In the light of recent armed robberies of Realtors sitting open houses in the Dallas area, as well as post-home-viewing burglaries committed by criminals posing as buyers, the Greater Dallas Association of Realtors offers general safety and open house tips to Realtors.
"We want to get the information out to Realtors," says Bill Head, director of communications for the GDAR.
Open House Precautions
Upon entering a house for the first time, check all rooms and determine several "escape" routes.
Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate a faster exit.
Make sure if you were to escape by the back door, that you could escape from the backyard. Frequently, high fences surround yards that contain swimming pools or hot tubs.
Place one of your business cards, with the date and time on the back, in a kitchen cupboard. Note on it if you were the first to arrive or if clients were waiting.
When prospects begin to arrive, jot down their car description, license number and physical description.
While showing the house, always walk behind the prospect. Direct them, don't lead them. Say, for example, "the kitchen is on your left," and gesture for them to go ahead of you.
Watch what the prospects are doing at all times. Do not become preoccupied with viewing the home.
Notify someone in your office, your answering service, a friend or a relative that you will be calling in every hour on the hour. And if you don't call, they are to notify the police immediately.
Inform a neighbor that you will be showing the house and ask if he would keep an ear open for anything out of the ordinary.
Have someone from your office, a relative or friend stay with you.
GDAR is also making hotlines available to off-duty and retired policemen so that agents can hire them as security for open houses. Head suggests that agents pool open houses as tours, so that costs can be minimized, agents can stay in touch with each other, and the officer can cruise the homes during the open house period.
Published: August 13, 2002
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Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68.
In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.
Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans.
Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR
"The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors
Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68.
