12:57 PM EST on Wednesday, November 23, 2005

By DAN STARKS / 6NEWS

6NEWS

The Endicotts put up a video camera to hear what potential buyers were saying. What they saw on the tape shocked and angered them.

A local couple makes a disturbing discovery on tape just as they tried to sell their home.

They said the realtor they hired took advantage of their most private possessions and they want to make sure others don't make the same mistake.

"I was really comfortable with giving him my keys," said homeowner Kathy Endicott.

A home up for sale and q realtor Kathy Endicott thought she could trust.

"I started noticing some of the lingerie was kind of like not where you would put it," she said.

Endicott put up a video camera to hear what potential buyers were saying.

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"I was floored. I was devastated," said Endicott.

In the tape you can see the realtor, but Endicott said it's what she heard that she couldn't believe.

"He proceeds to take an X-rated tape out that my husband and I have and puts it in the TV in our bedroom," she said. "I hear my cabinet drawers open up and they open up and they close and you can hear him watching the tape and breathing really hard," she said.

The realtor on the tape declined to comment about the Endicott's allegations.

In letters obtained by 6NEWS, he admits to watching the tape but denies the other accusations. The problem for the Endicotts is that he didn't break any laws. They'd given him permission to be in their house.

"Yeah, it's upsetting. I'm angry, I have kind of have mixed emotions. I could cry, I could get super mad at this guy for invading my privacy," said Endicott.

With open houses and visits when you're not there there's a track record already in place. If it is a realtor who's been referred to you through a personal friend and they've had a good experience, than that speaks a lot for who that person is.

Ask about background checks. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission looks into anyone they license, but ask the agency if they do their own.

"If it's not a close personal referral, it is a very fair question to ask about pretty much anything you want about their business ad background," said one real estate agent we spoke with.

For people who don't know the person directly or indirectly, there are a lot of fair questions to ask. You should see what kind of insurance the agency has in place to protect you. Before you hand over the keys, secure any valuables and anything you wouldn't want a stranger to see.

The Endicotts switched realtors and sold their house, but next time they plan on changing the way they do business.

"(I'd advise to) be leery of everything. Don't take anything for granted. I took for granted thinking I could trust someone who couldn't be trusted," said Endicott.

You want to make sure your only selling your home and not your privacy.

The North Carolina Real Estate Commission acknowledges the agent's improper conduct, but decided not to pursue disciplinary action.

The company he is affiliated with said it has handled the situation internally but he is still working in the Charlotte area.