Broker shares real estate safety tips

Re: '10 steps to a safe open house' (June 23)

Dear Editor:

In my past life I was the owner and lecturer for "Street Aware," which was a nationally known personal safety course I created. I also developed a segment designed for Realtors' open houses and for showing houses.

The segment is too long to cover in this letter, but here are a few key points:

1. Always talk in plural: "My partner should be here any minute and he/she knows more about that but let me see if I can help you," etc.

2. Stage the house like more than one person is showing: maybe two cups of coffee, or two plates off to the side (use your imagination) and again talk in plural.

3. If attacked, break a window. People will sometimes ignore screams, thinking it is just kids playing, but if they hear broken glass they will come out to see what is going on to protect their home. Also, your cries for help will be heard better through a broken window than a closed window.

4. Never go anywhere with your attacker, no matter what the threats. Your objective is to stay where others are so there is a better chance of someone interrupting your attacker's efforts. His/her objective is likely to get you somewhere where help will not come -- to bring you somewhere isolated.

There is much more in the course, but these are a few key points to consider.

John Armando
Broker
Sorrento Properties
San Jose, Calif.

                                         

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