Safety Alert: Multiple Reports of Suspicious Behavior at Open Houses

In addition to the information shared on July 19, 2022, we have had multiple members submit reports of suspicious behavior at recent open houses and wanted to provide supplemental recommendations for staying safe as a REALTOR®. The following circumstances occurred over the past few weeks during open houses that were hosted alone:

• A visitor arrived on a bike and proceeded to pace the front yard and neighborhood before entering the home and looking around. The visitor spent about an hour and a half in the home during which he asked the member where she lived, if she had other listings, and if she would be willing to show a home at nighttime. The visitor also firmly suggested that the agent lock the door of the home, suggesting that they be in the home alone.
• Another member was hosting an open house alone when two visitors entered the home. The visitors paid special attention to a gate in the backyard and proceeded to spend an abundant amount of time upstairs, quietly conversing and moving around. The member reported the visitors spent approximately 35-40 minutes upstairs. Upon coming back downstairs, the member’s personal space was invaded by one of them prior to their departure on foot (they had not come in a vehicle).

BRR and the National Association of REATORS® recommend taking the following steps to stay safe at open houses:

• Do not host open houses alone. Be sure a colleague is present with you to provide additional support and help ensure that the home is secure and free of visitors at the end of the open house. Don’t assume that everyone has left the premises without confirming with a colleague.
• Do not agree to home showings at night time. Your safety as an agent is your top priority. While it may take additional coordination, plan for a well-lit showing time.
• Check for cell service prior to showings and open houses. Verifying access to cell signal can also be a deciding factor on bringing a partner with you. Should signal not be available, seriously consider bringing another agent or industry partner with you. If you hold the open house alone, share your location and a timeline of when you’ll be back in service with someone you trust.
• Notify others of your whereabouts. Ensure someone knows where you are and have plan for check-ins. Sharing your location with them can also add an additional level of security.
• Always have the prospect walk in front of you. Do not lead the visitor through the home. Instead, position yourself approximately three to four arm lengths behind them. This provides you visibility and a safe distance from the person.
• Practice awareness and personal protection. Being aware of your surroundings can help you reduce risk of being surprised by an approaching visitor and can deter potential assailants from considering you to be an easy target. Utilize the reflections of mirrors, car windows, and house windows to see behind you. Consider developing self defense skills and employ personal protection tools (your comfort level).
• Have an “out,” prepared ahead of time. The best way to avoid danger is to extract yourself from it. Prepare a scenario prior to your open house (such as “I left some important paperwork in my car. I’ll have to go grab it,” or “Another agent is on their way with another buyer”). It is also acceptable to simply ask the visitor to leave the property.
• Contact the authorities. As the person responsible for the property during the open house, you can call local law enforcement and have the person(s) removed from the property.

We also want to remind members of the free SafeShowings App, provided by Idaho REALTORS®. The app allows you to set customized timers for check-ins with your emergency contacts, share your location, and take photos/notes of each prospect at showings and open houses.

For more information on safety best practices, visit nar.realtor/safety or boirealtors.com/realtor-safety-resources. If you have a safety concern to share, please email me directly or call us at 208-376-0363. To receive text message alerts from BRR, including safety alerts, please opt-in to text messages here.

Thank you and take care.

NOTE: Please understand the association cannot file a police report on someone’s behalf, cannot run background checks on individuals, nor can we share information about any individual with others, per the advice of legal counsel. We do encourage members to report any suspicious or criminal behavior to local authorities immediately, and to use these alerts as a reminder to assess your personal safety habits and practices.