I had a very high compliment email this evening and I wanted to share it with my readers. At times, you are not aware of who is actually reading your posts and when you find out, sometimes you are very humble. Tonight I got this email from  Robert N. Bass, Esq and he said some very nice things about our site www.realtorsafety911.com. I wanted to say Thank You and to post his comments. If you are ever in need of Robert’s services, or know of anyone who would be, please pass his information along.

Hello, Beth:

I want to compliment you on your Website!  Below is an article I wrote which will be published tomorrow in the weekly newsletter for HomeSmart Real Estate, the largest brokerage in the Southwest, with more than 3,200 agents.  I hope it gets you some traffic!

I have a particular interest in the subject for 2 reasons: I am a broker defense lawyer who has spent the last 25 years defending REALTORS® in E&O claims and license complaints, and as a real estate educator teaching them how to reduce risk.  http://activerain.com/rnbesquire

I have also learned, practiced (and for 20 years taught) martial arts. I began studying karate in 1959 when I was 8 years old- under Grandmaster Robert A. Trias, who actually founded the first martial arts school in the United States, here in Phoenix.  This was long before anybody in the West had even heard of martial arts – I was very lucky! http://www.shuri-ryu.com/trias.htm  I earned money through college and law school by teaching self-defense to women.

I know that what you are doing is largely a labor of love and service to the industry, and I truly admire that!  I wish you all the best and will do all I can to publicize your site!

Cordially,
Robert N. Bass, Esq.
1715 W. Northern Ave.  Ste. 110
Phoenix, AZ  85021
602.274.9452    Fax: 602.274.9326
Robert@BassLawFirm.com

Confidentiality Note: This e-mail, and any attachment to it, is LEGALLY PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED BY LAW FROM DISCLOSURE. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, please immediately return it to the sender and delete it from your system.

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From the Lawyer’s Desk:

 

REALTOR® SAFETY: Practicing “safe real estate” means more to me than risk reduction and paperwork/disclosure issues.  To me it extends beyond the legal realm and also encompasses being aware of your personal safety.  Nobody likes to think about a situation in which you will need to defend yourself against a potential attack, but with so many foreclosures, abandoned properties and deteriorated neighborhoods out there, safety has to be a top-of-mind concern.  Just as with claims and lawsuits in general, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to personal safety.

I came across a Website that contains a lot of useful information and useful, practical tips involving security and safety awareness, specifically tailored to the work you do as agents.  I found informative videos, articles and even commentary from agents who have been involved in incidents and are happy to share their experience with other Realtors®.

http://realtorsafety911.com

Please spend a few minutes on this site and I hope you will incorporate some of their tips into your daily practice.

Have a great weekend… And Hey - Let’s be careful out there!

Attorney Bob Bass offers his tips and advice on reducing risk and improving your professional service, and is a great source of attorney referrals!  Bob invites your questions and comments at Robert@BassLawFirm.com, or you can call him at 602.274.9452

 

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As realtors, you must always be on guard and thinking. You shouldn’t be afraid to show property; you must be smart when showing property. If you are going to show property early in the morning or late in the evening, try to take someone with you.  If you cannot take someone with you, be prepared for the unexpected. Take a picture of the client’s license plate and even of the client and email to your broker or your spouse, so someone has some information on whom you are working with. If the client doesn’t like that, then you should take that as a sign and ‘get out’.

Daytona Beach Area Real Estate Market, Data and Updates. By Lisa Hill, “THE SMART CHOICE!”
I was recently reminded of an incident that happened to a REALTOR® friend of mine, a few years ago. This incident was the type of horror story we all fear.

My friend received a call from a potential buyer who had to catch a flight out of town later that morning and he needed to leave by 9:00 a.m. He was anxious to see a model in a development my REALTOR® friend was representing and the only time he was available was early in the morning. So my friend scheduled an appointment to meet this potential buyer at one of the models at 7:30 a.m.

When she arrived at the model, the buyer was waiting and they proceeded to go inside the house. A few minutes later, another vehicle arrived with a couple in it. The potential buyer told my REALTOR® friend that these were friends of his and they all proceeded to view the house.

Then they got to the master bedroom. At this point, the original potential buyer pulled a gun out of a briefcase, then used garbage bag ties on my REALTOR® friend, and put her in the closet of the master bedroom. Now while my friend was in the closet, she could hear the 3 people  rummaging through the house and talking on what sounded like walkie talkies, but she couldn’t understand what they were saying, nor could she understand what they wanted in a model home.

Meanwhile, she could see into the master bathroom from her position in the bedroom closet, through the space where the criminals had left the door open a crack. She kept an eye on the mirror in the master bathroom, which was reflecting the criminal’s positions outside the master bedroom. She managed to get the ties off her feet, then summoned her courage and ran out the back sliding glass doors to a neighbors house and called the police.

The criminals left before the police arrived and they never could figure out what the overall plan was, but it was obvious that these criminals were professionals and there were others close by.

I titled this post that buyers needed to read this too, for an important reason. If you’re a real estate buyer, you need to understand why your REALTOR® expects you to do things a certain way. For our safety we need you, as a real estate buyer to…

1. Meet us at our office, not at the house you want to see.
2. Take time to sit down with us to give us all time to get comfortable with each other, as well as to help us understand your real estate preferences.
3. Let us make a copy of your driver’s license and leave copies with our office personnel.
4. Stick to a schedule, so we can leave a definitive itinerary with our office personnel.
5. Completely fill in all the fields on the forms at an open house. You may think looking at open houses is a fun afternoon outing, but we honestly need to be sensitive to the safety of the seller’s possessions, and our lives.

Real estate buyers, we understand that you’re anxious to start looking at the houses or condos you want to see. But I’m sure you’ll agree with me that the safety of the agent is of utmost importance, and you can probably wait just one more hour. Please be understanding of this and cooperate with any requests your agent may make.  The story I’ve just told had a happy ending, as this agent was able to return safely home to her family and continue a successful career, albeit more than a little bit reluctant to return to work. But there have been many others who were not so lucky. Just read Elizabeth Nieves’ recent post about Sarah Anne Walker; a REALTOR® who was brutally murdered while holding open a model home in 2006.

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The reason why a homeowner should use a realtor is the realtor is much more savvy in dealing with their clients. They screen their clients, get information and they do not take chances. There are office safety procedures to follow; meet the client(s) at the office, get their personal information, let others in the office meet the client(s). You should always follow your office safety procedures, it will save your life.

We are so sorry about what happened to Eugenia “Jeanne” Calle, if she only had some type of procedure in order to screen would be purchasers, she might not have gotten in this situation.

Again, office safety procedures are there to protect you. If a client does not want to follow the procedures, ie give you his identification, meet you and others in the office, then you should just write them off - so you don’t end up like Ms. Calle, bless her soul. Read the rest of this entry »

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This doesn’t have to do with Realtor Safety while conducting your business, but this does have to do with keeping yourself and your home safe, so in a way, it does. Definitely read on-Courtesy of Cheryl Watterson

Home Security 911
Protecting Your Car Can Ultimately Prevent A Home Burglary

Does that statement arouse your curiosity? A lot of criminals aren’t smart enough to get a job and work for a living, but they are smart enough to figure out that if there is a vehicle with South Bend, Indiana license plates sitting in front of the Marriott Hotel in Indianapolis - then maybe nobody is home in South Bend. Read the rest of this entry »

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It’s a Dangerous Job, But Someone’s Gotta Do It

Posted by and Courtesy of: Maya Roney on September 05

Fishermen, pilots and loggers have the most dangerous jobs in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fatality rates are not as high among real estate agents, but the National Association of Realtors (NJAR) still has a few safety tips for realtors that are somewhat reminiscent of trick-or-treating guidelines (buddy-up, wear reflective clothing, don’t eat the unwrapped stuff).

1. Be careful how you dress. Flashy or expensive jewelry might attract the wrong kind of attention.
2. Create a code word that may be used to indicate a distressed call.
3. Make sure your cell phone is always charged and you have a signal at all times.
4. If working at the office late, make sure the doors are locked and other colleagues know you are working late.
5. Use common sense. When in doubt listen to your gut instinct and follow the safety advice you would give to a loved one.

“Although not common, real estate professionals across the country have been assaulted, robbed and even killed in the course of doing their jobs,” reads a recent NAR press release announcing REALTOR Safety Week (Sept. 9-15). Add falling home prices to the mix, and you’ve got an even scarier situation.

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I received this e-mail this evening and thought I should present this to all of my Realtor Safety 911 members. I am definitely one who needs to think about this too while I am out and about doing my marketing. You have to be aware of what is going on at all times…read on…

Warning..!!!! Warning..!!!! Warning..!!!!

Just last weekend on Friday night we had parked in a public

parking area. As we drove away, I noticed a sticker on the

rear window of the car. When I took it off after I got home,

it was a receipt for gas. Luckily, my friend told me not to

stop as it could be someone waiting for me to get out of the

car. Then we received this email yesterday:

‘WARNING FROM POLICE

THIS APPLIES TO BOTH WOMEN AND MEN

BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE–

NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKINGS (NOT A JOKE)’

Heads up everyone! Please, keep this circulating… You walk

across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You

start the engine and shift into Reverse.

When you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your

parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle

of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your

doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or

whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach

the back of your car, that is when the carjackers appear out

of nowhere, jumps into your car and takes off. They practically

mow you down as they speed off in your car.

And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car.

So now, the carjacker has your car, your home address, your

money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are

now compromised!

BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED and Please Tell Your Family and Friends to definitely be aware of this…never open your car door after you’ve gotten in and locked your doors…Remember, Your Personal Safety Is Up To YOU!!!

If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just

drive away. Remove the paper later. And be thankful that you

read this e-mail. I hope you will forward this to friends and

family, especially to women. A purse contains all kinds of

personal information and identification documents, and you

certainly do NOT want this to fall into the wrong hands.

Please keep this going

and tell all your family and friends

email2friend

Courtesy of Cheryl Watterson Self Defense with an Attitude

The following Realtor 7-Point Personal Safety Plan of Action will help you be responsible for your own safety and survival. Become mentally and physically prepared to protect and defend yourself should you ever be put in a situation where your life is in danger. Due to the risky nature of the Real Estate profession, your personal safety should be high on the priority list.

7-Point Safety Plan of Action 1. Take a good quality self-defense class in your community. Check with the local police department to see if they offer the RAD Self-Defense Program. This is an excellent training program. Once you’ve completed the training, you can go back and attend as many classes as you want for free. Taking a self-defense class can give you a tremendous sense of empowerment and self-confidence. Knowing you have the fundamental skills and techniques that can help you protect and defend yourself is definately empowering. This is also a great opportunity to become physically fit. Read the rest of this entry »

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Your Personal Safety Is Up To YOU!

There is a price reduction on a Sprint phone which has been certified as compatible with the real-time tracking & emergency distress technology. The phone is the i670 by Motorola, which normally retails for $179.99, is now on sale for $29.99 with a 2 year contract. The price breakdown is $1.25 a month. This device can bring you TrekServ tracking and emergency distress for $16.25 a month, not including your communication package.

The phone has the following features:

• Nextel Direct Connect
• Group Connect
• GPS enabled
• Web, email capable
• Speakerphone
• Voice Activated Dialing

Here is a previous entry from RealtorSafety911.com - Read the rest of this entry »

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Courtesy of Florida Realtor Magazine, April 2007 | by Richard Westlund

7 Tips for Staying Safe

• Always keep a mobile phone at your side; program emergency numbers into speed dial.
• Meet all new clients at your office; verify their identity.
• Whenever possible, avoid being at the office alone.
• Take a personal safety course.
• Install deadbolts with full one-inch bolts on all entry doors to your home and the door to your home office.
• Make sure you know your route to and from each property you visit.
• When you’re alone getting into your car, the first thing you should do is lock the door.

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Courtesy of the Kentucky Real Estate Commission and the Kentucky Association of Realtors

Hello All:

Just this evening, I found some very good information on Realtor Safety tips and tricks to stay safe while in the field. We all know that safety should be our first concern and here are some very good safety tips Courtesy of Kentucky Real Estate Commission & Kentucky Association of Realtors They have a download of Basic Safety Practices. In this day and age, we cannot be too careful.

Remember, Your Personal Safety Is Up To YOU!

Best to you in your real estate endeavors.

FYI - We are about to make a name change on our site Realtor Safety 911. Everything else will be the same.

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A key, and often overlooked, way to protect yourself is to trust your intuition. “We have instincts, but then we tell ourselves, ‘I’m being foolish,’” For example, if you see someone sitting in a van outside the property you’re showing, you should be able to come up with some plausible guesses—it’s the neighbor’s exterminator—as to what the person is doing in the area, he says. When you can’t, be especially vigilant.

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Even though this article was posted in 2003, you can still see how the same things are so important, day in and day out today. Don’t take your safety for granted. Even though you can say, ‘hey, that has never happened to me”. Count your lucky stars that it hasn’t, but don’t take it for granted”!

This article was published on: 09/01/2003

POINT OF VIEW: Whatley Report

Put your safety first

We don’t ever think it can happen to us. We feel terrible when we read news stories about innocent victims of a crime or see people on TV grieving for lost loved ones. We think we’re immune from such misfortune. Unfortunately, we’re not. Every year, men and women in our profession are robbed, raped, or murdered on the job. Read the rest of this entry »

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Realtors are in one of the most dangerous high-risk professions and every day they meet with strangers, taking them out in their cars and driving them all over town showing properties. But what happens when something goes wrong? How can you protect yourself? What if you cannot protect yourself, how would anyone know where you are?

There is a new technology that has just been introduced that solves that problem. This new technology tracks the realtor at all times using their cell phone. A small application is installed on the realtor’s cell phone and one button can be designated as the one that activates an emergency beacon. Help can be easily and quickly summoned to an exact location. Read the rest of this entry »

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Courtesy of nikki@ www.treasurecoasthost.com

Personal Safety Issues of Prime Concern to Realtors

Personal Safety
Sometimes my mother’s intuitions scare me. They always seem to come true. Not long ago she started talking to me about my Realtor sister, Shela, not taking proper safety precautions when she shows property or hosts an open house. I rolled my eyes and thought Mom was being overly protective or watching too much television; but as it turns out, she was absolutely right to worry. Sure enough, less than 3 weeks after our discussion, I read two news alerts in the same week about Florida Realtors being beaten up, shot at, and robbed while on a listing call. A week later I read yet another report of violence that took place at an open house. It can be downright scary when you think about it, and I don’t mean to alarm anyone unnecessarily; but, truth be known, you could have a total psycho in your car and never even know it! I mean who looked more normal than Ted Bundy for Pete’s sake, and we all know how that turned out! I hope everyone has a plan of action if you ever find yourself in a dangerous situation. If you don’t have plan, make one and put it in place immediately.

According to a recent Washington Association of Realtors press release, 21 real estate agents met violent deaths on the job last year. Selling real estate is a high-risk profession no matter what state you live in. As mobile professionals, Realtors frequently meet with people about whom they know little, and enter properties that could be sheltering an attacker. Although attacks aren’t limited to females, there is no question that women Realtors are more vulnerable.

So, everyone, please be careful. Follow basic safety precautions while you’re on the job. I’m sure the NAR, FAR and RAMC all have safety tips on their Web Sites, and since you’re members, you can easily access that information. Stay safe :]

nikki

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Courtesy of  Georgia Association of Realtors

REALTOR® Safety 

Due to frequent contact with strangers in various public and private locations, REALTORS® face more on-the-job risks than many other business professionals. It is GAR’s goal to provide members with access to updated safety information, including details of criminal activity in and around Georgia. GAR has implemented an Agent Alert page on this Web site to notify members of recent criminal activity against REALTORS®. Please check this page on a regular basis to keep abreast of safety precautions that you may need to take. If you ever hear of an attack on a real estate agent, please inform GAR as soon as possible, so that we can spread the word throughout the state and our surrounding states as well.GAR would like to thank the Washington Association of REALTORS® for allowing us to use the following Safety Tools that they developed after one of their agents was tragically murdered on the job (see True Stories - Mike). The Safety Manual and office forms below were designed by agents for agents. Law enforcement officials were also consulted in the development of the forms. The purpose of these forms is as follows:

1. To deter assaults by positively identifying the people we are working with.
2. To have emergency information for everyone in the real estate office.
3. If a crime occurs - to know where the agent was going so the police can help.
4. Every client wanting to meet with an agent should expect to be asked for identification. Read the rest of this entry »

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