Safety tips for Sellers and Real Estate Agents

I was advising a client yesterday because we have had 3 incidents in the greater Johannesburg this year where an estate agent was tied up and robbed of valuables as well as their car stolen by criminals posing as Buyers. An important precaution is to identify and pre-screen Buyers before working with them. At the moment we are in a "Seller's market", which means one might quite possibly get hundreds of queries from interested "Buyers". A Buyer who isn't willing to work with you on these pre-screening requests may not be ready to buy yet or may not qualify financially to buy the property (or worse, may have criminal intent). All of these factors add to the reasons why I believe it is unwise for a Seller to contemplate a private sale, since estate agents are experienced at minimizing risks to themselves or the Seller.

A few tips:

• Always tell someone where you are going when showing a house and report back afterwards
• Let the client walk ahead (never behind or in your blind spot) when showing/viewing a property
• Before a private showing, scout the neighborhood and be alert to anything unusual or out of place, or for safety concerns
• Identify each of a home’s exits/escape routes prior to a showing or open house. Keep exit doors unlocked
• Take a self-defense class (Krav Maga is the best)
• Let your client follow you to the property in their own car
• Don’t wear expensive watches or jewels
• Maintain a professional image including clothing 
• Buy a personal security app for your cell phone, always keep your cell phone in your hands and lock another valuables (iPad, laptop) out of sight in the car
• Be ready to defend yourself. Travel with pepper-spray
• Trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right, remove yourself from the situation, don't  worry about offending a client