Asset Management & Recovery: REO Tip of the Day

No kidding.  And don't wear sandals or have exposed skin.  I went through with a contractor who found out they were allergic to flea bites.  Sometimes it seems former occupants move in all local unhousebroken (is that a work?) stray dogs and cats before vacating.

Rich, I don't know how you find these gross situatations, but you do.  You must be something to follow around town.  

Rich,

As long as you're on odor control, you should advise them to take along a 5 gal. can of water, to any vacant house when the water is shut off.

It's not uncommon for even the cleanest house to stink when the water is shut off. The water in the toilet and the drain traps evaporates leaving you with an open line to the sewer or septic tank. A little water refills the traps and no more odder. In the winter add a little anti-freeze. I used the cheapest car stuff I could get, but today I think I'd pay the premium for RV Water System anti-freeze, it's non-toxic.

That water also solves the problem when you find that some pig used the toilet. Removing the toilet paper discourages, but doesn't always stop the swine.

Don't forget the floor drains, in the shower. basement, garage, and utility rooms.

When the water is still on run a little into each drain, flush the toilets if the bowl is low, and worry about freezing when it's cool.

Vacant listing are a pain, REO's are worse!

Bill

William J Archambault Jr

The Real Estate Investment Institute

http://www.reii.org

Oh I hear this one..... sold a home that had set vacant for a year with no electricity - and food everywhere - what a smell..... oh my gosh - but picked it up for 1/3 of the value if it had been cleaned - and yes they opened the fridge - I had to step outside to regain my stomach and composure.... you would think after 5 kids and 8 grandkids diapers, flu and all the grossness that comes with that I would have a stronger stomach.... but smells will get me every-time.

I will respond privately:) 

You made me think back to the days when I ran a tenant screening and eviction service back in the early 1990's.  There was one house I remember that we had fought back and forth in court much longer than any other - they were masters at prolonging.

When thy left, they were very vengeful.  I won't even mention the worse 5 or 6 things they did because I don't want anyone else to ever think of them and say they read it in the Rain.

But they did have the fridge unplugged with every conceivable dairy product there was, along with some raw fish and other meat products.

I can honestly say it was the worse smell I ever smelt.  So, thanks for the pleasant memories - NOT

Now Have a Blessed Day,

John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR
Mission Grove Realty

EEEEEWWWWWWWW!

'Twas curiosity that killed the cat.  Sometimes you just can't belabor the facts enough!

Yep. I agree with Kevin. Curiosity killed the cat. I have 2 cats, so this explains a lot to me!

 

Rich - this is so funny.  I usually open refrigerators without even thinking about it - it's mechanical and a really bad habit.  I will now keep your wise words of advice and hope my subconscious does not take over.

Rich, sense of humor is a good asset!  Sorry you had to endure the smell.  Good advise, because opening the refrigerator is probably a normal reaction (being nosey is a big part of it). 

I'd like to get in with a bank and sell REOs - any suggestions?

Rich, sense of humor is a good asset!  Sorry you had to endure the smell.  Good advise, because opening the refrigerator is probably a normal reaction (being nosey is a big part of it). 

I'd like to get in with a bank and sell REOs - any suggestions?

LOL...

One more time "TLW Do NOT Open The Refrigerator Door"...

Where are you every time silly me does that? :)

TLW...ROAR!

ROFLOL!!!  This was toooooo funnie!!  (been there done that)  You have a great way of telling these stories that causes them to come to life!  Keep sharing them.... you are cracking me up!!!!!

ps:  Are you sure you don't want the Moderator Job???  

I was in a home two days ago that has been vacant for at least a year, probably 2 or 3.  There were five very large dead birds strewn about the house that were not there several weeks before when I was showing the home to the same clients.  When we got to the kitchen and looked at the refrigerator, I figured opening it would probably not be a very good idea.  Who knows what was in there--more dead birds?

Fran

You never know what you will find in them.  I have a full house of personal belongings that the bank is asking me to have removed.  Nice stuff really so I am putting it in storage even though the former owner's legal time limit has come and gone.  Can't figure out why he doesn't want it all but I haven't looked in the fridge yet!

Rich,

I just wanted to give you an update - I ran with your idea here and created my own article based on a very real and very recent experience while doing an interior BPO.

You can read my post I Beat the Beast  which links right back here as the inspiration.

Stop by if you get a chance.

Now Have a Blessed Day,

John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR
Mission Grove Realty

Well I'll be danged, you prolly wouldn't hire me then, because I have gone into some DOOZY foreclosure homes and yes, have opened the fridge.  The last time I did that though, was the last time EVER I will do it.  I, like Thesa, had to step outside to get fresh air, or that woulda been it for me!!  Then I still had to walk back into the house, infested with roaches I might add, to get my final notes and RUN!!!  I dont really know what it is about opening a fridge, but you would think I would have learned a lesson when I did it and dozens of roaches fell out onto the floor! But NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO.......I had to do it just ONE MORE TIME!  lol.  Dang, if its not the fleas, its the roaches or the SMELLS!!  YUCK!!

Better than duct tape is the shrink wrop on a roll. Wrap that sucker up like evidence on CSI. I was doing an inspection once as the trash out guys started...it was a part of their initiation to send the new kid over to check the fridge...I had to wait and watch....the convultion dance was awesome, I laughed too hard to video it on my digital camera but it was a classic.

Rich

I always get sucked into opening the refrigerator I don't know why you would think I would learn my lesson by now. One time I open the freezer and then realized the power hadn't been on for a few months and there was a peace of meat in there with maggots all over it and the stench made me puck all over the place.

Great tip...I showed a vacant property yesterday......owner left the stackable washer & dryer. Something wet had been left in the washer. I've never smelled anything so musty and the house reeked.....

There is no worse smell than a turkey in a refrigerator where the power is turned off.  It turns to juice and I want to vomit just thinking about it.  You will however usually only make that mistake once.

Tim

I know what that smells like, how about when you go into the drug infested neighborhoods and you see all those little vials laying around and then you see something wrapped up in tin foil you open it and its a decaying chicken bone. Yuk!

That is toooooo funny... primarily because it reminds me of my first REO home visit, to a trashed out property covered in mold, dog/cat/rat 'leftovers', and crawling with bugs.  A small part of me had a reflex to consider peeking in the fridge... Fortunately the other 98% of me won, and decided that the awful smell already wafting around the air was bad enough without contributing any more to it. :)

Being in the REO business will constantly amaze a person... at just how some people can live!!

I have opened at least two refrigerators lately in foreclosure properties.  One had just small maggots growing and I thought it was bad enough.  The next one had giant maggots!  In both instances we hauled it off and threw it away.  Such a waste of possibly good refrigerators.

And the smell is truly awful.

When meat goes bad in a fridge or freezer, nothing will get the smell out from Comet to power washers. 

Tim

I had that happen to me and I sent in Franklin to do my clean up, I think he was sick for days.

I learned that the hard way.  I only had to open 1 fridge door and I learned to never open another one.

Gary, if Franklin is not available to clean your reo properties, I have a great contractor for NJ properties that does trashouts and gets the house ready for the market.  Let me know if you need his number.

Tim. I think Franklin would rather not do the trash outs as he is involved in other areas of growth. I use the guys from AMI if you have someone else, let me know I will call on you when needed. Thanks.

What do you do with the clothes?   LOL...  thanks for the tip   John from Ventura CA

John,

Put on your rubber gloves and check the pockets for money.

Bill

It can't hurt to drop the clothes off at a good will box.  You never know who can use them.

Tim

I have to say my very worse experience was that I went into a house and came out covered head to toe in flea's, The neighbor was laughing when I came out as if he knew what was going to happen. So, I jumped into his pool fully clothed. He wasn't laughing to much after that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the post Rich.

Good stuff...I know what you mean, it can be extremely disgusting.