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Wednesday, September 30th, 2009Former police officer Linda Justus, a Sacramento REALTOR®, shared a number of valuable safety tips at the Industry Update on September 26. Linda was an officer in the Bay Area for 12 years, 8 as a canine officer and 1 ½ in undercover narcotics.
Linda encourages agents not to take new clients in their cars, but rather, let them follow in their own car. When you get to the property, spend time showing the outside of the home. That will allow you to get to know the client and watch for any warning signs before becoming potentially trapped inside a house. In any event, keep your attention on the client and not the house.
Warning signs: bragging about wealth or power, and being in a hurry. Call the client’s bluff, she suggested, in such circumstances, and offer to reschedule. If an agent is driving a client who acts threatening, stop! Causing a slow-speed accident will also attract a lot of attention.
At open houses, the homeowners should not only hide their prescription drugs, but also take down any framed certificates that might give away too much information about them. Don’t advertise a house as vacant.
Some of Linda’s suggestions for cell phones: keep it with you all the time, and keep it charged. Ask someone at your office to call you occasionally. Text your office when you’re done with a showing. When you dial 911 from your cell, it goes to the Highway Patrol in Vallejo. Program in emergency numbers for local police departments, she said, and provided the numbers:
- Citrus Heights PD 916-726-3015
- Elk Grove PD 916-714-5115
- Folsom PD 916-985-7551
- Lincoln PD 916-645-4040
- Placer Co Sheriff 530-823-4411
- Rocklin PD 916-625-5428
- Roseville PD 916-786-6445
- Rancho Cordova PD 916-875-9600
- Sacramento PD 916-264-5151
- Sacramento Co Sheriff 916-874-5111
- West Sac PD 916-372-3375
These are emergency numbers! Use them only in case of life-threatening emergency!
I think too much emphasis with these tactics can also serve to alienate agents from clients. I’ve been a broker since the late 60′s and never had such an incident happen to me or any of my agents. Making the “exception” the rule is perhaps more dangerous. A client who senses that the agent presenting a property is scared and suspicious of him/her can’t have a lot of faith and confidence in that agent. My opinion only! Perhaps the ex cop should stop thinking like a cop. We are Realtors, not cops!
I think a few years ago we(real estate agents) were rated very high by the FBI as being “legitimate” business owners that put ourselves in constant danger. (Maybe check this out on SNOPES!)
I don’t think a man can truly every understand the fear a woman might experience being alone with a client.
I’ve had several “creepy” buyers at open homes and sure enough the next day on MLS there’s a note about watching out for that buyer.
“GO WITH YOUR GUT” — after almost twenty years I’ve learned it’s never deceived me. (I think this applies to firing buyers and sellers when you get that weird feeling.)
With the exception of one buyer, in the past five years I haven’t driven a client in my own car! I’m showing families that like me to lead them to properties. I also have buyers that like to think alone between properties. (I suggest that they rate properties in between each viewing.)
I can relate to the post by Jerry Irons since I think cops feel us citizens are all guilty of something! In my 20 years, only ran into one strange group at an open house, and they DID steal from the owners before I could round up all 6 and boot them out. I also am not a tour guide, so seldom have buyers in my car.
Folks,
This person obviously sees a potential criminal in far to many people. More helpful would be actual figures on the number of problems that occured, under what circumstances (open house, while driving the client, while showing a property, etc,), to whom (age, sex) and some intelligent advice on how to address the specific circumstances. For example the stats may show no problems for agents who had buyers meet them at their office and a lot of problems that met single male buyers at a vacant property.
Your readers expect better from SAR, than unsubstantiated, alarmist garbage. We’d prefer real advice addressing real problems.
I think you can instinctively check out a client without alienating them, but that can take experience. In this market when a lot of the buyers call the office from sign calls, houses are vacant, you should be careful. Take someone with you; get their phone number before meeting them and leave it with your office receptionist and be sure to call back and tell them when you are through showing. One of my first floor calls was a single man wanting to view an empty house. When I pulled up to the house I was on my cell phone and I gave the car’s lic. plate to my husband. While I was on the phone I asked him for his driver’s lic. and also gave that to my husband. I did this very professionally, not confrontational. When I hung up I explained and he said that was the right thing to do, he was a cop. Obviously he wasn’t offended but frankly, anyone who wants me to run out and show them a house with out an appointment and is offended by my asking for identification isn’t someone I want to work with anyway. Most of the time, it’s all in how you deliver the message.
Open houses, make sure the front and back door are unlocked and the fence to the front yard is unlocked. Then have fun and meet new people.
I attended Ms. Justus’ class, as a female entering homes with clients I often worry about my own safety. I found her suggestions to be very thought provoking, and she stressed that above all to trust our instincts. I have found myself referring to her hand outs since the course. Thank you Linda, may you save one person from attack, rape, or robbery!
I think we all agree if it helps one person than it is worth viewing. I have asked a potential buyer to stay at an open house before just for the reason’s she mentions. I had a gut feeling about another gentlemen that had walked in. I don’t think it was intended that we be paranoid, just cautious when we get that “gut feeling.” I appreciate anyone who gives us tips. Thanks Linda