Online House Hunting

What responsibility does realtor have to keeping you house secure when selling it?

I put my house (investment property) up for short sale in Las Vegas and listed it with a REMAX agent. It was unoccupied. They put a lockbox on it. When I came to check the house no lock box and five people were living in it. They had a fake lease from me and had been living there almost a month. Power transferred to their name and everything. I had the police remove them for trespassing but it was a hassle getting all their furniture and stuff out and changing the locks. I had to take time off work and make two trips from Los Angeles to get everything done. Does the realtor/broker have any responsibility to safeguarding the key and checking the property? I did not have a property management agreement. They agent just told me they were surprised but hadn't shown the unit in over a month.

Public Comments

1. They have no responsibility to check on the house unless you have a contract stating that.
2. In my part of the country the Realtor has no responsibility to secure your home. There job is to sell it. Good realtors usually drive by every so often to see if all ok, and it is in good order to show, If not they tell the owner .
3. Your investment property's security is your responsiblity.