5 Ways Real Estate Agents Can Keep You Safe When Selling Your Home
Working with the right real estate agent can make a big difference in how safe you feel during the selling process. A good agent will know how to screen potential buyers, protect your privacy, and comply with fair housing laws, among other things. As a result, you’re more likely to have a smooth, stress-free transaction.
Here are five ways that real estate agents can keep you safe when selling your home:
1) Agents can qualify buyers and prevent fraud by screening them
A good agent will want to make sure that the buyers who contact them about your listing are qualified and have the financial means to purchase your home. Otherwise, you could be dealing with someone who’s just kicking tires or trying to get information about you and your home for malicious reasons. By asking the right questions, such as whether the buyer has a pre-approval letter from the lender and what their purchase timeline looks like, your agent can help weed out any potential problems.
2) Agents can protect your privacy by not disclosing your personal information
When you list your home with a real estate professional, they can assist you in determining how much information about yourself and your home to post online. They’ll also know what they should and shouldn’t disclose to buyers. Too much information can put you at risk, but not enough can make potential buyers hesitant about working with you. By sharing only the essentials on listing sites and social media, your agent can help keep your private information safe while still marketing your home effectively.
3) Agents can ensure a smooth process by complying and enforcing fair housing laws
To comply with fair housing laws in the U.S., a good agent will take steps to ensure that everyone involved in the transaction is treated equally regardless of their race, religion, sex, familial status, and other protected classes. They can also detect when lenders, buyers’ agents, escrow officers, etc., use housing discrimination tactics like blockbusting, steering, and redlining, and work to stop them. By the same token, a real estate pro will know how to avoid getting into a sticky fair housing situation. This is crucial, as words like “exclusive” and “family-friendly” in the listing description may seem innocuous, for example, but could put you at risk of violating fair housing laws.
4) Agents can keep your property safe by supervising showings
When you hire an agent to sell your property, they’ll usually hold on to a set of keys so that they may show it to buyers and their agents. This means that you don’t have to be home every time someone wants to see it, which can be a major relief if you have a busy schedule or are worried about safety. In addition, many agents now use lockboxes that only allow certain people to access them with a special code. This adds an extra layer of security to your home.
5) Agents can keep you safe during COVID by using virtual or 3D tours
Although things are slowly returning to “normal” these days, some buyers aren’t ready to attend a crowded open house just yet. Because of this, many agents have turned to creative alternatives like 3D and virtual tours to help remote buyers envision themselves in your home without setting foot inside. Additionally, if you’re able to schedule in-person showings, your agent can enforce social distancing and other COVID protocols to keep everyone safe.
Staying Safe During Your Home Sale With the Right Real Estate Agent
The best real estate agent for your needs can help you list and sell your home quickly while keeping you safe. If at any time you feel like your safety is being compromised, be sure to speak up and let your agent know. After all, they’re there to help you every step of the way and ensure that your home sale goes as smoothly (and safely) as possible.
Do you have any other safety concerns when selling your home? Let us know in the comments below! Or reach out to an Elegran advisor today for more information.
