BiggerPockets

I got a call from a friend of mine today who does rentals in another part of the country in a " nice" town. While inspecting potential deals he walked in on a dead rape victim.

Folks, when you're inspecting property - especially vacant property - you need to take care of yourself. Never forget that no matter how nice a town you are in, you are operating " behind closed doors" . No matter how pretty, wealthy, or " nice" they are - people behave one way in public and hide their secrets " behind closed doors" . When you go there, you leave the safety of the public eye and familliar territory. You are in someone else's territory and need to have a heightened level of awareness. I am a 6'3, 260 lb martial arts practitioner and I never go into vacant property alone and I always have a 3' maglight and a " tactical" grade folding knife with me at minimum. I have never needed either yet and would frankly prefer to run like hell than ever get into a fight in someone else's territory (and not just for legal concerns) but the reality of the world is that there are bad people out there who are not governed by reason and must therefore be governed by other means.

It's not just that some people are different in private.

No matter how nice the neighborhood, the bad guys have cars. They don't just operate in their own neighborhood, or even in their own town.

In fact, if they are going out doing home invasions or other crimes, they are going to get into their car and go to where it is more porfitable.

Just because they don't live in nice neigborhoods, doesn't mean they don't rob and murder in nice neighborhoods.

In addition, the populatoion just seems to be getting nuttier all the time.

Oh my gosh! I'm glad for this reminder....I go through 20-30 properties a week! Yes they are in good neighborhoods but I'd be looking for a new line of work if I saw a dead mouse, much less a dead body! Eeeeek!

I think it was Tim who once said in a post that a person who owns fly-over properties can leave a Glock in a safety deposit box, fly in , pick it up, and then visit your properties. Not a bad idea... :rock:

My agent said they get classes, safety tips, and reminders at various seminars here about that very thing. It didn't occur to me to, but maybe I'll carry, when I go looking. I've never gone into someplace alone, but have gone to check the exterior and the neighborhood.

Most states now have concealed carry laws and I highly encourage anyone in this business to get their concealed carry license. I force myself to carry my handgun at all times when working. In fact, my wife always asks me if I have my handgun before I leave the house.

The fact is that in this business, we not only have the chance of meeting a criminal by accident in a vacant property, but we also meet criminals on a daily basis in the rental business (they are called applicants). Not every low income person is a criminal, but nearly all criminals live in low income rentals! Just today, I ran two druggies off my property (my latest apartment building). They were there to get drugs from the drug dealer that I evicted a month ago! (they must not have gotten an address change memo from the dealer)

In addition to all that, if you're in this business, it's very easy to accumulate a bunch of enemies and you never know when they're going to go postal. People tend to take it personally when you evict them; turn them down for a rental; have their Section 8 cancelled; have them arrested for drug activity; etc. It can take months or years for their anger to build to the point that they go postal!

So, my advice is to be prepared to defend yourself at all times. You have a constitutional right to carry a gun and I suggest exercising it!

Mike

What sucks is that I live in the People's Republic of Illinois and we can't carry and conceal.

Now, having said that, when I have gone into more " challenged" neighborhoods, I have brought a " deterrent" with me. Since, the police won't escort me through a crappy property.

This makes me feel so much better, and confirms I'm not a paranoid freak for bringing a weapon with me when I went to look at properties.

Typerider,
Thanks for the laugh. Shared your story with my husband. We laughed for quite a while but you made a very good point. You never know. As a woman doing the investing (husband really loves his day job) I am quite aware of my surroundings. Have been fortunate so far but know that my husban worries about my safety.

Does any one know if you need a permit to carry a taser or stun gun?

Thanks.

thanks for the advice Tim..another thing it's hard to trust someone, when inspecting you should have friends or a family member with you...