REALTOR Safety....Please don't fall victim to this....

Great post. For everyone's safety there should be a policy that we all adhere to before we show new clients homes. Like getting a copy of the ID and leaving it wiht your office.

If you think about it what we do is not very safe.

Kelly, great advice!  This market sometimes will put us a little over anxious for business, but we can never forget safety first!

Kelly/All - Everyone should take this seriously and of course I will spread the word about safety and what I read about what happened to you.

The times when I have asked for a buyer's home address before meeting them at a property they really get offended and say they don't want to give out that information.

I ask specific questions and look for specific answers if I smell BS, I tell them to find someone else. It also doesn't hurt to run your potential buyer through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. You may find they are a criminal or you may just a find a negative credit history if they have been sued by credit card companies, etc.

Robert Kaetzel

Many agents are so hungry they neglect basic safety and the bad guys know this!!!!

It is so easy to want to run out and show a property.  I admit I did it a few times, but realized that at best the person was not a viable buyer. 

It is now my practice to ask a caller whom I do not already know to meet at my office (or another office if that is more convenient to them) .  If they are for real they won't mind, and may actually prefer my approach to identifying someone's needs and goals, as well as qualifications first.  It is not in anyone's best interest to show someone a property he cannot afford.  This avoids wasting time, enhances safety, and by having a consistent business practice I hopefully reduce the risk of a complaint over unequal treatment.

Great topic. I also agree that companies need to take the lead in establishing safety related policies.

good for you...You just don't know nowdays.  Even with someone else with you, it could be bad!

Great advance.  When ever we have a new client, it is important that you meet them in the office and fill out a customer information sheet.
We always leave the address of the property with out front desk so we know where th agent is going
and have a copy of the buyers information.
Too many vacant houses out there and it is scary.  Buddy up it is a safe way to show vacant properties.

Hi Kelly, That is a great way to practice, I will be sure to make that part of my regular procedure. It just is not worth the risk! Thanks for sharing the story and your approach.

Kelly,

A great reminder!  I too believe that if your instincts are telling you this is a problem...you're probably right!  There is no amount of my that is worth my life.

Good advice

Very good point. In the beginning I had my magnetic signs on my car. One day I got a call after I had pulled out of the Whataburger dirve thru. I ignored it since my mouth was full and it was lunch time and it was a "private" call. They call back again and I ignore it. They left a voice mail this time and it was some guy screaming at the top of his lungs and cussing telling me to put my blankety blank blank hamburger down and answer the phone. I start looking around to see who is following me. I don't know who it was but for weeks he would call at all hours and leave crazy messages. Finally I had my husband answer the phone at 2am and he told him to stop calling. Worked like a charm. The guy got the message and left me alone but still.....it's scarey how open we are to the public with our name and face and phone number all over town. You can never be too careful with your life.

Good call I can only hope that this did work on someone else who is less suspicious and as you put anxious to make sale. As Cheri put it, you can never be too careful with your life

Great post ...

Even though I am not showing houses... (I am a home inspector) I often find I am going to appointments where I will be alone with someone else.  Not so much when doing the normal "Home Inspection for a buyer or seller".   But More so when I am out there inspecting rental properties for those Baltimore County Property Owners.  After I get the property information from the owner I usally run the information to see if that person is in deed the owner of the property.   Even after I get that I write down or text the info to my husband so he knows where and who I am meeting.  I am always letting someone know where I am at all times.

You just NEVER KNOW!!!!!

I find that this world is becoming more crazy by the hour!

I agree with Nikki, always let some one know where you are at.

Thank you so much for the thoughtful reminder...safety is so important!

Thank you.  I lost a friend, a Re/Max Agent in Bowie MD. It was his listing and it was when the market was starting to slow down. He was killed in the basement.  He is always in my mind ever since I became an agent myself.  YOU have to think like a criminal sometimes to keep yourself safe. I think my rule of thumb would have to be, meet me at the office, regardless of what they want.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! As a newbie, I needed this kick in the head. I find myself behaving naively and in my wanting to find the perfect home for every soul that crosses my path, I put myself at risk. Never again (actually I just met someone at a vacant home at 9am this morning!) who called me on floor duty yesterday. While we were at the first property, I explained that the second property we were going to would most likely have the owner/agent there as he was doing some minor property changes. So off we go to the 2nd property, and enroute, he pulls next to my car, rolls down the window and said he didn't want to see the next house....out of nowhere! I'm firmly convinced it was because I told him someone would be at the next home. He said he would email me with changes to his criteria. What an idiot I am.....kick, kick, kick. Never again! Safer and wiser now. Thanks for the post.