Grumble...Grumble...long read

[Disclaimer] This is in no way directed at all Realtors, just my personal experience with them so far.[/Disclaimer]

[RANT]
I have come to the conclusion that Realtors are evil. Their first priority is their commission and to hell with anything else. http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/mad.gif Consideration? Respect? Common courtesy? I don't think they know what they are.

For reasons I won't go into it is my habit to NOT answer the door or even acknowledge the person on the other side knocking if I don't know who they are or haven't been notified that someone is coming here. The Realtor knows this, our landlord knows this and so does the condo office.

Note: Our landlord and the Realtor(s) know I am disabled and pretty much home all the time..they also know that there are days I don't get around to well so they need to take that into consideration and allow me adequate time to make sure I am up and about and things are presentable. Granted, Chris and I keep things presentable but you know how it is...if someone is coming over there are little odds and ends of things you want to do so things are just so.

So someone is knocking on the door..I look through the peep hole...no one I recognize so I walk away without so much as a who is it? A note is left in the door..turns out it was a Realtor, the same one as before but I didn't recognize her...her hair color is changed and she's put on a lot of weight. She wants me to call her...doesn't have my phone number..uhmm..duh...shouldn't she have got that from our landlords to begin with? So I call..she's now out of town so I talk to her assistant...and here is where I start to get pissed.

I explain to this woman very politely that I am home all the time during the day and I want at minimum 3 hours notice before they bring anyone here. I don't think that is being unreasonable. I made it VERY clear (3 times during our conversation) that no one at any time is to enter our home if we are not here. So I ask her a few questions and she asks me a few then she says..Oh! Before I forget..did so and so put up the lock box when she was there?

Me: What's a lock box?

Realtor: It's a box we install on all properties being sold that holds a key to your door. All Realtors have a pass key (a card they swipe) that opens the box so they can get the key out and show the unit if someone wants to see it.

Me: No, there is no lock box and there will NOT be one installed. As I already explained to you before, no one at any time is to enter our home without us being here and having been given a minimum of 3 hours advance notice.

Realtor: Oh....but we have to put one up so we can show the unit.

Me: Why? I'm home all the time and I would let you in if I've been notified that someone wants to see the unit.

Realtor: But what if you're not home.

Me: Then no one comes in, end of story. As I said before, no one is to come in if we are not home.

Realtor: But we really have to put the lock box up.

Me: Look, you put up a lock box and anyone, ANYONE tries to get in here they will be greeted with me in full self-defense mode...gun in one hand, club in the other. This is my home and as such I have a right to protect myself and my home from unauthorized entry by anyone. You want to jeopardize your life and the lives of any prospective buyers be my guest.

Realtor: .......dead silence........

Me: Hello?

Realtor: *clears her throat* uhmm...I'll have to discuss this with my supervisor...maybe we don't need to put up the lock box.

Me: There will be no lock box. There is no need for it...I'm here all the time and you would be jeopardizing my safety...my life and the life of anyone that tries to get in here. If you insist on putting up the box I have no doubt my lawyer would have it immediately removed.

Realtor: I guess we don't need the lock box.

Me: That is correct.

So, I win that battle...now I get another call....they want to come over and take pictures inside our home so they can distribute a brochure. *gasp* Are they crazy? This is not a model home that has been set up for display! So I tell her I'm going to call Chris cuz I'm not comfortable with that and she says "are you worried about theft?" I respond that is just one of the reasons...you would be advertising the contents of our home to all the unsavory characters out there..it would invade our privacy...it's nobody's business what we have or don't have in here. We like our privacy and you would be taking that away from us. She asks if she can take pictures of the outside...I have no problem with that and I tell her I'll get back to her on the other...I call Chris..he feels the same as I do...so no pictures for a brochure. Note: The floor plans and photos of the model unit are readily available for printing from the company web site...the Realtor knows this...

I dunno...what is it with people? Just out for the buck? I really don't think I am being unreasonable am I? Don't we have a right to our privacy? To a little consideration for the fact that for now at least this is our home? Is it unreasonable to insist on advanced notice that they will be bringing people here to go in our bedroom...look through our closets and cupboards? Sheesh..I put pretty much everything on hangers and already removed a bunch of stuff from my closet...like I really want people coming in and looking at my lingerie hanging in there. I can't begin to tell you how many things I have moved/stashed just so people coming through here don't see them...jewelry, etc..how do I know the people that come here can be trusted? Anyone off the street can call up a Realtor and request to look at a property with ill intentions. And so help me God if anyone so much as reaches for a dresser drawer or any other 'private' space I'll break their arm and throw them out!http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/mad.gif[/RANT]

Yes, I'm feeling sorry for myself...stressed out..I really hate this...feel like my home is being invaded...and, everything that happened last time this place was sold is still very fresh in my mind. *sigh*

 

Don't blame you one bit Star!!!! If that is the conditions you want, then that is the way it should be done!! The realtor is making money off of you, so if they don't like it...they should have thought about that before they signed you on!!!! And I would have to say that I probably would go the same route you are, if I were to sell a home!!!!

They make bad actors too!!!! Just watch "House Hunters" on tv!!!! LOL

Roger

 

Kick Their Asses Girl !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

LMAO! Thanks Dad..I needed that! I'm not putting up with any of their crap...last time I was recovering from surgery and even though Chris notified everyone of the situation and that I would need adequate time to make myself presentable and get to the door I woke up that one day from my drug induced sleep to the sound of someone trying to get in....no knock! Just using a key....it still pisses me off! That's when I tripped over the comforter and fell into the door and she STILL kept trying different keys to get in. She was greeted club first when I opened the door a crack...she stepped back and gave me the 'oh..I didn't know anyone lived here line'

BTW...can you send me one of your hand guns? Seems I don't have one....*cracking up*

 

We didn't sign on with the Realtors..we rent the Condo and our landlords are selling (they are building a house). The Realtors (and our landlord) say they want to make this as painless as possible for us their actions say different. They are only concerned about the sale...not about the fact there are real live people living here.

 

Phew! Thank you Halo! In my self-doubt moments I think I might be just a bit unreasonable...but then on the other hand I know I'm not. You know the reasons I won't answer the door, etc. and I guess with everything that has been going on the past couple of months it has increased my anxiety in this situation. Added to that, their previous actions and requests thus far have put my back up. Painless as possible for us my arse. They just want to come and go as they please....it's not happening.

They pull any stunts similar to last time or try putting up that lock box I will call my lawyer and there will be hell to pay. I am not gonna sit back and let them walk all over us.

As for the swipe cards...I agree..people lose things all the time...their wallets/purses are stolen, etc. The way it was explained to me there isn't even a PIN number so that would mean every single Realtor basically has the same card. You gonna tell me that if one is lost every Realtor in this county is issued a new one and that the codes on all the lock boxes are changed? Or, same goes if it used a standard key? Uhmmm...I don't think so.

So much for safety and security...on top of that..this is a gated community and a Realtor only needs to show their ID and the guard opens the gate without notifying the resident(s) or finding out which unit they are going to.

 

I would protest with the owner, who has the contract with the Realtor. Is there a lease? Are you going to be asked to move? Or is that still to be determined?

 

Yes, we have a lease..it's up in June or July..I can't remember for sure off the top of my head. It is my understanding from our landlord and the Realtor that it has been stipulated this be sold as investment property. Either way, we do plan to move and have been actively looking...we're pretty sure we can get out of our lease. But until then, this is still our home and I will vehemently refuse anyone access unless they meet my (I think reasonable) criteria. ie: 3 hours notice and ONLY if we are home.

 

Don't get mad AbbySue...get even

Here's my warped humor....even when they have made an appointment with you, answer the door complete with shotgun and club, hair in curlers and ciggie hanging out of corner of mouth. That should ensure any prospective buyers run screaming and you won't have to move for ages

 

Here's the gist of it:

1-Our landlord is pathetic; they have NO business being property owners where tenants are concerned.
2-When the apartments condoed out, it went from a meticulously clean community with prompt attention paid to maintenance needs, to the most neglected community I've ever lived in. And I've been there going on 8 years.
3-The neighbors, all of them, are assholes. Great people when it was apartments, unsocialable losers when it condoed. And not a one of them can go through a guard gate without taking one of the gate arms with them. I know, 7 seconds is a long time to wait for a gate to open.
4-The square footage of the unit we live in would make Mini-Me feel cramped.
5-A realtor will put a drop box by my front door over my dead body. And they will show the unit when it is convenient to us, not them.
6-Our "lease" is a joke; we can go when we desire, and we will.
7-The next whiney newsletter I get from the homeowners community saying they are starting another damn committee of some sort to better the place, I'm gonna throw up.
8-I'm dying to see this "farting-daisy" happy real estate lady get $45,000 more for this unit than when the owners bought it a year ago...no upgrades, too. Every apartment complex in the area sans 1 condoed out and it's driving rents way down, and these new "landlords" pucker when they go 3 or 4 months with no tenant and a mortgage to pay. It's a renters market right now.

Next...

 

LMAO! I can manage the ciggie and the club but I'm lacking for a shot gun and curlers...hmmm....I saw these 'kids' at Darien lake one time...they were using different colors of elmers glue to 'stick' their hair straight up..one guys hair (various florescent colors used) was so stiff it looked like it was razor sharp...think something like that would work? Damn..wish I had the yeller shorts! Now those paired with a grungy ripped/stained shirt......

 

Depending on your type door, I would let the box stay about 30 mins. That is how long until I could take the doorknob/lock box off and then replace the doorknob with the locked lockbox in my hand. I would chuck it into the nearest dumpster....At over $200 to replace, they get the message not to put one there.

 

i am in almost the same position.. my home is being sold. we are on a month to month lease, that is being constantly extended so that hubby can fix the house to be sold at an over-inflated price. we love living here, and i am caught between staying here at a reduced rent and earning money, vs. sorting something out for the future. i generally try not to worry much past next week, but even that stands me in no good stead when i don't even know what i am going to be doing a week from now. despite repeated requests to give us notice of visits, our landlady always 'pops round' unexpectedly. i feel for you. aloha

 

Abby.I know what I would like to do to the next one that comes to your door.
It upset me so much as I was reading it. It is YOUR home, and they have no right!!!!!

As to the lockbox, I agree with what everyone else has said. NO WAY would I allow one.

Whew. I am angry right now, and it isn't even me going through it.

You take care.

Gal

 

My wife is a realtor. My mother is a realtor. I went to school to become one, but it wsan't my cup of tea.

Don't be mad at the Realtor, their client is the landlord. Thats who you should be pissed with.

Lockboxes are perfectly normal. It becomes more difficult when the owner isn't the one living there...there is a conflict of interest.

IMO, I would have been on the phone with the landlord yelling at them. The realtor really shouldn't be dealing with you anyway. The landlord should.

 

As I stated above, our landlord has no business being a landlord. Buying property as an investment is one thing, when there are tenants involved it requires much more commitment that just waiting for the rent check each month. Abby's threaded a few of the problems we've had with these folks, i.e.; 5 days for a water heater to be replaced, a week for the air conditioner to be repaired. These items could have been repaired by me, but I rent because I don't have time to be Bob Vila. These people were not prepared for this endeavour, and the end result is we get the aggrevation.

The realtor has been anything but professional toward Abby. I've met her; she definetly has red-lined the dense-o-meter. I've never heard of lock boxes being placed on occupied properties; they won't start with this one.

I can't get any more pissed at our landlord than I already am; don't get me wrong, they are nice folks. Perhaps this wouldn't have been such a hassle overall, but they do live out-of-state, so the logistics of it don't help. They are just in over their heads with the responsibilites involved with something like this, which is why, IMO, they are selling.

It's time for a change of wallery anyway; besides, Abby is hogging all the closet space

 

I'm not sure about other states, In Ohio a landlord or any of its agents are not to enter rented (occupied) properties without 24 hours notice so long as the lease or contract has not been broken. The only exception to this is when something happens that will cause damage to the property they own (water line break, Fire, tree falls on roof, car drives thru house ).

Lock boxes around my area are push button combo kind and they do put them on occupied houses. They also request that you are not home so people can look freely and speak freely of the house. Selling apartments become a sticky around here becouse the renters do not have to let you in.

Also when the property is sold the new owners do not have to continue the existing lease.

I wish you luck in finding a nice new place to live.
If you were in Ohio I would rent you one of mine. Maybe I could get someone that pays rent instead of buying that big screen tv that couldn't live without.

Matt

 

Arizona is the same way. When the house is sold, the lease agreement is no longer valid, as it is not with the current owners. I dont think Star or Abby have an issue with that though.

Lockboxes here are more advanced--they use a digital key. You have to update it every single day, and it requires a PIN to open the box. Whoever uses the lockbox, also has the time when and who used it.

I understand the dense-o-meter comment, there are people like that everywhere, real estate is no exception. Its probably a new agent.

 

Wow...I've never experienced such, but I hope you figure out how to take care of this in your favor!!!!!

On a different note...are we looking for a home close to the launch pad?? If I recall from a post way back when...Star said something about having to drive 100+ miles to work every day???? Which of course...would require a return trip!! That's got to be hard on the pocket book and the car!! Atleast it is highway miles...I guess??

Hope you find something that you like soon!! If you get waterfront property in Cocao Beach...can we all come over for some beer and hotdog, and maybe a bonfire on the beach??

meanwhile...back to the original intent of this thread!!

Roger

 

Sorry Abby. I remember the LAST round of insanity you had with realtors. Stick to your guns gal. Not that you wouldn't.

LOL. I remember suggesting getting a gun during the last round.

I hope you guys find something nice, and more conveniently located... soon... that place isn't worth the hassles.

 

Oiy! Getting ready to submit I see I once again was *cough* long winded..sowry...http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

@ Adryn...The Realtor we are dealing with is not new to the job. She has been selling real estate all her adult life and going by appearances I'd say she's a good 10 years older than I am. She is also the best friend of our landlords wife who used to live in this area until she met her husband and moved to Indiana. They are building a house in Atlantic Beach so will be moving back to FL.

As for the lock box there is nothing anyone could say that would change my mind. Even if I owned this place and was selling it there would be no such contraption put in place UNLESS all of my belongings were removed first and I no longer resided here. Something like that may be ok for some but not for us...no way...no how.

I don't personally know this Realtor enough to trust her nor is there anyone I know and trust that knows and trusts her, therefore it is impossible for me to extend any trust or have any level of comfort with her being in my home without me here. Granted most people probably extend their trust to Realtors but I am not capable of doing so. Plain and simple: I don't know you, I don't trust you..I don't care what kind of license you carry or what other people who know you say...to many crooked, deceitful people in this world.

There are also several considerations they are aware of but conveniently forget (including my medical considerations) and as the viewings have been during the day they need to NOT forget.

Additionally, consider this. First of all, I don't have a car...I don't need one...so where would I go? Walk out the door and wander around aimlessly until they are done? I don't think so. I'm not going to be pushed out of my home just b/c they call and want to bring someone by. Besides, this Realtor has never even been in here past the front door...she knows squat about this place....same goes with our landlords...they looked at the model....then came here and stood in the living room for a few, looked at the kitchen then left and bought the place with the condition that we would stay and sign a lease with them. If the Realtors and prospective buyers can't deal with me sitting on the couch minding my own business crocheting or in front of my puter while they show the place that's just too bad IMO. Makes them uncomfortable or they feel they can't talk freely? Oh well....they obviously have no clue how put-out and uncomfortable we are being made to feel in what is suppose to be our home..our 'private' space. I will not be forced out the door with no place to go just so they can look around and chat. hmmph...I bet they don't even take their shoes off before going past the entry way on to the carpet...ever take a damp paper towel and wipe it across the bottom of what 'appears' to be clean shoes? It's disgusting...and all that crap gets left behind on the carpet with every step you take...arggg...yeah..I'm pissed about this whole situation! My 'space' is being invaded...we were not given advanced warning..the bomb was just dropped. Had they given us a clue as to their intentions we would have already been long gone.

@ Matt...we really are not concerned as to if they will continue our lease or not. We have wanted to move for quite some time but had planned on finishing out our current lease before moving and as Chris said..this is now a renters market here b/c so many places have condoed out and they can't get people in them. We have an excellent rental history..always pay our rent and have never had one complaint made about us. We are essentially homebodies. We enjoy peace and quiet..spending our time here minding our own business. We hardly ever go anywhere, by choice..we just like to stay home. We live on the 3rd floor and are always careful even just walking around so as not to disturb our downstairs neighbors. We are not extended the same courtesy...drunken parties, slamming doors and if you are unfortunate enough to glance out the window at the wrong time you can see one of the party goers taking a leak in the parking lot.http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif We have more times than I can count picked up empty beer bottles in the parking lot and taken them to the trash compactors just so we don't run them over.

And then there are the idiots who leave bags of trash outside their doors all night even though there is a strict policy about NOT doing so b/c it attracts raccoons and bugs galore. I can't begin to tell you how many times Chris has left for work in the morning and had to step over scattered trash, stare down a possibly rabid raccoon and dodge the bugs on the way down the stairs. *sigh* This place has really gone down the tubes...used to be a nice place to live...can't wait til we get out of here...the home owners association and all their policies are a big joke. The 'dogie pots' that are all over the place so people can clean up after taking their dogs out (as per the policies here) go unused. Need to walk across the grass for anything...make sure you are watching where you walk.

@ Roger..No, we are looking in this general area. Have our eye on a beautiful community that is more like an actual neighborhood. It's beautifully landscaped with these wonderful old trees and lots of shade. I could even have a small garden and going by appearances thus far, it's geared more toward people like us who enjoy having a nice clean home/neighborhood with lots of peace and quiet. It is much closer to the ocean so beach parties are a possiblityhttp://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/wink.gif...just bring your own dogs and beer.http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

@ GT...Oiy! I think part of my problem is I remember it ALL to well...it was such a horrifying experience..literally..I was not even close to being up to par due to the surgery and every time they pulled something it scared the hell out of me...and the time I tripped trying to get to the door...OUCH! I did a lot of crying during that period of time and had the shakes more times than I can count.http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

As fer the gun...Yupper! You did suggest it..and that is where my inspiration came from when talking to the Realtors assistant.http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

@ gal...While I don't want you to be angry I do feel a little better knowing I'm not the only one who's ticked off!http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/smile.gif LOL Actually, I am beyond angry...I have tried to be accommodating and polite with these people but they keep trying to push things to far and apparently are not able to retain what they are told. Oh yeah..did I forget to mention we were informed this place was going up for sale via email? Not even so much as a phone call.http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

@ Laurie...I don't know how you can stay where you are. I certainly wouldn't....not only would I not live with a month to month lease I sure as heck wouldn't let my landlord come in with people any time they darn well pleased. That's just wrong!http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/mad.gif