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For Sale By Owner You had better be concern about safety

Yesterday I received a call from a man who sounded like a for sale by owner; he wanted to give me additional information regarding showing his house later that day. The problem with this call was I did not make an appointment to see his home and when I told him I did not, he did not believe me. Anyway, I was not able to continue the conversation at that point because I was on an appointment. House

An hour later I had a few minutes and because I found the call troubling I called him back but got his answering machine. I went ahead and left him a message that if he was a for sale by owner he should be careful about letting people into his home and should verify the information provided to him.

In New York State real estate agents are issued a pocket card which they should have at all times and should be ready to present if requested. This card is being further enhanced as the State will be issuing photo IDS.

If your home is for sale by owner there are many issues you should be concern about, these functions would normally be addressed by a real estate agent but since you are going it alone you don't have such a safety net. When you try to sell your home on your own you might be tempted to let people into your home without verifying who they are, this could be disastrous. A real estate agent on the other hand would have checked out the information on a prospective client before bringing them to your home.

I was also troubled by the call because this could have been someone impersonating a real estate agent, in this case my contact information was given to this homeowner, what if something had gone wrong? could I have been questioned about something I was unaware of? If you are a for sale by owner it might be a good idea to ask for the pocket card, safety should be foremost in your mind.

Jennifer Fivelsdal- Associate Broker- Keller Williams Realty Team - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com and www.jfivehomes.com

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Posted by Jennifer Fivelsdal, Fishkill NY on 09/06/2009 11:52 PM

Comments (25)

For Sale by Owner in the Home Selling Channel

fore sale by owner, safety

Originally posted at: Rhinebeck Living: For Sale By Owner You had better be concern about safety

Post is included in group: Realtors®
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25 Comments on For Sale By Owner You had better be concern about safety

SEP

this is a great idea -and although we do have photo idea - I don't think I've every used it for that purpose - however it wold be so easy for someone to impersonalte a realtor wouldn't it good warning!

Jennifer: I got a listing once that I sold very quickly because the seller, a single woman, had a creepy experience with a single male coming into her home and behaving strangely. Yet another good reason to get a Realtor!

You are so right that there are so many issues for sale by owners need to know. Especially about qualifying potential buyers. Also being available for showings.

Some FSBO's are never home to field the calls or show the house. Of course by hiring a REALTOR, they don't have to be home for showings.

SEP

Yup...our pocket card is also our id for our sentrilock system and it has to be activated every seven days. I wish more would heed your safety tips....this one especially...anyone can 'make' a business card.

I prospect FSBOs and find it difficult to get a hold of them. There are many problems that a FSBO has and that is they would have to negotiate with a professional negotiator working for the buyer.

Excellent word to give to those going it alone. In this particular case, if the caller is indeed a for sale by owner, your safety precautions could convert him to use a professional.... YOU!

That is plain frightening. For Sale By Owners just do not realize the danger of opening up their home to strangers, allowing them to walk thru, get the "lay of the land" and then what? This is just one of many problems that a for sale by owner has. This one can cost a life, not just dollars and time. I sure hope this man is ok and is not on the news this morning!

I like the verbiage that this verification confirms that you are who you say you are. I think we accomplish a lot by the preapproval loan process paperwork and this aspect is one of the most important parts. Safety is just as important as whether someone qualifies. Thanks for the wording!

Great Post Jennifer. The safety concerns for FSBOs are immense. They are opening their homes to anyone and without experience in louse sales may find themselves in a very sticky situation when negotiations occur. I am concerned that someone is using your info to make appointments.

Jennifer, great advice IF it was really a for sale by owner.

Jennifer - sounds like two issues, one, someone stealing, or borrowing, your Realtor identity, the second is the security issue. I posted, last year Security Tips for FSBO's. I don't normally link to my stuff in comments so please forgive me. Feel free to use them. I do believe that Don Rogers also posted a series about safety and security last year.

Hi Jennifer...I was thinking of the same thing that Mike mentioned. I don't like the fact that someone used your identification and phone number. Missy makes a good point about whether the caller was really a seller. Makes you wonder. Be careful.

Kate

Jennifer, This is wonderful advice and I do wonder if people are thinking about safety issues when selling their homes. I do hope people are careful but I personally wouldn't "go it alone" in a real estate transaction.

Jennifer- Security is sooooo important not only for us as agents but also for those that go the FSBO route. Great advice all the way around

Jennifer, great post thats' well said, and so true. FSBO's sometimes forget that our job can be very dangerous.

Hi Jennifer

Thanks for your post.. FSBO should take a look at our job and know that we put up with a lot of dangerous situations. Once they leave it to us we can get the job DONE for them.

SEP

I always worry about myself when I have to do a home inspection by myself. One cannot be too careful when letting people into a home, and one cannot be too careful when one is in someone else's home since one is unfamiliar with it.

SEP

Thanks for all the comments which I will respond to now. Sometimes life does get hectic, and although it would be nice to do all the things we would like to, it just does not always work out that way. So forgive me for being tardy.

Liz these days you can't be too careful, the photo ID will be a nice enhancement.

Matt the security issue is sometimes overlooked by FSBOs, and as you rightly stated that is why many people use a real estate agent.

Jenny if they only knew how valuable the service is that we provide.

Sally - Great point, business card is not the great form of ID, the photo ID provide by the State will carry more weight.

Elite home- I agree there are many issues that should be of concern to FSBOs

Diane - Some sellers just think about getting a buyer for the home and not enough thought is given to these other important issues.

Dick and Dixie you are so right, this could be rather costly.

Cheryl Safety to me is to priority.

Paddy - FSBOS don't realize how much of a difference it makes when you have a professional doing the negotiation. The stats supports this; with an agent the property sells for more even taking into account the commission.

Missy - That a valid point no way of knowing if he was FSBO.

Mike - Thanks for the link. The thought of someone using my info is unsettling.

Kate - This was rather unnerving.

Carole - Going it alone is not ideal way to go.

Martha - Thank you.

Ray - Yes it can be dangerous. Great to see you.

Donna - Yes we can get the job done.

Russel - I have the same concern.

SEP

Jennifer, that is scary. If someone used your info with a FSBO, bad news, if it wasn't really a FSBO, bad news. And yes, for many reasons FSBO's should think long and hard. Of course the sale price is higher, but every single time they leave their home it is not on the market. Some purchase a lock box, better than nothing. But they have no way of knowing who is on the other end of the request for a showing.

You stay safe, and I hope you are able to figure this out. I know it would drive me crazy. Did you determine if indeed he was a FSBO? If it was a real FSBO this is something you would want to alert your local board to as well as your MLS. Do let me know because this is something I want to bring to our local boards attention at our next meeting. You are just not that far away from me, what happens there will happen here. If you verify that someone in fact used your identity to gain access to a home, I will push my board to issue a press release in the paper for homeowners to be wary, to always call an agent back at their OFFICE number to verify a showing.

I feel a post growing within, LOL.

Very true Jennifer...there are so many weirdo's out there that will look to take advantage of any situation. Safety should always be in the mind of every Realtor.

NOV

We use the electronic lockboxes here. I always tell my sellers to never let anyone in their house unless they can use the electronic lockbox. If they don't have an electronic key, they can't get in. It also gives me the agent's name, company, phone #, etc. and the exact time and date they entered the house via email within minutes. I tell my client's that it's for their safety. There are people out there impersonating agents. We cannot be too careful.

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