Back to the Basics: REALTOR® Procedures - Safety First by John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR Mission Grove Realty 

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The "Back to the Basics" series is my way of refreshing my own skill set.  I, like almost everyone I know, gets lazy and takes short cuts that lead to other short cuts in an attempt to streamline our businesses.  Re re-educating myself, I can now hold myself accountable...at least to myself.

This article in particular is very important.  It seems like at least once a year we hear some horrible story about a REALTOR® getting killed in the line of their official duties.  Perhaps the most common is a woman being attacked at an Open House. Another that resonates in my mind is a rookie REALTOR® who was door knocking at a home that was being used as a drug lab or something and was killed because he was wearing a white shirt and tie and looked like a cop.

So, if you are a member of the public reading this article, then understand please that our job representing you as your REALTOR® can be very dangerous.  It does not matter if you want to sell a Hemet Home or you want to buy a Hemet home for sale.  There are serious safety issues that we should all adhere to and respect.

Here are a few ways we can all protect ourselves when we are working with Strangers:

1)         Communication:  As a REALTOR® who spends so much time in the field, it should be mandatory that you always have a cell phone and your emergency contact information should always be programmed into your speed dial.  I wrote an article several months ago that address several safety issues with your cell phone and how to program it for your advantage.               

2)         Private Lives:  This is one area that I am very guilty of.  The rule is to not mix your business with your life.  The more information you put "out there" about yourself the easier it is for someone to track you if they mean you harm.

3)         Escape Route:  No matter where you are or what you are doing, you should have a plan to escape the current situation. If you are at an Open House, leave a back door unlocked - know where it is at all times.  Create a situation that leaves doubt in anyone's mind you may encounter.  If a prospect shows up, let then know how hot this property is, because you have at least two other agents who will be showing the home this afternoon, and you are expecting them shortly.

4)         Generate Attention:  If you are accosted in say a parking lot and forced to drive - well drive right into a building, a tree or another car.  This will generate attention which is the last thing your attacker wants.  If you are in the parking lot, go ahead and throw your key in one direction and then start screaming and running in the opposite direction, towards people if you can.  This is why it is a good idea to keep your car key separate from your other keys (I'm guilty again).

5)         Know Your Buyers - If you have a walk-in off the street and you want to show properties, take the time to verify their identity and vehicle information.  Just tell them your broker insists on the practice to keep the REALTORS® safe.  Verify as much information as you can before you ever go out with a stranger...even referrals are strangers.  I like to Google them.  You may even consider doing a quick employment verification.  I like to take a quick picture with my cell phone.  I use the excuse so I can see who is calling, as I can't read the small text on my phone.

6)         Know Your Seller - Don't let your guard down because your client has a home to sell.  Did you verify the ownership?  There have been a recent string of vacant homes being rented out to numerous renters in a single weekend in my area.  Who says these bad guys may not want to commit a crime against you.  Is that a Rolex I see on your wrist?  The bad guys can see it to.  As above, verify as much information as you can on a property owner before your meeting.  This way, if a crime is committed, you will be able to assist the police much easier.

7)         Know Your Market - If you have a gang infested neighborhood, does it make sense to go there...no matter how much you want the business.  If you display a sign, will it be vandalized?  What are the odds that something bad could happen to you there?  Is it worth it?  Really worth it?  In this situation, you have another issue to deal with and that is the Fair Housing laws and rules.  Just set your own limits and areas of expertise and don't service areas you don't want to or don't feel comfortable in.

                                                          

8)         Don't be a Chauffer - I know it is always better to control a buyer by placing them in your car, but you can really gain more control by having them follow you.  This way you don't have to worry about idle chit-chat and saying the wrong thing (one of my down falls).  If you are professional and all business, then they will value their time with you at each listing and this will allow them (assuming two or more buyers) to chat amongst themselves and make their own personal phone calls while traveling.

9)         Greed Can Hurt You - Don't be greedy and think you have to take every opportunity that comes your way.  Know when to walk away.  Know when to not enter a home.  If you have an uneasy feeling then walk away for m the transaction.  Go ahead and make a referral if you want - but go with your gut instinct.

10)       E.T.  Phone Home -    This is serious.  You should have a schedule of calling certain people at certain times.  If you are leaving the office, make a point of calling the office at 10 minutes past the hour, every hour.  Regardless!  If you have 5 homes to show, your office should have an itinerary of your trip, just in case they need to send out a search and rescue team, they know where you were suppose to be.  You may also want to create a secret password that can easily be worked into just about any conversation without alerting anyone but the party on the other end of the phone, perhaps a question like, "Is that the house with the orange tree in the front yard?

11)       Tag Team - Many agents work in teams.  It creates for more efficiencies as well as a safer environment...especially for attractive women.  Even if you are not a team in business, bring someone with you...even if they wait in the car.  Determine an all clear signal and a distress signal if you need help.

12)       Just Say NO! - If a buyer wants to go to a neighborhood to look at homes in an area where you do not feel safe then just say NO!

                                                                      

13)       Be Ready - If you prepare yourself and are ready for the worse case scenario, then you should be OK.  Taking a personal safety course or even a self-defense course like Karate can be very beneficial in the wrong situation.  Depending on what is legal in your state or local jurisdiction, consider a weapon like a can of pepper spray or even an electronic stun gun.  I do not recommend fatal weapons like guns and knives, but personal self defense is always important and should not be over looked or taken lightly.

14)       Never Assume the Best - If you are being pulled over at night, don't just pull over on the side of a dark an lonely road.  Turn on your vehicle flashers to let the police know that you are acknowledging their presence and authority.  A legitimate police officer will never have a problem with you driving with your flashers on to a safe and well lit location.  While being escorted go ahead and call 911 and explain who you are and where you are and ask for them to verify the legitimacy of the vehicle that has it's blue lights trained on you.

Please make sure you check back often for more articles on Back to the Basics to hone your real estate skills and knowledge.  Although this series of article is geared towards other Real Estate professional (except those in Hemet - please don't read this) it is published for the public to read it.  My thought is that if the public can see what we do, they can hold us accountable and select a REALTOR® based on our skill set and services we provide and not how much cleavage we show on a billboard.

So, Until Next Time,

Have a Blessed Day,

by John Occhi, Hemet REALTOR®  
Mission Grove Realty  

All Content Copyright Protected © 2007 - John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR®