Click! The Sound I'll Never Forget
An ordinary property visit, a stranger's car, and a moment that still gives me goosebumps.
Today I was out tooling around, visiting properties, when I found myself in a neighborhood that brought back a memory from many years ago.
And let me tell you, even after all these years, this one STILL gives me goosebumps!
It was back when part of my job involved meeting with property owners who were interested in hiring our company for property management services. I'd visit their properties, take a look around, discuss their needs, and explain how we could help.
Pretty routine stuff.
Or so I thought.
A Cool Day and a New Client
I remember it was a cool, late-summer day. For some reason, I had decided to wear shorts. Apparently, I hadn't bothered to check the weather forecast and just assumed it would be warmer.
I was meeting a property owner named Tony for the very first time.
Tony owned a small apartment building, probably 10 or 12 units. The property was long and narrow, with the side of the building facing the street and a parking lot stretching alongside it.
We met at the property, went inside, toured the common areas and a sample apartment, and discussed what our management services could offer.
Everything was perfectly normal.
When we finished, we stepped back outside. By then, the sun had moved to the opposite side of the building, leaving us standing in the shade.
And there I was. In shorts. Getting chilly.
Tony's car was parked nearby, and he casually asked if I'd like to sit inside his vehicle to finish our conversation where it would be warmer.
And for reasons I will NEVER understand...
I said yes.
And Then I Heard It...
Tony got into the driver's seat, and I sat in the passenger seat.
We continued our conversation.
Then, without saying a word about why, Tony started the engine.
Okay. Maybe he wanted to turn on the heat.
But then...
He put the car into gear.
CLICK!
All the doors automatically locked.
Now, remember, this was many years ago. My own car didn't have automatic door locks that engaged when you put the vehicle into gear.
I will NEVER forget that sound.
CLICK!
Suddenly, my mind was racing.
I'm sitting in a stranger's car.
The doors just locked.
And now we're MOVING?!
On the outside, I was trying to remain perfectly calm, continuing the conversation as though nothing unusual was happening.
On the inside?
FULL-BLOWN PANIC!
Tony began backing the car up.
He turned the steering wheel.
We continued moving backward toward the far end of the parking lot.
And he STILL hadn't said a single word about what he was doing!
I'm sure this all happened in a matter of seconds, but I can tell you that it felt like an ETERNITY.
Finally, he stopped the car.
He put it in park.
Turned off the engine.
CLICK!
The doors unlocked.
And then Tony turned to me and casually said something along the lines of:
"Oh, sorry! I have someone coming to look at the vacant apartment, and I wanted to turn the car around so I could see them when they pulled into the parking lot."
OMG!!!
THAT'S IT?!
Here I was, imagining every possible terrible scenario, and Tony was simply repositioning his car to watch for a prospective tenant!
A Lesson I Never Forgot
Now, let me be clear. Tony hadn't done anything threatening. He was simply moving his car and probably never gave it a second thought.
But I certainly did!
Looking back, what scares me most isn't what happened.
It's what COULD have happened.
I was meeting someone I had never met before, at a property I wasn't familiar with, and I'm not even sure I had told anyone exactly where I was going.
Then I voluntarily climbed into his vehicle!
What on earth was I thinking?!
That day taught me a lesson I have carried throughout my entire career.
When you're in property management, you meet a LOT of people. You visit unfamiliar buildings, vacant apartments, and properties in all kinds of locations.
Most of those encounters are perfectly ordinary.
But you still need to be aware of your surroundings and think about your personal safety.
And you can rest assured of one thing...
I NEVER, EVER got into a stranger's vehicle again!
Forty-some years in property management have given me plenty of stories to tell. Some are hilarious. Some are downright unbelievable.
And some, like this one, still send a chill down my spine.
Funny how driving through an old neighborhood can bring a memory rushing back as though it happened yesterday.
Until next time, stay safe out there!
— Kim Wolff
The Property Scoop | kimwolff.net
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