Whether you are a homebuyer looking to buy a home or a REALTOR going to show homes to potential purchasers, you may just want to add a new tool alongside your cell phone, lockbox key, and digital camera on your ever-present Batman style utility belt.
That new tool is the flashlight! Once the exclusive province of the home inspector to light the way as he climbs into attics and trudges through crawlspace, the flashlight is quickly becoming an essential part of the homebuyer's and REALTOR's toolkit.
WHY?
One word: FORECLOSURES. Guess what -- the home's in foreclosure because the owner was severely delinquent on their mortgage payments. They likely missed paying their electricity, heating and water bills as well. Even if they kept up with these utility invoices, once the bank starts foreclosure proceedings and then owns the property, the utilities are typically turned off.
If your home search includes foreclosure properties, it is 99.44% likely that you will enter a home with no electricity and hence no light save the natural light that may come in from the windows. My best advice is to go see foreclosure properties in the daytime. Even then, you'll likely need a flashlight to fully inspect the condition of the property.
Today, while looking through properties online, I came across the following remarks in a property description:
"You can enter the property through the front door, but you will
need a drill or crow bar to remove the board from the front
door. Please nail the board back up when you are finished. A
flash light is also required."
I don't know about you, but I'm very hesitant of showing a home where I'll need to bring a drill, crow bar, hammer and nails. I have visions of the neighbors calling the cops while I literally break into the house. "Officer, I'm a REALTOR... Do you want to see my broker's license?"
I'm fine with the flashlight if that's what it takes to make a sale in today's market. You can supply the crow bar.
For a REALTOR who will shine a light to help you navigate the dark and sometimes dangerous housing market, give me a call at 703-626-0715.
CLICK HERE TO START YOUR NORTHERN VIRGINIA OR D.C. HOME SEARCH. No batteries required.
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oh sounds like my day ! Amazing what we find out there.
That is ridiculous, if I were the listing agent I would pay to have the electricity turned on or I wouldn't take the listing! I know it is not our job but the bank should turn them on or pay the agent at coe
We see many homes without the power on. I have included a flashlight ans some small tools in my "showing arsenal" for 5-6 yrs. Better to be prepared
Brian, I've shown lots of homes without power. I carry a large flashlight in my trunk and a mini-Maglite in my glove compartment. When I need it - it's there. It also comes in handy for reading water meters before settlements - there never seems to be a good light in the area of the water meter.
Brian:
Though I am hard on my local MLS, they are ON POINT with one change. Our new wireless ActiveEkey has a fairly bright flashlight. This is a very handy tool. You are correct. All real estate agents should have a flashlight in their car AT ALL TIMES! Great Post!
And don't forget that if you take a buyer on to the premises and they fall and break a leg, you'd better hope you paid your extended liability policy.
I learned this a long time ago showing homes in Baltimore!
I always have a bright flashlight or two handy. We have sellers here who just don't want to turn the power on a vacant home.
MANY BANKS REQUIRE THE ELECTRICITY TO BE PUT ON HOWEVER IN SOME ITS NOT POSSIBLE. i HAVE A LISTING RIGHT NOW THAT COULDN'T HAVE ANY ELECTRIC PUT ON UNTIL MAJOR REPAIRS OCCURRED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER DESTROYED THE METER BASE BY GETTING ELECTRIC ILLEGALLY. FUNNY HOW I WAS THE 3RD AGENT LISTING THIS HOME FOR THE BANK AND WAS THE ONLY ONE TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WHY, BECAUSE I WAS THE ONLY ONE TO TRY TO GET THE ELECTRIC TURNED ON. SO A FLASHLIGHT IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY.
Most foreclosures in this area do not have power, so I carry a flashlight also. I was surprised when one of my clients brought their flashlight along.
I always bring my Stinger flashlight with me when showing Bank Owned properties. Never thought about or would think about bringing a drill or crowbar. That's ridiculous.
Hi Brian - jeesh, I think I'd be a little leary of showing that one! I must say I've never had to bring those kinds of tools with me on a showing before. A crowbar???
Ann, came to visit from your twitter link!
A crowbar? Geesh, why not just bring the contractor with you while you are at it? It's bad enough when you need the flashlight, although you have to give the agent props for being upfront about the showing instructions :)
I like hearing about the Active e-Key with a flashlight built in. All too often it gets dark before we're finished showing property, there's no outside light on the house, and we really DO need a flashlight to get inside.
So true! We carry a small box of tools in the trunk of both cars! They each contain a flash light, and some bulbs! Yes light bulbs, because on the homes where there is still some electric, they bulbs burn out because they've been on the market so long! Also, batteries...many times the batteries in the thermostats need to be replaced!
THe key is under the mat if the front door isn't open. Instructions from a listing agent. I needed the flashlight and should have brought a gas mask for the full litter box. No wonder they did not have any inside photos.
Most excellent angle...very illuminating.
That is one home that I don't think I would be showing.
Brian- you are so right, a flashlight is certainly something to keep in the car. I admit, I need to get one. Thanks for the tip!
hand sanitizer has been added to my bag of tricks also.... some of these homes are NASTY
Most of our foreclosures have the electricity on. But we always have a flashlight, well, actually many of them, in our car and our home; we need to be prepared for hurricanes more than anything else! You sure have some clever posts!
Always a good thing to have a flashlight in you car. You never know when you will need one.
Last year I had some investors looking in Baltimore. My partner and I were very good with having the full tool chest in the car. So far the foreclosures I show in this area are usually just in need of a flashlight. If they need anything else I'm going to pass for safety reasons.
Brian -- I keep a maglite in my car at all times. . .and I pull it out pretty frequently. I have also started carrying disposable masks as well, I'm running into alot of mold, the fuzzy black kind, not fun!
When looking at foreclosures in my area, I also worn my clients not to wear nice shoes. . .let's just say, some of the properties are pretty rough!
looks like you might also need a crow bar too! one realtor also carries a marble... you never know!
Brian,
The heck with ""Officer, I'm a REALTOR... Do you want to see my broker's license?"...I'm the code enforcement officer, let me see you 'carpenters union card'! LOL, Thanks, Fran
Good post, I have been showing homes at night with a flashlight when an investor wanted to see a foreclosure right then and yes you think the flashlight moving around in the house would cause the cops to be called. I wouldn't take down plywood because i would be worried it was sealed for like meth or something.
I've been toting my trusty LED flashlight for a couple of years now. Invaluable in those city rowhouse basements...
Tell them to put hinges on that plywood door.!!!
We do trash out bids and have really run into some nasties.
Brian - No lights I can deal with no heat is another thing - there is nothing quit like showing a cold house to give you the chills for the rest of the day.
A flashlight isn't a bad idea but I don't think I would have brought a crow bar, nails, etc., to show a house. Would a high-heeled shoe work??
Brian, I can just see you with a Realtor's tool belt complete with cell phone, digital camera, lockbox thingie, MRIS thingie, and a crow bar! Why doesn't the bank owner spring for a lock for heaven's sake!
Crowbar? Wow...that is something to think about.
MISSY: Yes, it can be amazing sometimes, especially when viewing foreclosed homes.
JEAN: I agree with you that this would be preferable but I am not sure that it is always possible.
WILLIAM: You sound like a good Boy Scout: Be Prepared!
BRIAN S.: Good for you on carrying the flashlight! Thanks for your comment.
DAVID: A flashlight on the lockbox key -- now there's a concept!
LENN: Good point!
VANESSA: There are certainly some areas where you need flashlights more than others.
DENISE: Just making it harder to sell, no doubt.
STACY: It certainly is a tougher job to try to sell a home without the electricity being turned on.
RENAE: I have some clients who bring their own little flashlights with them as well.
JIM: I agree. I'm not showing the crowbar house. Ridiculous!
ANN: I'm a REALTOR -- not a cat burglar. I leave the heavy tools at home.
LISA: Yeah, it's a good thing that they give those instructions instead of just letting other agents just show up to the property and look around in bewilderment.
SHARON: Flashlights certainly can come in useful. The key with flashlight is an innovative idea.
JIM: Good for you! You're prepared, for sure.
TERRY: Key under the mat? Amazing! Gas mask... oh boy!
JESSICA: Thanks for your comment. Me neither.
RICK: Flashlights are just another tool to add to our arsenal.
THESA: I've got the hand sanitizer!
KATERINA: Thanks for your compliment. Having a flashlight whatever the reason is just another sign of being prepared for anything.
RANDY: That's true. You never know. Better to be prepared.
CINDY: I agree. I'll bring the flashlight, but not the whole toolkit.
LORI: Mold, yuck! Run the other way. The shoes advice is good.
NAOMA: What's the marble for?
FRAN: Very funny!
ROSS: Yes, that's another possibility, isn't it?
JEFF: Even in non-foreclosed homes, you never know when a bulb may be out.
KATHLEEN: Hinges and a lock would solve the problem.
KATHY: Yes, no heat in winter or no A/C in summer can make showings very unpleasant.
LATONIA: The high heeled shoe just might do the trick.
PAT: I'll send you a photo of that! I have enough trouble juggling my cell phone, camera, and lockbox key.
SALLY: Crowbar. That's the first time I saw that word in a listing.
Crowbar, screwdrivers (phillips & flathead), wrench, wire, cable ties.....the list goes on and on!
Tina in Virginia
TINA: Funny... I haven't got to the point of carrying all those tools yet!
Brian: Amen! And add water to that. Without electricity, there is no A/C. And that can be deadly in a heat wave.
CHRIS: Yes, these days we certainly need to bring some bottled water along!
I suggest that notaries have a flood light in thier car to help find addresses on curbs at night.
FIND A PUBLIC NOTARY: Thanks for your comment.
Brian: You are right... one more thing to put in our car. I could live in mine now...
JAN: Yep, pack up the car!