Realtor Murdered at Iowa Townhome Update: Is It Safe for Agents to Hold Open Houses?

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Ashley Okland

The real estate agent, a beautiful 27-year old woman, was gunned down at 2 pm in the afternoon in a development of about 70 town home units, only about a year old, on the Dallas County side of West Des Moines. The area is about 1½ miles from Jordan Creek Town Center, if you know Des Moines. If I were an agent — if I were an agent who actually sells real estate — I would not hold open houses without security. Years ago, a top producer now at Ellen Terry, and one of the dearest people I know in this town, saw her life flash before her eyes when she was robbed at an open house off Midway.

Open houses are scary: do we still need them?

Update: My nephew’s girlfriend lives in Des Moines and has mutual friends. She tells me the neighborhood where Ashley was killed was upscale and a beautiful newer area that gets lots of attention from national chain stores — in fact, it has Iowa’s only Apple store.

Candy Evans

Candy Evans

10 Comments

  1. Alex Roostaei on April 12, 2011 at 9:38 am

    so sad, I think every realtor should have some form of a taser with them at an open house….OR start holding open houses in "two"s

    but as to your question of do we need them? yes…..the ability to market yourself to random people weekly is a big plus, at least it has been for me.



    • Chuck Baudrau on April 13, 2011 at 10:31 am

      This is a very sad and common problem in our industry. Security is the least trained program in broherage today. I think it should be right there with Marketing.
      As a Mortgage Originator, I go with Real Estate Consultants on their open houses. It serves two purposes. There is safety in numbers and I get to talk to shoppers.
      On more than one Open House in the past, I have seen males come in and immediately turn around after seeing me in the house as well. I hope it is not my looks, but maybe it was and we averted danger.
      Take my advice and take one of your "partners" in real estate with you. We love to have one on one time with you and possible buyers. Heck, put them in the ad for the open house for free prquals and credit advice. It works for both of us that way. Be safe!



  2. Alex Roostaei on April 12, 2011 at 9:38 am

    so sad, I think every realtor should have some form of a taser with them at an open house….OR start holding open houses in "two"s

    but as to your question of do we need them? yes…..the ability to market yourself to random people weekly is a big plus, at least it has been for me.



    • Chuck Baudrau on April 13, 2011 at 10:31 am

      This is a very sad and common problem in our industry. Security is the least trained program in broherage today. I think it should be right there with Marketing.
      As a Mortgage Originator, I go with Real Estate Consultants on their open houses. It serves two purposes. There is safety in numbers and I get to talk to shoppers.
      On more than one Open House in the past, I have seen males come in and immediately turn around after seeing me in the house as well. I hope it is not my looks, but maybe it was and we averted danger.
      Take my advice and take one of your "partners" in real estate with you. We love to have one on one time with you and possible buyers. Heck, put them in the ad for the open house for free prquals and credit advice. It works for both of us that way. Be safe!



  3. Chuck Baudrau on April 13, 2011 at 10:32 am

    That is "brokerage".



  4. Chuck Baudrau on April 13, 2011 at 10:32 am

    That is "brokerage".



  5. […] Realtor Murdered at Iowa Townhome Update: Is It Safe for Agents to Hold Open Houses? Written by Candy Evans on April 12, 2011 […]



  6. […] Realtor Murdered at Iowa Townhome Update: Is It Safe for Agents to Hold Open Houses? Written by Candy Evans on April 12, 2011 […]



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