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Scary Moments While Touring Homes

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Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Scary Moments While Touring Homes


It's Friday the 13th, November 2020.  The spookiest thought I could come up with was the scary things I have seen while touring properties with my buyers.  Guns was a topic I covered in greater  detail on a my personal blog, along with true stories of careless sellers who were gun owners.  Needless to say, guns should  not be left in closets or on tables for anyone to find.

Another scary moment involved a snake.  We knew the snake would be in the home, in a terrarium. However, when we got to the home the big question was, "Where's the snake?"  It wasn't in the terrarium.  (gulp)  Needless to say, since the snake was described as a cobra in the listing, we made our way out in short order.

As a pet owner, my heart skipped a beat when a house kitty who I was given strict instructions to not let out of the house, bolted as soon as I unlocked the door.  I tackled that cat in nothing flat in one of the rudest introductions that cat has ever known.  I took her back into the home and tried to make nice, but she ran for cover.  She was safe and sound back inside, but that was a scary moment, particularly since the home fronted a major byway.

Last night, while unlocking a door with an oval glass insert with decorative lead designs inside, I saw a figure walk across the vacant home from one side to the other.  Not a peep out of them.  My buyer kept telling me he thought I just imagined it.  Meanwhile, I walked around the first floor looking around, waiting to have a paranormal moment.  It wasn't until he took the door from the kitchen to the back yard that he jumped a foot and encountered the figure I had seen walk across my field of view.  It was a workman getting out of our way, not wanting to make a fuss.  

Heart stopping moments definitely happen while we are out touring property.  Do you have any to share?

 

Comments(14)

Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hi Chris Ann - did you ever find out what happened to the snake?  That would be creepy especially a cobra! Very odd to leave that type of snake not locked up. while on the market......of even in the house for that matter!

Nov 13, 2020 01:00 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Anna Banana Kruchten CRS CRB, Phoenix Broker --Nope.  It was listed with an agent that didn't return calls.  Interesting that the even pointed out that the snake was in the terrarium and not to be disturbed.

Nov 13, 2020 02:05 PM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Selling bank owned homes, the scariest times ar epeople in a house that should ot be there. Guns dont scare me, but they should be locked up. Im in NH, most homes have one and we are one of the safest places. It is common to see gun cases or gun safes. I dont think i have ever seen one just sitting out. I would be scred of a snake. For me, i think the worst is lose dogs that dont like people. I just had oen attach 2 weeks ago, ripped my pants.  

Nov 13, 2020 04:37 PM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I was showing a listing and there was a big sign on the front door that said don't the snake out. My clients decided not to this house. 

Happy Friday the 13th Chris Ann Cleland 

Nov 13, 2020 05:48 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Scott Godzyk --Ditto on the dogs that don't like people.  Had a listing one time where a grandson, living with granddad, had a mean pit bull that he would turn loose on buyers.  Terrifying. Had to drop the listing.  Poor granddad ended up going to foreclosure because we couldn't get it under contract as a short sale.

Nov 13, 2020 06:53 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS --Let it out?  Where the heck was it being kept that it COULD get out?  Yikes.

Nov 13, 2020 06:54 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Guns should always be secured away when a home is listed for sale.  It's lunacy when they aren't.

Nov 13, 2020 08:02 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Yet, when I am touring homes with buyers that have small children, I always make sure the kids aren't looking under beds and opening doors without an adult present.  You just never know the person who thinks it is a non-issue.  Myrl Jeffcoat , I know we tell our sellers what to do to prepare for tours, but not every agent does.  And even if they do, who knows they will listen.

Nov 13, 2020 08:05 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Chris Ann - heart-stopping and jaw-dropping are just two of the expressions experienced in real estate.  Hopefully more of those are connected with favorable feelings rather than frightening.  

Nov 14, 2020 04:21 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I think the scariest was when I was showing an occupied rented multi-family home to buyers. The renters did not want the house to sell and when we walked into the first apartment, there were about 20 unhappy people standing all over the place in the way. We left.

Nov 14, 2020 05:10 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Michael Jacobs --That's how we would rather use them I know.  

Nov 14, 2020 08:06 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Kat Palmiotti --I had that with an owner's family once.  They were furious that they had not been notified of a showing.  I could only communicate with the daughter.  I politely waited outside while she called their agent.  It was a hot mess.  We had to make sure come home inspection they would actually leave.  They did, but had a car with their friend right outside the door the whole time watching.  It was so strange.

Nov 14, 2020 08:08 AM
Kat Palmiotti

Yikes, Chris Ann Cleland !

Nov 14, 2020 11:56 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Chris Ann:

I bet we have all had a few moments now and then.

I remember going to preview a home that was clearly labeled vacant in the MLS, and was empty per the photos. Imagine my surprise walking in the door after knocking, and a minute or so later as I approached one of the bedrooms heard what sounded like a rather large AND angry, growling dog. The dog was loose and thankfully I made it to the door before the dog got to me.

Jeff

Nov 15, 2020 03:12 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Jeff Dowler, CRS --Dogs are just doing their jobs and protecting their home.  It always disturbs me when owners think their dogs will be angels to anyone.  This one being locked up tells you they probably knew.  But to have VACANT pictures??!!  What the heck?

Nov 15, 2020 06:35 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Chris Ann Cleland 


I think the seller was not being honest that someone WAS actually staying there in the bedroom. This was during the era of short sales and foreclosures!

Nov 15, 2020 07:33 PM