Osceola ReVIEW - September 2008 - (Page 17) QuIz rESulTS: rEAlTOr® SAFETY 1. Do you have any dogs? Always ask clients if they own dogs and if so, what they plan to do with the dog or dogs during showings. Discuss how friendly the pets are with strangers, including children. If your clients have reason to believe their dog will react to strangers entering the home, ask that they lock the dog in a certain room or make arrangements to keep it off site if they cannot be present to control the dog. 2. All of the Above A good self-defense course will teach much more than how to physically attack someone; it will cover critical thinking about defense strategies, assertiveness, powerful communication skills, and easy-to-remember physical techniques. Many health clubs, community colleges, and martial arts studios offer these classes. To find a good course, start by asking family and friends if they have recommendations. Look for a class with a broad focus, which will include information on how to recognize dangerous individuals and situations, how to avoid them, and how to react in an attack. Ask to meet the instructors before you sign up; you will rely on these people for your knowledge. Do they appear genuinely concerned with students’ progress? Will their communication and teaching style work for you? 3. Remind sellers to put all valuables in a safe place Always be on the lookout for suspicious behavior and never put your guard down, but there’s no need to treat every potential buyer as if he or she just escaped from prison. Likewise, you shouldn’t categorize potential criminals as just one type of person, such as a single male. Women, seniors, couples, and men arriving with children can just as easily be up to no good. The best way to deter theft is to remind clients that strangers will be walking through their home and that they should put valuables in a safe, secure place. This includes items they might not initially think would attract interest, such as prescription drugs. Also, don’t leave your own briefcase, purse, or laptop in view. 4. Establish a secret phrase that’s not commonly used but can be worked into any phone or in-person conversation when I’m feeling uneasy about a situation. A distress voice signal is a safety net for situations in which you don’t want someone nearby to hear that you’re calling for help. It should be used if you’re uneasy, but not in immediate danger. The distress code could be something as simple as “red file,” used like this: “Hi, this is Jane. I’m at 510 Maple Street. Could you e-mail me the red file?” It may make the most sense for everyone in your office to share a single distress code. With your pre-arranged signal, the colleague who receives your distress code will know what to do. That may be to call 911 on your behalf, to arrange to meet you so that you are not alone, or to call you back and ask you to leave due to an “emergency situation.” 5. All of the above An open house can be a great sales tool, but it also exposes you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time. These are some of the things you can do to stay safe: Inform a neighbor that you’ll be showing the house and ask if he or she would keep an eye and ear open for anything out of the ordinary; check all rooms before anyone arrives and determine several “escape” routes, and make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate a faster escape; and never assume everyone has left the premises at the end of the day. Check all rooms and the backyard prior to locking the doors, and be prepared to defend yourself. Some other tips: Always walk behind the prospect as you’re showing the house, keep lights on and curtains open, and carry an extra fully-charged cell phone battery. 6. Asking them to meet me at the brokerage office Ask prospective clients to stop by your office before viewing properties or going to a more secluded spot. When they arrive at the office, record their car make and license number. Photocopy their driver’s license and retain this information at your office. Legitimate clients will not mind you copying their driver’s license; we freely show our license to the clerk at the grocery store when we write a check. It’s also smart to introduce the prospect to someone in your office. Would-be assailants don’t like to be noticed or receive exposure. Finally, always let someone know where you’re going; leave the full name and phone number of the client you are meeting. 7. I take 10 seconds as I arrive at each destination to evaluate my surroundings and check for anything that’s out of the ordinary Inattention is a main reason people find themselves in dangerous situations. By using the 10-second rule, you assess your surroundings everywhere you go. Here’s how it works: Take 2 seconds as you arrive at your destination to see if you’re parked in a safe, well-lit area and to make sure your car won’t be blocked in by another vehicle. Take 2 seconds as you step out of your car to look for suspicious people and to check that you know exactly where you’re going. Take 2 seconds as you walk to your destination to look for dangerous hiding places or obstacles along with way. Take 2 seconds at the door to make sure no one is following you in an to make sure you don’t have any safety concerns before entering. Take 2 seconds as soon as you enter to see if anything seems out of place or unexpected. 8. Secure all unused doors and windows, especially if they’re in the rear of the office or out of sight and earshot This is just one of many things that you can do to be safe when you’re at the office. You also should keep windows and counters clear so that people can see what is happening inside, and always carry a charged mobile phone. Whenever possible, avoid being at the office alone. But if you must be by yourself, keep a radio or TV playing fairly loudly in the back room. When office hours end, make sure you lock to doors. ■ ReVIEW 17 September 2008 Osceola
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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