Maybe this has been discussed before. If so I appologize I could not find anything on search.
For the ladies that have to offer cash for keys, Do you take someone with you?

I didn't my on my first one, but after finding out that the guy was a registered sex offender (from a neighbor long after CFK was done) I decided to be more careful in the future. I do take someone now.

I have my first CFK to do and did try knocking on the door alone yesterday. No one answered. I could tell someone was peaking through the blinds. Honestly made me a bit uncomfortable and would prefer to go back with someone.
Do you just tell them that you are a representative of the bank and have been asked to notify them to vacate?

If nobody answers when I knock, I have a letter that I leave asking them to call me. Most of the time, I actually make my forst "contact" when they call me to find out what they need to do to get the money I'm offering.

I usually do not take anyone with me. The only time that I do is if I know the area is not all that safe. Most of my Asset Companies have their own forms that I fill in my contact info on and if noone answers then I leave it taped to the front door. I have one property right now that is occupied by a renter who refuses to vacate and it has been on eviction status for about 5 months now.. REALLY getting ill with this lady... She is living there rent free think she is going to give that up... I DO take my husband with me when I have to go to her house...

I always take someone with me. My dad is retired and he loves riding with me to do my bpos, inspections and CFK's. I have run into one too many squatters and irrate homeowners to try to do this without some muscle. Oh and if it is a bad one I carry my 4 cell maglite flashlight with me. LOL

Usually, I don't take anyone with me. I do have my pepper spray on my key chain and also have the letter with the tape already on it. I just tell them that the bank now owns the property and they need to contact me if the want some money to help with moving expenses...yada,yada,yada.

My instructions state specifically "do not leave the notice on the door".
For those of you that leave a letter, Do you leave the cash for keys agreement, or do you just write something up?

If it says not to leave it on the door, I would leave my own letter that says something like mbrkr suggested above. Simple, short, don't put a dollar amount, and don't put your home phone number. Usually, they see monetary assistance and they call.

And by the way- YES, by all means, take someone with you! My male partner doesn't even do them alone. It isn't just for your physical safety, it provides a witness should there be any accusations later.

I like the mag lite idea.. I'm going to go buy one!

-A

Thank you all for all the help.

I always take someone with me. I'll do a drive-by and then go back later with someone. All of my CFK letters state that the letter must be left on the door. I also leave a letter on the door in bold letters that if I'm not contacted within 24 hours, the locks to their home will be changed. The phone rings every time!

I almost always take someone with me. If that is not possible, I tell someone the address and either phone them at a specified time or have them phone me. It has never happened, but if the phone check fails, the police are supposed to be called.

I have a generic letter that states I am trying to determine occupancy...if I do not get a phone response by xyz date (24 hrs usually) I will assume house is vacant and a rekey will be ordered to secure the home. I also have in there that I have relocation assistance money available for them-just call for details. I tape my business card to that. I have only had one I knew was occupied *not* call me and they ended up vacating a few days later. When you mention money avail...post it and they will call. I don't ever do the C4K offers in person.

Definatley take someone along for the ride. Its just too risky with all the crazies out there. I take my 6"5 husband who has a license to carry. You just never know....

I have two dobermans. Depending on the type of neighborhood, I rotate between the two about "who can go to work with Mom" for the day. Even during re-key I let either one of them (the dogs) go through the house with me.

I always have my husband go with me. We usually take his truck. He stays in truck I go knock on door. If there is no answer I tape my own letter short version about the money. I don’t specify in letter how much, I just say to call me. Then same day I send registered letter from AM. There is one spooky house I’m watching since August, the front door is a second floor it does have wooden stairs going up blocked with big sign do not enter - broken , rotten, missing wood. I had to use back door, that was scary, then my husband went with me. Walking through high grass junk buried in it still give me a shiver. I hate to see what is inside. DO NOT GO ALONE

Don't think it is or should be gender specific if you take someone with you or not. I don't think anyone should go alone. Too may crazies and dope heads out there. I am a male from Texas and we have a concealed handgun law. However, when I go to a house to check for Occupacy for a Realtor or rekey I always have someone with me so they can watch my back. Just good business practices and common sense in the times we are in, unfortunately.

I like the practice of REbySB with the dobermans. That sure would or should get their attention. LOL However, I would always take one because it is difficult to deciper what neighborhood has the crazy or dope phean cause they are everywhere.

I generally have someone with me at all times.. just in case if something happens. You never know if the house was vacant and someone broke in and lives there illegally. =)

I keep someone with me, even on iffy interior inspections. If I don't have someone with me and I feel anything is off at all, I make a phone call and keep someone on the phone while I am there - just in case.

You cannot be too careful - there are just too many variables out there that you cannot control.

Be safe

But hey, loving that Doberman idea!

majority of the time i don't take anyone with me anymore, at first id always take my mom or the husband...if they could'nt go id take my 8yr old and have her stay on the phone with the husband or my mom!!
Now I usually just do a simple drive by and leave my card, i had some cards printed with text on the back and room for me to write in occupants name/date..they state i was sent on behalf of their mortgage co,need to verify occupancy due to foreclosure reasons, and they may be eligible for cfk..without that im sure they would never call. Id rather deal with them on the phone than in person the first time, if they dont want to kill you, they have a sob story i dont need to see in person:(
I HAVE to say, my creepiest moment has been with a realtor..he kept invading my personal space!!!yukkk
i wish the dog idea worked with me, we have danes and im sure after 2 minutes of ferocious barking theyd just lick them to death.

I had both of "my girls", the dobies, trained starting at 9 months old. They are trained to understand German and hand signals. They are generally sweethearts unless they notice a change in my body language or are asked to do otherwise. They have been worth every dime that I have invested in them.

Its imparative to be safe when entering unknown properties. Now days people arent the only ones you need to be cautious of....sometimes abandoned pets can be just as harmful. I can't tell you how many dogs I have had to rescue.

Maybe this is against the rules but I just send a letter with a copy of the agreement and they usually get it the next day then call me with questions. I explain over the phone and they either fax the agreement over to me or drop ti off at my office and I meet them on the specified vacate date.

My property preseration company will do it for free.

I think it's an advertising thing to get more business. I get e-mails from Ocwen vendors advertising for property preservation services. Usually the CFK is FREE for them to do it.

Most PP vendors will do that. We do it, too. But it's not for advertising purposes. We do it for our clients when they get busy.

We do the CFK exchange, then we change the locks, add a lockbox, and do the photo inspection for the client. We e-mail the photos along with the invoice and a bid for anything that might be needed in the way of repairs.

Doing this saves my clients the trip and they know they can count on the property being secured and receive good photos when I'm done.

I'm not sure how advertising would play into this, tho. Did I miss the point somehow?

Linda

I agree, The PP company should do it in return for the work,
No need to go out there.
Most good PP companies will:
CFK, re-key, take and label pictures (email them to you),
and send a trashout/lawn bid.

No reason at all you should be going into vacant houses.

Nick

REO Services
reoservicesofmaryland.com

Just out of curiosity - what is the going rate for a CFK? I see that some PP companies do it for free in the regards that it will lead to work orders, but on the broker side, what are the spiffs? Thanks

[quote=allREOpreserv][quote=april]My property preseration company will do it for free. I think it's an advertising thing to get more business. I get e-mails from Ocwen vendors advertising for property preservation services. Usually the CFK is FREE for them to do it. [/quote]

Most PP vendors will do that. We do it, too. But it's not for advertising purposes. We do it for our clients when they get busy.

We do the CFK exchange, then we change the locks, add a lockbox, and do the photo inspection for the client. We e-mail the photos along with the invoice and a bid for anything that might be needed in the way of repairs.

Doing this saves my clients the trip and they know they can count on the property being secured and receive good photos when I'm done.

[/quote]

Linda, thanks for the info. My company currently does not offer CFK, but I am going to incorporate this into our services.

We work mainly for the nationals who have only required CFK on a few occasions. We are trying to get more local banks and realtors and this is something we definitely should offer.