| |
Security for Showing Houses Over the past decade, there has been an ever-increasing security problem for Realtors and anyone who is showing a house. Recently an agent of a new home community was killed during the time she was showing the model homes. This is also a problem for those who are trying to sell their own house. When a potential buyer calls to make an appointment there is really no way to tell much about them. Buy the time that potential buyer comes to your front door, no mater how uncomfortable you may feel, you can’t turn them away. There are too many discrimination classifications that you might be dealing with.
Here are some suggestions to be more secure when showing your own house.
1. Go through your home before you start showing and pack up all expensive items that would be easy and tempting to steal. Along with this, be sure that any gun collections are packed and out of sight.
2. When at all possible have 2 people in the house but not together showing the potential buyers around the house. The other person should be close enough to see that those who are touring your house stay together. Others in the family should retreat to the back yard or down the street if possible. To many people tend to make buyer’s feel uncomfortable.
3. If you are alone while showing, when you see the appointment arrive out front, call a friend in the neighborhood or a relative and tell them that the person has arrived. If possible give your friend the make of the car. If you have a wireless phone, answer the door with the phone in your hand and end the conversation within the “Buyer’s” hearing with “I’ll call you back in 10-15 minutes or so.” This lets the “Buyer” know that you are in contact with someone who will check on you. Be sure to have it arranged that if you do not call back or answer the phone within 20 minutes, your friend will come over or check on you.
4. Have the potential buyer sign a guest book asking for phone number.
5. When you make an appointment with someone to show your home, ask for the persons name and phone number in case an emergency comes up and you need to cancel. There are a number of websites where you can cross check phone numbers. They are not fool proof, but give you some comfort.
6. You can try asking for a Driver’s license number when the appointment is made. Explain that you need to have some sort of security system. They may not be willing to give you one, but you can try. Then ask to see the driver’s license when the person arrives at your door to compare picture and number.
7. When a REALTOR is bringing buyers through the first thing to do is to get a business card. Then it is better to make yourself scarce but available. Unless that agent asks you to stay to answer questions, the agent can show their clients around the house and the potential buyer’s will feel more free to really look, if you are not hanging around.
| |
