Southern Delaware County is a pretty safe place to live. Even so, I always caution my sellers to not let their guard down just because there is a For Sale sign in the yard.
When taking a listing, I provide my clients with a “What to Expect” list when their home is put on the market. Much of the paper deals with how showings are set up, what to do with their valuables and personal papers. However, there is also a section on what to do if a drive-by “buyer” or “agent” asks to view their home without previously setting up an appointment through the proper procedure. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen too often, but I feel a duty to advise them that it might occur.
In today’s world of spammers, scammers, and others willing to help us part with our money or possessions, these “bad people” know that home sellers might be only too eager, or too trusting, and thus, allow a complete stranger into their home. First of all, our Columbus Board of Realtors® has strict rules for agents that they are not to enter a home without first setting up an appointment with the listing office. Doing so can get them a fine or a suspension of their license. So it’s unlikely that a “real” agent will be knocking on a seller’s door.
If your home is for sale, keep these things in mind:
- If an agent asks to view your home (that is for sale), and even shows you a business card, know that it is very easy to make business cards. Having a card is no guarantee that the person is a true real estate agent. A cunning thief may well spend the minimal money required to have professionally-looking cards printed. They may even be accompanied by a “buyer” that will pocket your valuables while the “agent” distracts you
- The drive-by ”buyer” that stops because “your home looks exactly like what they’ve been looking for” may well have viewed your home on-line and noticed something in your home that they would like to make their own. Again, they may come in pairs, so they can “divide and conquer”.
Being a real estate agent can be a dangerous job. Agents get robbed, assualted, raped and murdered every year … and we’ve taken courses on how to avoid that. Unwary sellers haven’t.If you don’t make a habit of allowing strangers in your home, don’t start now that there’s a For Sale sign in the yard.
I’m always amazed at the sellers who decide they’ll try to sell their home themselves, as I’m sure they don’t realize the risk they are taking when doing this, and they’ve no way to check legitimacy of the ‘agent’ or ‘buyer’ the way a REAL listing agent does. So, SELLERS BEWARE!
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