Our FMLS in Atlanta has a story posted as a warning for personal safety which is very chilling. We all need to remind one another of the dangers of showing homes to unqualified buyers. It is disturbing because this is a very common scenario when showing condos especially. Because condo and town home sales are way off in Atlanta sellers are desperate to show them to anyone. That is totally foolish, and could cost persons their lives.
If you are showing a unit next door, it is not unusual to be approached by a seller that says "Show mine unit too!" It happens all the time. It isn't very smart to invite strangers and danger into your home. My heart goes out to those that try to sell their homes as For Sale By Owners. My first thoughts are protecting life, and most especially the lives of those in my family. That is why it is important that even if your home is listed with an agent, never invite an unescorted stranger into your home.
Please read the story of a recent Atlanta home owner that was murdered!
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I could not agree with you more. Here in New York city, we do not have any lockboxes, so whenever we as listing agents receive an appointment request, we have to prequalify the buyer or buyer's agent before we grant the appointment. Otherwise we will be wasting everyone's time. And of course, seller's protection is a must. This is why I have never understand about the lockboxes...!
This is very chilling, Jim. That killer was apparently someone that the agent thought was "normal". Hard to believe the agent wouldn't have gotten weird vibes from the guy.
Thanks for posting this up Jim. Seems like we forget about safety until we hear that someone has been hurt or worse. We need to always be alert and use common sense.
Jim; My young partner and assistant is my daughter. I try to teach her every day not to take any risks when showing or viewing property. So many scary stories that have taken many Realtors lives for letting your guard down; especially from women.
Jim...
I have always been shocked at the number of agents that will show an occupied property to anyone without even so much as a name. It's so potentially dangerous, and you correctly stated.
Eileen Hsu - 許小姐 New York City Real Estate (Prudential Douglas Elliman) Even with lock boxes, too many agents do not qualify the buyers. They take their own lives in their hands just as this woman did.
Delete Jeff Geoghan MBA - Lancaster PA Real Estate Expert (The Jeff Geoghan Realty Group, Coldwell Banker Lancaster PA) I have found that many Atlanta agents do not do many sales, and they beleive everyone can buy. It isn't so.
Winston Westbrook Victorville Broker/Notary For this woman it was too late.
Isaac Bensussen (Realty Experts) Women more often than not are the victims. About a year ago their was an all points alert for a violent person assaulting women in the Atlanta area. An acquaintance of our that heard the alert told us she had him in her car for over a week. She is lucky to be alive.
Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate ERA United Realty It gives me shivers to what can really happen when we let our guard down.
Greed often times over shadows common sense. Congrats on the mention in Realtor Mag.
This is solid good advise. We sometimes don't think beyound a potential paycheck!
Downtown Portland Real Estate Broker~Herb Hamilton (RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors) It is sad but true. Thanks! I did not realize I was in Realtor Magazine.
Cindy Edwards CRS GRI PMN Northeast Tennessee 423-677-6677 (RE/MAX Checkmate) Over the years I have heard of so many of these stories it is numbing.
That's a terrible story. Even in our little town, there was a FSBO in a country subdivision and the homeowner was raped by someone viewing the home. It's dangerous to be a FSBO.
Barbara S. Duncan ABR, CRS, GRI, e-PRO Searcy AR (RE/MAX Advantage) Very sad. If you read the story and saw it on the news...the victim was also being very politically correct. In her words she did not want to make the presumed buyer uncomfortable...when asked by the agent if she would like to escort him to her unit, the victim said"No, it'll be fine," Calle responded. "I don't want him to think that we don't trust him." It was a fatal mistake.