Security remains a top concern for American, Realtors
Trust but verify with American Realtors
Trish Baehr Schaefer
of American Realtors emphasizes safe showing of properties for the security of
agents, buyers and sellers using criteria established by American Realtors.
While acknowledging the potential of unsafe transactions, Baehr Schaefer’s
local American Realtors offices also offer solutions with an optional
surveilled sale feature and bonded, background-checked Realtors.
Posted:Monday, January 12, 2015 2:30 pm
By Chris Mertes |
Managing Editor, The Star
You might think that
using the old Ronald Reagan statement "Trust But Verify” is an effort to pander
to right-leaning customers . . . until you look at the numbers.
"One Realtor or real
estate professional is killed on the job every 4.8 days,” remarked Trish Baehr
Schaefer, broker/owner at American Realtors, which is located at 3392 Brooks
Drive (the business also has a Madison office).
"Conversely, the same
statistics say there are two police officers killed during the same time frame.
But they go into it . . . with back-up, and weaponry and training.”
"The past few years have
been the most violent I have seen in my 25 years as a Realtor. We’ve seen an
increase in attacks, robberies, murders and rapes committed against
Realtors--as well as home buyers and sellers,” she added.
"The basic elements of
selling a home make us easy prey for criminals, and they know it,” Baehr
Schaefer said.
She now carries a stun
gun flashlight with her everywhere she goes -- not only because of squatters,
but also because of criminals.
She does Safe Showing
classes for real estate agents to try to teach real estate agents how to show
properties safely.
"So when we rolled out
of our franchise agreement with Prudential last month after 10 years, my
husband Pat and I, before we were Prudential, we were American Realtors,” she
said, adding that it made sense to go back to American and return to
independence -- and security.
"All of our Realtors are background checked,” she said. American gets updates from the department that grants real estate licenses.
"In some states, you
could never be a Realtor if you are a felon, but in Wisconsin, you could,” she
said. "And now, they actually have a cool off of three years after you serve
your sentence.”
To combat the unsecure
nature and help the buyer, seller and agent feel more secure, American works as
an optional feature with ADT to do what are called surveilled showings, where
the showings are videotaped and the video is saved in the event there is any
illegal activity occurring in the home.
"You can watch that showing happen on your phone,” she said, adding there is no audio of the showing.
Criminals are also
focusing on new listings because many homeowners don’t know who might be
showing the house, or even the procedure associated with the showing process.
"Our team of bonded, background checked Realtors also offer Surveilled Showings Technology, and a free Security Assessment of your home providing additional protection and peace of mind for you and your family during the showing and sale process,” Baehr Schaefer said.
"We are also the only
real estate company of the Big 10 here in Dane County to be [ranked] A+ by the
Better Business Bureau,” Baehr Schaefer said.
Veterans are also welcome at American Realtors, with a 25 percent discount to any military veteran including the Guard and Reserve.
"On an average priced
house . . . that’s going to result in about $2,000 cash back to a military
family . . . on the sale and the purchase,” she said.
A Daughter of the
American Revolution, Baehr Schaefer’s ninth great grandfather fought in the
Revolutionary War. That also made it an easy connection for American Realtors
office to help the Wounded Warrior Project by donating a portion of every sale
to WWP.
For additional information about American Realtors properties or services, call (608) 834-2600, toll-free at (800) 728-9737 or e-mailinfo@AmericanMadison.comor online atwww.AmericanMadison.com.
American Realtors
Address:3392 Brooks Drive
Phone:(608) 834-2600
Fax:(608) 834-2620
Hours:9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; surveilled safe showings by request