Up until this decade, Realtors popped strangers in the backseats of their cars with no thought of their own safety. We assumed we were invincible, although a pistol or knife failed to share space with the list of properties to show that day.
Sunday Open Houses were another venture into fantasyland as we allowed any Tom, Dick, or Sherry to walk right through our listing's unlocked door without further ado. Never in a million years did we imagine that nice friendly face appraising our seller's prescription bottles and jewelry with a calculating eye. Nor did we imagine that leading a stranger up the stairs of that remodeled colonial could place us in a dangerous scenario.
But since 9/11, America's naive personna has taken a hit. Realtors, along with all american citiznes must reluctantly admit that we are no longer as safe as we'd imagined. That doesn't mean a terrorist is going to place a bomb in the toilet of your seller's master bathroom. Nor that every male who follows a female through a silent house harbors criminal intentions. Yet, we've had enough sense knocked into our noggins to take precautions.
Robert Sicilliano, author of Safety Expert, offers the following safety tips for Realtors. Let me know which ones make sense to you in your business:
1. Pre-qualify before or at your first meeting. (Someone who is prequalified by a lender is less likely to be a bad guy or gal. Robert suggests we should ID our prospects, too. Haven't become that enlightened yet!)
2. Set that first appointment at your office. (Safer in numbers. Also more professional. If prospect refuses, say "bye-bye.")
3. Before showing a property, let office and family member know where you're going and when you will return. Have them phone to check on you."
4. Use pre-determined code to alert office of distress. (Haven't tried this yet, but sounds effective! Ex. "It's in the yellow folder.")
5. Trust your gut. (Don't put anyone in your car whom you're unsure about.)
*The first time we go out, I prefer to drive my own vehicle and let prospect follow.
6. Dress for safety and success. (Don't wear expensive jewelry. Dress professionally, not provocatively. Lose the scarves and "flowy" style blouses or dresses. Drop the heels. Wear shoes you can run and kick in.)
7. Know how to defend yourself. (Have pepper-spray in your coat pocket, and a ball point pen ready to jab. If in danger, drop to the ground and kick the knees and groin. 80 percent of women who fight back get away.)
8. Have a plan for a safe Open House. (I open the big door but leave the screen door locked. This way, the prospect has to ring the bell. If the house is vacant, I allow the prospect to tour himself/herself and answer questions downstairs. Otherwise, I follow the prospect up the stairs. I also position myself by the door to the room so I can make a quick get-away.)
Hope these safety tips provided some food for thought. I look forward to reading your comments!
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