The listing said to call before visiting the home. The listing sheet said that the alarm code was in the lockbox. I called... the agent reiterated that the alarm code was in the lockbox.
The house had a keypad deadbolt. The lockbox contained a code that accessed the deadbolt.
It was NOT the same code as the alarm... The alarm code was missing. Of course, this was hard to communicate to the listing agent on the phone, as the blaring of the siren was drowning out everything else. To top it off, she thought I was at a different house...
My buyer and I walked out to the front of the house. He asked what we were going to do. "Close the door and wait for the police... the agent says the system is monitored." We waited.
The listing agent was frantically trying to get the alarm code from the seller... the WRONG seller. She was having ahard time understanding the address over the sound of the alarm. So, when she called back with the alarm code, it wasn't correct. Alarm sounding again...
Still, no cops.
We sat down on the stoop.
My buyer asked if we should leave... "Nope. If the police are going to respond, I want to be sitting right here talking with you, not driving away." He thought it was a good point.
Here is our friendly neighborhood police officer...
He rolls up expecting a dog on premises... in addition to whomever set off the alarm. I give him a card and tell him there isn't a dog. We chat for a few minutes. And then I get a call from the listing agent. She has the right code. We get in and look around.
The conversation with the cop was quite friendly. By waiting for him and not presenting a threat, he was comfortable when he got out of his cruiser. Since we had all of the documentation he would need, in our hands... and our hands quite visible, we were all comfortable.
It could have been a lot different...
We could have tried to leave... that would be suspicious. We could have blamed the cop for showing up... that would be rude, he was just doing his job. We could have just been angry... but there wasn't anyone there to take the anger out on, and so it wouldn't have been productive. Even blaming the other agent wouldn't have helped. She had left the code in the box...
It would have been nice if she had the alarm code at her fingertips, but I don't think it is fair to expect that...
The point is that by staying cool, and not developing an attitude, we sailed smoothly through something that could have gotten REALLY annoying.
As it is, the house is still on the "Possible" list...
Lane - Argh... the alarms always make me nervous and no matter how good instructions I get something is typically not correct! ~Rita
Good attitude Lane. When things like this are out of your control, it is a waste of energy to get mad, excited, etc. Hopefully, your buyer recognized your cool demeanor and realized he made the right choice in selecting an agent. Worst case, you got a post and a few laughs.
Lane, wise move, just relax and wait like you're waiting for them, I have even been frisked when the officer showed up, I didn't blame him for being safe. He has a job to do and so do we. Great reminder to just allow the officers to do their job.
Lane: Ahhh... I don't know about this. You look pretty shady-looking to me... LOL. Good thing the officer was in a good mood. :)
Sounds that you handled everything like a pro. I always worry that something like that could happen to me when I see that the alarm will be on. Now I know what to do in that situation.
Lane, I think you did the right thing. If you couldn't get the alarm off then just wait, don't run.
I was showing a home a few weeks ago, we had looked through the massive home and were standing in the yard chatting. And up came the police, heart beats faster. Why we were NOT doing anythiing wrong.
They both got out of their squad car and asked "if I lived there?'
No sir, I am just showing the home and gave them my card.
Oh, well, " I use to live her when I was a child, mind if I look around?'
No sir, make yourself at home you know your way around.
I can't even imagine what your buyers were thinking of that other agent at this time and what I would have been saying afterward.
Alarms are the "bane of my existence". I've set them off more times than I care to remember.
Thanks everyone. It probably helped that there was a for sale sign in the front yard, but being relaxed when talking with the police didn't hurt.
Karen - I was standing in the direct sunlight... I didn't look as shady there. ;^ )
Lane: That is always a great defensive tactic. Good move, my friend. :)
Oh the ole alarm trickery... Set only one off in all my years and the darn alarm was not where I thought it would be so there I am running thru the house trying to find the access pad in 3 inch heels...I missed it by 2 to 3 seconds, but the police officer was very nice! Gave him my card and told him to call me when he was ready to buy! And he and his wife did! Dixie
Lane...thanks for a laugh and a memory. When I got my real estate license and then my key, Ray and I were driving around East Atlanta, and pulled into a new home commmunity. There was no sales center, just homes with lockboxes. Ray asked about an alarm, and when I opened the lock box, there was nothing in it but the key.....and one heck of a loud alarm when I opened the door and hear the signal.....I however, did leave......Whoops!
Thanks...if it ever happens again, I'll follow your lead!
I was at a home inspection one time when almost the same thing happened to me. The only difference was that the house also had an audible alarm, and since I had gone at 6:00 a.m. -- which I often do if I'm the only one who's going to be at the inspection -- a billion neighbors also stopped by to see what was going on. These are the times when graphics on the car, a nice company shirt, and some company cards can make all the difference in the world.
Good points in this article. The police are just doing their job the best they can, they have a million things on their plate. Best to be respectful and courteous to them just as we expect from them.
Thanks - We actually set it off again the other day... The cop just waved as he rode by... ;^ )