Yesterday afternoon a Curtis Park buyer's agent called me to ask for the code to show one of my listings. It was hard to hear what he was saying because there was a lot of noise in the background. I immediately jumped into my spiel about the home, pointing out some of the wonderful updates the sellers have completed. He listened and then asked: Why didn't I simply put the alarm code in the lockbox instead of making agents call me?
I explained my sellers' concerns, that it was actually their decision not to put the alarm code in the lockbox. We talked for maybe 10 minutes. He seemed disturbed for some reason that the code wasn't in the lockbox. He said that agents will set off the alarm at least once a week.
"Well, no, it hasn't happened yet," I said, adding that this home has been on the market for a few months.
Then I asked when he wanted to show the home because I would need to call the caretaker to let him know the time, just in case the caretaker was there for some reason. Here's how that conversation went:
Buyer's agent: "Um, I want to show it right now. I mean, I am at the home."
Duh. The light bulb went off in my head.
Me: "So . . . that noise in the background, would that happen to BE THE ALARM, by any chance?"
"Buyer's agent: "Uh, yeah, it went off when I opened the door."
And here he spent 10 minutes talking to me and arguing with me about why the code wasn't in the lockbox! I don't know why agents don't read the confidential agent remarks in MLS, but it's obvious that some don't.
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Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
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There was a blog from an agent a while back where she got put into a squad car for setting of an alarm. I thoiught , hoped given the nature of the person you were dealing with, that this was going there to. There are 2 leassons here. 1 read the MLS listing and 2 An alarm that goes off for 10 minutes without any type of response is probably worthless
Elizabeth: Classic story! IF (and that's a big IF) I had been the agent to do that, the phone call would have been something like this, "Hi Elizabeth, my name's Chris Ann. I'm standing in your listing on Elm Street and the alarm's going off. What's the code to stop it?" All of that of course at machine gun speed.
Elizabeth, There have been a few of us writing about lockboxes. They work well, IF the agents respect them. In your case, that didn't happen.
Maybe an unlawful entry conviction would make them call the next time?
Cute, Elizabeth!!
O how I hate to set off an alarm! I have had a few times where the agent did not tell me there was one and it went off. They freak me right out!
It IS amazing how some people manage to function isn't it? I've learned though, even if the code isn't in the box, I put a flag on the key which says "ALARM ON" so they know to call. The worst though is when a listing agent puts nothing in the remarks, no note in the keybox and WHAM...yep, that's happened to me before. And then the agent doesn't answer his cell phone and no one at the office could help me....not a fond memory :-)
Elizabeth, DUH is right....hello???? I have had that happen before as well - set the alarm off, that is. We ran in, saw the home, and left. Then I called the Realtor to let them know what had happened. ;-)
Elizabeth, I'd like to say it's unbelievable but I know you're not making it up!
Elizabeth
How frightening. Not too long ago I was showing a supermarket after hours and I must have set off the alarm. I told the buyers "Could you please stand still for a minute until the City of West Allis police quit aiming those shot guns at my head outside of the plate glass in the parking lot"
Sincerely
Tom Braatz
Hi Charlie: The security alarm company did call the house. Just as the guy was hanging up the phone, I heard another phone ring. I called him back, got v/m. Called him back again, got v/m. Called him back again and he finally answered so I could give him the flippin' password. Otherwise, the police would have shown up next.
Terry, Margaret and Wendy: What are ya gonna do?
Lizette: I hate showing houses with alarm codes because I invariably set them off, even though I know the code.
Hi Chris Ann: I'm with you. That's how I would have handled it, too. First words out of my mouth would be "the alarm is going off, what's the code?"
Hi Colleen: Hey, I had a note attached to the key, but I suspect some agent already lost it.
Hi Teri: LOL. I did that once, too. I called the agent to let her know the alarm was going off, and she didn't call me back, so we walked through the house holding our hands over our ears and ran out.
Hi Barb: What's worse is not being able to find the security alarm because the agent never told you it's secret hiding place.
Hey Tom: I bet THAT made your buyers freeze in place.
That is so irritating and it makes the agent look bad to your client and their client. Not a good move. Our MLS has showing instructions that you can view on your phone, a big help.
Elizabeth,
It is so rare here that the house is on alarm, even if there is one, that I never had that problem. I was reading and thinking that I am lucky I did not have that problem, if this is not just an alarm, but it is connected to the service, and imagining standing and explaining it to law enforcement?
I would rather not. Thanks for educating
Did the agent not even check with you first to get permission to show the home? It's amazing how buyers and agents sometimes think they can behave any way they want to, especially with vacant homes!
I could be guilty at times of not reading all the comments, especially if you have to click again to get the secret stuff. This agent is one calm cookie if he listened to an alarm for that long.
How I wish there was a part of the realtor exam....and requirement in CE that you have...and maintain a level of common sense....but the people that don't have it, don't know it !
Wow, I always make sure as an agent that I am completely aware of everything going on when I am showing houses. I read everything, I try to talk to the selling agents if I can. I do not want to go into a house and be embarrassed by something like that! Can you imagine how that agent must have felt! WOW.
Common sense, Sally, you hit it on the head. When I was once asked to name my favorite of our five senses, I chose "common." LOL.
Elizabeth - LOL! Did the police show up? Sorry if you've already answered this question...I haven't read all of the comments. :)