Hello all.  Longtime lurker here.  

Browsing the forums over on GardenWeb, I found  This.  

I can't believe some of the things people do and think it is ok.  I'm having a house built this summer and I hope I don't have any issues like that.

Anyway, I thought it'd be interesting to know what your reaction to stuff like this would be.

Ken

worked for a friend over the summer rebuilding his hurricane wrecked house.  he was an FFL, so that had some benefits too, but i digress.

some low life fuckers broke in one night and stole a shitload of tools and other stuff.  needless to say, we were PISSED

When I visited my current house while it was under construction, I "tresspassed" and visited other houses under construction too.   If the builder doesn't want anyone to enter the house, they should lock the front door, if there is one at that stage.  I never vandalized or anything, minded my manners.

My next door neighbor is a contractor. A few months ago, someone cut a hole in the side of one of his work trailers, and stole roughly $30k worth of tools. He said the trailer was cleaned out to the extent that it looked like they even swept the floors for him. Investigation still ongoing.

The house does not belong to the buyer until the after closing. Unless there are posted trespassing signs, anyone can enter. In one development I was working in, there was a sign only allowing contractors and tradesman. Construction theft around here is through the roof though.

no, but dumpsters on the street are fair game

Quoted: The house does not belong to the buyer until the after closing. Unless there are posted trespassing signs, anyone can enter. In one development I was working in, there was a sign only allowing contractors and tradesman. Construction theft around here is through the roof though.

Yes, but the property belongs to SOMEONE.  You don't have to post "no trespassing" signs, in order for someone to be trespassing.  If it's not your property, and you are there without permission, you are trespassing.

i think ideally permission should be asked, but if people are going to be building a home in the future, it only makes sense to go around and see what people are doing with current houses being built as far as room layout to see what they like and dont like.

kind of like test driving a few cars before you go buy one.  obviously you cant test drive houses, so looking at some that arent completed seems like an ok idea to me.

i could see getting worried if it was my house, but i'd know that if i was doing it i meant no harm and was just curious.  

its kind of hypocritical to not trust anyone but to want everyone to trust me.    i think if it was just walls, no doors, etc.  i wouldnt have a problem.  but if stuff starting getting finished, i would want them to ask me first.

Quoted: Quoted: The house does not belong to the buyer until the after closing. Unless there are posted trespassing signs, anyone can enter. In one development I was working in, there was a sign only allowing contractors and tradesman. Construction theft around here is through the roof though. Yes, but the property belongs to SOMEONE.  You don't have to post "no trespassing" signs, in order for someone to be trespassing.  If it's not your property, and you are there without permission, you are trespassing.

I read somewhere that you are not trespassing legally standing unless you have been notified once.

Shit, my neighbor, who is a cop, stole enough sod to do his sides and whole back yard.

Realtors take potential buyers through your house the night before closing- it's the best sales mechanism in a development.

In my neighborhood, we also suffered from thieves taking tools from the build site.  They caught the guys (a large ring in Massachusetts) a couple months later, but as so many trucks and contractors come and go all day, no one thinks anything of another white box truck pulling up.

My neighbors actually had to delay closing as the thieves came the day before closing and took the dishwasher, and clothes washer and dryer!

I read somewhere that you are not trespassing legally standing unless you have been notified once.

Defiant trespass, we use it here, in the casinos, they give you a warning and are ejected.
As for going through a house, well you could get hit with trespass, and if you took anything of value, Burglary

Quoted: The house does not belong to the buyer until the after closing. Unless there are posted trespassing signs, anyone can enter. In one development I was working in, there was a sign only allowing contractors and tradesman. Construction theft around here is through the roof though.

As to the linked thread, it sounds like the homeowner was in possession of the property and was having a home built upon it...not that he was purchasing a home in some development.

Me and a friend have done it as adults, but we meant no harm.  Just checking shit out.  It was in his neighborhood.

It's pretty common to walk around someone else's construction site after hours to see what's up and how the place is laid out. Certainly up through framing. The closer it gets to completion the more questionable it becomes. It would be a bad idea to do a walk-through of someone's house after the carpet is down and while finish work is being done.

when I a kid, I used to ride my bike through the houses....when they were only wood frames, not drywalled or anything.....later, when people would move in, and they had kids, I would tell their kids that "I rode my bike in your house".....lol....as an adult, I wire houses now, so when I leave a construction site, I have no desire to poke around in other ones  

When we were in high school, a bunch of my buddies and I used to play laser tag at new suburban housing construction sights during the summer, after dark.  It was fun as hell until one night, some old lady from a house next to the new development called the cops stating that she saw a bunch of guys dressed in camo running around with guns.  

The cops showed up en masse and drew down on us.  After they realized that we only had laser tag guns, they gave us the "if one of you would've lifter your gun at us, we would have shot you" speeches and confiscated our weapons.  They did let us pick them up after a couple of days, but after this incident, our interest in laser tag was gone.

Quoted: Shit, my neighbor, who is a cop, stole enough sod to do his sides and whole back yard.

there was a video of a Dentist in his Range Rover stealing sod from a home site and got busted by the cops.

I am having a house built right now and have it posted so people dont come in nosing around. So far I have not had anything stolen or vandalized unless you could see some of the work a framer did.

I forgot to add that we have had a few people come by looking at the place, one on a weekend when I was out working on it and they asked to look at the floor plan. I went and got my wife and she gave them the nickle tour. Neither of us minded because the house was framed and had just had the roof put on. Now if it was in the finish work stages that would be another matter.

When we chose this house I wanted to see others that had already been built but the GC would not divuldge any addresses which in hindsight is actually a good thing.

on a side note when I was a kid I used to ride my skateboard and bike in the houses being built by our place. It was fun and we didn't screw with anything.

I am a New Home rep for a Builder.
Despite numberous big signs posted out fron to "keep off  / keep out" we have idiot after idiot after idiot wandering through the job sites and trying to get into house after house.

Some want to see what it looks like - gee all they have to do is ask at the model home.  some want to see what goodies are in the home and what it would take to take them home....

I've taken to showing up and blocking them at the door telling them not to move as the sheriff is on his way.  As I'm about 6'4" or so most idiots think better then to try and rush me.

We make our clients sign a contract rider statement that they can not enter the property without our permission and a builder supplied hard hat.  Some people just feel they don't have to follow the rules.

I had one idiot who would always come LATE (round 11 PM) to walk his home (with flashlight) I was working late on contracts and guess who came by and illegally entered the house (again).  I called the Sheriff and about 10 minutes later two units rolled by and lit up the scene.  Mr. LAte Night Visitior was Arrested at the end of an 870!.  Next Day he gets out and came to my office to get me to say he was "allowed" on the site, I called the prosecutors office on speaker phone and told the prosecutor that Mr. Intruder had been warned previously and was now in my very office trying to duress a direct witness! (violation of his bail and release conditions)  Oops... Back to Jail!!

I busted two clients from their contracts due to their breech of contract (they agree to follow the community rules regarding access and tresspass violates that).

Each lost their "dream home" and left behind about $50,000 to $60,000 in equity (prices have risen sharply in Austin, especially in the country club community I manage).  I made more $$ commissions in reselling the homes, and the other folks in the community learned important lessons, which cut down the "I Don't Have To Follow Your Fucking Rules" factor by about 99%

If it is not your house, and you don't have permission - STAY THE #$%#@ OUT OF IT!!

BIGGER_HAMMER

Quoted: As to the linked thread, it sounds like the homeowner was in possession of the property and was having a home built upon it...not that he was purchasing a home in some development.

Yeah, I should have mentioned that I already own the property that I am building on.  It just seems strange to me that someone would take an uninvited tour of your house while it is being built.  I'm not going to lose too much sleep over it, though.

Ken

My fiancee and I go look through houses under construction all the time on wknds.  It's a good way to get ideas about what we want to build later.

We never go in any with "No Tresspassing" signs though.

Quoted: Quoted: As to the linked thread, it sounds like the homeowner was in possession of the property and was having a home built upon it...not that he was purchasing a home in some development. Yeah, I should have mentioned that I already own the property that I am building on.  It just seems strange to me that someone would take an uninvited tour of your house while it is being built.  I'm not going to lose too much sleep over it, though. Ken

I am in the same boat and not only own the property but live on it also in another existing home. My builder has actually comlimented me on leaving his subs alone and keeping the place cleaned up. I am glad we are here watching the place and keeping theives the hell away.

Quoted: Quoted: The house does not belong to the buyer until the after closing. Unless there are posted trespassing signs, anyone can enter. In one development I was working in, there was a sign only allowing contractors and tradesman. Construction theft around here is through the roof though. Yes, but the property belongs to SOMEONE.  You don't have to post "no trespassing" signs, in order for someone to be trespassing.  If it's not your property, and you are there without permission, you are trespassing.

I dunno. In PA, if there isn't a posted sign, you can't do much about it. The cops won't either, til you have the proper signage up. I know, it IS tresspassing, but the law here doesn't see it that way. Nor do most fucktards around here.

I go into them.   It's nice to see how the builder does on construction quality, see different layouts, etc...


If the house was sold, maybe not......

What's with the DH?  Dear Husband?  It's like mothering.com over there.

How many people have the enough money to completely pay for their house? Slim to none, therefore it is the "banks" house.  I can see being pissed if it was being trash and stuff but a tour during the rough-in, no problem.  I always considered it a "honor" (lack of better wording) that someone would want to see my house and would be happy for others to get an idea that would make them happier with their house.  Whenever I worked late and people would come in, I'd gladly offer a tour.


just my $.02

Quoted: I am a New Home rep for a Builder. Despite numberous big signs posted out fron to "keep off  / keep out" we have idiot after idiot after idiot wandering through the job sites and trying to get into house after house. Some want to see what it looks like - gee all they have to do is ask at the model home.  some want to see what goodies are in the home and what it would take to take them home.... I've taken to showing up and blocking them at the door telling them not to move as the sheriff is on his way.  As I'm about 6'4" or so most idiots think better then to try and rush me. We make our clients sign a contract rider statement that they can not enter the property without our permission and a builder supplied hard hat.  Some people just feel they don't have to follow the rules. I had one idiot who would always come LATE (round 11 PM) to walk his home (with flashlight) I was working late on contracts and guess who came by and illegally entered the house (again).  I called the Sheriff and about 10 minutes later two units rolled by and lit up the scene.  Mr. LAte Night Visitior was Arrested at the end of an 870!.  Next Day he gets out and came to my office to get me to say he was "allowed" on the site, I called the prosecutors office on speaker phone and told the prosecutor that Mr. Intruder had been warned previously and was now in my very office trying to duress a direct witness! (violation of his bail and release conditions)  Oops... Back to Jail!! I busted two clients from their contracts due to their breech of contract (they agree to follow the community rules regarding access and tresspass violates that). Each lost their "dream home" and left behind about $50,000 to $60,000 in equity (prices have risen sharply in Austin, especially in the country club community I manage).  I made more $$ commissions in reselling the homes, and the other folks in the community learned important lessons, which cut down the "I Don't Have To Follow Your Fucking Rules" factor by about 99% If it is not your house, and you don't have permission - STAY THE #$%#@ OUT OF IT!! BIGGER_HAMMER

Someone actually pays you to build their house?  And then asks permission to visit the site?  And you have them arrested?

You have something to learn about client relations.

We bought our lot.  Our builder is not financing our house, we are.  I come and go as I please and talk to the subs on a regular basis.

As far as I'm concerned from the minute I closed on the lot it was my property and only authorized subs could be on the site.  Of course, I'm not going to have my neighbor arrested (as apparently builders do down in Austin, TX), but I'd be pissed.

We also locked the place up at the earliest possible moment and before we started putting valuable appliances, tile, etc. in the house.  Luckily thefts have been really low in our neighborhood.

But the bottom line is it is our house.  Stay out.

Corey

EDITED to add:

PS  BTW, Bigger Hammer -- it sounds like even after the people in your neighborhood pay for homes they still don't really "own" them.  Sounds like a pretty oppressive home owners association (and your treatment of new buyers is a way to intimidate current "owners" into submission).  But if people get kicks out of being told what to do with their homes, all the more power to them (or you, as the case may be).

PPS  It's cool for people to be proud of their new homes.  Heck, I am.  But the decision as to whether people should be on the site is my decision to make, not theirs.  If they want to ask me for a tour, I'll be glad to show them the place.  But otherwise they should stay on the sidewalk.

As a project manager for five years, I would post No trespassing signs on the property. We also posted signs that stated if you were not an approved subcontractors employee, you were to leave at once.  I have on many occasions asked real estate agents leading clients around to please leave the property and schedule a walkthrough with myself and the clients at the same time, but even this could only occur with contractor approval.  I had the Sheriffs office on speed dial and actuall had some prima donna wench agent issued a tresspass warning.  It was a 1.7 million dollar home that she couldn't sell because if she came back she was subject to arrest after warning. I never really cared what they thought of me, but ran a damn tight job!  

Quoted: The house does not belong to the buyer until the after closing. Unless there are posted trespassing signs, anyone can enter. In one development I was working in, there was a sign only allowing contractors and tradesman. Construction theft around here is through the roof though.

You are a moron.   The house belongs to someone, regardless of whether or not it has been sold yet.  Unless that someone is you, you are trespassing.   Don't have permission?  Stay the fuck out.

When I had my house built 18 months ago, I went almost daily to check on things.  Regularly I would go and there would be other people checking out the house.  Once anything of value got installed though, the builder was pretty good at keeping the place locked up.  He also made all the buyers sign legal docs promising we wouldn't trespass.  Something to the effect that we aknowledge it is an active coonstruction site and the dangers inherent to such a site, etc.

The last house on the street was delayed (apparently all other lots needed to have established grass before they could break ground on it).  My one neighbor and his wife decided to check it out on a Sat night.  Well, the stairs were in place, but they hadn't nailed any of them down yet.  He got to the second floor fine, but when he went to go back downstairs, the top stair slid out from under him and he went straight down to the basement.  Broke both feet, and major damage to both achilles.  

He's self employed and has been bedridden for 7 months now, Jusy had surgery to correct the Achilles (achilli?).  They had to wait because he developed Pneumonia from being in bed with feet up for so long.  Anyway, he now wants to sue the builder for not having the steps nailed in place before the weekend.

WTF?  

Oh and there was yellow tape on the stairwell that he walked under to get upstairs.  

Quoted: What's with the DH?  Dear Husband?  It's like mothering.com over there.

It's probably "dumb husband."  The phrase started in rec.sewing many years ago and has since spread to other fora.

Well it appears who the builders are on this forum. I have to say that the house IS NOT yours until you sign your life away. The builder has all the responsibility until the keys are delivered. I tell my future HO that all visits need to be announced and to stop at the sales office BEFORE going to the house. Doyou think that they listen? NO. They come in with their kid and think that they have free reign over the place because they signed a piece of paper. I do understand that it is an exciting and stressful time for them, but they have to abide by the rules tou set at the Pre-Construction meeting.
I have and will continue to kick HO out of their house, if they are there at an in appropriate time.  Do I feel bad? No. HOs want their house to be delivered in the time frame that they were quoted, but the trades will not work when a HO starts walking through their soon to be home. Trades drop their tools and wait till they leave. Too much of a liability for the trade. I tell the HO and give them a generic schedule to follow along with so they know what is going to happen next. I spell out when they cannot visit due to saftey. I also tell them that they cannot visit after carpet, they put a mark on the carpet and blame me for it. So to all that are having homes built by a builder, there are good reasons for the rules they make. If you choose not to follow them, then you can pay the price. I think that having the HO arrested is great. My Ho are mainly form India, hard as hell to understand and think the rules do not apply to them. I wish that I could have one arrested.

Quoted:

I had one idiot who would always come LATE (round 11 PM) to walk his home (with flashlight) I was working late on contracts and guess who came by and illegally entered the house (again).  I called the Sheriff and about 10 minutes later two units rolled by and lit up the scene.  Mr. LAte Night Visitior was Arrested at the end of an 870!.  Next Day he gets out and came to my office to get me to say he was "allowed" on the site, I called the prosecutors office on speaker phone and told the prosecutor that Mr. Intruder had been warned previously and was now in my very office trying to duress a direct witness! (violation of his bail and release conditions)  Oops... Back to Jail!!



Was this guy someone who bought a house and seeing its progress?

Quoted: Quoted: I had one idiot who would always come LATE (round 11 PM) to walk his home (with flashlight) I was working late on contracts and guess who came by and illegally entered the house (again).  I called the Sheriff and about 10 minutes later two units rolled by and lit up the scene.  Mr. LAte Night Visitior was Arrested at the end of an 870!.  Next Day he gets out and came to my office to get me to say he was "allowed" on the site, I called the prosecutors office on speaker phone and told the prosecutor that Mr. Intruder had been warned previously and was now in my very office trying to duress a direct witness! (violation of his bail and release conditions)  Oops... Back to Jail!!

Was this guy someone who bought a house visiting to see its progress?

Quoted: i think ideally permission should be asked, but if people are going to be building a home in the future, it only makes sense to go around and see what people are doing with current houses being built as far as room layout to see what they like and dont like. kind of like test driving a few cars before you go buy one.  obviously you cant test drive houses, so looking at some that arent completed seems like an ok idea to me. i could see getting worried if it was my house, but i'd know that if i was doing it i meant no harm and was just curious.   its kind of hypocritical to not trust anyone but to want everyone to trust me.    i think if it was just walls, no doors, etc.  i wouldnt have a problem.  but if stuff starting getting finished, i would want them to ask me first.

I agree if permission is asked, If you know a construction site it can tell a lot about the quality of the homes they build.
Around here walking into homes under constuction will get you a quick ride to jail.

I bet builders that want to keep people out of  homes while under construction are trying to "cover up"  mistakes in the building process and use of substandard materials to the future homebuyer.. . I can understand trying to keep buyers out unescorted, but during the whole process..Something aint right bout that to me.
It has been customary for years for homeowners to "be ownsite and inspect" during the construction phase. Again i can understand keepping out  every Tom,Dick and Harry

One must only assume there must something to hide.

I see it all the time.

Quoted: I bet builders that want to keep people out of  homes while under construction are trying to "cover up"  mistakes in the building process and use of substandard materials to the future homebuyer.. . I can understand trying to keep buyers out unescorted, but during the whole process..Something aint right bout that to me. It has been customary for years for homeowners to "be ownsite and inspect" during the construction phase. Again i can understand keepping out  every Tom,Dick and Harry One must only assume there must something to hide.

Most of the bigger getter contractors are not "trying to cover up mistakes" or "hide something". Unless you're building way out in the sticks somewhere, the local city/state building, framing, electrical, plumbing, concrete, mechanical inspectors keep a pretty tight rein on workmanship.

It slows down ALL the contractors and the subs if the owners, realters and look-e-loos  are always underfoot and getting in the way trying to help, making suggestions and changing stuff.

I had a house where the owner worked nights and he and his wife and 4 young kids were there every day until the general contractor put his food down. It only worked for a while and they were back in a few days until they got run off again. and again. and again.