Real estate agent refused to take two suspicious men back inside an open house — one photo she snapped proved her right
Real estate agents are tasked with dealing with customers of all kinds; those who want to purchase, those just exploring, or even those with other intentions. Instagram user Shannon Gillette, who goes by @shannon_gillette, posted a video on Saturday, August 29, 2026, saying she recently encountered unexpected strangers while hosting an open house. The two men, who posed as potential buyers, immediately made her feel uneasy, but what she noticed after taking a quick photo of them left her stunned.
Shannon said that during the open house, she quickly sensed that the two men were not actually interested in buying the property, which made her uncomfortable. She trusted her instincts and stepped outside to the front yard, hoping to create some distance, but the men followed her downstairs and tried to convince her to go back inside. She refused and watched as they eventually walked away. Something still felt off, and so she decided to take a picture of them as they left. It was only when she looked at the photo that she realized just how serious the situation might have been. One of the men appeared to have a large knife tucked into his back pocket. Shannon was stunned and described it as "another day of surviving as a real estate agent."
The moment left the agent shaken, but she was grateful for the instincts that prompted her to keep her distance. Many other real estate professionals agreed that the business has its dangers. Some shared the uncomfortable or frightening situations they witnessed themselves. @melissaharthomes commented, “Keep trusting those instincts." @renawakefield, who worked in real estate for 28 years, wrote, “I could write a book of some of my experiences.” Another viewer, @din0_c0sta, suggested, “Never do an open house without your husband or boyfriend.”
What Shannon experienced is unfortunately a common risk that real estate agents face. According to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2024 Member Safety Residential Report, 34% of agents who had experienced a situation that made them fear for their safety said it happened during an open house. Showings were another common setting, reported by 31%.
This encourages professionals to follow their gut when something feels wrong — something Shannon did by choosing to step outside instead of staying alone with the strangers. An open house may be routine for an agent, but that doesn’t mean every person has harmless intentions. "You’re advertising that an agent will be sitting in a home, often alone, while strangers are invited to walk through someone's property," she wrote in her caption. She cautioned how the event can expose realtors, sellers, and others to potential risks, which is why vigilance is of utmost importance.
For more content related to real estate, follow @shannon_gillette on Instagram.
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