Things Can Go Wrong On A Showing!

I recall once showing a house and asked the kid, "does your dog bite?". Kid said no, but the dog bit me! He  said "that wasn't his dog"!

Great post! I've had the key jump out of a somewhat defective lockbox and land in the only hole in a concrete stairs (unable to be retrieved), set off the alarm in a house where the husband gave us permission to enter the house (and I found out later he was not allowed on or near the property), found a pair of women's panties on the foyer floor (and my Buyer sheepishly admitted they were hers and had fallen out of her pocket on the way in). That last one... too funny! My client said she was tempted to pretend they weren't hers (out of embarrassment) but then had a flash of the look on the wife's face when she got home and found those so she decided it was better to be embarrassed than to cause a potential fight. 

Been there experienced it all several times some many times.

Try the large glass snake tank with the steel lid ajar and the tank empty!

Bill

I previewed a house for a client moving from Florida.  He wanted more pictures, so I went back with my son since it was late in the day (my son is a big hulk--taller than me).  It was obvious someone had been in the house, as attic stairs were down, master bedroom door to deck was unlocked, and other things were disturbed.  I called the agent who discounted the notion that someone had been entering the house unauthorized.  When my client arrived in town, I went to show the house.  The living room sliding glass door to the back patio was wide open.  My client said, "Shh!  What is that?"  We listened & heard it again.  It was a rattlesnake in the chimney!  Needless to say, I couldn't wait to get outside and call the agent who then said, "A rattlesnake!  How am I going to get that out of there?"  I said, "I don't know, but I'm not getting it out!"  Maybe she'll believe me next time, you think?

Dear Larry & Sheila,

Wow, that is quite the list. I have only had 7, 8 & 10 happen so far. The cat, when I was a relatively new agent, which was a great lesson, because it took more than 30 minutes to catch the escape artist. Now, I leave pets that are in in and pets that are out out. Lockboxes more than once (I often call to confirm, but it still happens sometimes). The burst pipe was a fluke, which I was able to shut down by finding the main shut-off, but that was not easy in a historic house. Seems like others have had the flea thing too. I hate vacant houses that had pets, because those suckers always come to bite me.

Glad you didn't step out onto the "deck".  The sprained ankle would have been mild.

Wow!   I have had my share, but none quite as colorful as those here.    I guess I'm too conservative and careful!   Sort of fun to read about, though!!!!

Wow! I read through 73 posts and enjoyed every one. I am pleased not to add to the list. Sometimes life can just get too exciting. I will settle for the ordinary. Who needs rattlesnakes, 15 foot falls and dog poop covering the floor?

These are good! Hey never a dule moment in real estate. I've had some interesting ones as well but I think yours and other noted here sound better.

Fun times, it seems that you have had a little bit of everything happen to you on showings that could happen. 

Hi Larry & Sheila, sounds like you were watching all our showings!  lol

Larry and Sheila, lol, your list gave me a good chuckle.  aaah, the day in the life of a realtor, the stories we could share (or not share). 

When I started in the business years ago, someone told me to "expect the unexpected" when showing properties.  Sometimes its hard to expect the unexpected, when you don't know what the unexpected could be. ha, ha! 

thanks for sharing! 

Those are great. I walked into a condo the alarm went off and their pet parrot flu out the door. I got the parrot who bit me drawing blood.

From the Department of Silver Linings: Those experiences give you something to talk about during those quiet moments in the conversation.

Let's not forget walking into the master bedroom and finding the owners in an athletic "afternoon delight" that drown out the doorbell and my shouts when we entered the house.

I'm sure there are a few folks who have walked in on romantic moments.

Erick Blackwelder
Washington DC suburbs
Exit Choice Realty
703-677-1120

Equal Housing Opportunity 

I was showing a large parcel of coastal Oregon land (located in Logsden near Siletz, OR) with a barn on it, the buyer wanted to see the loft upstairs. I ventured up the stairs first to find two dozen giant flying barn owls, the biggest one flying directly toward me to protect its young. A scary moment, but one that made an impression as the birds were awesome and beautiful. I ducked back down the stairs but my curiosity got the better of me so I took another look from a safe spot and asked my buyer to come take a peek too.  To this day, I have never been as close to so many owls of various sizes, not even at a zoo.

The buyer was looking for land to grow blueberries. We found a better parcel with a garage that did not have so many large holes in the roof.

I really think part of licensing an agent would be in dealing with these real life issues. Get into a house find and turn on all the lights without breaking yourself or anythign else, show the house and lock up tight all in under 30 minutes gets you a license.  hehe, I am kidding, but the rubber meets the road during the showings, for sure.

Always alot of fun showing.....

These are good, I drove a client 1 1/2 hours to look at a home and the code was wrong for the lock box.  The agent said it had to be 1 of 3 codes, but none of the codes worked.  I lost that client, due to the other agent.

I've literally shown a house with human fecal matter in the middle of the bedroom carpet.  Vacant place, added to the scary-what-are-you-gonna-find feel to the place.  Crazy part- lost on the offer on the place in a competitive bid situation.  Maybe staging is overblown?