Posted by Isabel/CA on 8/27/11 10:53am
Msg #395255

This one goes in the books..

Had a closing yesterday, that seriously would have ended my mobile notary career had it happened 8 years ago.
I walk up to a house and there a flies buzzing all around the porch area. Hmmm...I thought. What is that smell? I checked both my shoes and they were fine. Rang the bell. The minute the door was opened, I was smacked in the face with the most offensive odor I have ever been exposed to. The lady invites me in and asks me to excuse her house. I swear my eyes were stinging the smell was so bad. It smelled like dog and cat urine and feces. There were at least 8 cats that I could see.

She asks me to have a seat on one of the sofas. I asked her if there was a table we could use. She says nope. No table. That was because the tables were covered with heaps of "stuff" as were the chairs. And CATS.
I set my portfolio down on the arm of the sofa (least dirty place visible) and started getting out the docs. All of a sudden a back room door opens and 2 dogs come racing out. I was so nervous. One of the dogs jumps up onto the sofa where I was standing and urinates all over the sofa cushion!!
Needless to say, this was the WORST experience I have ever had going into someone's home.
I'm curious....would anyone have asked if they could do this outside? I didn't want to be rude to the poor lady, but it was really a horribly unsanitary environment.

Reply by MW/VA on 8/27/11 11:11am
Msg #395257

IMO I would have left there as fast as I could get out & offer to meet with the borrower at a public location.
It sounds like a hoarder, and hard as this sounds it should be reported to the public health officials.
There are reports of that kind of thing all the time. People hoard animals that they can't begin to take care of. It's not good for them or the animals.
Sorry you found yourself in that situation. :-(

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/27/11 12:14pm
Msg #395274

My son's stepmother is a cat collector...and a dog collector....maybe a slight hoarder, or just a truly dedicated animal lover and rescuer. They have a barn, but not exactly acreage.

Thirteen cats, one just died the other day. The Colonel was 24 years old. All but four of them come in the house from time to time.

She's got four dogs at this time, but I have seen the day when there were as many as seven dogs there...but they mostly die of old age, although she had a vicious one put down a couple of years ago. She rescues a lot of dogs and cats. Sometimes a whole litter if it's in dire straights. She tries to find homes for them, but if she can't she usually winds up with them.

They all have shots, they are all spayed. The dogs are on heartworm meds, flea treatments, etc. The cats are treated for fleas. (I cannot even imagine that vet bill or all the trips to get them handled.) They are boarded when they leave, or have someone come and care for them. They are contained by electric fencing. The big dogs have kennels for night time. The smaller dogs come in the house.

Her home is lovely, the house does not smell bad and the only hazard of her place is that you WILL leave with pet hair on your clothing, so folks should not go there if that's a problem.

Her home is not filthy because she is not filthy and she has the wherewithal to manage that many animals.

When I see a filthy situation such as has been described, with or without pets, I am fairly certain that the people are mentally or emotionally ill to some degree. I agree that the public health folks should be contacted. I'll lay odds that it won't be the first time, but maybe this time they will take actions and provide her some assistance.

Reply by Notarysigner on 8/27/11 11:11am
Msg #395258

I would have told her that I could NOT do the signing there. I would have offered to meet her at another location. I would have called SS/TC, explained and said that was unacceptable for me health-wise.

My mother-in-law went into a home, such as you described and felt sorry for the lady. She went back home and got cleaning supplies and help (my poor Bro-in-law) and spend the day cleaning the woman's house. She got a Staph infection, had to be hospitalized and almost died. When it comes to healthy environments you need to make that your # one priority. IMO

Reply by Alz on 8/27/11 11:19am
Msg #395260

Protecting yourself & guarding your health is not being rude n/m

Reply by CJ on 8/27/11 11:42am
Msg #395268

Re: Protecting yourself & guarding your health is not being rude

I would also call around and find out who would be in charge of this. Animal Control? Department of health? The lady does not live in a healthy environment, her animals don't and she no problem subitting you to her toxic world. If one department does not help you, maybe another one will.

I signed a borrower once who told about all kinds of crime happening in the house next door. He called all kinds of authorities over the years, including the police and no one would shut them down. One night he saw toddlers unattended in the front yard at 11;00 at night so he called Children's Sevices and THEY finally shut down the whole house.

Call Animal Control, Horders TV show, police, fire, anyone you can think of.

Reply by Notarysigner on 8/27/11 12:19pm
Msg #395275

Re: Protecting yourself & guarding your health is not being rude

Vector control is another good one to call, for rats eating dog and cat food.

Reply by LKT/CA on 8/27/11 11:41am
Msg #395267

I would have told the lady that because we have no workable space, plus I have allergies, it is NECESSARY that we meet at the nearest McDonalds are whatever fast food place is near her. NO, I would not drive her there - no fleas in my car please!

Reply by NJDiva on 8/27/11 5:50pm
Msg #395291

Exactly what I was going to say Lisa!

I actually went into a house one time where I almost felt throw up coming into my mouth. My stomach wrenched a little. The stench was HORRID. I had to talk my self into breathing through my mouth.

I also carry pure Young Living Lavender Oil. When there are unbearable smells, I (discreetly) take it out and rub some under my nose. Unfortunately, it didn't work for that. In fact, that smell lingered with me until the next day. Ugh, I can gag just thinking about it now...lmao

I love this biz. But these are the types of situations we have to be willing to accept and work through (or find a solution to) if we're going to be in it, for sure.

I love the anticipation of what I'm going to see next...lol...as I always say, just another adventure in life!

Reply by garland/CA on 8/27/11 7:16pm
Msg #395305

Have had some really bad ones regarding smells too. When there are a lot of pets, especially cats that keep jumping all over the table, documents, in my lap, etc, I tell them I am allergic and they quickly put their pets away.

Had a rambunctious yellow lab today - probably weighed over 70 pounds. Owner seemed to enjoy seeing me try to manage with it into everything. Luckily it was one document that took less than 15 minutes or I would have said "I am allergic" and the dog would have been put away. The worst ones are the little yappy ones. Often their owners are little old ladies that can't control them one bit. Had one like that and I had to go outside as it started nipping at me and the woman could not catch it or stop it. We finished the documents outside on the porch.

All in a day's work....;

Reply by rolomia on 8/27/11 11:28pm
Msg #395320

You're lucky that you didn't encounter a truly unstable borrower. One of my signings was with a borrower who showed me his gun collection while he cursed the LO because his published rate was different than what he was remembers being told that it would be. Worst of all, my cell phone didn't have service. Once I got out of there, I called the sheriff. Needless to say, said BO's gun permit was revoked. Also, the LO blacklisted the BO and revoked his loan when I called to explain said BO's behavior. Apparently, said Mortgager has a written Non-Tolerance policy protecting their sub-agents from such abusive behavior. Plus, he explained to BO that his rate was a "loaded" rate. But, apparently, BO either forgot this or didn't care. In any event, I no longer conduct signings, alone.

Reply by Isabel/CA on 8/29/11 12:12pm
Msg #395505

Thanks for all your input everyone. You guys are right. I should have tried to conduct the signing elsewhere.

I, too, felt bad for the lady. The worst part was that she had an able bodied, grown man, son who came in the house about half way through. He must have noticed that I was standing in the middle of the room with my bag on my shoulder trying not to touch anything. He says to me, "Does it smell a little bit in here to you?" ARE YOU KIDDING??

I thought it was shameful that he lets his mother live in those conditions. SHAMEFUL.