BRING UP THE REAR
When showing a home, always have your prospects walk in front of you. Don’t lead them, rather direct them from a position slightly behind them. You can gesture for them to go ahead of you and say, for example “The master suite is in the back of the house.”
DON’T BE TOO PUBLIC
Limit the amount of personal information you share. Consider advertising without using your photograph, home phone number and/or home address in the newspaper or on business cards. Don’t use your full name with middle name or middle initial. Use your office address – or list no address at all. Giving out too much of the wrong information can make you a target.
SHIELD YOUR COMPUTER FROM VIRUSES
Computer viruses can impair and seriously damage your computer.Viruses are often distributed via attachments in e-mail spam. Never open an attachment from someone you don’t know, and if you receive a strange or impersonal-sounding message from a familiar address, check with that person to make sure that they really sent it.
LONG-TERM THINKING
If you think it may be some time before a property sells (and you may, therefore, be showing it often), get acquainted with a few of the immediate neighbors. You will feel better knowing they know your vehicle, and they will feel better about the stranger (you) who frequently visits their neighborhoood.
THWART THIEVES
Remind your clients that strangers will be walking through their home during showing or open houses. Tell them to hide any valuables in a safe place. For security’s sake remember to remove keys, credit cards, jewelry, crystal, furs, or other valuables from the home or lock them away during showings. Also remove prescription drugs. Some seemingly honest people wouldn’t mind getting their hands on a bottle of Viagra, uppers or downers.
GOT CELL SERVICE, EVERYWHERE?
When you’re showing commercial property, thick walls and/or remote locations may interfere with mobile phone reception. Check in advance to be sure your phone is in an serviceable area in which you are showing the property.
FROM DAWN TILL DUSK
When showing a vacant commercial site be aware of the time of day that you meet a client. Showing a property at dusk or after dark, with no electricity on in the space you are showing, is not advisable.
RELY ON GOOD NEIGHBORS
Inform a neighbor that you will be hosting an open house, and ask if he or she would keep an eye or ear open for anything out of the ordinary.
BE PREPARED: PRE-PROGRAM
To best prepare for an emergency, pre-program important phone numbers into your cell phone. These may include your office, your roadside assistant service or garage, and 9-1-1.
REMINDER – CARRY LESS
If you carry a purse, lock it in your trunk before arriving at an appointment. Carry only non-valuable business items (except for your cellphone) and do not wear expensive jewelry or watches or appear to be carrying large sums of money.
REMINDER – DON’T DIAL AND DRIVE
Using a cellphone while driving can cause an accident. For driving safety, purchase a hands-free phone kit for your vehicle. And never attempt to take notes while driving – pull over and stop in a safe place first.
LOCK UP CLIENT KEYS
Be sure to use the lockbox property-key procedure that has been established to improve real estate agent safety. A reliable, secure lockbox system such as those made by NAR REALTOR Benefits partner SentriLock ensures that keys don’t fall into the wrong hands.
