An Open Letter to Distressed Home Owners

That is one of the questions, I always ask before I go into one of these..."Are the appliances still there" I even had a house where the homeowners wrote all over the walls, and floors.......it's amazing..

Hi Chris, I've been through several distressed properties... and yes... they are stripped and trashed.  I've seen paneling with holes someone made with a sledge hammer, cabinet doors pulled partially off hinges, and kitchen drawers with no fronts.  I certainly appreciated reading your article. 

Also, thanks for your reply to my post on bank owned properties.  I enjoyed reading it and will certainly follow your advice.  I need to find someone like you in Ohio that teaches a course on short sales and learn more about the process.  I had one home where I got all the paperwork in placed, faxed them the release of information documents signed by my clients that permitted them to talk to me.. everything that I understood at the time to be necessary.  I called often and even found the name of my contact person, their phone number and direct extension, as well as their email.  Every effort I made to communicate with my "contact person" was in vain.  None of my calls were returned and none of my emails were responded to.  The listing eventually expired.  I spoke with my former client some time after (I like to make follow-up calls) and they told me the bank did speak to them and agreed to do a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

Bottom line... I need to learn more about short sales and am willing to take classes to learn all I can.

I agree that the items should be left in the home, if removed from the home before foreclosure they belonged to the owner at that time after it is stealing.      

Chris Ann, it is amazing that we have to point out to adults what STEALING is, despite any emotional bad feelings. I think even kindergartners understand this. Unfortunately for a lot of distressed properties I have been into the destruction is more the rule than the exception.

Chris Ann...

It's sad that people who would NEVER walk into a bank with a gun have no problem robbing the same bank when they think they won't be caught.

It's amazing that people re-define the term stealing to suit their own desires. Recently had a lady tell me to pound sand with our $2000 cash for keys offer and the turn around and say she was going to take the microwave.

I hate a thief.

 I watched a grown man stealing and eating huge amounts of candy in the grocery last night. To top it off he then threw a bunch of it on the floor after he was full . I told him off. He seemed shocked.

Ifelt good about saying something though.

When I was a buyers agent, I saw a home where the kitchen cabinets were removed and the light and plumbig fixtures.

What I fear is the children that are being affected.

What values will they have when they see what their parents are doing.

I agree with Virginia, in many cases taking the appliances would be preferred to the other damage that can be done.  Missing cabinets, vanities, granite counter tops, wall to wall carpeting cut out, etc.  Though it sounds, weird, let them take the appliances, just leave the rest of the house intact.