A sunny 10am showing turned in to a nightmare yesterday when a Florida real estate agent and his married Buyer couple were ambushed while showing a home, leaving the husband dead and a community in shock over the incident.
Realtor Thomas Dwyer was quoted as saying, “He just came into the house and started firing.” Seller, Angela Williams added, “It’s disgusting that we have people around like this, waiting to pounce on innocent, hardworking people.” Read the full story here.
Esteemed Colleagues: Please don’t take your safety for granted. Realtors and their clients can be easy targets for predators. Expect the best, but plan for the worst, and take simple precautions that can help protect both you and your Buyer clients during showings.
- Enter with caution – don’t assume the house is vacant or unoccupied
- Lock doors behind you upon entering to help prevent a follow in or uninvited entry
- Establish your escape routes in case of emergency
- Never turn your back on a client
- Never go into closets, bathrooms, or any room that has no escape route
- Direct (do not lead) guests through the home
- Keep your cell phone with you at all times
- Never park where you can get blocked in
- Make sure to have a clear line of sight to your vehicle
- Consider personal initiatives for self defense
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.