Knock, Knock. Who’s There? Sellers Beware!

I hope your client remain safe and secure.  I have heard of couples going thru homes like this only to return and rob later.

HI Tom, I always give the seller extra cards to give to people who just drop in for a viewing. If they aren't working with an agent the sellers tell them to call me. They are never to let a stranger in.

Hopefully people will heed this warning before a disaster happens. I once had a client in her late eighties who would sign anything. I had to sit with her through every showing to ensure her financial well being. 

Thanks, Tom. Listing agreements here in the Greater Toronto Area typically include a clause that requires sellers to refer unrepresented interest to the seller's agent. 

NEVER. You're inviting trouble when you do this. It worked this time but maybe not the next 1. I have told my sellers if someone knocks on the door to see it or if you're in the yard working etc just point to the sign. You basically dont have to do a thing but point. Keeps EVERYONE safe.

Tom,

That was scary, indeed. Glad that nothing happened to your seller as well. It is good advice to give to sellers - no, it is good instructions to give them that they are not to let anyone see their home without it having been routed through you or your brokerage's showing service.

Very good advice.  I tell my sellers to hand them my card if they are approached in such a manner.  It's good that the buyer is motivated, but we need to get them qualfied and you never know, this could have been a potential burglar or worse.  Wow...

A great message to communicate to clients Tom. I always instruct my seller clients never to do this for the reasons mentioned. I tell my clients to always say -- to call the agent on the sign.

Tom- we've even started to require photo ID and license number of agents not in our MLS who call to see one of our listings.  Better safe than sorry.

Listing agents need to add this to their script:  Do not let anyone in that doesn't have and appointment and/or a buyers agent.  TOO risky. 

I agree totally and prepare my sellers to call me immediately if that happens while they are at the door. Then I can either talk directly with the prospect or ask to schedule a time good for all.

One of my sellers recently had a "buyer" show up - they said that their agent told them that the home was vacant and that they could walk around the outside of the property to see if they liked the yard and views. 

Tom -- I had this happen a few years back. The walkup buyers did not like the sellers or their attitude. They were so turned off, they left and placed an offer on another home that same day. They were represented by an agent. That agent did not know her buyers did a drive-by, saw the sellers working outside, stopped and visited until they told her after, and the agent relayed the info to me.  I had also warned the sellers NOT to let anyone in and refer them to me, but.......

I have advised the sellers to keep my cards by the front door and hand them out if this happens.  I just got out of an offer where the seller let the buyer in the home, they agreed on an offer on a short sale, then the buyer walked after I got the short sale approved.  This never turns out to be a good situation.

Tom, especially in these times. Affluent neighborhoods especially are being targeted for robberies. Sellers need to beware. Thanks for your post today,

Tom, I go over this with every seller and invariably they will let people in to look AND 99% it's a waste of their time. :)

I don't even want them to open the door, and I told them that because I didn't want to be the one to discover their body. In 1989 in the S.F.Bay Area 9 agents were murdered on the job and in 1990 I used that figure to warn sellers of the danger plus the massive amount of rapes, robberies and other foul deeds that happened to agents and that sellers were not immune from the same dangers.

I asked them why would a buyer have to see it right now, even if they are real they are going to say they have to think  it over, they are not going to write a contract and do a deal right there for you unless they are trying to take advantage of you while your agent isn't there, and if it was that important they could just slip a photo ID under the door and wait until me or someone I sent showed up before they let them in, and don't let them know you are alone if you are but even if you aren't can you overcome a gun or knife, just be firm that your contract with your broker requires his presence if the party at the door is that insistent. I tell them history shows that the odds of that person buying the home are 1 in a 100 but the odds of that person being trouble are 1 in 10 and if they are alone 1 in 2, and to remember that if someone shows up at the door insisting on admission.

I once had a FSBO list with me after she called me a fear monger when I handed out a safe showing pamplet to them as part of my listing effort. Luckily a neighbor interrupted what was just starting to happen and the perk ran off.