Last month, a leasing agent at a St. Johns County apartment complex was raped by a person claiming to be interested in renting an apartment.
The incident is a strong reminder for agents of any sort to take care when dealing with a client.
Here are a few hints for safety as provided by the St. Augustine Board of REALTORS®:
• Give your office a copy of your license, tag number and make and model of your car to keep on file in case they need to find you.
• Meet customers at your office — especially the first time.
• When showing a house, let the customers go into rooms first and you stay back behind them.
• If you are doing an open house, do not park your car in the driveway where it can be blocked. Also, keep your keys on you, not in your purse in case you need to make a quick get away.
• Have a cell phone. Call into the office and let them know you are ok.
• Let everyone know where you are at all times.
• If you are going somewhere else than where you should be, call someone and let them know.
• If you feel at all uncomfortable with a client, bring someone with you or make an excuse to cancel or leave. The commission is not worth your life.
• With digital cameras so handy these days, take a digital picture of who you are leaving the office with. They should think you are an intelligent person that is practicing good safety.
• Have a game plan. For instance, if you feel uncomfortable while out with a client, call the office and say, “I’m going to be a little longer than I thought at [whatever address you are at], please call Mr. Smith and let him know I’m running late.” Mr. Smith could be the code name for, “Send someone to the house with me immediately.”
• Think and don’t be too impulsive.
• Pay attention to your sixth sense.
• Leave a list with your office of names and addresses where you will be throughout the day.
• Lock your home when you are in it. There are two times you should lock your doors. When you are home and when you are not home.
• Carry mace or pepper spray. They are inexpensive and can be carried on your key chain or mounted in your car. It could save your life.
• Lock your car while you are showing a house.
• Do not leave your purse in the car while showing a house, put it in the trunk.