Son features on Crime Watch, Mother has keys to your house!

[sarahk]

One of our local agents has 2 tearaway sons and one has just featured on our crime watch tv program and had photos in the paper following an aggravated robbery of a liquor store (how cliche'd is that?).

I'm not trying to sell a house, nor am I working with her but how hard must it be for her colleagues knowing that when you get a listing that this woman has access to the homes!!!

Most people would rather avoid conflict so will just use a different agent. Easier than saying "i'll list with you but don't let that agent in".

Have any of you had a situation like this?
I'd be interested in how it panned out!

[coastal]

I think I'd have to move to a different city if I was her.

[sarahk]

Her house is on the market, our fingers are crossed that if it sells she'll move out of the area. It'll be bye-bye Jade, bye-bye tagging!

[Fort Lauderdale]

I think in today's world, most people realize that bad apples occur even when parents have done everything right.

[sarahk]

Oh sure, but down here when you sell your house the key is locked into a "keytainer" outside the house. Any agent has a key to unlock the keytainer. Therefore if this agent leaves her work stuff where the "bad apple" can get it, he's also got access to all those houses.

Florida's state attorney doesn't have keys to a dozen houses in the neighbourhood does s/he?

[Fort Lauderdale]

No the state's attorney doesn't have keys, but than again the "bad apple" wouldn't need the keys. But keeping with your comment, what sageguards do you have in place if someone's purse or briefcase is stolen with the key to the keytainer in it - do you remove all the lockboxes in the neighborhood?

[thataway61]

I am going to have to agree with John. I know some very fine people that have some very terrible children, and they agonize over it every day. Locks keep the honest people out, the thugs will get in when and where they want never mind the potential consequences or the embarassment and humiliation of their parents.

[Barry]

I agree. It is being unjustly paranoid to worry. All parties involved know that the son would be the first suspect if anything happened. Plus locks are not going to keep a theif out. If someone wants to get in, they are going to get in.

If I was in that situation, I would feel bad for the mother. Other than that, I would not give it a second thought.

[Philadelphia Realtor]

You guys don't use electronic lockboxes? They are much more secure than anything combo or keyed. They log the users access "key" (which has a four digit code & expires daily), time, date, etc. You can also set the access times if you only want daytime showings, or whatever. Granted, nothing is 100%, but I wouldn't even consider anything less. Of course if they're not being used in your area, you can't be a lone ranger or no one can show the house.

[Bob Crain]

You guys don't use electronic lockboxes? They are much more secure than anything combo or keyed. They log the users access "key" (which has a four digit code & expires daily), time, date, etc. You can also set the access times if you only want daytime showings, or whatever. Granted, nothing is 100%, but I wouldn't even consider anything less. Of course if they're not being used in your area, you can't be a lone ranger or no one can show the house.

That's what we have here in SD also. Expires every day and needs to be updated daily (PIA but safer)