A Texas realtor conducting a home tour had an unexpected and unwelcomed surprise when she opened the residence’s garage door, stepped inside, and fell into a five-foot-deep hole.
According to Newsweek, Victoria D. Kelderman was showing a property in Lewisville, Texas, on July 25. When one of the prospective buyers asked if the garage could accommodate two cars, Kelderman sought to answer the question by going to the door that connected the house to the garage.
“I opened the garage door and took my first step inside,” Kelderman said. “There wasn’t anything on the garage door warning me about a hazard, and before I knew it, I had completely disappeared into a hole in the floor. I didn’t even fully process what happened until I heard my client’s scream. My first emotion was actually embarrassment. I immediately tried to play it off like I was okay, even though I could already feel pain shooting from my left foot up through my hip and my upper back.”
The bottom of the hole was uneven, causing Kelderman’s her right foot landed lower while her left side absorbed most of the impact. After her client helped pull her from the hole, Kelderman attempted to continue as if nothing odd happened.
“My husband is also my business partner, and he was showing another part of the home to my client’s husband,” she said. “After the fall, we continued discussing the homes they were considering because I was trying to push through it. About 15 to 20 minutes later, once I got to the car, the adrenaline wore off and I broke down crying.”
Kelderman was taken to a hospital emergency room and is expected to resume her work shortly. She shared her experience on Instagram
As for why there was a five-foot-deep hole behind the garage door – well, Kelderman never offered an explanation. However, she shared her experience in an Instagram video that has generated over 939,000 views and 61,000 likes.
Photo via Victoria D. Kelderman’s Instagram page
Let’s hope that seller has good liability insurance!
A Realtor’s job is to do a full walk through with the sellers upon listing. Why was this not done or how was this missed? 🤔
That’s most likely an old cistern with the cover missing. That was a common place for a cistern back in the day. I was a realtor for 35 years and never stopped seeing crazy things when showing houses.
I fell on caravan when I first got into the business. The property had multiple levels and I missed one step down. Broke my ankle. The homeowner’s insurance paid. In this case, the listing agent should have put up warning signs and a tape across the entrance into the garage. No excuse!
I’m following this ! Poor lady. 😢 I just had this happen in a bathroom in a Florida listing —-no landing and 8 inch drop into a.bathroom fell straight down on my left knee No signage at all Seller refusing to pay for anything – the ER visit and subsequent treatment for sprain /partial tear
Shame on that Seller for not fully disclosing this. In fact, there should not have
been any showings till this was repaired. I see liability on the part of the homeowner, and the Listing Agent, and the Listing Company!
Someone could have easily been killed here!
Let me guess…………they didn’t buy the house! It’s something you can’t just brush off and ignore. The Seller needs to explain what is the problem and get it fixed.
I just previewed a new listing yesterday and when I went to step into the garage almost fell due to about an 8″ drop that I didn’t expect. I immediately advised my client to put caution tape on the landing. I can’t imagine falling into a five foot hole! Totally inexcusable on the part of the listing agent.