Opioid Crisis Presents Threat to REALTORS
Stories about opiod addiction are getting national attention and should be getting yours too. Why?
America’s opiod crisis is putting REALTORS® at risk — especially at high-end showings and open houses.
Nearly 38 percent of real estate agents admitted to fearing for their personal safety on the job at some point. For female agents, the number is closer to half, according to NAR’s 2017 Member Safety Report.
– REALTOR® Mag (Nov. 7, 2017)
“Gov. Doug Ducey signed an emergency declaration in June, after the state reported that 790
Arizonans had died from opioid overdoses in 2016, an average of more than two per day.”
– NPR (Aug. 11, 2017)
CNBC reports that, “Addicts are posing as potential homebuyers and booking house tours in order to get access to medicine cabinets.” This isn’t new. In 2014, someone posing as a buyer crashed a West Valley MLS marketing tour and rifled through bathroom cabinets and drawers. One owner reported drugs were missing.
“(During an open house or showing), you really want to make sure to put anything that’s valuable away — especially prescription medications,” Arizona REALTORS® 2018 President-Elect D. Patrick Lewis told CBS 5.
“If you hold an open house, never do it alone,” said Paula Monthofer, Arizona REALTORS® 2017 president. She also suggests deterring criminals with a sign that reads:
There’s even a new app available that will perform instant background checks on potential clients before you meet them for showings.
Related stories:
Seller Beware
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Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act