Real Estate Agents, Be Careful!

Good morning,

Good post. We should always be mindful of our personal safety.

We have an Agent/Broker Networking Breakfast twice a month. Varied topics are covered by guest speakers Just last month we had a Representative from the Sherriff's office, our Community Resource Deputy. speak to the gathering on this topic. We usually schedule him twice a year, more if there are instances of concern in the area.

Thanks for keeping the subject in front of the membership here in Rain

Have a good day,

Hal 

It is very real and we need to be very aware. One of my former agents was tied up and robbed (luckily not physically harmed in any manner). It happens.....be proactive........

That is horrible news.  That's why I make a point when showing homes to tag along my son with me.  I usually will let the client in first and follow with my son.

Good advice indeed. We should always meet the unknown buyer on some public or controlled ground first. Your office is a good place. One root of the problem is that so many buyers who are just starting out think we're sales clerks who just happen to do our business in houses, and so when they call us to inquire about a house, they "just want to see this house," and expect us to go and meet them there at that one house. And of course, the majority of agents do exactly that.

The problem with that (aside from the fact that it usually leads to a dead end with that buyer, since they are not going to want that house 99% of the time and they're going to be done with us in our sales clerk capacity when they make that decision) is that we do not know in advance which "buyers" are going to be buyers and which are going to be predators. Most will be the former; one of the latter is enough to ruin or end your life.

Not a bad idea to always meet at the office first and if they seem a little funny ask for a copy of their drivers license and explain to them it's company policy. Men should also be on the lookout as well since they can be robbed or have their car taken when they least expect it.

Holly ~ great post... I never meet someone at the homes by myself, I make everyone come to the office, or I drag someone with me when I do not know the client and I have to meet them somewhere.  It just isn't worth it.  I also layout an interary and have it where someone knows where I will be.  Just can't be too careful and with our vacation homes up here, yikes.  I will always go with anyone in the office if they need it.

In my area we get scammers that pose to be buyers and then loot the house.  They come in two different groups, one to distract the sagent the other to grab the goods.  I got some yesterday.  It was a set up and they were not happy that I did not let them go around the house alone.

My goodness.  That's terrible.  Thank God I've never been injured, but  I have been in some less than desirable situations over the years.  Back when I first got into real estate in Dayton, Ohio... I was looking for an address in an apartment complex.  I was to meet a buyer for a consultation.  We used to go to their home in those days.  Anyway... I had a gentleman come up and tell me that I was in a very dangerous area and that I should get back to my car.  He told me that someone like me shouldn't be in that area alone.  I took heed to his warning and called the buyer and arranged to meet in my office instead.  Now  I carry pepper spray with me, just in case.  Thanks for the reminder.  Sometimes, especially when business isn't as busy, we may not be as careful when "opportunity" comes knocking.  

Very true,

When I was a new agent in 03 I received a floor call from someone wanting to look at listings ,I took a male Realtor with me the so called buyer asked me never to bring a male with me again . I did not show him any listings after that ,I asked my broker to get him another Realtor and told him why , The buyer then told the broker he did not want a male Realtor  , he went somewhere else .