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REALTORS® face real threats when working in the field, and it’s crucial to be prepared. September is REALTOR® Safety Month, and there’s no better time to reassess your safety protocols and make safety a top-of-mind priority.
The National Association of REALTORS® 2023 REALTOR® Safety Survey highlights alarming statistics of the potential dangers REALTORS® face while on the job:
- 56,000 REALTORS® were victims of a crime while performing their duties.
- 322,000 REALTORS® felt fear for their safety while on the job.
- 406,000 REALTORS® don’t have safety protocols in place to protect themselves.
Join NAR’s REALTOR® Safety Month webinar on Wednesday, September 18, 10 AM Pacific Time, and learn how to identify potential threats, leverage technology for safety, and effectively handle emergencies.
REGISTER HERE
Make the 10-Second Rule a habit whenever you are on the road.
The 10-Second Rule for Keeping Safe on the Road
Inattention is one of the main reasons people find themselves in dangerous situations.
Take a few precious seconds to assess your surroundings to help you spot and avoid danger. Make it a habit, and then share it with someone else.
Take two seconds when you arrive at your destination.
• Is there any questionable activity in the area?
• Are you parked in a well-lit, visible location?
• Can you be blocked in the driveway by another vehicle?
Take two seconds after you step out of your car.
• Are there suspicious people around?
• Do you know exactly where you’re going?
Take two seconds as you walk towards your destination.
• Are people coming and going or is the area unusually quiet?
• Do you observe any obstacles or hiding places in the parking lot or along the street?
• Is anyone loitering in the area?
Take two seconds at the door.
• Do you have an uneasy feeling as you’re walking in?
• Is someone following you in?
Take two seconds as soon as you enter your destination.
• Does anything seem out of place?
• Is anyone present who shouldn’t be there or who isn’t expected?
Give your safety the attention you deserve. All these take a total of 10 seconds! Protect yourself with more safety tips and resources from www.nar.realtor/safety
There appears to be a growing number of fraudsters posing as owners of vacant land and contacting real estate agents and requesting their assistance to sell a property they don’t own. The California Department of Real Estate has issued a warning to all California licensees, as law enforcement agencies and District Attorney offices around California are reporting a sharp increase in this type of real estate fraud.
In the scheme, the criminal:
• Searches public records to:
1. Identify properties that are free of mortgage or other liens.
2. Identify the property owner – This often includes vacant lots, long-term rentals, or vacation rentals, with targeted properties often owned by the elderly and/or foreigners.
• Poses as the property owner and contacts a real estate agent to list the property for sale
• Requests that the property be listed below market value to generate immediate interest.
• Requests that no “For Sale” sign be posted on the property.
• Requests preference for a cash buyer, quickly accepts an offer, and demands a quick closing.
• Refuses to meet in person, preferring to be contacted through email, text, or over phone, and typically refusing video calls.
• Refuses to attend the signing and claims to be out of state or country.
• Demands to use their own notary, who then provides falsified documents to the title company or closing attorney.
• Insists that proceeds are wired to them.
On their own, these characteristics may not be red flags. But, when several or most occur, the risk becomes more apparent. Unfortunately, the scheme is usually only discovered when recording the transfer of documents with the appropriate county.
SILVAR is urging all REALTOR® members to exercise due diligence in taking the proper steps to verify the owner of a property before accepting a listing.
Follow these tips from the DRE on how to prevent the scam:
• Request an in-person or virtual meeting and see proper government-issued identification.
• If they won’t meet, require them to utilize the services of third-party identity verification service provider.
• Conduct an online search using the name of the property owner. Look for a phone number and recent photo. If you find a number, contact that person and verify they are the actual owner.
• Send via overnight mail a copy of the electronically signed listing to the address or record with a request to confirm the listing’s accuracy. This will alert the legitimate owner of potential fraud.
• Require that the property owner provide a copy of a voided check with the seller’s disbursement authorization form.
• Use a wire verification service or confirm wire instructions match account details on the seller’s disbursement authorization form.
DRE also encourages brokers to develop written policies with respect to listing properties in which the licensee and seller have never met in-person. Alleged cases of this or any other type of real estate fraud should be reported to local law enforcement authorities or local District Attorney’s office. If there is another real estate licensee potentially involved in the fraud, you should provide the information to DRE through its Enforcement Online Complaint System.
Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® says ... 