Posted by KimmyMD on 6/23/12 11:47am
Msg #424422

Closing at "hoarders buried alive" HOME

Do I have to go in?,,, How do I explain,,, really this happened to me. I held my breath the entire time, and I broke all records for the fasted closing in the history of man kind! We did'nt sit, standing room only. And I dressed up for this one?
My question is what if I did'nt make it out alive? I did see a baseball bat in reach, just in case something ran by.
Ok, have you ever decided not to complete a closing because of the home?

Reply by ToniK on 6/23/12 11:56am
Msg #424424

I wouldve suggested we do it on the hood of my car or sitting in the backseat. There would be no way in H E double hockey sticks I would have went in the home. I watch hoarders show and I know all the bad stuff and contaminates that can be in the home. My safety is first and being there I would not have felt safe.

Reply by jnew on 6/24/12 4:27pm
Msg #424523

I got sick early in April and I believe it was from closing in a filthy environment. I am seriously thinking about keeping a rubber rainsuit and surgical gloves in my car, just for these occassions. Highlights included: no dining room table, or stand up room at any kitchen counters. Had to close in the living room while they were eating delivered pizza at a small coffee table. I got to sit in the "easy" chair which was covered in black spots resembling tire patches which I could only assume was some sort of edible organism attached to the cloth. The kids were crying and they had to put on a noisy video game. Five people in a small living room, simply because it seemed to be the only room with any room at all. Father asks mother why the child's face was dirty and father was told that it was a rash. The corker was that their cat was stationed at the front door like a sentry and I came to the conclusion that Mr. Cat was waiting for me to leave so he could make a quick move to break out of there. Mother was employed making over 50K, according to the loan app. Some people just like to let everything go.

Reply by Lynne Olsen on 6/23/12 11:58am
Msg #424426

I've had 2 closings in hoarders homes. Very uncomfortable. The first one they literally scooped junk off a space just big enough for me to sit at the end of the sofa, right inside the front door. The wife sat on the arm of the sofa and the husband sat on the floor in front of me. This was also the fastest signing I've ever done. The worst closing I've had was a cat litter box right behind the chair I was sitting in, in the kitchen and when the man left the room for a moment the cat used the litter box and I was gagging from the smell. Not sure what that cat ate but it was the worst smell. The way some people live is shocking. lol I've never decided to not complete a closing because of the home. I have wanted to though.

Reply by HisHughness on 6/23/12 12:09pm
Msg #424428

I've told the borrower on more than one occasion that I would not do the closing in his home. I've never had a hiring party question that judgment. What always puzzles me is how the appraiser handled the situation.

Reply by Barb25 on 6/23/12 12:35pm
Msg #424432

I am curious and serious btw, what did you say

and what did they say. I understand completely but it certainly is a very difficult conversation to approach to say the least.

Reply by HisHughness on 6/23/12 12:43pm
Msg #424434

Re: I am curious and serious btw, what did you say

In each of the cases, hoarders being hoarders, there was no dining table on which to close; it was fully occupied with years of hoarded material. I was expected to close on a coffee table, and I told them I do not do that, pleading a bad back. Have no doubts, though, that had the situation required it, I would have been quite candid in saying I could not and would not close in the house.

And incidentally, re coffee table closings, I don't do them even in spotless uncluttered odorless homes. Part of my confirmation spiel now is: "We're going to be shuffling 100-150 pages of documents between us, so we're going to need a working space. A coffee table will not do; we need something like a dining table <that has been cleared off">. Haven't had a problem since I inserted that in the introductory instructions to the borrower.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 6/23/12 12:52pm
Msg #424436

Standard item in 'trunk' of my car: small folding table -

handy as a shirt on a pocket when needed.

Lots of hoarders out here in NotaryLand, I tried my best to accomodate/muddle through. I once made a relatively flat space by restacking piles of books. She tried to cajole me into staying, and helping her "do the books."

Reply by Barb25 on 6/23/12 1:03pm
Msg #424437

Re: Standard item in 'trunk' of my car: small folding table -

Just think of the material for "memoirs".... Everytime I think my house may be a mess I just think about some of the places I have been. Amazing. I stuck to a sofa once. Ugh! I only left a signing once. It was when the borrowers wife had to sign the espousal docs (FL) and he was middle eastern.. (big mixup) He gave me a hard time. Would not let wife sign. Told me to sit down! Blocked the door. Said he was going to call the police and have me arrested once I escaped. He said I broke his door (did not). And the title company asked if I would please go back... NOOOO. I said I think you need to send a man... LOL.

We need hazardous duty pay, I think. Sorry to get off topic. lol

Reply by sigtogo/OR on 6/23/12 1:15pm
Msg #424439

Re: Standard item in 'trunk' of my car: small folding table -

I have considered this ever since a borrower suggested we meet at a bridge along a county road. do you carrry chairs too?

Had a signing yesterday at a business I had been to previously. I knew there was no place for sitting, let alone desk or table space. I suggested to the borrowers that I come to their home or meet them at a restaurant but they were insistant on the office. I told them we needed space to spread out and all be sitting. she promised to clear her desk and have chairs. ha! the desk was partially cleared, there was one office chair which they offered me--right, like I am going to sit while two 80 somethings stand or perch on foot stool. so the ms. sat in the chair, mr. on foot stool and me on the very hard arm of the 50 yr old lazy boy that they had pulled up next to the desk! 1 1/2 hours later my backside was numb!!
Did I mention the place was hot, stuffy, and baaaadddd smelling?
It wouldn't have helped to bring a table since there was zero space to set one up but a couple of folding chairs would have been helpful. I'm thinking a portable room......

Reply by BossLadyMD on 6/23/12 7:46pm
Msg #424471

Never had this happen but I will not go into a

filthy unhealthy house. This would be clearly beyond moderate house keeping. We would relocate to the nearest Panera Bread or Starbucks. If they refuse to leave house then I would only charge a print/trip fee.

Reply by Jayhawk/KS on 6/23/12 10:56pm
Msg #424485

I should have know when the appraisal had a hold out fee sug

Should have know when the appraisal had a hold out fee suggested. I didn't know dust could be so think you could measure it. The borrowers set up 3 tv tables, the kind with the sloping sides! The lady was disabled and I had to go out to the implement shed to get the hubby, followed by 5 of the 6 dogs. He was working on what I presumed was a still. When he came in he asked me if I knew what he'd been doing, I said, looked like you had a project underway! Then he said, yeah "working on my still!" I couldn't wait to get out of there! Always wondered if they cleaned the carpet and got the hold out money!

Reply by PegiT_MN on 6/24/12 10:52am
Msg #424504

My "Hoarders Buried Alive" Story......

....the woman invites me in.....there is no place to sit...no place to walk....the house smells like a garbage dumpster......the kitchen table is piled with garbage and dirty dishes.......I turn around and walk directly out of the house without looking back and say "someone will be in contact with you to set up another time for you to close". I called the title company and told them what happened.......they paid me my full fee.......and another appointment was set up for a few days later at a coffee shop......with another notary as I asked to not be called on that one. The title company is one of my best clients and they were so nice about it. They said they would never expect one of their notaries to go into a place like that.

I have been in some bad houses before......but I had to draw the line on that one.......oh yeh.......three days later I woke up with the worst flu I have had in 20 years. All I could think of was I breathed in the air and I touch the door knob on my way out.

Reply by Yowheelz on 6/24/12 12:14pm
Msg #424511

I look around for a picnic table or other outside location

wall, car hood anything will do. Had one bo that suggested we close outside because she didn't want me to fall through the hole in the floor on the otherside of the door.

Reply by KimmyMD on 6/25/12 10:12am
Msg #424574

Thanks for all the great stories, glad to know I am not alone. I agree I think I will let TC know ahead of time "what I won't do"
Fondly
Kimmy