Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - (Page 14) SAFETY TIPS SAFETY IS A YEAR-ROUND PRIORITY Tip #26 Enlist your clients in safe practices. Inform clients who are selling that while you are taking safety precautions, and that you’ve checked and locked the home before leaving, they should immediately double-check all locks and scout for missing items immediately upon their return, in case you’ve missed any less-than-obvious means of entry. Tip #27 No cell phones behind the wheel! If you must use your cell phone while driving, follow this advice for best safety practices: Use a hands-free model so that you can keep your hands on the wheel; learn to operate your phone without looking at it—you should practice this before getting behind the wheel; and don’t dial while driving. Tip #28 How safe are your locks? Your home should have deadbolts with full one-inch bolts on all entry doors in addition to existing locksets. Any door with glass panels within three feet of the lock should have a double-cylinder deadbolt, which requires a key on both sides. Tip #29 Rely on good neighbors. Inform a neighbor that you will be hosting an open house, and ask if he or she would keep an eye and ear open for anything out of the ordinary. Tip #30 Commercial after dark. When showing a vacant commercial site, be aware of the time of day you meet a client. Showing a property at dusk or after dark, with no electricity on in the space you are showing, is not advisable. Tip #31 Why clean means safe. Keep your office safe: Ensure all doors other than the main entrance are secured, and all windows are clear so that passersby can see in. Also keep a clear exit route from the service desk to the door. Tip #33 Sound the alarms. Consider investing in an alarm system if you don’t already have one. If you do, make sure you have a panic button feature you can easily use in the room you use as an office. 14 SAFETY TIPS SAFETY IS A YEAR-ROUND PRIORITY Tip #34 Deal with suspicious e-mails. Before you act on an e-mail request, check a list of the latest e-mail scams on the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-internet.htm. Tip #35 Take two seconds as you walk towards your destination to check out potential risks. • Are people coming and going or is the area unusually quiet? • Do you observe any obstacles or hiding places in the parking lot or along the street? • Is anyone loitering in the area? Tip #36 Plan your escape routes. Upon entering an open house property for the first time, check each room and determine at least two “escape” routes. Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked for easy access to the outside. Tip #37 A new use for business cards. Place one of your business cards, with the date and time written on the back, in a kitchen cabinet. Note on it if you were the first to arrive or if clients were waiting. Tip #38 Shred it! Thoroughly shred all papers with personal information before you throw them away. Shred unwanted credit card applications and “convenience checks” that come in the mail, credit card receipts with your account number, outdated financial papers and papers containing your clients’ personal information. Tip #39 Leave yourself an out. Part of being prepared to deal with a threatening situation is having “an out.” Prepare a scenario in advance so that you can leave—or you can encourage someone who makes you uncomfortable to leave. Examples: Your cell phone or pager went off and you have to call your office, you left some important information in your car, or another agent with buyers is on his way. Tip #40 Travel light when meeting clients. If you carry a purse, lock it in your car trunk before arriving at an appointment. All REALTORS® should carry only nonvaluable business items (except for your cell phone), and do not wear expensive jewelry of watches, or appear to be carrying large sums of money. Osceola ReVIEW September 2008 http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-internet.htm
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 President's Perspective CEO Perspective Education Corner Association Staff Association Leadership Knowledge Services News Supra News Monthly Planner Welcome New Members New Real Estate Offices Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 (Page 1) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - President's Perspective (Page 2) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - President's Perspective (Page 3) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - CEO Perspective (Page 4) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Education Corner (Page 5) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Association Staff (Page 6) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Association Staff (Page 7) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Association Staff (Page 8) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Association Leadership (Page 9) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Knowledge Services News (Page 10) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Knowledge Services News (Page 11) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Knowledge Services News (Page 12) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Supra News (Page 13) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Supra News (Page 14) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Supra News (Page 15) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Supra News (Page 16) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Supra News (Page 17) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Monthly Planner (Page 18) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - Monthly Planner (Page 19) Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - New Real Estate Offices (Page 20)
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