Recently, a real estate agent who manages the property I lease, walked through my front door with 2 prospective buyers. They made their way through the entry, up one flight of stairs and were ascending the 2nd set of stairs when I woke up from an afternoon nap and asked who they were. This was a terrifying experience as I live alone and had not met that particular agent before. As far as I knew three strangers, with an unknown intent, were in the middle of my house.

The house is on the market and I had agreed to waive my right to 48 hours notice for prospective buyer inspections. The agreement included notifying me via text message a proposed date and time of an inspection. From early January 09 until 20 March 09, this arrangement has included the agent waiting on a reply text message from me to state the inspection time was ok.

On 21 March I did not have my mobile phone on my person and so wasn’t able to respond to an, at that time unknown request for an inspection.

At approximately 3.30pm on the above date, the agent, with two prospective buyers walked right past my car which had all of the windows down, failed to knock or notify their presence in any way, walked through an open door and entered the property.

I awoke in a terrified state and asked who they were. On finding out the purpose of their visit I asked them wait outside while I washed my face and collected my thoughts. This request was ignored and the party waited on a private decking, garden area off the lounge room.

I approached the agent in this area and explained the previous arrangement always included receiving a reply from me to indicate it was ok. This man, who I had not seen before, is a large man with an imposing physical presence. The people he had with him walked past me and out the front door. The agent stood very close to me and said that wasn’t the arrangement. He argued with me for some time at which point I was very scared as he was still inside the home.

I explained the house was not in a tidy state for an inspection and that they were welcome to return the next day. He refused to move and said that wasn’t possible. It was a terrifying experience. Eventually he walked toward the front door and turned and shouted “I’ll be back soon”. I didn’t know what this meant and considered calling the police.

I then received a childish email from the agent stating “It’s not our fault you left your phone at work”.

All communication with this agent takes place via email or text because of a history of what I consider to be harassment, poor management and inappropriate behaviour.

Stay away from them!