As crime victims go, real estate agents don’t hold a candle to taxi drivers, who suffer the highest rate of homicide of any particular occupation.
Whereas the national average is one homicide per 100,000 workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate is 43 per 100,000 for cabbies. For realty agents, on the other hand, the rate is only 0.2 percent.
But violent crime against agents–not just homicide, but also rape, robbery and assault–is on the upswing, so much so that the 14,000-member Women’s Council of Realtors has made job safety one of its primary missions.
Almost 60 real estate agents were killed on the job in the 10 years between 1983 and 1992. But according to law-enforcement officials, most crimes against real estate agents and home sellers are motivated by robbery. Usually, the theft is one of opportunity–somebody grabs a wallet left lying in the open.
But sometimes the thieves are organized, and crimes are planned. There are even a few cases in which the criminals were realty agents.
But if crime against agents is increasing, you can bet that crime against sellers is going up, too.
Nobody keeps statistics about such things, but George Eaton, an agent for Long & Foster Realtors in Towson, Md., says he’s even more concerned about homeowners’ welfare than he is about his fellow agents’.
“At least agents are given tips on how to protect themselves,” says Eaton, who headed a task force on safety that was formed by the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors in 1993 after an agent was murdered while showing a house.
Unfortunately, most of the safety training agents receive comes after some sort of tragedy. For example, the Birmingham (Ala.) Association of Realtors published a booklet on safety, but not until a local agent was killed in 1988.
And once the culprit is caught or the crime fades into a distant memory, the tendency is to become less cautious, says Bill Powers of Realty Executives in Phoenix, where the local realty group began a safety program after a series of rapes in the mid-’80s.
But homeowners are rarely told of the dangers that lurk when they put their houses up for sale. And without realizing it, many set themselves up to become victims.
That’s not to say that crime against sellers–or agents, for that matter–is rampant. It’s not. Most people who visit open houses, respond to yard signs, or answer a newspaper ad are harmless, says Eaton.
At the same time, however, a few folks are up to no good.
“Sellers need to be aware that having their homes on the market may present certain security risks,” says Marcia Novak, another Long and Foster agent who works in Falls Church, Va.
With that in mind, here are some precautions every seller should take:
– Never let a stranger into your house when you’re alone. “Agents are advised not to show houses alone,” says Eaton, “and neither should you.”
If someone is insistent, ask a neighbor to come over while you show the visitor through the house. And if no one is available, tell him to come back later or to call your agent. It’s better to lose a sale than your life.
– Identify your visitors. Agents often insist that everyone sign a guest registry to show their control and professionalism. But anyone can sign whatever name they want.
It’s better to ask for a driver’s license or other form of picture identification. If your visitor finds that unreasonable in this day and age, says Robert Gardner of Ventura, Calif., a nationally recognized security and crime prevention expert, he probably isn’t the kind of person you want to let in anyway.
Once you’ve identified your visitor, but before you let him in, call your real estate agent or the agent’s office with the visitor’s name and license number.
– Beware of callers who knock on your door at weird hours, either late at night or early in the morning, Gardner also warns. Again, no matter what they say, ask them to make an appointment at a reasonable time.
– Remove your valuables, including pictures and electronic equipment. You’re going to be packing them when you move anyway, so why not put them away now for safe keeping.
And never, ever leave money, credit cards or your keys lying around. Keep them on your person, not in a drawer. It’s too easy for a petty thief to open a drawer when no one is looking. Lock up your jewelry, too, and your prescription drugs.
– Pay attention to the way prospects view your house, advises realty agent Novak. Professional burglars often linger in rooms, looking for things they can dispose of quickly.
They also spend a lot of time searching for avenues of access, scouting possible escape routes and studying security devices. And couples who are up to no good often split up so one of them can case the place alone.
– Beware of someone who is asking unusual questions which have nothing to do with the house. Are you married or divorced? What time does your mate leave for work or arrive back at home? Have you had much interest in your house? When do you plan to show the house again?
“Don’t give away personal information,” Novak warns. “Ask yourself, is this person behaving like a buyer? Are these questions pertinent?”
– Consider installing a security system, if not for your own peace of mind, then as an additional selling point. If nothing else, put deadbolt locks on your doors, check your window locks, and replace your outdoor bulbs with heat- or motion-sensing lights. Also make sure your shrubs are trimmed so a would-be burglar will have no place to hide.
– Some agents tour houses with their clients while others allow them to wander around on their own. If the prospect asks you to show him around, let your visitor enter the room first so you can’t be attacked from behind.
Never go into a basement, storage area or closet with a prospect. If someone draws you into a lengthy conversation, steer him toward the front door. And plan your own escape route just in case something goes wrong.
– If someone looks or acts suspicious, Novak suggests that you take down the person’s license-plate number and try to remember specifics about their appearance and vehicle, and call the local police. The incident may turn out to be nothing, or it could lead to an arrest.
