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Vandalism, WTF?!?!?!?!
Posted by Anok • 8/23/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: realtors, vandalism
We had two consecutive showings yesterday, (For those not in the know, the house we rent is in a short sale/foreclosure, and the Realtor shows our unit regularly) and I come home to find a big + in pencil in the middle of one of my paintings!!!!
I've already called the agent, and left a message that someone vandalized one of my paintings. That painting was done for a show, and IS for sale - the puppet one if anyone remembers it.
We are 100% sure it was not Punky (all evidence plus a statement from said child clears Punky of all blame) and we certainly didn't do it - and it wasn't there before this weekend.
Who the hell would walk into someone else's house for a showing, and WRITE on their ARTWORK?!?!?! WTF?
Now I know for a fact that several agents allow the clients into the unit without their supervision (as I record the showings) but I do not have the camera aimed at my artwork or anything like that. SO I don't know who did it, or why.
Mr Anok says I should ask that the agent pay for the damage, or buy the painting. Seeing as the Realtors who were here yesterday were not the agent representing this house, I don't know that I can do that. But I AM very angry.
What would you do?
User Comments
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What! That is absobloodylutely disgusting.-
I know! Grrrr
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Fer Pete's sake-- what is wrong with people?
And really, what kind of quality people are they showing around if this is what they do to others' belongings?-
Precisely - and if you think about it, they are looking at the house knowing there is already a tenant in place - why would they deface their prospective tenants belongings?!?!
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Why did my landlord let herself into my apartment, rearrange my stuff and trim her fingernails in my apt. and leave the clippings all around when waiting for contractors?
People have no respect for others. -
Eeewwww she trimmed her nails and left the clippings in your apt?
*shudder* freaking disgusting! -
Oh yeah. She was a pip.
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Yuck
I'm still grossed out just thinking about it! -
this nowhere as bad as art vandalism, but i once asked a friend to take care of my plants for a week while i was gone, and his ex-girlfriend stole the key, threw a party in my apartment (during which furniture and vintage wineglasses were broken) AND proceeded to dye her hair in my bathtub. This was over a year ago and the dye is still there.
my friend was horrified as soon as he found out and offered to pay for all of the damage, but the glasses that were broken were irreplaceable, and mostly for display since they were so old...
absolutely document the damage... especially for something that would be listed at $1000 for a show
i'm sorry for stupid people :-( -
Lauren, that's terrible!
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Anok - do you have a valuation for the painting in place?
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Unfortunately, no. I can only tell them what the sale price is. Artwork is a fickle thing, and it's literally only worth what someone has already paid for it (for say, insurance purposes) so unless a sale has taken place, then *technically* it' snot worth anything at all. Although i think that in terms of intentional damage you can still ask for the price you originally were asking. (you break it, you bought it sort of thing).
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@Anok
If you can get a 3rd party to put a valuation in writing, that will help, even if it's a letter from someone who bought a painting of yours in the past and is willing to vouch for its value.
The next question is, do you have a photo of the painting prior to it being damaged? -
I do have a photo! In fact, I posted it on BC I could probably ask the person who was setting up the show for me to do the valuation, he's also bought two paintings from me, and has commissioned a third. Although I do give him friend prices...he knows what that painting was listing for. ($1,000)
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@Anok
What I would do is assemble as much official looking documentation together, as well as the photos of before and after, and then present it to the real estate agent; say that you want compensation and if they don't come up with it, you will be "taking legal advice". -
*grabbing my camera now...*
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@Anok
One of the great things about being in the USA is just the threat of legal action does have an effect on company behaviour. -
Hopefully she has the foresight to have some sort of coverage for damage to properties from potential buyers. I would think that sometimes damage does occur, or vandalism. And I do hope she doesn't give me a hard time about it, either. That would be dumb.
But that concerns me about other things in the house - prescription meds with street value? Jewelry? I'm looking through the house now for anything else that may be amiss. If the agents aren't paying enough attention to miss someone writing on a painting, surely they would miss someone snatching a bottle of pills or piece of jewelry
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@Anok
That's why having the documentation is so important; if you look like you're building a substantial case, they should cave quickly. It wouldn't do for their reputation that they allow potential owners to damage the properties they visit. -
I just finished speaking to the main agent, she's unsure of what the protocol is, but i told her i would be seeking compensation, regardless of who pays for it.
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@Anok
Excellent. It is likely the agent's responsibility as they are officially managing the property.
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Many vandals routinely vandalize, so if your paintings were vandalized, chances are that he/she has done that before to other unsuspecting victims' belongings.
I don't know what drives them to do it, maybe they have psychological problems, maybe it gives them some kind of satisfactory 'fix' or perhaps it's just out of rebellion.
They could be likened to arsonists who derive pleasure from seeing things burn and are in essence anarchists.-
Hey now - real Anarchists aren't vandals!
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was it a "plus" or more of a "cross"?-
I was wondering about that, too.
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It's a BIG plus sign (about 15 inches), although the horizontal line is shorter in length than the vertical line is.
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*cough-jesusfreaks-ahem*
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OOoh - I so wouldn't allow an agent to show a house without me being there.
As a home owner - NO ONE is coming into my home unless it's an emergency without me here.
I have valuables and my whole LIFE in my home.
I'm so sorry about all of this stuff happening to you Anok - this totally is unacceptable behavior.
In fact - any agent who brings someone into your home is responsible for their actions. You need to advise them and they need to replace or pay for the item.
Gather your proof and present it to them. Ask a fair price - and sell them the artwork.-
Yep - I'm on it!
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How absolutely disgusting, Anok! That's terrible! I would take whoever is responsible for showing your apartment to small claims court! Seriously!
It doesn't cost much to sue someone in small claims court (Hey! Maybe you can go on Judge Judy!) and you should do that--that is so terrible.
I honestly would not let any of those people back in after that. I wonder what rights you have here to refuse? Or better yet, seriously pretend to have a Satan Worship group the next time a potential buyer comes by!-
then they would draw crosses on everything
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I don't know what right I have to refuse, although I have refused showings of my side in the past with reasonable issues (sickness, not enough notice).
I just finished filing the report with the police who came out to see it. He agreed that it was worth pursuing, too. (Made me feel better )
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Do you think it was perhaps someone that took offense to one of your paintings for whatever reason?
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It's the only logical explanation, although logic may not be a necessary trait of a vandal.
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A cross? You don't think they know your a pagan do you? Growing up in a Christian environment, I understand the dislike and disrespect of other religions they try to teach. I can see how religion can teach hate. At any rate it shouldn't have happened. My mom paints and it takes days for her paintings.-
This was three months of work
I don't know if they knew my religion or not to be honest. To me it looks like a plus sign, but who knows?
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I'll keep that painting for myself -
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This type of things happen so often at my school too.. Thank god it hasn't happened to mine, I always bring my work home and never leave them at school. but that comes with the disadvantage of never being able to work on a big scale, and nor can I walk around the city home with a wet canvas.
I think it would only make sense that the agents or realtors take responsibility for that because they had your permission to view the house under care, and clearly not for bringing in the kindergartens-
Precisely!
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The usual suspects:
1.) Vandal
2.) Terrorist
3.) Jealous person who is jealous of your painting skillz
4.) Someone you know who has a personal vendetta against you or simply harbors malicious jealousy towards you
5.) Religious freak
6.) Someone who has a phobia for puppets
Whoever it is, I hope they find the bastard/bastardess.-
Of course, everyone is denying it now
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This is crazy! Yeah people are messed up. This is not as bad as doing something to your painting but I have been having problems too.
I don't drive everyday now as my health condition I have good days and bad. Anyways I went out to my truck one morning (now I have on street parking no private driveway) and found several deep long scratches down the side of my truck. You can clearly see it was intended by the way the scratches were, there is no way it was somebody got too close with an object walking by. Then the next time I went to go out my truck wouldn't start, which yes happened to be a deader then dead battery-brand new battery and I do drive at least once a week. Then this week I go out to it and see a huge white nasty lump in the bed. Somebody put a huge pile of provolone cheese (I'm guessing at least 2 lbs) in the back in the hot sun. Only thing I can think of is they have a street sweeper on my street so on garbage night we have to park in the alley which makes parking tight and though I have not had a problem in the full year I have been here I think it's a parking thing. I have more people who look out for me here then dislike me and I don't get in people's business -
Two pounds of cheese? That's absolutely bizarre! It'd have been cheaper to go for bacon. Ugh, now I'm completely grossed out by the topic. This whole thread is very sad. People are idiots (except those of us on BC, of course). -
Eeew, yeah the cheese bit is rather disgusting!
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Sorry to hear about this Anok but glad to know you may have some recourse for compensation. My wife works for a gallery in a prestigious hotel property in our city where we feature lots of local artists. Many of whom rely exclusively on their artwork as a main source of income(we live in a veritable artist town). Any sort of destructive vandalism is not less significant than damage to any other type of business. Going forward, you should consider all your options for protecting your work in way to prevent future issues. It sucks that you have to go through this at all. Wish you all the best(3 months work is a lot of time)-
Thanks, TC. Yeah, I had hung the painting to cure for the purpose of protecting it while I wait for word on the date for the show.
SO much for that
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So sorry to hear about your artwork being damaged. I'm with WW that your artwork piece should be purchased by the realtor responsible during the showing. Also the police should be able to speak the realtor and hopefully identify the individuals who were in the house during the showing. Maybe they can interview the parties involved and get the person who did this terrible thing.-
The cop already called the realtor, we'll see.
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It seems we've become a society where ripping people off or vandalized property is a sport for some. Where I work, cars are occasionally "keyed" in the parking lot. One hot day earlier this summer, I had the remains of an ice cream cone melted on my windshield.
But damaging a piece of artwork? Vandalizing someone's art while in their home? This is just so pathetic. I'm sorry to hear that this happened to you, Anok. I hope you are able to get compensation (although, with art, can you ever really recover what was lost?) At least being covered for the loss of sale would take a bit of sting out of this.
Mindboggling.-
Thanks Cindy - I agree!
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So update:
Now the landlord is giving me shit about it, too. I was told that if we were going to have too many problems then we should find another place to live.
Really? She would have a coronary if someone walked into her home and wrote on even a print on the wall, or the wall itself. But when it happens to MY work, I'm "causing trouble".
ARGH! I'm getting ulcers....-
she needs a brick thrown at her face
...not that I'm recommending such a thing -
I swear, I get heartburn every time the pone rings right now. ARGH.....
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That Sucks! Is someone wrote on one of my Giclée Prints I do not know what I would do to them! Not knowing who it was really sucks!-
Yep! Sure does! Meh
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GRRRRRRR!
Why do sucky things happen to you?! I'm so mad! -
This is so terrible that I cannot even say a word on the subject without feeling my blood pressure rise. I don't know whether I would scream first and cry second, or if I would just burst into tears immediately upon witnessing such a thing.
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OMG! I just found out that apparently, the realtor ANSWERS MY PHONE!!!!!!!!
I told the landlord and I got blown off "We can't get a new agent, we have a contract" WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!-
Unhook the telephones next time and store them in a closet. Also post a note on the door that you have hidden cameras and that they should smile because they will be on your security video. Perhaps this will be a positive help.
I am so sorry your wonderful work was tampered with and defaced. This is so wrong. As an artist myself I would be livid. I will hold positive thoughts for you and the right outcome of this incident. -
@Theresa
That's excellent advice.
@Anok
Is there anything is writing that states you must vacate the premises during a viewing? If there isn't then don't leave the premises when viewings take place. -
It was discussed, and being absent is the preferred showing method. However after this nightmare, I believe I will be staying in from now on.
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Good idea. Also following up on Theresa's idea about the hidden cameras I have a friend whose landlord had been observed by people in the next apartment over accessing my friend's apartment without permission when he was at work. He rented a video camera and caught the landlord in his apartment on film.
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I might go out and get a few more - I have one but I only had it to hear what was being said, there isn't much actual video to watch, except for feet walking by.
I think my house will be bugged from now on *mean face* -
I have never allowed my house to be shown without me being present Anok... NEVER...
I walk them around - whether they like it or not.
Answering your phone is OUT OF THE QUESTION.
It doesn't matter what the preferred action is - this is YOUR PAID HOUSE for this time - and if they want to show, you will be glad to assist - but YOU WILL BE THERE to observe their actions.
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This is horrible. See? Online and offline people can be walking peices of c**p. -
It is sad, whoever did it and the reactions to it..I am sorry Anok -
Thanks guys - this is just utter crap, I'm really stressed out now
I could handle either dealing with a nimrod of a realtor, OR an asshat of a landlord - but I simply cannot deal with both at the same time.
Why is the landlord protecting the realtor? She doesn't even want the house to sell, she only did it to get the modification!!!!-
is there some kind of licensing or moderating group you can report them to?
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I honestly don't know. I will be going to the police station tomorrow to pick up a copy of my statement, and then I will be contacting - not the realtor, but her supervisor.
I've had enough of this. I expect compensation now in double time. Not only was my property damaged under their "watchful eye" but they have the audacity to answer my phone? I wonder if she's rifled through my purse, too. ARGH. -
have you talked to Leagal Aid or the like?
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Not yet. (It's Sunday, silly!)
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right... I knew that...
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Just a guess, but I suspect that the contract has some kind of hold-harmless agreement and that the realtor has suggested that the landlord will in fact be liable if they have to compensate you, in hopes that the landlord can reason with or put pressure on you. -
Hmmmm. That would explain why she is so adamant that I just drop this.
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You've already rec'd some great advice (& I have nothing to add in that dept., no pun intended.) Please do accept my sincere sympathies, however. That's inexcusable & incredibly cruel. -
Thanks, lady. I'm feeling more confident about all this today, but I'll tell you, I've been a bit nauseous since yesterday over all this crap.
Ugh.
I'm not yet sure what to do about all of this since I'm being stonewalled on all fronts at the mo'.
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The supervisor should offer her immediate apologies. The realtor was incredibly unprofessional - and hopefully is FULLY BONDED.
Go online and look up realtor laws for your state. There should be explicit info.-
I will, oh I will
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Sorry to hear that buddy. And here I thought my weekend was rough because some kids kept playing "ring and run" at 2AM Saturday night.-
Nu-uh - kids seriously still do that? (I'm not laughing at your misfortune I'm sure it was annoying - just at the notion that kids still ring and run. Next thing you know you'll be getting prank calls asking you if your fridge is running LOLLOL)
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Being as that I was the king of prank phone calls in my youth (not surprising, huh?), I'm sure I'll have some pennance to go through for that.
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LMAO karma...well you know what they say about her...
Have I mentioned how awesome it is that you're back on BC? Well it is. Awesometerrific, even
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I have no advice, the advice given is what I'd have offered but I did want to say that it really is terrible and on behalf of the good part of society... I'm sorry this crap happened to you, you didn't deserve it and it sucks.-
Thanks : )
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Anok, I hope you decide to get a tiny surveillance camera. TigerDirect (where I purchased mine) has them for $20 and up. It's worth the peace of mind.
I am VERY sorry this happened to you. Please do not allow the stress to affect your life for any length of time. That would simply add to the vandal's infuriating sucker punch.-
Only $20? Wow I may have to stock up! They will be aimed at paintings, medicine cabinets, and jewelry boxes
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I think he should buy it too ... really sorry this happened to you Anok :/ -
Anok, that camera seems a pretty good deal considering its size (equivalent to a penny) and sensitivity (.5 lux). Not sure of the resolution, but it would probably give you sufficient imagery to identify mischief makers.
Now that I've talked myself into getting one, I'll sign off and skedaddle over to the TigerDirect site. The biggest crime out here is mailbox smashing (five in the last week). I think one of those surveillance cameras will fit nicely on the mailbox's support post :|'-
Oooh good idea! tigerdirect. Hmmm....
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Oh good grief... I reckon the vandals union is having a convention or something .... 'cause now 1SaleADay is having a special on--you guessed it--surveillance cameras!
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