to the house, be aware of your surroundings and what’s going on. Don’t be paranoid; rather, be alert and cautious. Keep yourself safe. • Make a plan if anything feels “off ” during a showing. If you’re inside the home and feel unsafe with the so-called “interested” tenant, then keep yourself safe with a plan. I suggest casually making a phone call to a friend, family member, or associate. Make sure they know about your emergency plan ahead of time. Start talking, tell them where you are (with the exact address—“I’m showing the house at 1234 Main Street”), and that you’ll be back soon—without raising suspicion. Then, find an excuse to cut the showing short (while you’re still on the phone), and get the heck out of there. You’re protecting yourself by letting someone else know exactly where you are, and the “interested tenant” knows this, and will be less likely to rob you, destroy your property, or cause you physical harm. • Meet at a public place if you feel unsafe or threatened. You can also meet any potential renters at a nearby location. Choose somewhere that’s close to your property, but also public and high-traffic. Then you can assess the individual and the situation before moving forward with a showing. If you feel at all weird about the situation, then meet the potential renter in a public, high-traffic location. • Don’t go alone. In some instances, if you’re uncomfortable, it’s best not to be alone when showing the property. Take someone with you—have them pose as your assistant or associate, if need be—or even take a pet dog. • Don’t give out pertinent information about your home.
91
Powered by FlippingBook