Realtors must use caution meeting cold call buyers 1st time at homes
Andrew provides some great reminders:
"Realtors should never get in their car and head out with a buyer or to meet a buyer without having them speak with a mortgage lender and receive a prequalification form...this is not only a best practice and helps you be in control of the process, but should ensure a level of safety as well."
"Ask any stranger to meet first at your brokers office so you can make a copy of driver license for your safety ad that this request is a matter of broker practice to ensure the safety of all Realtors."
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Realtors must use caution meeting cold call buyers 1st time at homes
Let's face it, it is very easy to get caught up in the day and forget that we live in a crazy
world and there exists an elemen of pure evil meant to do harm to unprepared people.
Here are a few tips to follow whenever you receive a cold call from a strange person asking to view a property for sale on short notice:
1. Always ask questions of your prospect to get as much information as you can...how did this individual find you?
2. We all know our time is most valuable and cannot be replaced...that being said, Realtors should never get in their car and head out with a buyer or to meet a buyer without having them speak with a mortgage lender and receive a prequalification form...this is not only a best practice and helps you be in control of the process, but should ensure a level of safety as well. This potential client would have to give the lender a full name, date of birth, social securoty #, address and employment information in order to receive a prequalification.
3. Ask any stranger to meet first at your brokers office so you can make a copy of driver license for your safety ad that this request is a matter of broker practice to ensure the safety of all Realtors.
4. Have the prospect send you a copy of their driver license.
5. Take another Realtor or friend with you to meet this new prospect.
6. Take a picture of their license plate upon arriving at a listing...this may seem odd, but remember, people who commit horendous crimes are crafty and they may very well look, act and come across as a normal person.
7. Use an app on your mobil device like Homesnap that can alert police or someone you have registered within the app...I am working on developing an app for agent safety that should be available by April 2016.
8. Follow your gut instinct...it is amazing how your gut can be right...trust yourself!
9. Carry protection in the form of pepper spray, a whistle, a horn and/or a firearm.
10. Make sure someone knows you are going on a showing, where you are going, the time you are meeting and an expected duration of the showing (are you showing 1 home or are you looking at 3-4 homes?
Be diligent and stay safe my fellow Realtors
Andrew Texidor
Solutions Real Estate
602-909-9414
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