line and ask them to dispatch someone to find the meter and stop the water. We had to leave a message. When we finally did reach them, they said they didn't do that sort of thing. Finally they agreed and said they would have someone there to turn off the water within 24 hours. We checked again the next day and the firehose was still wide open. We called again. This time the apologized and said they would send someone then and it would be handled. Hmm.
We went back again a few days later after the national field services company our client uses to do trash outs called us and told us that the water was STILL ON, and went out to the property again. This time we were lucky. We found a neighbor who told us that the water meter was located on the other side of the street from the property. That is a new one. We were able to at last stop the flood.
What is more frustrating is the report from our field representative at the time he found a neighbor and was able to locate and shut off the water valve...she said, - VISITED PROPERTY TO GET VIDEO OF THE WATER LEAK THAT WAS STILL GOING AFTER A WEEK. THE LADY NEXT DOOR CAME HOME WHILE I WAS HERE AND I ASKED HER WHERE HER METER WAS IN THE HOPE OURS WAS CLOSE BY. IT WAS, SO I GOT THE WATER TURNED OFF. THE METER IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOT EVEN ON THIS PROPERTY. SHE ALSO SAID THAT THE WATER DEPT DID COME OUT EARLIER THAT WEEK AND THE TRUCK DROVE OVER THE METER AND BROKE THE TOP COVER BUT DIDN'T BOTHER TO GET OUT AND TURN THE WATER OFF. IT NO SENSE. UPDATED PICS ALSO.
The combination of the weather, incompetent or lazy county employees and a water meter that wasn't located on the property combined to create our drama on this house. The water bill is in the high hundreds and the outcome of the water going that strong that long will be likely costly. Just another day for us.
If you have exciting, dramatic or just plain strange stories about your REO marketing experiences listing agent or buyer's agent, please comment here. Misery loves company.
Next Episode...The Ghost House...really.
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