As we approach Halloween, it’s time for scary real estate stories. 

For homeowner security purposes, I typically hold larger homes open with a Realtor/colleague.  Years ago, I had the honor of selling one of Adams Hill’s finest residences.  As with many of the view homes on the hill, there were steps leading to the front door but this home had more steps than most, I think over 40...

It was a hot summer day and most of the people driving by the open house would slow, look at the stairs and continue on.  But near “closing” a 30ish man climbed the stairs and entered the home, I noticed he had a back pack… a big back pack.  It appeared very heavy and I asked him if he wanted to set it down (and no he didn’t)… I was so excited that someone had come to the open house that it didn’t even occur to me that it was VERY peculiar to climb 40+ steps with a full backpack in 100 degree heat.

This was an amazing home with custom woodwork that is typically only found in the finest of vintage homes, the home boasted a 10 foot picture window with beautiful views, peg and groove hardwood floors and surprisingly this man’s first questions were:  “Is the heater in the basement? How old is it?  Will you show it to me?”  My savvy friend stepped in and pointed to the basement door and told him to help himself.  She grabbed my arm and we stood together near the front door, he briefly examined the basement and left. 

After he left my Realtor/friend chastised me and told me he had all kinds of horrible stuff in that big backpack and that’s why he wanted to go directly to the basement.  Since then, I ensure that any open house I have will have a steady stream of lookers.  And interestingly I never heard of anything peculiar or dangerous occurring in the Glendale/Los Angeles vicinity that matched this guy’s M.O.