How an Agent Can Protect Short Sale Seller Personal Data

The high temperature in Sacramento yesterday was 106. The California State Fair opens today in Sacramento. And the latest news is California ranks as the nation's #1 leader in foreclosure activity, according to RealtyTrac, which predicts that more short sales and foreclosures are on their way. Hardly cheery news.

I am positioned to handle the short sales, though. As a Sacramento short sale agent and Lyon Real Estate's #1 short sale agent for last year, my production is way up for this year. My team is in place, experienced, and I'm ready for action. I'm constantly thinking of ways to improve my service because no matter what I do, I believe it can always be better. That's probably what being a Type A personality does to you.

For example, I encourage clients to deliver their sensitive documents to me via eFax. An eFax is a way to send important papers directly from a fax machine to my computer. Clients like this because it means their tax returns and bank statements are not falling out all over the floor in an office somewhere. They're not flying out of my car as I zip about Sacramento with the top down. They are secure on my hard drive. And they are backed up through a cloud-based service, blocked by a Firewall and protected.

If I am picking up documents in person at my client's house, I don't take delivery of hard copies. I bring my laptop and mobile scanner to listing appointments, which allows me to scan documents onsite directly to my computer. That paperwork never physically leaves the seller's home.

I am privy to my short sale sellers' Social Security numbers. I have their payroll stubs. I keep copies of their last two years' of tax returns and W2s in my records. This is personal and sensitive information to which most agents in another line of real estate sales never receive. I owe it to my clients to ensure that their private information is not vulnerable to hackers. I take precautions. In addition, I save every email and maintain a complete paper trail of every transaction ever opened. If a client ever needs a document, I've got it safely squirreled away. The last thing any seller needs is leaked data. Do you know what crooks do with a stolen Social Security number?

In addition, I subscribe to a back-up eFax service as well. I pay for a second eFax number. Sometimes, my primary eFax number is busy or down. It's technology. And technology doesn't always work, which is why I'm not overly concerned about the fact we can't yet buy hover cars. Oops, it dropped. Splat. All she wrote. A back-up eFax costs about $8 a month. Peace of mind that a document will always be delivered? Priceless.

What does your real estate agent know about you and how is that personal information secured? You should ask yourself that question before hiring a Sacramento short sale agent.