05/14/2020
Importance of Screening Buyers Before a Showing
In 2006, a Maine man was convicted in New Hampshire on five felony counts of sexual assault, plus criminal threatening, kidnapping, and several misdemeanors. The man was named “The Real Estate Ra**st” in local newspapers because he approached residents of homes that were listed by real estate brokerages, instead of contacting a listing agent or licensee. One of his victims was a 19-year-old woman. The Real Estate Ra**st knocked on doors that had For Sale signs in the yard and asked the residents if he could view the home. Once he gained entry into the home, he proceeded to sexually assault, kidnap, and otherwise threaten the residents, generally young women. (http://activerain.com/blogsview/220449/new-hampshire-real-estate-rapist)
Listing agents can hang “Do Not Inquire Within” riders on the For Sale signs. They can also recommend that sellers do NOT show their home to buyers who have not been pre-screened, which protects the clients from the unthinkable (as seen in New Hampshire), and it saves the sellers time and hassle. Oftentimes, buyers who are not working with a real estate licensee are not serious about purchasing property. Others do not have a realistic idea of what they can afford. The recent case of the “Real Estate Ra**st” in New Hampshire is reason enough to want all potential buyers screened before a showing! Sellers should be cautioned about showing property themselves. The simple act of making an appointment with a real estate licensee is a significant deterrent to those who may want to steal from or harm home sellers.While the actual percentages change from time to time and among market areas, studies show that 80–90% of sellers who attempt to sell their homes themselves end up listing with a real estate agent (US News and World Report, 2008; National Association of Realtors, 2012). Common reasons sellers end up listing with a real estate licensee are market exposure, knowing how to price correctly, and seller frustration with buyers who are not pre-screened, pre-qualified, pre-approved for financing, and generally not serious about buying. Most buyers who are truly ready to buy a home will approach a real estate licensee.
Before screening potential buyers, you should ask your principal or managing broker if there is a safety/screening protocol for your office. Part of your job as a real estate licensee is to take as much time and stress out of the selling experience as possible. If a buyer approaches you, you should do the following:
Ask if they are working with another agent.
Ask if they have been pre-approved for financing and with whom.
Know the person you are taking into your client’s home. If possible, meet them in your office first and have them fill out an identification form. Photocopy their driver’s license and note the make, model, and license plate number of their car.
Get a full name and phone number. Call the number to verify it is not false. Put the name in an Internet search and, if possible, try to verify that it is real.
Let someone in your office know when you are going to the listing and when you will be back. If a person is planning to rob the home, they may compromise your safety too.
Attend a showing with another agent. Perhaps one of you can stay in the car with cell phone in hand.
Trust your instincts! If something doesn’t feel right, you should protect your client and decline a showing.
This past May a man named Oliver Hooper was convicted for ra**ng a 19 year old NH woman in her home.He posed as a home buyer, apparently r***d the woman...
