Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - (Page 15) SAFETY TIPS SAFETY IS A YEAR-ROUND PRIORITY Tip #41 Scam alert! At an open house, be alert to visitors’ comings and goings, especially near the end of showing hours. Police have reported groups of criminals that target open houses, showing up en masse near the end of the afternoon. While several “clients” distract the REALTOR®, others go through the house and steal anything they can quickly take. Tip #42 Monitor bills and bank accounts. Open your credit card bills and bank statements right away. Check for any unauthorized charges or withdrawals and report them immediately. Call if bills don’t arrive on time. It may mean that someone has changed contact information to hide fraudulent charges. Tip #43 Friend or foe? If you’re driving at night and are approached by a vehicle with blue lights, exercise caution. Call 9-1-1 to identify the vehicle, turn on your flashers to acknowledge that you see the police car, and keep moving until you’re in a well-lit area. A legitimate law enforcement official will understand your caution. Tip #44 Get expert advice on home security. For a detailed security analysis of your home, contact a bonded professional locksmith who is an accredited member of a state or national locksmith association. At no cost to you, your police and sheriff’s department will be glad to help when needed. Tip #45 Take two seconds to pause and look around as you enter your destination. • Does anything seem out of place? • Is anyone present who shouldn’t be there or who isn’t expected? Tip #46 Show you’re a REALTOR® Always wear visible company identification such as a badge. It is also best to drive a vehicle clearly marked with your company name. These will be invaluable for identification if you need to get assistance. Tip #47 “Please check in at the desk.” When you have a new client, ask him/her to stop by your office and complete a Prospect Identification Form. Also, photocopy their driver’s license and retain this information at your office. Be certain to properly discard this personal information when you no longer need it. Tip #48 Safe home, safe garage. Help keep your home safe by covering garage windows. There is a lot about your garage you don’t want potential criminals to know about—such as whether someone is home, or if there are tools or ladders available to help break in to your home. If you have an attached garage, make sure the door that connects your house to the garage is a solid core exterior door with a deadbolt lock. Tip #49 Block identity theft. Contact the fraud department of any of the three consumer reporting companies— Equifax, Experian and Trans Union— to place a fraud alert on your credit report. The fraud alert automatically lets credit card companies and other creditors know they must contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. Tip #50 Consider learning self-defense. The best way to find a good self-defense class is to learn what is available, and then make a decision. Many health clubs, martial arts studios and community colleges offer some type of class. You can also ask your fellow REALTORS®, friends and family if they have taken a self-defense class that they would recommend. September 2008 Osceola ReVIEW 15
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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