NAR’s Realtor Security Advisory Committee is recommending that MLSs add and use eight new knowledge fields to assist in agent security. These fields would point out if a home is vacant; unheated; has minimal or no exterior lighting; minimal or no inside lighting; distant/restricted visibility from the highway; electrical energy not on; inconsistent cell service; and others.

I’ve to agree there are occasions when I’ve taken a shopper to see a property and located some surprises. I’ve all the time carried just a few flashlights as a result of the times are brief within the winter and owners don’t all the time go away the lights on. Typically it’s so darkish that we are able to’t even discover the home.

Including new fields to the MLS is an enormous deal. I’ve been on the MLS advisory committee for my MLS for a few years and the request so as to add fields to the MLS comes up reasonably typically. When you have ever entered an inventory into an MLS, you is perhaps shocked by what number of fields there are already — and there shall be extra earlier than you’re accomplished studying this text.

The proposed fields would solely be seen to actual property brokers which is ok. There are some who consider that the fields might stigmatize a property. I supposed that might occur in areas of the nation which are experiencing a robust consumers’ market.

I completely agree that brokers must be made conscious of widespread hazards that may be discovered on a property, however I don’t suppose including new fields to MLSs is the perfect answer. Probably the most helpful MLS fields are people who can be utilized in searches. We are able to search by property measurement, variety of rooms, forms of heating or cooling, and a lot extra.

We have already got a spot to notice hazardous circumstances

Hazardous circumstances must be included within the exhibiting directions. They’ll simply be modified or eliminated if circumstances on the property change. Quite a few hazards will be listed within the exhibiting directions in higher element. This could possibly be carried out at the moment. In truth, a few of us have been mentioning hazards in exhibiting directions for years now.

It’s fantastic that there’s a security advisory committee. I don’t suppose being a Realtor is extra harmful than different jobs, however a number of the risks are distinctive to the trade. Any job or job website will be made safer.

Brokers who spend numerous time driving and utilizing cell phones whereas driving could also be in danger for automobile accidents.

Brokers who ship textual content messages and shoot movies of themselves speaking whereas they drive are risking their very own lives and the lives of others.

Working at night time and assembly strangers will be harmful, and Realtors die doing that every yr. Holding open homes is harmful and so is door-knocking and assembly strangers at vacant homes.

Throughout my profession, I’ve been bitten by a canine whereas itemizing a home. I as soon as slipped on a patch of ice at nighttime on a shopper’s property and suffered bruises and ache for a few weeks.

Again in the course of the housing market crash, I toured many chilly, vacant homes with no electrical energy. A few of them have been creepy, too. We needed to be prepared for something.

Itemizing brokers ought to let others find out about circumstances on the property that could possibly be hazardous. The shortage of electrical energy is a superb instance and must be talked about within the exhibiting directions.

Displaying directions also needs to point out that the walks won’t be cleared and {that a} flashlight shall be wanted to search out the entrance door — which is the place the lockbox with the black numbers on the black background is positioned. Advising consumers brokers that there isn’t any warmth and that cellphone service is iffy could make the exhibiting safer.

Figuring out as a lot concerning the property as doable earlier than the exhibiting means fewer surprises in the course of the exhibiting. When the exhibiting goes easily, there’s a higher likelihood that consumers will make a proposal.

13 extra hazards NAR didn’t take into consideration

Right here are some things along with these listed within the eight new fields that must be put in exhibiting directions:

1. Entrance door lock sticks. Be affected person, jiggle the knob, swear at it, however don’t kick the door.
2. Aged home-owner could also be in the home sleeping.
3. Vicious canine subsequent door will bark; avoid the fence.
4. Don’t let the cat/canine out.
5. Let the cat out if she asks to exit.
6. Ice could also be current on walkway; proprietor by no means shovels.
7. When you can’t discover the home, please name me for assist.
8. Yard has holes in it from earlier proprietor’s canine; take care to not journey.
9. Yard has canine poop in it.
10. Watch out for chickens and hen poop.
11. Alarm is so loud that it might probably shatter eardrums. When you journey it, run and name for assist.
12. Basement stairway may be very slim and rickety; use warning.
13. Poison ivy has been discovered on the property.

That is solely a partial record and I doubt if there’s any property the place all of those circumstances are current on the similar time. There are most likely hazards I’ve by no means heard of that apply to homes in different markets.

Brokers ought to all the time make acceptable footwear selections when exhibiting homes and carry just a few flashlights and umbrellas within the automobile. It’s a good suggestion to have a few towels, a blanket and a primary help equipment.

Please watch out on the market. Record and present actual property responsibly in order that nobody is harmed.