How Safe Are You Keeping Your Clients?

In a day and age where few of us can imagine life without a computer or the internet, how many real estate professionals consciously think about the safety of their client’s data?  In Florida, one of the duties required of all real estate licensees is “skill, care and diligence in the transaction”.  I believe most other states have some form of this as a duty of a real estate licensee. 

Many people assume this to mean:

·         Being knowledgeable about the market and subject property

·         Care in all aspects of the transaction

·         Diligence in follow-up

Have you thought about how this relates to keeping your client’s information safe?

According to Andrew Wooton (“Protected by Being Proactive.” Florida Realtor Nov. 2011: 14, 31. Print.), identity theft is the #1 crime nationwide.  Wooton goes on to say that real estate is the #1 industry for identity theft.  Brokerages are prone to technology and confidential record theft.  The reasons for this are because we are collecting more personal information than in the past.  Agents are getting this information because of the requirements for short sales and foreclosures.  Wooton goes on to say “The going rate for a stolen customer file is $500 in Florida”. 

What are you doing to protect your clients’ sensitive information?  Is it easy for someone to steal your clients’ information in paper or electronic format from you?  What would be your liability?  These are important questions each of us needs to ask ourselves. 

It is critical for us as professionals to safeguard our client’s information with skill, care and diligence.  Over the next month, I will be sharing important insights in our obligations to keep people safe.  These insights will range from physical to electronic security. 

Many may have thought about this at one point or another but never acted on it.  True, there is normally some cost associated with security.  That said, what is the cost of not being secure?         

SHBO Technologies, LLC | 510 Business Park Way Ste. B | Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 | Phone: 561.283.0825

"Peace of mind with your computers. Guaranteed."