Real estate agents know risks of showing homes

The Georgia Association of Realtors offers extensive training for its members on recognizing and avoiding attacks while showing properties, said CEO Bob Hamilton.

“Most of our business is referrals,” Hamilton said. “But when you have a walk-in to your office, you have to ask them questions to make sure you know who they are. A bad guy wouldn’t want to let you get their ID or license tag information.”

Here are some tips from the Real Estate Assault Awareness courses the association offers to its members:

• Always make a photocopy of the person’s drivers license or passport.

• Take down a description of the client’s vehicle and information from their license plate.

• If you go out to show a home, learn the route to the home ahead of time, and share the directions and address with a colleague.

• Don’t pull into the driveway of a vacant home, and park in way that prevents you from being blocked in.

• Always let a client enter a home first, and walk ahead of you as you’re showing the home.

• Don’t wear flashy jewelry when showing a property.

• Never carry large amounts of cash.

• Always stay in touch with your office; if visiting multiple homes with one client, alert your office when you leave one address and arrive at another.

• For homeowners with a real estate sign in your yard, always have a would-be home buyer contact the agent or broker rather than letting them in to see your home. “It’s OK to tell them, ‘It’s not convenient to show the home at this time,’” Hamilton said.