You are in a profession that allows you to visit enchanting homes and marvelous properties and meet interesting and engaging people. At times it may seem a whirlwind of lovely properties and diverse people.
But as you enjoy this journey your profession takes you on, you have to remember to be smart. Not all properties are marvelous and not all people you meet are engaging — or maybe we should say they are perhaps too engaging in the wrong ways.
The bustle of your job takes you to properties less than enchanting — some are isolated, dilapidated, vacant or rundown, and once in a great while, the people you meet may wish to do you harm. It is necessary to keep yourself safe, keep the sellers’ properties secure and safeguard online information in order to achieve the ultimate success all wish to enjoy.
Keep yourself safe
Real estate professionals operate in the world of human interaction where they are dependent upon meeting and working with new people who many times are strangers. While they often are the source of financial success, they can be the source of the deadliest danger.
Being with strangers alone in a house is an inherently risky situation for anyone. This is especially true if the property is vacant, under construction or newly constructed or in an area where nobody yet lives, congregates or is around to notice anything suspicious.
A number of real estate firms accordingly have created company safety policies that you should be familiar with. There are a variety of safety measures in those office policies that may include some of the following basic steps you can take to protect yourself.
Meeting a new client or customer
Meet a new person at the office if at all possible. Introduce prospects to colleagues, ask them to fill out a new customer form, and make a photocopy of their identification to be kept for a limited time. Politely explain that it is company policy.
If that first meeting can’t be at the office, then meet at a neutral public place such as a restaurant, a bank or another brokerage office. Take a photo of their identification and the completed new customer form and send that information back to the office. If it can’t be avoided and you meet at the property, first communicate with them on Skype or FaceTime to get a sense of their demeanor. When you reach the property, ask to take a photo of them standing next to the license plate of their vehicle and send that information back to the office. Explain that your boss is a stickler about safety procedures, and if they fuss, it may be time to “exit stage right.”
Showings
Try to confine showings to daylight hours. Don’t park in the driveway where there is a risk of getting parked in. Instead park on the street. Always get there early, retrieve the key from the lockbox, scout around the property, and then unlock and open windows and doors as reasonably appropriate to create emergency exits. But also remember that the reverse is true: confirm that all windows and doors are locked before leaving the property.
Inspect foreclosures and new constructions before showing them. Look for signs of unauthorized occupancy, drug use and trespassing animals. Call the police if you see someone suspicious.
Never close the door after you enter the property. Play follow the leader and allow the prospect to enter the property first; let them experience what it might be like if they owned the property and were returning home.
Don’t go inside small spaces such as interior bathrooms, closets, attics, basements or a wine cellar. Encourage the prospects to explore those spaces without you so you can avoid letting them get between you and the door.
As the listing agent, introduce yourself to the neighbors. Give them your business card and ask them to contact you should they notice any unusual activities at the property. Also do not hesitate to contact the local police department. Officers are willing to do a walk-through to assure the safety of the home if things seem amiss.
If you feel creeped out during a showing, pretend you just got a call, and then casually inform the prospect that another agent is coming and bringing a client. If it feels like something is awry, trust that gut feeling and leave.
Common sense and technology
There are some commonsense, old-school precautions you can take as well as some high-tech ones.
If you can, go to showings or host open houses with a buddy, such as a colleague, family member or man’s best friend as is appropriate. This is especially true if the property is vacant, in a questionable area, you are uncertain of the prospect, or your gut simply tells you this would be safer. Alert a family member or colleague as to where you are and with whom, and have them check in with you.
Although they seem to get some mixed reviews, at least take a look at the various safety apps that are available.
In any event, you should set up a plan and use whatever techniques and devices make you feel secure because projecting a sense of confidence can contribute to your safety. Be sure to encourage your firm to establish safety policies if it doesn’t have them already because we are all in this together.
Protect the seller's property
Remind sellers that strangers will be walking through their homes during showings or open houses. Tell them to hide any valuables and prescription drugs in a safe place. For security’s sake, they should remove keys, credit cards, jewelry, crystal, artwork, furs, cellphones, gaming systems and other valuables from the home or lock them away during showings and open houses as well as for any photographs and virtual tours. The same is true for family photographs to prevent any untoward attention to children or family members. It also may be a good idea to remove any weapons including guns as well as that block of knives on the kitchen counter. Why take any chances or invite a risk?
Remind the seller that the listing agent will often not be present during showings and can be occupied with numerous visitors during open houses, so a large part of the responsibility depends upon the seller’s diligence — the listing agent’s role is to remind the seller to take precautions and to monitor the proceedings when prospects tour the home.
When getting ready for prospects, it is best to turn on the lights and make sure there are no obstacles that could pose a hazard to prospects touring the property.
Safeguard online information
Protecting yourself and your customers and clients from hackers and online predators again requires some good, old-fashioned common sense as well as some technical sophistication.
Online presence
First with regard to the online presence of a real estate professional, there are some basic tips. Keeping your social media presence focused on real estate helps to solidify your online identity. Don’t mix in personal information because this can create danger for you and your family. Post only your professional contact information online and keep your personal information private. Avoid disclosing your birthdate because that is information that identity thieves thrive on, and you are best taking a pass on those businesses that want to you to “check in” and post your location. Again, don’t help out the bad guys!
When you advertise properties, try not to mention that the property is vacant or secluded and private.
Watch what you open
Don’t open suspicious emails because they may be “phishing” for personal identification information. Typical traits of phishing emails are an attempt to create a sense of urgency despite the fact they come of the blue. Often the email uses poor grammar and the phrasing is disjointed or awkward. There may be no logo or a symbol that resembles one but clearly is not the proper logo. Promises of big money also are giveaways — it is too good to be true. And if the email asks for personal or account information, know that legitimate companies do not make these requests in random emails. See the email phishing pointers from the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0003-phishing.
Strong arm cyberfraud
By 2019, cybercrime will cost businesses an estimated $2 trillion annually. Every firm should implement practices and policies to safeguard the firm’s agents, customers, clients and business from online criminals.
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) provides best practices to create, maintain and follow a comprehensive data security program and document retention policy. See NAR’s Data Security and Privacy Toolkit for guidance at www.realtor.org/user/login?destination=/law-and-ethics/nars-data-security-and-privacy-toolkit.
Avoid storing clients’ personally identifiable information for longer than absolutely necessary. When you no longer need it, destroy it. If you must send sensitive information via email, make sure to use encrypted email. Don’t email wire transfer instructions to parties! Use strong passwords and change them regularly. Clean out your email account regularly. Do not use free Wi-Fi to transact business.
These are only the highlights of the safety resources available to REALTORS®. Take the time to protect yourself, your family and your business. Be safe, be secure, be successful.
Resources
Everyday safety
Safety apps
Protect property
Online safety
Debbi Conrad is Senior Attorney and Director of Legal Affairs for the WRA.