|
Last month, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) took a week to highlight the importance of keeping ourselves safe on the job.
This newsletter offered several tips on how to do just that at open houses and in the office, while showing property and when meeting new clients. But I think the topic is critical enough to make a few more points.
I have helped train a number of the newer agents in my office for some time and we have always covered safety issues. Here are some of them:
The areas of greatest concern to most agents are buyers obtained through floor calls and open house visitors. Because you do not know these people at all, you need to be careful.
Floor calls and new clients When dealing with floor calls, most agents are willing to drive immediately to a house and meet with buyers who are complete strangers. But the safest way to meet with a new buyer is to meet in your office first. This way, you can get some information on their needs along with a very important copy of their driver’s license when you are completing a buyer’s agreement.
When you leave to show property, introduce the buyers to the receptionist and let her or him know where you are going. All of this activity will usually dissuade people with criminal intent and you should be safe. If you are still uncomfortable, take another agent with you.
Open houses Open houses are a terrific way to get new business, but please do not do open houses alone. If you are a “newbie,” do them with an experienced agent or take a lender with you to help with visitors and their questions.
Make sure you leave the back door or garage door unlocked and have an escape plan in mind (an open door into a sealed back yard is not a good plan).
Tell the sellers to put any valuables and prescription drugs in a safe hidden place. These items are often stolen in open houses by children as well as the adults. Times are a bit desperate now, so eliminate the temptation.
If you are a woman, lock your purse in your trunk before you enter the house. A purse is an easy thing to steal and so are laptops! Carry your cell phone on you (fully charged). If you leave it on the kitchen counter, it may disappear quickly.
Let your office know you are at the house (leave a written note with the receptionist). Let them know when you are arriving at your open house, and what time you will be leaving.
Arrange a help signal with your office (a good idea for the whole office), so if you are in trouble you can call and let them know. A good signal is; “This is Joe, please get me the red file. Saying “the red file” or something similar will let the receptionist know that something is wrong and to have someone drive to your location or call the police. This is also a good practice for when you are showing homes.
Never park your car in the driveway. The car is easily blocked and trouble could be imminent.
Lastly, unless the home is vacant, open houses at extremely expensive properties are an open invitation to theft or the possibility of a later burglary.
|
