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Home Showing Compromised in Deathly Manner

by Chicago Agent

Have any of you encountered scary showing situations, or heard of similar mishaps?

A home showing in Sauk Village, a small community 30 miles south of Chicago with just 10,000 residents, went horribly awry as two bodies were found in the home by the property’s owner and a prospective buyer.The victims, ages 19 and 18, died of multiple gun shot wounds and had been left in the property the day before, according to reports. The four-bedroom home is a short sale that had been on the market for 121 days, with an asking price of $44,900.

This story got us thinking – have any of you encountered situations like this, or heard of similar home showing mishaps? Maybe you’ve encountered other things that aren’t so morbid, but on the crazy/funny side? If so, comment on this story, or visit our Facebook page and join the discussion.

 

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Comments

  • I think this true story is very sad story and many of us, Realtors, are at some risk entering vacant homes. What if the buyers walked in on the situation? Perhaps sharing stories of real life safety prevention that we Realtors use on a daily basis may be a more productive way of sharing stories vs trying to capture spoof’s off this terrible true life crime. Those buyers are lucky that their showing didn’t take place at the time of the crime.

  • I have encountered 2 homeless people in REO properties, just looking for shelter and not out to hurt anyone.
    For that, I am lucky.

    I am no longer taking clients in the dusk or dark in areas that are likely to be unsafe. I also have them wait outside while I make sure the home is unoccupied.

    It pays to be safe, so walk around the home first, looking for easy ways to get in while you’re checking out the siding and exits. DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO RISK YOUR LIFE OR YOUR CLIENTS.

  • badtaste says:

    Not very smart to ask for funnies after an article when two people were found dead. It’s not funny for us who have to go into some of these awful vacant properties as part of our job.

  • Glenn E. Wierzbicki says:

    I was selling FSLIC foreclosures for B&W back in 1987 on the south side. I had a townhouse over near the South Shore Country Club. I had taken the buyer through a couple times. Apparently, the previous owner passed away in the unit. At the final inspection, the buyer asked why I didnt tell her. I didnt even know. The story repeated itself months later. I had a listing in Marrionette Park. While I was inspecting the property a neighbor came up to me and told me that a woman had been murdered in the house. Again, I had no idea. What is a realtors due dilligence in these circumstances? Curious minds want 2 know. wiz

  • jcarlson says:

    Too often I have found a vacant home or building with the lockbox intact on the front door, while the rear door was unlocked from both the carelessness of agents and forced entry. People who would do harm are not the only worry, however. In one case, a rear patio door was open to a wooded area and racoons were visiting regularly to drink from the faucets (and leaving calling cards). This can happen in any neighborhood. If anyone would like a list of Illinois Representatives who voted AGAINST the Illinois concealed carry bill, please visit ISRA.com. Don’t expect anyone else to make things safe for you. In Illinois, your choice is be vigilent, a victim, or to practice in another state where you have the right to self-defense.

  • Bob Hoyer says:

    Agent safety should be a priority. Crimes against agents occur every year. Every office should present to their agents a safety presentation every year. I have a power point presentation that I have presented at two of our offices and also shared with another.

  • Martin says:

    Hello Glenn. When I first joined CAR there was a short seminar in stigmatized property. These include the type of listings you had. The advice that was given to us was that if the property was the site of a crime that would be of general public knowledge, say the site of the Gacy killings, you should make your client aware. For sites of lesser know crimes or of people passing away, it’s your decision to let your clients know or not.

    Basically you’re trying to protect yourself from lawsuits where they could prove the value of the home is substantially less due to what happened in it. I’d imagine that the percentage of people dying in a home over a period of 100 years or so is pretty high.

    I would suggest contacting CAR if you need more info as I attended that seminar in 2002. Maybe things have changed.

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