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5 Safety Rules to Guide Showings and Open Houses
Posted by Mary Bush on December 17, 2008The nature of the Realtor’s profession is such that one can reasonably expect to be meeting clients at homes and hosting open houses where one is alone. There are enough news stories about robbed/raped/murdered Realtors that one should know to be extra careful when putting oneself in a situation where one is alone. Attacks happen on men and women alike, so it is important for everyone to follow safety guidelines.
1. Never be afraid of looking weird or losing a sale by being too safe.
Insist on meeting people at your office, preferably when someone else is there and it is clear that you have people who know where you’re going, with whom and for how long. Get the information of the person that you are showing a house to – driver’s license or other ID, name, address, etc. If you feel better knowing that your spouse or a friend is with you, take them along. This is one of the best ways to avoid problems, although it doesn’t mean that you can relax your guard. At Open Houses, when just about anybody can walk in and around, this can be a really important part of staying safe. Have pepper spray dangling from your key chain. If you have a concealed carry permit, by all means carry a firearm if you are well-trained and confident in its use. Read the rest of this entry »