This is how you get shot

[BigJoe]

When I appraise a house on a lock box, even if it's vacant, I announce myself as soon as a I walk in the door. I also announce my presence in multiple languages...in this order: English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese....why...because I can...as far as dogs go, I've been bitten twice in 23 years; once by a kick dog in the calf, and once by the family's Yellow Lab...and yes the homeowner's were present and said don't worry about the dog "he loves people". The Lab latched on my arm and wouldn't let go, and I'm a large human being. The homeowners paid for my emergency room visit$$$

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Same situation today....

Yes, there are 2 old mobile homes on the place not to be included in the sale but there is a barn.... Yes, there is a barn...with an apartment and the radio blaring....no one home except some horses and the radio was to entertain them apparently. Obviously the MHs were occupied and the apartment? I donno. No furniture but the stool was running and there were beds in the bedroom...

 

[McPheeters]

and this is why we have a no contact with dogs policy.....Homeowners and reelturds are typically put out by that policy, but too bad. Put the dog away or no appraisal.

 

[JSmith43]

I've made the exception with dogs a few times, but it is playing the lottery.

If it is a small dog, not likely to kill you, but aggressive at the door, get some dog treats at the local store (recommend pepperoni sp?-they look like slim jims).

For bigger dogs, milk bone may work.

I have done appraisals with an unexpected large dog sitting on a couch glaring at me. The place was sketched except for a couple of rooms. I merely talked to him & gave him some space, got the heck out of there when I was done.

Another instance, I'm through the front door into the foyer of a 2 story home. A large pit bull stares right at me from the top of the stairs, stays silent but charges. I didn't realize how fast I could moon walk, clip board in hand, etc.

The worst situation was an inspection with the owner present (older guy, suspected to be a bit senile). There was an aggressive dog chained to an eye bolt into the concrete floor in the basement. There were kennels stacked outside, one dog (pit bull) inside. The one inside was lunging at me the whole time, and I wasn't sure the chain would hold. Urine on the floor, etc.

It looked like a part time or full time fighting dog hobby, perhaps by one of the guy's kids. The place was a mess structurally. I finished my inspection, called the lender, explained the situation, billed & collected for my time. Good grief.

 

[togatour]

My two best:

In the upper unit of an attached 2 unit, I open the shower curtain in the bath to find a 6 foot snake (boa) in there. It never moved, but what a shock.

Early in my career, doing a Fannie Mae foreclosure, note tape to front door that it was wired to explode. Through the door I could see wires, a battery, a small Coleman camping propane bottle, ect. Called the police, fire department sent in the remote controlled robot. It was not live. The owner showed up (after I was stuck there for about 5 hours and they evacuated the whole block) told police he was going through a divorce and he was trying to keep his wife from entering the home (which Fannie had take possession of while he was out of town trying to get his kids away from his wife-------get the picture). He was locked up and I had to testify at the trial. In court he apologized to me and tried to explain, but I was not on retainer so I was not interested. No I did not get paid to testify as it was not pertaining to the appraisal which I did do a week later, with a police escort paid for by Fannie.

 

[Mountain Man]

Dumbazz owner. Your home is on the market and there's a lock box you dipshyte!
Had a listing last year where the owner insisted on being there for showings. Told them it was a bad idea, after the first showing I took the listing down and told them good luck as a FISBO.

 

[Digger88]

Here are the approach options:

Lockbox vacant, and no calls or accompaniment.

Lockbox not vacant, and accompaniment.

Lockbox not vacant, and no accompaniment - Requires direct conversation with the owner.

Personally, I always insist. I've never been in someones house with their personal belongings unattended in over a decade. I simply won't do it. They can ask a neighbor for a favor, I don't care who. Someone needs to be there with me. Sometimes you deal with the kid issue, and unless they're older teens, that's not acceptable. An adult or near adult must be present, if I'm inside someones house with things that they could accuse me of stealing.

is this for real bro? i will move heaven and earth to get into a house just to get the job over with. lockbox is the best sign i could hope for.

 

[tim1962]

My dad and I are both appraisers. At one home he let the dog out and it ran to the end of the block and I thought I never would catch it, good thing it decided to come back home before the inspection was finished.

 

[jimmyfrank]

In the South, you may get shot. But, on the other hand, the appraiser is probably armed also.

So, who shoots first?

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

So, who shoots first?

The one with the cowboy hat????...