IS THE MEDIA TRYING TO BURY US???

Well...we throw everything in the dumpster....no just kidding! Gee almost everything I do is filed on my computer. I have very little paper info. to file. Most of that is filed in retention boxes or shredded in our office.

Elaine - this is a great reminder to us to handle with GREAT CARE our the information we have on our clients.  Would we want all personal information out there like this?  I think not.  So then turn around and treat their personal info as we would want ours to be treated.  Our clients TRUST us in this business - treat that trust with kid gloves.

Ann

Elaine I am very protective of the personal information of my clients, I personally shred whatever I need to dispose of.

From what I have seen I think more agents need to exercise more care.

What do you think started the housing slump in the first place?

"How long before the housing bubble bursts" That was the daily headline for the first six months of last year.  The answer was simple, the more media and analysts spread fear and panic about the housing market the quicker the bubble would burst.  Congratulations Media!

The news doesn't report news, or much fact.  Most of the news is biased opinion, not facts and information so we can form our own opinions.  Think of it this way, for every news story or article you have read that was totally off base about the Mortgage market, or housing industry that is happening just as often for every other industry they report on.  "The News" is a joke, it is some of the worst programming on TV today, worst than any stupid reality TV show.

 

Thanks for your insight into this important topic.  We used to have to put the customer's social on the real estate contracts but that item has been eliminated and I'm glad.  I used to be vigilante about shredding the old contracts that were squashed transactions.  But now it's up to their Lender to get that information from them and it releases us from that liability.  We feel that our specialty is real estate and it's a rare situation that we need to gather such personal info.  In New Jersey the buyers and sellers use an Attorney and they are the parties responsible for gathering personal information along with the lenders.   However, it is so true that the media doesn't need much to trash us so we should take the responsibility as professionals to not give them food for thought.

I have a cross-cut shredder -- I love it -- However, one day the shredder went on the blink.  My cat loves to shred paper so if you have any problems -- I will be glad to loan her out!  She also catches mice!

Elaine

The law now holds anyone who collects personal information responsible for the safe disposal of that information. So we can be held liable if our negligence allows the info to fall into the wrong hands. 

You know what they say about the Media. It it Bleeds it Leads.

Sunny day news is not interesting and does not sell advertising.

Identity Theft is a Huge Business and a concern for us all.

I'm in Michigan located in the metro Detroit area and the media hasn't had a positive thing to say regarding real estate in the past two years.  It doesn't help matters.

Barbeque! 

you've never tasted Mojo Chicken until you've barbecued it over your client files... especially those nasty ones... they add tons of flavor!

Shred shred shred......shred shred shred.....shred shred shred shred shred. Goes nicely with the tune Jingle Bells- Thanks for this important reminder : )

Paper shredders -good quality:) are only about $69 at staples and I am sure at most OS stores. They are a great investment if you consider the consequences of information getting into the wrong hands and traced back to you!

It's just so easy to shred you documents, there really is no excuse for this happening. 

You can buy a used shredder for under $20.00. There is no excuse for not making some sort of effort to protect your client's personal information. Thank you for the post.