In the Media this week: Coverage regarding a Surrey-based REALTOR® who was assaulted during an open house, the tragic city-wide fire happening in Fort McMurray and how you can help, and what’s happening in the Fraser Valley market with last month’s record-setting numbers.
Last weekend, a member of the Board was sexually assaulted during an open house in North Surrey. A sketch of the suspect has been released, and the RCMP is looking for any information that might aid in their investigation. Articles, including comment from President-Elect Gopal Sahota below:
- Peace Arch News – Realtors warned after sex attack
- Surrey Leader – RCMP release sketch of sex assault suspect
- Global News – Surrey real estate agent assaulted at open house
Safety tips for realtors (Via the Canadian Real Estate Association):
• Your cellphone can be your best friend in a bad situation. Program 911 on your speed dial.
• Have a pre-arranged distress signal. For example, “I’m at the Jones house and I need the red file right away.” Share and practise your distress code with your office, colleagues, family and friends. Use it any time you feel uneasy.
• Tell someone who you are with, where you are going and when you will be back. Make sure someone else knows what your schedule is and who you’re planning to meet.
• Limit the amount of personal information you share. Do not use your home phone number; use a cellphone number instead. Use your office address rather than your home address.
• When you have new clients, meet them at the office first. Verify their identities. Note their car make and model, and licence plate number, and if you can, photocopy their driver’s licence. Complete a client identification orm. A serious client will not hesitate to share this information.
• Often at an open house, you’ll be working alone. You won’t know who will show up, so take basic precautions to ensure your personal safety.
Also in the news, coverage regarding last month’s record-setting statistics.
- Vancouver Sun – Fraser Valley sets record for home sales for fourth month in a row
- Globe and Mail – Vancouver housing sales hit record highs during real estate boom
Other articles of note for this week:
- Globe and Mail – Canadian building permits fall 7 per cent
- Globe and Mail – Canada’s trade gap hits record; export slump weighs on recovery
- Vancouver Province – Bankruptcy on the rise in B.C.
And that’s it for this week’s edition of ‘In the Media’. Check back next Friday for another round-up of news, articles and info for you and your business.