Money or Your Life?

Does working with shady characters increase your chance of victimhood?

This is a touchy subject due to anti-discrimination laws but where do you draw the line. Notice no question mark. Entering a vacant home with a complete stranger after dark is dangerous. Entering a vacant home in the middle of the day is just as dangerous, isn't it.

According to the Department of Justice, most crimes occur in the middle of the day in broad daylight as did the murder of Linda S. Stein (second from the left) a noted Broker to the stars and once manager of infamous Punk Rock group the Ramones. According to investigators "Ms. Stein had many tumultuous relationships in her life, but investigators have not focused on any particular people, and did not comment on possible motives,..."

Every time someone walks into your office you face the risk of placing yourself in a dangerous situation. My wife never shows a home in my absence. Real estate agents, man or woman should take precautionary measures to reduce the risk of victimhood. If someone calls to see a home you have listed, get as much information as possible about this person. Use the buddy system and take along a friend. Have the prospect meet you at your office first. An excellent office policy to implement is never allow agents to show a home to an unknown prospect unless they are met at the office and a copy of the prospects driver license is made. Be respectfully suspicious. It's far better in my opinion to lose a potential sale by being careful than to lose your life from over eagerness.

UPDATE! Arrest made.