A message from your 2022 GTR President Ruth Bryson
The National Association of REALTORS® and Greater Tampa REALTORS® have worked hard to keep REALTOR® Safety first and foremost in everyone’s minds. But what about your clients? They, too, can face danger when allowing strangers into their homes or visiting other properties.
Share this valuable advice with everyone, and you’ll help them learn to protect themselves against crime:
- Remind your clients that strangers will be walking through their home during showings or open Advise them to hide any valuables in a safe place.
For security, remember to remove keys, credit cards, jewelry, crystal, furs and other valuables from the home or lock them away during showings. Also remove prescription drugs.
- Don’t leave personal information like mail or bills out in the open where anyone can see Be sure to lock down your computer and lock up your laptop and any other expensive, easy-to-pocket electronics, like iPads, before your showing.
- Tell your clients not to show their home by Informing them that not all agents, buyers and sellers are who they say they are. Predators come in all shapes and sizes. We tell our children not to talk to strangers. Tell your sellers not to talk to other agents or buyers, and to refer all inquiries to you.
- Instruct your clients that they are responsible for their If possible, animals should be removed during showings. Make clients aware that buyers and agents are sometimes attacked, and the owner will be held liable.
- At an open house, be alert to the pattern of visitors’ arrivals, especially near the end of showing In some areas, a group of thieves will show up together near the end of the open house and, while a string of
“potential buyers” distracts the agent, the rest of the group walks through the house, stealing any valuables they come across.
- Finally, when you leave a client’s property, whether after an open house or a standard showing, make sure that all doors and windows are Thieves
commonly use open houses to scout for valuables and possible points of entry, then return after the agent leaves.
- Let your clients know that you will take all of the above safety precautions, but that when they return home, they should immediately verify that all doors are locked and all valuables accounted
Taking steps to protect you and your client’s safety is worth the cost of a little extra time and effort.
If you do ever experience a situation that makes you feel unsafe, don’t hesitate to call for help. If you are in a life-threatening situation, call 9-1-1 and please inform the association as soon as possible. Contact Sara Parsons at GTR by calling 813-879-7010.
We care about the safety of our members as well as the safety of our clients and colleagues. Please use September and every month to remind yourself of all the ways you can stay safe now and throughout the year.
RUTH BRYSON
2022 President
Greater Tampa REALTORS®
