Here in the St. Louis Area I am sure most of you have heard about the assault on one of our Coldwell Banker Gundaker Agents. On March 4th 2007 an agent from one of our offices had a gun pulled on her in a home she was showing. She was handcuffed to a post in the basement while all of her money, credit cards, wedding ring, cell phone, etc. were taken from her.
Our company has now created a form called the "Prospect Identification Form". This form is to be filled out by all new clients. The form requests Name, Address, Home and Business phone numbers, Employer, Auto Make, Model, and Licenses number and a photocopy of their Driver's License or other photo ID.
I think this is a very good idea to protect agents. While I do not worry for myself, we have lots of young female agents who go to meet people that they do not know at vacant homes, sometimes in remote locations. I know many female agents in our office that have their husbands go with them on their evening showings.
I am very curious what the general public thinks about this. Do you feel that this is an unacceptable invasion of your privacy? or do you sympathise with the vulnerable agents showing property late in the evening to strangers? I personally do not plan to have my clients fill this out, but then I usually like to meet with my clients in the office first and learn more about their situation and how I can be of the greatest service to them. Please let me know your opinions.
Please visit me at http://www.stlouisliving.net/
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You are so right,
Women because we are smaller and don't have a man's muscle structure and upper body strength, we are at a disadvantage, but if we act sensibly, we don't put ourselve in harms way meeting a stranger at a property, particularly after dark alone, but daylight can have it's perils depending on the location of the property and how visible it is for others to notice or hear you in case you needed help.
We should be should always act with great caution, never park in the driveway, ALWAYS park on the street making sure your car cannot get blocked by a car comming to view your listing after you arrive, in case of danger and making it easier for you to run should you feel a need to escape. If you fear danger, use you car remote alarm to draw attention and run as fast as you can, always wear sensible clothes, (slacks are best), as it is more difficult to assault a woman wearing slacks then one wearing a skirt. Wear sensible shoes that you could run in if you have to. Jewelry and low cut blouses, short skirts don't fit the occasion, so don't wear them. Don't give anybody any ideas. Act with safety and you may enjoy tomorrow; act foolishly and tomorrow may never come. We have all heard the horror stories, we want to heed caution and not become the topic of such a story!