Realtor Safety: Using the Initial Prospect Call to Deter Predators

This month, we're publishing content from a course on Realtor Safety. This is the eighth in a series of articles that teaches Realtors how to prevent being a victim of crime. Read the previous article here.

There are several techniques you can use during the initial prospect call to deter a predator, whether their motive is power or profit. Most of these techniques use the information you've learned from the neighborhood and property evaluation you've already done. Additionally, most of that information is valuable information you would pass on to a legitimate prospect because it could make the property more attractive to the legitimate prospect, while making meeting you at that property less attractive to the predator.

Neighborhood and Property Information

If the property is your listing and the statements are true, you'll want to mention the following in the initial call:

• "There's an active neighborhood watch"
• "It's a tight-knit little area and the neighbors seem to socialize regularly"
• "You've got a county sheriff just three houses away"
• "The house very light and open, with plenty of windows"

Anything you tell the prospect that would be generally attractive to a legitimate buyer, but makes it a less attractive crime location, you should mention.