Most Realtors are incapable of disarming alarms, LOL.

Years ago, on a brokers' tour we entered a home and watched the Listing Agent enter the alarm code.  As we all traipsed into the home the alarm began to screech.  At one point there were 5 men all attempting to enter the code on the box panel on the wall.   The alarm company was on the phone and they were insisting they punched in the correct code, all the while the alarm screeching and seemingly getting louder by the second.   All of a sudden the alarm stopped and all of the men were congratulating themselves until they turned and discovered I had entered the code on the correct box on the opposite wall and pointed out that they were punching the code into the programable thermostat!!!

It would certainly be much easier if alarms were disabled for home showings. The current technology should allow that for many home owners.

I have several sellers that can turn them on and off remotely for appointments. That I don't mind, but I hate having to turn them off myself.

I never ever give out the alarm codes to anyone. I have seen them in the agent to agent remarks... agent prints them out and who knows where that paper goes to. If the client can't turn the alarm off for showings, or won't leave the alarm off because the house is on the market, it becomes my job to get over there and turn it off and back on again. I will not even give the code out over the phone. And it is very difficult for me as I am an alarmaphobe. On the flip side, when I am showing a home with an alarm, I ask the agent to disarm it for me. I do not want to be responsible. They aren't my clients. 

Best to turn them off. They can be a real pain to deal with.

Wanda, I dread homes with active alarm boxes.  Rarely are the showing instructions as clear as they need to be as to EXACTLY where the alarm box is relative to the front door, and time is ticking away quickly.  It's stress none of us need.

I've tripped far too many in my career showing homes, so yes, they should be turned off...please.

Turn it off!  All too many times, we are juggling keys, papers and then holding door for buyers and we then have to race in, locate the pad and get it turned off within "x" seconds?  Not a professional presentation.  I would prefer Seller or agent wait until I arrive (if they won't turn it off beforehand), turn it off, and then rearm when we depart.  Should not have to do that, but if Seller is insisting on it being disarmed/armed, someone else should do it.  Last thing an agent needs is the police showing up and trying to unjam an alarm or explain the situation. 

Turn them off or its NOT on my show list.

Never have alarms on for showings. I think it's ridiculous. I once had someone that we had to schedule a showing for an exact set window of when we would enter and when we would be out for with no exception because they sellers had to deactivate the alarm remotely and would be watching us on the cameras they had installed in the house from a remote location. If you went even one minute early then the alarm would sound and if you left one minute late, same thing. Hard to blame the sellers though because the agent played it off like it was totally normal because they were afraid to tell their own client otherwise.

They should be off. And risky to put in the listing ( and as I say that I have a house on my buyer's tour next week that has an alarm AND the code in the private remarks).

I went to tour a fairly pricey unoccupied home a few years ago. Listing agent assured me alarm was off. NOT so. As soon as I opened the door I heard the beeping start and knew I was in trouble. 30 seconds layer thesiren went off. I was sure the police were going to show up

They should be off.  If there is an issue, the listing agent should accompany the buyer's agent, de-activate the alarm, sit outside while the house is shown and take care of reactivating the alarm.  It's too much responsibility for a buyer's agent to deal with this.

I always cringe when I have to show a home that has a security system that is armed. Each one is so different and we agents need to be selling and showing features and not having to worry about setting off an alarm or being greeted by the police.

Oh please let them be turned off!  I am phobic about house alarms.  There is no humiliation greater than standing there with your client while the alarm whoops and shrieks, waiting for the police to come.  I always ask CSS to ask the seller to leave the alarm off for me and often the seller will comply.

I am alwasy scred to show homes when they have the alarm on and give me the code.

It is the sellers house and their belongings.  If they want/need/prefer an alarm, then by all means leave it on.  I would feel responsible if I was the one that told them "it would be easier to show for agents, leave the alarm off", and then they get robbed.   Here in Tucson, it will state call listing agent for alarm code as we are not supposed to put the code nor gate codes, etc., in the agent comments section.   It only takes a quick call and we can show.  That being said, I have lost count how many times I have called the day before to an agent to get the alarm code, gate code, etc., and they never called back.  Or their voicemail was full (see a recent blog I wrote), hence I could not leave a message to get said gate code and alarm code.   Good question.

We are not allowed to put alarm instructions in our private remarks. They have to be provided to the showing service to give to showing agents. Obviously, it's easier to show without an alarm. But when a seller really wants it on, we have to deal with it.

If they give instructions I think it is no problem to keep the security system on

I think they should be given to you when you are approved for the showing and not publicized in the MLS.

I think if the seller is leaving so you can show the home, then they need to turn it off.  If the house is vacant, then just leave the comments on where it is located along with instructions to disarm.  

I currently have a listing that is vacant and on five acres. I ask each agent to call me so I can tell them how to disarm the alarm - sometimes it just has to be done. 

I do not think it is wise to put instructions and codes in the remarks section. I think the alarms should be turned off.  If I could not get to the property prior to the potential buyer showing up, I cetainly would not want to be entering codes into an alarm system with the buyer(s) standing there. Alarms can be tricky, too.

I would never discuss anything about the alarm system either, whether it's on, off, etc.

My last listing with an alarm was so sad how no one ever read the listing. I can't tell you how many times the electric was turned off at this vacant property and they never told me!

Wanda, as I read the many comments, I noticed (1) most agents want the alarms OFF; (2) most agents are not comfortable with disarming alarms; and (3) no mention is made of working out a relationship with the commercial Alarm services.  Doesn't it make more sense for NAR, and its State and local associations to become proactive in working out a means for authorized REALTORS® to have legitimate access to marketed homes without expecting sellers to leave their homes vulnerable to unauthorized entry?

Doesn't bother me either way. I explain the repercussions to my clients. I had one seller who had to pay a fine. On the flip side I recently had a listing that was vacant but the seller would turn off alarm before going to work if showings were scheduled. An agent showed the next day not knowing there was an alarm, instead of rescheduling from the day before the client had cancelled. They got the bajeebers scared out of them. 

Turn them off.

There have been several times where I've tripped the alarm and of course, the agent won't have their phone number anywhere on the actual listing because god-forbid someone try to reach them.

Sorry... off on a tangent there.

I definitely think they should be turned off prior to a showing.  The homeowner can then set it afterward and have the peace of mind to know that it is set - and set right!  (LoL - I am a real clutz when it comes to alarm systems - I remember setting off the system my first day working in an office in a tiny town =:>O  My small daughter hid in the corner and the local cop stood on the sidewalk laughing at me  :>) 

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - ideally, turning off is the best thing, instead of sharing that private information with everyone.

(Although I remember once police stopped by because the instructions did not have any such information and the seller did not turn off the alarm system - so as soon as I opened the door....)

Wanda, I am grateful whenever they are turned OFF.  There are just too many variables where something may get left out of the chain of information about the system.  Disarm it!

Hi Wanda -- home alarms are the bane of many agents.   It seems to be more than enough trouble handling a lockbox key and understanding the control-alt-delete function for many, so I subscribe to the KISS method -- make showing a listing as simple as possible.  Just say no home alarms when a home is on the market for sale.  

I am not above begging a listing agent to have the system turned off before I get there.  But I say Turn Them Off!  No need to make showing the property more difficult

Turn them off!  I'm on my way and I will trip the alarm.  I don't like the alarm at my office.  I will avoid going to the office if I have to turn off the alarm.

 Yes! I cannot tell you how many I have set off because the buyer did not get the memo that we were inspecting the house today.

I agree with Brenda J. Andrew . To avoid problems if the listing is vacant, in addition to putting instructions in the proivate notes I have put a very obvious sign just inside that includes clear instructions and put a brightly colored post it next to the alarm so they find it quickly.

I say turn them off and then le the agent re-arm them...if so desired.  Re-arming is very simple

Unless the home as "real valuables" they should be off. If  they do, the valuables should be stored elsewhere.  Alarms going off are the worst experience any buyer or agent can have to overcome.  Once the nerves are frazzled, the good times are over. 

I think they should be off!

alarms are distracting at best. I am always scared I am going to set them off.

If the want to sell the house turn them off or have the listing agent come by early and turn them off.

Be ready for Realtors who cannot figure out how to turn off an alarm and deal with it if you do not turn it off.

I tell sellers not to set the alarms and make it very clear that if they do want to set them, regardless of how well I draw arrows and write lengthy paragraphs about how to turn off the alarm, some agent will set it off, guaranteed, so they better be prepared to respond to false alarms and pay the hundred bucks the alarm company charges for it.

Wanda, I think they should be turned off.  They create unnecessary stress and the potential of it going off by accident.

Unless there is a compelling reason not to turn off ... I feel the alarms should be off.

Ideally they would be shut off.  At the very least if they are not, then instructions for disarming need to be provided.  I have had a couple mishaps with alarm systems, and during showings they are beyond annoying!

The listing agent should provide instruction for disarming alarm via telephone conversation.