A Sobering Reminder

[Richard Carlsen]

The following item appeared in our Board of Realtors newsletter the other day, reminding all of us, appraisers, brokers and anybody who deals with the public that in stressful times like these, it pays to be very careful in what you do and what you say as some people out there can go off the deep end very easily;

"The members of the Michigan Association of REALTORS® community are deeply mourning the tragic death of Troy Dennis VanderStelt. VanderStelt, 33, a REALTOR® with Nexes Realty, Roosevelt Park, MI and a member of the West Michigan Lakeshore Association of REALTORS® was fatally wounded early Tuesday morning by a former client allegedly disgruntled over a real estate transaction."

As the sergeant used to say on the old Hill Street Blues show,

"Let's be careful out there people."​

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

No one will accept blame for their action. Not bank, not lender, not appraiser, not realtor, not buyer, not seller....it's inevitable

 

[Mike Boyd]

Wrongful death civil suit. It won't bring the dead back but it might be a reminder that killing someone is against the law.

 

[Blue1]

Brutal...Gotta be careful when you're dealing with folks' nest eggs. There are definitely some hills not worth dying on.

 

[Ms. Janet]

OMG, I can't believe that. How awful.

 

[Workbox]

Yes, many forgot that it is not a "DEAL!!" It's Freaking Peoples Lives! I do not even use that word in my Realtor transaction. I call them Home Transactions.

Folks are real edgy now these days.

 

[Elliott]

Mike said, Wrongful death civil suit.

The 'killer' probably didn't get that 100% loan based on his
zero net worth, which was probably the motive. I doubt if
there is much to sue even if you attached his wages 20 years
from now when he gets out of prison with his GED or Phd.

Though you might try going after the homeowners insurance
company (good luck!), though they might exempt criminal activity
if they know how to write an insurance policy.

 

[Mountain Man]

Crazed ex-clients and customers... one more reason to pack heat!

 

[Joanne Rauenzahn]

From what I heard (this was about 20 miles from me) the value was more like $6-7,000 less than when he bought it. I was totally shocked when I saw this on the news - I suppose nut cases like this guy can show up anywhere - but this was just so so awful

 

[J in Florida]

Back in my LO days a borrower screamed at my processor "I'm coming down there with a shotgun and you'll ALL be sorry". We took off.