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REALTOR® safety issues & how I conduct my business.

By Kris Wales

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center

November 01, 2007 11:58 PM

When I was growing up in Macomb County it was a different time in the
world, and a much Realtor safety safer environment for us all to live in. We stayed out
until the streetlights came on, our parents knew we were "in the area", and we didn't have cell phones to call home and check in.

In todays world our children play outside with supervision, parents
know exactly where they are and whom they are with, and have cell
phones to use for emergencies and to check in with Mom and Dad.

I am a people person. I thoroughly enjoy the relationship built with my clients and many clients become life long friends.   Most of the business I do is by referral.   People call me because they have heard about me, and my name and phone number was passed along by someone that was more than satisfied with my work.

Many times a real estate agent is called by people that we've never met nor had any
contact with. That is the nature of our business and we accept it and welcome it.
After all, this is what we enjoy, promote and we are in the "people business".

When I receive a phone call from someone I haven't met yet, nor had any email contact
with, nor do they state they've been referred to me by someone it will bring out the
"questioner" in me. (Is questioner a real word?)   I am looking at you the caller through an
ice covered windshield and trying to find out if you are real, if you are honest or if you are a
danger to me.

Please understand I am not being nosy. I am simply following my safety guidelines, and I'm
sure that if you think about what I do, where I go, and the nature of this business that you will
understand.

Many homes on the market today are vacant. Some of these homes are also without utilities
turned on. I would prefer to view them with you during daylight hours. Since it is becoming
dark so quickly now if you need to schedule a viewing of a home the weekends will work
well for us.

I would enjoy meeting you and working for you. Let's get to know each other a bit first.
We have fast food, fast banking, fast convenience stores. Fast real estate?  A huge financial
purchase shouldn't be made on the quick. It rarely happens and with my own personal safety
guidelines it won't happen with me as your agent.

Please do not be offended if I will not meet with you at a dark vacant location if we have never
met before. I would be happy to meet with you at my office first, or at a public location. How
about a quick dinner to get to know each other prior to viewing homes? A cup of coffee?

©Kris Wales 2007 http://macombhomes.com

Macomb County MI real estate news & tips –Homes for Sale updates

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Diane Aurit

LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC

Lake Norman Real Estate

Kris, great advice. We have had several classes on this subject led by law-enforcement officers. We can not be over prepared and too cautious these days!

Nov 02, 2007 12:30 AM

Susan Trombley

Trombley Real Estate - Wake Forest, NC

Broker/Realtor, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Youngs

You could not have said this any better. I want to meet the first time in the daylight to so you are not the only one out there feeling like that.

Nov 02, 2007 12:47 AM

Mike Mitchell

Kee Realty - Saint Clair Shores, MI

REALTOR (R)

Kris, great advice. Although seeing the picture you posted, made me think, it won't be long before we're going to be scraping windshields with our MI winters.

Nov 02, 2007 01:43 AM

Kris Wales

Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI

Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI

Diane: Safety first, always. If we make exceptions we put ourselves at risk. I have a dear friend that is with the Macomb County Sheriffs department. He preaches the safety to me, and I listen.

Susan: Thanks Susan. I didn't think I was the only one, but I do think consumers get confused and that is why I wrote this article.

Mike: It's coming all too soon! My scraper was out already once this week.

Nov 02, 2007 02:09 AM

Jeannie Kontis

Lancaster, PA

Very good points -- it's important to let clients know why we might seem nosy or perhaps even distant in their eyes. I'm sure they've never thought to even put themselves in our shoes in situations such as you have mentioned. I just blogged about the same topic, as I have had that recent Craigslist murder on my mind where a young woman answered an ad for a babysitting job. You can never be too careful, no matter what type of industry you are in!

Nov 02, 2007 02:25 AM

Jeannie: I read that also (about the girl who answered the Craigslist ad). How heartbreaking. You're right, potential clients really don't understand the risks involved and why we ask the questions we do. Hence, my post.

Nov 02, 2007 07:17 AM

Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375

Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI

Real Estate Services You can Trust!

Kris, being careful and having a safety plan is part of our world today. I believe strongly in not showing homes after dark in areas I am not familiar with.....along with never showing a home without utilities after dark. I met some uninvited visitors that were spending the night once! Only once I might add. Timely post with the holiday season coming. We tend to let our guards down. Nice post Kris.

Nov 02, 2007 08:33 AM

Kenneth Miller

Jordan Hill Home Services, LLC - Berkley, MI

Good post, Kris. Safety is something everyone, agents, inspectors, appraisers etc, need to heed at all times.

Nov 02, 2007 10:10 AM

Elizabeth Nieves

The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group - Durham, NC

Bilingual Raleigh - Durham North Carolina Real Estate Team

Kris: If someone does not understand that you HAVE to protect yourself, something is wrong. NO man (with the right motives) would be offended. Great post!

Nov 02, 2007 12:22 PM

Gary: Finding unwanted visitors would have scared the heck out of me. Glad it happened to you only once! You're right Gary, I hadn't thought about the increase in crime that we see during the holidays. Thanks.

Ken: Agreed. All of us need to be careful. The nature of our business is that we meet strangers, but we can do it in a safer manner.

Elizabeth: I've had a couple people be offended, but one of them actually wrote back and said "I thought about it, and realized I wouldn't put myself in that situation!"

Nov 02, 2007 09:46 PM

Missy Caulk

Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI

Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Kris, love the analogy, we had frost yesterday. I was not happy, I like warm. But, I never meet people in a vacant house the first time. For listings I have my secret code.

Nov 03, 2007 12:41 AM

Lola Audu

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI

Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

Excellent post. It's so much better to be more cautious. Trust is something which is earned...not arbitrarily given.

Nov 03, 2007 06:15 AM

Missy: If you had frost you must be back home :-) I like your secret code idea Missy. I let people know here I am and how long I plan to be gone, but haven't used a code yet. Perhaps it's time.

Lola: Agreed. It has to be earned. People for the most part are understanding once they put themselves in our shoes.

Nov 03, 2007 08:57 PM

REALTOR® safety issues & how I conduct my business.

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