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STOP & BEWARE, TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT!!!!

By Darlene Wurth

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Select Professionals

July 18, 2007 04:25 PM

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This is how I feel right now! LOL Seriously one of my listings keeps putting up a sign in their yard that says BEWARE, TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT ON THE SPOT NO QUESTIONS ASKED!

The 1st time I became aware of this sign, I called my clients and asked them about it, they admitted they did put the sign up.

I EXPLAINED TO THEM THE IMPLICATIONS FROM DOING THIS. That it would run potential buyers off. That the buyers might think that this was a bad neighborhood people breaking in or they are having trouble with the neighbors!

They admitted to me they were having troubles with their neighbor and understood about the implications, they agreed to take the sign down.

My broker got a call from another REALTOR that has listings in the same neighborhood and she said my clients had the sign back up again and the Agent was concerned how it was not only affecting my listing but all of the others in the neighborhood, and I do understand her concern.

Not sure how to handle this one at this point. PLEASE HELP!!! ANY ADVICE OR SUGGESTIONS? This is a nice neighborhood and I rather see a sign that says SOLD instead,

Thank you!!

Comments(21)

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Judi Morgan

RETIRED - San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, TX Real Estate

Darlene, Sorry I don't have any advice on this one either. You might want to cancel the listing -- it's going to take a long time to get that one sold with that sign in the yard! Probably not the advice you want to hear but do you really want to spending all of your time dealing with an issue that probably won't be resolved.

Jul 18, 2007 04:32 PM

Nancy Albea

Entrances Home Staging LLC - Katy, TX

Are they serious?? First ask them if they own a gun...and if they don't, swing by in the middle of the night and take the sign down. I had a client that was so adamant about solicitors, she posted a sign that said solicitors would be cannibalized! Good luck Darlene!

Jul 18, 2007 04:34 PM

Joan Mirantz

Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH

Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

Darlene...I agree with Lexa. I would tell them that if they keep that sign up you will not be able to represent them!

They hired you to sell their house and are making it impossible for you to do so.

Jul 18, 2007 04:34 PM

Mary Warren

Las Vegas, NV

I showed properties years ago to some buyers, there was a listing I was going to show exactly like this with the sign out front...my buyers said 'skip it, it's not worth taking a chance' so we just passed it up without a look.

Jul 18, 2007 04:42 PM

Rebecca Chambliss

Vista Sotheby's International - Rolling Hills Estates, CA

This might sound crazy...but if you know they won't take it down, maybe you can exploit it and make a second sign saying something like, "the seller's have a great sense of humor and what they meant to say is showings by appointment only"...Just a thought...Gotta try to make lemonade out of lemons if at all possible.

Jul 18, 2007 04:46 PM

Judi Glamb

Coldwell Banker Hearthside - Hellertown, PA

Associate Broker, ABR

Wow! How about asking them to take their sign down and you put a sign up - DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT A REALTOR.

I did an open house for an associate, they had the dining room french doors chained and padlocked. Every single person that came through asked if there was a crime problem in the neighborhood. (There wasn't one). They also had a driveway alarm - probably the only house I could do an open house, be able to snooze a bit and make sure that I would be awake and alert when someone drove up. (Took me about three cars to figure this out as the agent didn't tell me about the alarm).

Jul 18, 2007 04:47 PM

Chuck Christensen

Your Financial Coach - Bellingham, WA

Fire them and tell them to find someone else...they will continue to be trouble....

Jul 18, 2007 04:48 PM

Darlene Wurth

Keller Williams Select Professionals - Rome, GA

Realtor/REOS

Judi, your right I don't want to spend all my time on this one

Lexa yes , I feel like running!

Nancy, yes I would want to know if they did own a gun before I went over at night! LOL

Joan- Your right

Mary- Yes that is what I tried to tell my sellers that the buyers would not want to even look

Thanks to all for the comments!

Jul 18, 2007 04:49 PM

Chuck Christensen

Your Financial Coach - Bellingham, WA

Are you in a State where this would be considered unlawful threatening of life....I would check with the local Police. Most states do allow you to put up a "no trespassing" sign, but you can not threaten peopel. In most states you are not allowed to protect property with deadly force, only yourself and directly related family members. If he does shoot someone for trespassing, he will probable be up for premeditated murder...he is planning to shoot someone...maybe you?

Jul 18, 2007 04:54 PM

Darlene Wurth

Keller Williams Select Professionals - Rome, GA

Realtor/REOS

Judi G- wow! Thats pretty good about the sign do not enter without a REALTOR

Rebecca- great ideal

Chuck- your right I need to

Jul 18, 2007 04:54 PM

Debra Miller

Bella Real Estate - El Dorado Hills, CA

Hello Darlene,

Oh my goodness, it really doesn't read like your clients want to sell their home. They are sabatoging any potential buyers by behaving this way. It is time to have a serious talk and then be ready to cancel the listing. Sometimes it is just not worth it for any amount of potential commission or abuse. These clients could be using you and you are in the middle without knowing it. You might need to ask yourself if you want your sign or name associated with this type of outlandish behavior?

Jul 18, 2007 05:02 PM

Darlene Wurth

Keller Williams Select Professionals - Rome, GA

Realtor/REOS

Debra, your right its not worth it!!

Jul 18, 2007 05:04 PM

Kaushik Sirkar

Call Realty, Inc. - Chandler, AZ

Its time to cut your 'losses' and run. I'm sure you can find listings with non-looney clients that have a better chance of selling..

Jul 18, 2007 06:07 PM

Randy L. Prothero

eXp Realty - Hollister, MO

Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Send them a flkyer that says:

SELLERS WHO SCARE AWAY BUYERS WILL BE SHOT!

NO QUESTIONS ASKED

Jul 18, 2007 09:00 PM

Todd Murphy

Fitts Agency - Tuscaloosa, AL

I agree with Kaushik - it's time to cut your losses and get the heck out of there. These sellers sound whacko.

Jul 18, 2007 09:40 PM

Jennifer Hillegas

Sign Your Deed Realty - Rome, GA

Every Seller Does It!

Darlene,

You can cancel the listing. Call me first so I can tell you how to handle it b/c someone in your comments is right we don't want to associate our firm or you with someone that acts that way. Together we will go get MORE listings!!!! Have a great day!

Jul 19, 2007 12:10 AM

Jo-Anne Smith

Oakville, ON

Darlene, I showed some property last week to a couple from Toronto area and they told me the day before they had been in another region of Ontario looking at a piece of property. While they were looking at it, a man came out of nowhere and told them that if they stepped one foot on his land, he would shoot. He was carrying a gun.

Needless to say, they got back in their car and decided not to buy anywhere within MILES of that man.

I agree with Lexa. Use your Walk Away power and walk away from this one.

Jul 21, 2007 02:33 PM

Darlene Wurth

Keller Williams Select Professionals - Rome, GA

Realtor/REOS

Thany you Jo-Anne for your advice and Wow a man that actually came out with a gun scary!!

Jul 24, 2007 03:08 AM

Darlene Wurth

Keller Williams Select Professionals - Rome, GA

Realtor/REOS

wow, the comment above from a home buyer, This had nothing to do with door to door sales men at all. Yes most people would wonder why would someone put a sign up, is something going on in this neighborhood,

AS a Real Estate Consultant it is my duty and obligation to help my clients, in this case my seller's. I am to advise them and help them get their home sold in the shortest amount of time for the highest amount of money. To give them advice on that sign being up might run off some buyer, was sound good advice . Now if there was high crime rate in that neighborhood and it was put up for that reason then it might had been different. Thanks for your comment and thoughts.

Apr 18, 2009 05:47 PM

Darlene Wurth

Keller Williams Select Professionals - Rome, GA

Realtor/REOS

one more thought, It is not against the law to post no trespassing signs It is against the law at least in the state of Georgia, to add trespassers will be shot, you can not threaten to shoot anyone.

Apr 21, 2009 07:49 AM