Squatter lived in evergreen home for 2 days, entered from the sunroom.
In this blog post, I want to share a truly unexpected and concerning incident that occurred during one of my recent client house visits. Just two weeks after my client's offer on a beautiful home in Evergreen was accepted, we encountered an unsettling situation that no one could have anticipated.
The house, in a wonderful neighborhood, stood vacant as the seller had already moved to a different city. My clients were interested in finalizing their furniture selections and were planning a visit to the house. However, when we arrived and attempted to open the door, we noticed something peculiar – a burnt rope tied to the lock. This was our first red flag that something was amiss.
Upon entering the house, our surprise reached a new level when we found a woman emerging from the closet. She quickly apologized and dashed off. It was then we realized she had been living in the house without permission, essentially squatting.
We found personal items like a pizza box and glasses that belonged to her. Fortunately, she hadn't disturbed much, but there were signs of her presence, including cigarette butts scattered around. It's essential to remember that in such situations, it's best not to confront squatters but to immediately contact the authorities – in our case, we dialed 911 for help.
After the incident, I delved into similar occurrences and was alarmed to discover several other reported cases, such as 'Squatter lived in Piedmont home for 2 days after breaking in: police' and 'Squatter Breaks Into South SF Home, Makes Huge Mess Before Eventual Arrest'. It's evident that this is becoming a recurrent issue.
This situation underscores the importance of heightened security measures when a house is listed for sale. I strongly recommend using security cameras to monitor property access. Additionally, never share lockbox codes with strangers. Always opt for Supra or authorized key storage systems. Keeping a log of individuals entering open houses is also crucial for safety and accountability.
If any of you have experienced similar incidents or have valuable safety tips, please share your thoughts in the comments section below. Let's work together to ensure the safety and security of real estate properties.
