Friday, July 1, 2011
Real Estate Agent Fights Off Attempted Rapist
A Cobb County real estate agent fought off a man armed with a gun who attempted to rape her, Cobb County, Georgia police said.
More and more stories of attacks on real estate agents doing open houses, showing properties to strangers, meeting strangers in vacant properties and land.
We tell our children to be aware, be careful of strangers and people we don’t know. Yet, real estate agents do this each and every day, and it is becoming an increasingly dangerous situation for some of us in the industry.
As a broker, I encourage safety, safety, safety. Rules will keep you safe, perhaps even save lives.
1. Always make a copy of a potential client or customer’s driver’s license and / or other photo documentation and leave it at the front desk with the receptionist or broker.
2. Never take a buyer client or customer without pre-qualifying them with a lender, period. If the potential buyer refuses to qualify, there is a problem. Red flags, anyone.
3. If your not comfortable, follow your instincts and give the buyer to another or take a friend or fellow realtor, give a referral fee and keep safe. Never avoid that inner voice or prompting, inner warnings will save your life. If you have a bad feeling, don’t go out alone.
4. Women should never do an open house alone, period. More attacks on women, rapes and robberies happen in open houses where no one is around but the realtor and strangers who frequent them. We are in a dangerous world, adapt and survive.
5. Realtors should look into arming yourselves, whatever is legal and will prevent attacks should be considered. Tasers, Pepper Spray, even a handgun which is legal in most states for the time being. If more people would realize that realtors are prepared, armed and protected, less and less attacks would occur.
The word should be "Realtors Armed And Dangerous."
Keep safe my fellow brokers and realtors, have a blessed New Year in 2012.
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30 years ago, a landlord/agent in Vallejo, CA went to collect rent in CA$H and was beaten and was in a coma for several months.
It is NOT worth it. I do not take UNKNOWN rental prospects into my current residents' or owners' homes without their providing me their written application paperwork. I don't need their application fees; however, I do want to know who is going into occupied homes....
Wallace - Smart woman - thats why I love you soooo much - lol. I learn from people like you, we all need to learn from each other to sharpen ourselves in this crazy world which we live in.
You do have to be safe. This is a good reminder, Nick.
Open houses are very potentially dangerous events, as are so many of the activities we do as real estate agents.
Tni - Please be safe, I don't want to hear about situations which can be avoided. Happy New Year to you and your family.
This is good advice for women and really ... basically anyone! Trust your gut ... your instincts will never steer you wrong.
When I owned my real estate company, we had a rule, no woman would do an open house alone. Also, if an appointment was set up with a client that they didn't know, they didn't go alone.
This is crazy that this post is needed but in our line of work and in this society we definitely do need to listen and heed to this warning. Great Post!
I guess it's a symptom of the times we live in. Sad!
Good advice here, my man. I'd like five minutes in a cage with some of these folks.
I am glad to hear she was successful and unharmed. How very scary. I, too, as a broker, have instituted similar policies to help keep agents safe. Thanks for sharing and have a safe and happy new year.
Nick, I hate open houses & vacant houses. I thank God every day for protecting me and keeping me safe!
Good morning Nicholas,
Great safety tips, especially the reminder to trust your instincts. And, your slogan could catch on "Realtor, Armed and Dangerous" Love it!