SELLER SAFETY -- The Inman Brain Trust scores another solid tip with a Blog post urging that REALTORS® institute Open House standards that will preclude buyers from touring a home without a REALTOR® escort: "I think it's time for a change in our industry's standards for respecting the home security of sellers. No hosted tour or escort, no access to the open house." I agree.
BUYER SAFETY -- I would urge ALL real estate offices to enforce a policy that insures that dogs will not have "run of the house" during a showing. Several months ago I sustained two very bad dog bites on my hand and leg. (I'm still unable to peel potatoes, a sorry fate for a middle-age Polish lady.) Believe it or not, there are still offices that tell showing agents: "There is a friendly dog in the house. His name is Boo." I personally showed a house last week with instructions to "use the lockbox, the sellers will not be home". About two minutes into the showing, a very nervous, jittery dog appeared. There was no prior notice about the animal; I have a personal rule not to show houses with unrestrained dogs. We exited the property without incident, but it took almost a week of negotiating to get back into the house with assurances that the dog would be secure. The listing agency told me that it did not notify agents of the dog since the dog had such a "nice" reputation. I think that all offices need to consider the issue of canine safety and ultimate legal liability.
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