Come On Agents....Really?

Dorie, We too see this all too often. We were showing a condo with a regular key lockbox on, but the door was open and the key was still in the door!

It amazes me too, or should I say infuriates me. Agents have a responsibility to lock up for heaven's sake! And we wonder why sellers are hesitant to have a lock box on their property!

Good morning Dorie.

That is a complete no no...

Living the backdoor open? Not in New York.

A vacant house should be treated the same as a home full of valuables.  It's just common courtesy.  I do appreciate agents that call when they see something in one of my listings that I should know. 

Stuff like this should be Real Estate 101. Agents should respect the homes they're showing as if they were their own homes.

Dorie ~  A simple lack of respect is what it boils down to, in my humble opinion.  In my area, whenever there is a showing scheduled, the Listing Agent goes in and "sets the stage", with lights, etc.  They then go back after the showing to ensure all the lights are off and the doors are locked -- even with the vacant properties.  Seems a bit over the top, but this is the very reason it is done.

Dorie - This is one of my biggest pet peeves....arghhhhh!  I always pay special attention to the home and try to leave it exactly the way I found it, Lights off and doors locked.  Around here, with many vacation properties, the owners often turn the water off also, and unfortunately....Buyers and their agents will use the toilet without checking first and....Well, you know who ends up taking care of the issue.....ME! 

If the house is on an electronic lockbox, you can sometimes backtrack and find out who the culprit is.  You just wonder how that AGENT would feel if someone left THEIR house unlocked.

I'm thinking they'd hit the roof!

I feel your pain. It happens as part of the business, but that doesn't make it better.

Dorie, you are so right!  It only take a minute to walk through the house to check the doors and lights.  It isn't rocket science. 

Dorie, I echo your thoughts. A least once a week I find a listing unlocked.  Sometimes an out-of-town Seller can ask a trusted neighbor to check the doors in the evening. The doors need to be checked every day,if possible.

Realtors need to be treating every home they show as their own. It only takes an extra second to do, there is no excuse not to.

Dorie, We have to take responsibility to follow up and check doors and sometimes windows to make sure a home is secure.  If something happens and I cannot lock up I am on the phone immediately with the agent.