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I'm always amazed at the fact that realtors (usually female) have to wait alone at an open house, while any loon could through the door, especially here in Florida. As a guy, I always try to make myself seem very non-threatening when I go to these things. But people must take precautions? I don't want anyone to give up trade secrets, but there must be some safety precautions taken, like letting people know where you are, at a minimum?
As an appraiser I frequently go to a house alone and have, on occasion, smelt the smell of a meth lab. Given a choice I get out of there. Absent the choice, I carry.
As an appraiser I frequently go to a house alone and have, on occasion, smelt the smell of a meth lab. Given a choice I get out of there. Absent the choice, I carry.
When I was in the mortgage business I used to sit open houses with one of my Realtor friends every Sunday for exactly that reason. It was a lot safer for her, and I got business out of it as well.
I have a concealed weapons license ... a lot of agents do around here.
At my old office, buyer's were supposed to be registered at the office, copies of their driver's license left with the front desk as well as your showing appointment list. I say "supposed to" because I don't know a single agent who actually adhered to that - especially the ones who worked remotely. It's a great idea in theory - not so great in practice.
My husband always knows EXACTLY where I am and I don't take clients in my own car either (for a wide variety of reasons that I won't get into) so I text him between properties just to have a record.
As for open houses, I really don't do them, haven't done one in quite a while but I was trained to never follow people - stay by the front door, never go into a room where there was only one exit, blah blah blah.
I can't imagine how carrying a gun would make you more safe. As far as I'm concerned, pulling a gun on somebody would increase the likelihood that somebody is going to get shot, including yourself.
When I was newly licensed, I sat other agents' Open Houses, almost every weekend. I had a lot of luck with Open Houses, including selling the home I sat. It was a different market, back then.
Our local Police do an annual Realtor Safety Class. One of their tips was to leave the back door unlocked so that we could flee the house, if necessary. They also cautioned us to never go upstairs or into the basement, with people. And to carry pepper spray, at all times.
I have had a few experiences, including one that compelled me to flee an open house in my socks after a man entered the house through the unlocked rear door that made me rethink the whole concept of Open Houses.
Concealed weapons, pepper spray, emergency exit plans, keys in the fist, not being prudent to accommpany strangers upstairs or into basements ( exposing the owner's stuff to theft) does not balance the once in the blue moon shot of meeting a potential buyer who might be inclined to buy something, some day.
I am always aware of my surroundings. I do carry a concealed weapon. In fact our office sponsored a concealed carry class for agents last year. I have 24 years of experiance and training as a USAF Security Policeman which helps me in situational awareness and evaluating threats.
I don't let my broker wife go on sign calls to show houses. I will; but I exercise caution.
My wife would never be comfortable carrying a pistol. If you don't think you would be able to use a pistol in a high stress event then don't carry one. If you decide to carry then get on-going training and practice drawing and shooting from the location/holster you will carry the weapon.
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