One of my favorite colleagues had one of those workday incidents that would have scared the crap out of any of us.
On Friday, she arrived at a listing a few minutes before a pre-settlement ritual: the walk-through. Her sellers had a two-week post settlement occupancy agreement, so the house was not yet emptied out. She started to turn on some lights on the first floor and ran into a man carrying a television set coming up the basement stairs. And the conversation went something like:
Her: Hi, I'm the real estate agent. Who are you?
Him: I'm the burglar!
Her: Well, I'd suggest that you put that thing down and leave right now.
Him: If I did that I might have to hurt you!
Her: Well, that's not a good plan because in less than a minute, a colleague in much better shape than you are is going to be coming through the door! And there will be even more people with him.
With that, Mr. Burglar put down the TV set, scurried to the back door, picked up a pillowcase with stuff in it and he left. And, a few seconds later, the buyers showed up. And about a minute after that, the police responded to her 911 call.
What was her first thought! When I talked to her yesterday, she said she wasn't at all afraid while the confrontation was taking place. She knew she wouldn't be hurt. She was afraid that the buyers might be freaked out (they sort of were) and it could somehow interfere with settlement. They did decide to put it off until Monday, but they were impressed that the DC police showed up so quickly.
But, she said, all she could think about was what a fabulous blog post this would make! Since she doesn't blog (I've been trying to get her into it) she called me! And I have to say that as she told me the details, she wasn't coming from a place of fear, or what a dangerous profession this is.
Still, I had to wonder what I would have done if I'd walked in on a burglar in a listing. Would I have had her bravado? Would I have confronted the guy? Would I have started some very quick preparations to meet my Maker?
As a little girl, I grew up in Tornado Alley in a house with no basement. I really worried about sharing the fate of little Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. And my father would comfort me by talking about the odds.
Yeah, bad things can happen. Yeah, you have to use common sense. But you can't let the fear of something that probably won't happen run your life.
My dad was, however, a compulsive maniac about using his seat belt when he drove. That's because the odds of being killed or injured in an automobile accident were far greater than those of being sucked into a funnel cloud or hit over the head by a burglar.
So drive - and work - safely!
OMG!!!!!
Cool under pressure!
Did they catch the guy?
Patricia, Wow! What a situation! I'd have to get a change of clothes quick if I came upon a situation like that! You really never know anymore what you will experience on a day-to-day basis anymore! Thank you for sharing this with everyone!
Wow that's quite a story. So glad that all turned out ok and the other agent wasn't hurt.
Ok it does make for a fabulous blog post but I think I may have been a little frightened. Im glad she had someone showing up so quickly.
Patricia, that is not an ordinary walkthrough! I probably would have remained very cool, like your friend did. One time I actually chased a burglar who I saw stealing from a neighbor. That probably wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I was thinking "How dare he do that!" By the way, he got away.
Glad that the outcome was good. It can be scary going into an empty house. I always let either my husband or someone from my office know where I am going. You just never know who you will run into!
Patricia, what a story! Not everyone would have react like she did, she really kept her cool!
That's too funny...did he really say, "I'm the burglar?" J/K. LOL That would have been a bit unnerving, to say the least. Glad to hear the police responded quickly, though.
She sounds like a great person to have around - bet she doesn't get flustered easily! Glad it turned out ok.
Pat, I personally like the line, "I'm the burglar." How calm, like we are a cast of characters.
Pat --- this story gave me chills as I read your post --- the agent certainly kept her cool. I'm going to re-blog this -- hopefully, more of my agent-owners will see it. This is very scary. Thanks for sharing.
OMG Pat! Very scary! Can't even imagine, and the nerve of the guy to say he was the burglar! - P
Candice, they often get their guy eventually. I'm amazed at how the police around here have a short list of the usual suspects, and they keep track of when they get put away and when they get out!
Wanda, I have no idea how I'd have reacted. Probably not so cool!
Stacy, I'm so glad she wasn't hurt. She is a pretty formidable woman!
Laura, that was a lucky thing. She must have been real happy to see those folks show up!
Jen, I think the burglars might be more frightened of us than we are of them!
Barbara, years ago, the about to be evicted owner of a foreclosure met me at the door with a shotgun. I was with a big burly male colleague, too! We left.
Silvia, I'm guessing that her engaging the guy in a conversation was probably somewhat unnerving.
Susan, that's what he said!
Penny, she's a great colleague. And I thought it was great that her first thought was wishing she was me so she could blog about it!
Gary, it sounds almost friendly, like "I'm the plumber."
Liz, what I really admire about this agent is that her conversation was less "This is really scary" and more, "This will be a great story to tell people." I think when we let the bad guys scare us, they win. Still, of course, we need to be careful and take common sense precautions.
Patricia~
I am thrilled that your friend referred her tale of real encounters to YOU...it is a story beyond the pale...and I wonder if she is pale now!??... I don't like testing the odds...but I hope that if I am tested, I handle it as well as your Friend did. BRAVO! BRAVA!!! and thanks for sharing...
Hmm, well she was certainly calm under pressure, and fortunately it all worked out. But kinda risky - a gun toting burglar might have just shot and carried on. Kinda dumb, IMO. BUt given he was dumb enough to admit who he was...
Jeff
Wow...what a story!
We never know what we can run into. Especially in foreclosed homes. We've got stories here of the "tough" neighborhoods where homeless people have "moved in" to the vacant homes. Of course there are no utilities, so the start fires and all kinds of wonderful things. We had an Atlanta firefighter die fighting just this kind of fire.
I'd suggest to any agent working in a questionable area, or ANY area, to walk the OUTSIDE of the house first for any visable signs of forced entry....a sign that perhaps you should not enter!
Great post Pat!
Pat, that is some story, yikes... but she was cool as a cucumber for sure. Wow.... now you just gave me food for a post myself.... thanks, LOL!
Glad it wasn't you though...
janeAnne, it'll be interesting to talk to her tomorrow.
Jeff, almost all of the burglars around here just want stuff. And they want to be in and out as quickly as possible. He was probably more afraid than my friend was.
Thom, this was nowhere near a bad neighborhood! It's pretty chic and trendy!
Andrea, I'll be watching for your post!
Pat..How do you like them bananas..What a day..I hope her settlement went smooth..LOL
I would like to think that I would have kicked him down the steps (momentum would have been on my side, not his) but I know I would probably freeze in that situation. So scary!
Wow. I hope this didn't happen in Brookland lol
See you tomorrow for the termite inspection and for getting that estimate from Urban Alarm systems! :)
Joe, nowhere near Brookland, but a few blocks north of my house! And hey! A few years ago, the Australian Ambassador's wife was mugged in Mass Avenue Heights walking her dog! It can happen anywhere.
Pat - Andrea pointed me to your post. The new blog roll has me missing posts! Grrr.
Frightening story and one that I hope I NEVER personally experience. I can't believe she was so calm in that situation. This can be a very dangerous job, especially with all the vacant properties that are listed on the market these days.
Pat,
That is a fascinating story. That kind of thing, while humorous, can turn tragic pretty fast as you know when people panic.