DO NOT ENTER - Big Scary Tenant and the Smell of Cannabis
I took a new buyer out to see 8 homes this past weekend in a very desirable neighborhood. The same buyer I had been keeping in contact with for over a year as she diligently worked hard at paying off bills and bumping up her credit score in order to increase her pre-approval amount. I made the showing appointment with the listing agent two days prior and confirmed again on showing day.
As we walked up to the door, I pulled out my business card. Just as I was about to ring the doorbell, a huge guy snuck up behind us and said, "Hello? May I help you?
My buyer (jumped and said aloud): Ooo sh*@$#%!
Me: Um yes.. sorry hi.. wow you startled us. We came to see the house. We had a 1pm appointment.
Big Scary Tenant: You did? (extending his hand in a gesture to retrieve the card I was in the process of balling into my hand for less visibility).
Me: Yes, but maybe we can come back at another time (as my spidey senses started tingling and the smell of 
strong "erb" smacked us in the face).
Big Scary Tenant: No, no it's ok....and sorry for the mess. He walked us in a few steps before the buyer and I came to a complete halt.
What a mess it was! Bong pipes, strewn clothes, and dirty dishes were everywhere. There wasn't a table, shelf or window ledge that wasn't covered!
Big Scary Tenant (pointing): Oh and there are a couple of guys asleep...ya know graveyard shift, so some of the rooms are locked.
Me: I see...interesting that ALL of the guys work graveyard?
The only door that appeared to be open in the direction he was pointing, was at the end of a very dark hallway.
Me: Ya know, you've been very accomodating and I appreciate that, but I think we're going to come back when we can see the entire house (NOT!). I started walking backwards just in case I needed to spray him with my keychain pepper spray. Thank you and uh buh-bye.
Once we were safely in the car, doors locked and engine running, we started laughing.
My buyer: WHAT was that?!
Me: THAT I hope was the last time that's going to happen. Sorry about that! You never know what to expect even in the best of neighborhoods.
I immediatley called the listing agent and let him have it! No, he is not in control of tenants smoking illegal substances at any given time, but he is in control of notifying the tenants same day as a reminder and maybe if at all possible, periodically checking the house to see how it will show or at least giving fair warning in private remarks. I have never seen anything like that! The hot mess we saw took several months to create!
Phew! I'm happy to say that in spite of our shaky beginning, we did end up finding a gorgeous remodeled home she fell in love with and wanted to immediately submit an offer on. We submitted a clean, streamlined offer package and hope to hear back soon! Wish us luck!
____
Photos courtesy of Creative Commons
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©
____________________________________________
Affordable Homes, Affordable Payments, Quality Living
www.FirstTimeHomeBuyerRealEstate.com
Prudential 24 Hour Real Estate Direct: (310) 508-4354 ~ Alternative (562) 726-ANDI ~ Fax (562) 861-0285 Email: andi@andigrant.com DRE # 01728424
Subscribe to Andi's Blog
I haven't walked in on the whacky tabacci recently but the big mess and locked doors to rooms just happened on Sunday. The owner knew for 3 days when we were coming. Guess that's just the way some people live.
I've definitely been in places where tenants have been smoking "herb" as you call it, but I don't think I would have gone ahead and shown a place where me and my client were weirded out by a guy who was obviously under the influence. Who cares if you might have offended him? The safety and well being of my client comes first.
Hope your offer is accepted and all goes well for your closing.
I think you made the right decision Andi. No reason to stick around there. Good luck on your offer.
Cindy, ya just never know what you are going to get. The tabacci can come up with the young and cookie baking looking senior sellers alike.
Reba, I have to say that I am one of the most over-protective of people - almost everyone's mother, so I can't say what made me proceed. I'm sure we've all done things in hindsight that we may have normally not have done. All of us.
Jim - thanks! Last month was escrow nightmare. But I currently have a couple of escrows this month that are going seamlessly so far, so I hope to add this one into the mix soon.
It seems no matter how much notice you give some people, they don't get it. They either just think that that is normal or don't really care. Hope you were able to find a proper home for the buyer none-the-less.
What a great writing style!
This reminds me of when I was showing a buyer (college professor) a home owned by a doctor and inhabited by the doctor's brother. I gave plenty of notice for the showing and was warned that sometimes the dishes might be left on the sink and the bed might be unmade.
Well, duh...the bed was unmade because he probably couldn't find it under the debris. When we kicked aside some of the debris there was an impressive dish of stash! Good thing my client wasn't a deputy sheriff.
Mona Gersky, GRI, ABR ~~ MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro, NC
Andi, isn't it the pits when the home you have an appointment to see is in a state of shambles and the occupants haven't a clue that you're coming. Had that happen to me the other day. I had an appointment to show a home and when I got there and let myself in after ringing the bell and getting no response, I was rather shocked to find someone sleeping in the master bedroom. We were out of there in a flash!
I went to one of those homes once, also. Didn't smell or see any cannabis, but there were people sleeping anywhere. This was not in such a good neighborhood, but to see that in a better one would definitely be a shock.
HI(gh) may I help you?
Hmmmm . . .
The other guys are sleeping, the house reeks, YIKES. This is a tale all right. Sounds like tenants I know about!! LOL Glad you found another house, and moved on that. I had one guy answer the door in his PJ's once. It was 3:00 p.m. I had called ahead. He was the owner and said he didn't check his voice mail. And people wonder why their property doesn't sell?!? Thanks for the good read, Andi.
Now, there are some buyers that may actually want to check that property out.
Tom - I actually startd to suspect that maybe the buyers were doing it on purpose. Making it as less desirable as possible to slow down their moving out process.
Mona - Thanks for the compliment! I would've loved to have gotten even that much disclaimer or warning before we went.
Leah, that is so scary to me because you never know how someone will react when alarmed to find strangers in their house.
Jane - it was. I think it may unfortunately be because I often stereotype in my mind how it's suppose to be. Had I been in the "hood" I probably wouldn't have thought anything of it, which is sad to say.
Carla - HI(GH) there! You are too funny!
Melissa - for the property or the cannabis? :)
WOW! And you have to think that you were not the only agent who showed the house! I'll bet that has happened to others as well! That is scary!
Andi - Ok, seriously now. I guess for you and your buyer, it wasn't so funny but OMG it made for a great story to tell later. Glad everything worked out too and if it had been me and my buyer, I would have done the same thing to the listing agent.