Agents and client safety measures when selling and letting homes
When showing a home by appointment, agents are advised to visit the area beforehand and be aware of the hazards.
While buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords are distracted by the prospect of starting a new chapter, criminals are on high alert to take advantage of any opportunity that comes their way.
Sadly, real estate professionals often become the victim while playing the middleman between connecting buyers to sellers and tenants to landlords.
That is why many implement a form of a vetting process before agreeing to meet with new clients in person.
Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa says agents screen clients to protect themselves, as well as their clients against theft, fraud and other opportunistic crimes.
“Before agreeing to meet in person, an agent will usually request a copy of your ID and a copy of a pre-approval certificate if you are an aspiring buyer. This is to confirm that you are who you claim to be and that you can afford to purchase the properties in your given price bracket,” Goslett explains.
As a rule of thumb, Goslett recommends that agents meet new clients at the office or public place first. “Use this to get to know their needs before showing them a home or pitching them for a sole mandate.”
When showing a home by appointment, Goslett advises agents to visit the area beforehand and be aware of the hazards.
“To protect against theft, sellers are advised to lock away valuables and personal items, such as letters or bank statements. Never allow access to the property without the agent’s presence and after any show, check the premises at the end to make sure no windows were jammed open or security features tampered with.”
In addition to these precautions, RE/MAX of Southern Africa shares some best practices agents should implement in their day-to-day operations to ensure greater safety for both them and their clients:
1. Install a safety app with a panic button (such as iFearLess).
2. Try to schedule all appointments during daylight hours.
3. Avoid working late hours alone at the office.
4. Avoid using ‘vacant’ in property descriptions.
5. Have a safety protocol in place with your clients.
6. Establish an office code word for trouble.
7. Share your daily schedule with family, friends, or office administrators so they know where to start looking in an emergency.
8. Ahead of suspicious appointments, share your live location with a friend or colleague.
9. Always ensure your phone is fully charged and your vehicle has enough fuel to ensure a quick escape.
10. Take self-defence classes and carry self-defence tools such as pepper spray.
11. Take a first aid course and carry a first aid kit in your car.
12. Know where the nearest medical centre and police station are, especially when driving to new areas.
13. Trust your instincts and always be vigilant.
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