Be Careful Home Sellers – That Realtor May Not Be Real After All

If you are selling your house through a realtor or for sale by owner, you should know that you could be a target for criminals.

I came across a post on a blog in Florida about people posing as real estate agents to gain access to homes for nefarious reasons.  The blog featured a story on the local evening newsabout a woman who says a person claiming to be a realtor knocked at her door and asked to view the property.  The “realtor” handed the seller a business card and said that the buyer may be submitting an offer.  When the seller did not hear from the realtor, she called the number on the business card and that realtor said that she had never been to her house.  Scary stuff. 

The seller had to have her locks changed but she is lucky that all she lost was some money – she could have been robbed or hurt by the phoney realtor or worse.

While I don’t take listings,  I thought this was important enough to share.  Home sellers should never allow someone into their home without an appointment.  If you’re using a realtor, buyers or other realtors should call the listing office to schedule an appointment.  The office will then call you, the seller, to verify the time and date of the appointment.  You can even request that your realtor accompany all prospective buyers and agents during the showing.

If you’re selling your home without a realtor, you will want to schedule appointments over the phone and ask some questions first.  To a realtor, ask their name, agency, office phone number and address.  Before the appointment, call the number they gave you and ask to speak with the realtor to confirm the appointment.

To an unrepresented potential buyer, ask their name, address, and phone number.  In addition, ask whether they have been pre-approved by a lender, when they are looking to close, whether they have a house to sell and where they saw the ad for your property.  These are good questions to ask anyway. 

Before the appointment, call the number they gave you to confirm.  When the buyer shows up to your house for the appointment, ask them the same questions you asked over the phone and verify that they gave you the same answers. 

Here are some other safety tips:

• Have someone with you during the showing. 
• If you must show the house alone, let someone know you have an appointment and to call you a half-hour into the appointment to check on you.
• Carry your cell phone with you. 
• Don’t tell the agent or the prospective buyer anything about your schedule or personal habits.  
• During the showing, maintain a safe distance from your visitors and always stay between them and the front door.  
• Park your car on the street, not in the driveway or garage in case you need to leave quickly.

Follow your gut instinct.  If someone is making you feel uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to refuse them the appointment or allow them into your house.  You don’t have to be rude – just let them know that you are unable to show the house to them at time and to call back to reschedule.  They may feel put out but they’ll get over it.