Well... I'm pretty certain I already know the answer most will give here - but I'm just wanting to see if my position is validated. :)

I'm a new agent - and would you believe, that my very first lead was a convicted murderer. Not just any murderer mind you... but I won't get into the details.

After doing some research, I learned of the public outcry regarding this person's release after only a few years, so my answer was clear. Obviously, I didn't want to risk my own personal safety, or risk alienating the public. But I'll admit, that a small percentage of me also realizes that they've served their time according to the law, and that someone is going to help them, especially if they don't do their research. (I just happened to research the client before ever meeting them.)

Granted, murder is the extreme - but how do you handle situations where you know your potential client has such issues in their past? Where do you draw the line? Do you try to research your potential clients in advance? And, how often have you encountered such situations?

I know there are real issues regarding personal safety for agents - but I also know the chances of being impacted by it are relatively slim (overall) - but I will be vigilant. In any event, this situation has brought this issue more to the forefront for me. I would have been TOTALLY freaked-out if I'd discovered this after already assisting this buyer.

No, I don't typically check out my customers. If they had been involved in a local case over the past 30 years, I might recognize the name (in big cases, especially). Whether I would/could work with them would depend on the details of the case. Not sure I could work with someone who was convicted of rape, murder, pedophilia (yeh, I have a real problem with sex offenders) or any other crime against a minor.

If I did work with them, I'd have to be up front & tell them that I know they were convicted of whatever. And I'd have to ask them if they've considered, carefully, what they will say to their new neighbors (who will likely recognize their name or if 'n when it is recognized). And from there, we'd talk about where it is they would like to view houses. I think part of my job is to get them settled some place where they can legally reside & be comfortable.

Well, unless your in D.C where I understand Mayor B has made them a protected class, you can just say sorry I am not going to be the guy that introduces that element into anywhere. Legally serving your time does not translate into a brain transplant and a cure.

With murder, I think it depends on "why" the person killed. Rape & pedophilia, nah, that's time to string a rope up & put the tax payers out of their misery from having to keep the perp.

I rent to some ex-cons & they've all been good tenants over the past year and a half. Three have drug convictions as meth cooks; the 4th has an alcohol/anger problem. So I can't say I wouldn't sell a house to an ex-con.

Oh my heck are you kidding? There is NO WAY that I would work with someone who had murdered someone and been convicted. What if they got mad because the seller wouldn't replace the water heater and then blamed you? Not a person I would want to know where I worked etc. The thought of going into vacant houses with someone like this gives me chills.

Now if someone had done time for gambling or DUI even embezzlement - that I wouldn't be afraid of, but murder - no way.

How does this person have the money to buy a house anyway? I'm not sure the lender would consider making license plates a 2 year work history. LOL

What's to stop a 'normal' buyer from not going bezerk when the water heater doesn't work any more?

I thought everyone would think as much. :)

Sadly, the victim was a child - the act occurred before the laws were more strict. So, the punishment was appallingly low by today's standards.

I asked my broker about it as well, and they agreed that I shouldn't be associated with it (not that I was going to). I guess the buyer can represent themselves just the same if no one will assist them - it's not like they're restricted from going directly to a listing agent, or through a FSBO.

LOL... I'm a bit beside myself that this was my FIRST lead after getting all my ducks in a row. (What are the odds.) I'll assume it doesn't mean anything for the future! :D

So...he was a child murderer?
Think I'd take a pass.

I'm certainly not defending muder, but there are varying degrees of crime.

I've know, heard of, and there are dudes currently being prosecuted for white-collar crimes who I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. That being said, and a lot people here don't agree with this, but I've seen it happen as well, enter the sex offender who got nailed (no pun) because they were boffing someone a year or two younger than them and someone's parents were upset, so they call the cops. These days we also have sexting, which can following kids for years. You guys get where I'm going with this stuff.

I think you really have to go with your gut on certain things after having the facts. I don't believe there's just a blanket "yes" or "no" of who to work with or not.

I tend to be fairly close to KT on this. A person is more than just the crime they've been convicted of. I'd be more concerned about what they've done to make amends for their misdeeds.

I do have family members who are convicted felons; they've made mistakes in the past, and they really have cleaned up their act. I do believe some sort of redemption is possible, even for those who have done rather heinous things in years gone by. That doesn't mean EVERYONE with a prior conviction should be presumed recovered, or that they get a pass. You have to go with your gut on this one; if you don't feel totally comfortable, then you're not the right agent for him.

More practically speaking, this guy is going to find someone to represent him, so taking a moral stand isn't going to prevent him from moving into your community. With that said, one has to consider that depending on the size of your community, your own reputation could take a pretty serious hit when the neighbors find out who represented him. My market is enormous, so I'm probably fairly safe in that regard; certainly it would be a different scenario in a small close-knit town.

Still, things could be worse. Many of my local friends are frequently forced with the question of whether to work with an even more despicable group of people: Hollywood celebrities...

[quote=Andy Perkins]Still, things could be worse. Many of my local friends are frequently forced with the question of whether to work with an even more despicable group of people: Hollywood celebrities... :wink: [/quote]

LOL... Cute, and probably true in many cases. :)

Great way to look at the sex offender issue, KT! I do agree with you on that. Now, a true pedophile? Nope. We have laws here about how close they can live to a school, park, daycare, etc. And they have to maintain their registration. I just couldn't work with one.

I guess it would depend. And my rule of thumb is this - if someone makes me uncomfortable, I don't work with them. They don't have to be convicted or an ex con to be a creep, and I know some ex cons that are pretty nice people who made mistakes and paid for them.

so...

I totally agree with you guys. One doesn't have to have a record to give us the heebie-jeebies (is that spelled right ?) As long as we aren't being descriminitory in nature, we *do* get to choose who we work with.

How do you handle convicts??? Hire them to do your tax returns.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/story/2011-12-29/prisoners-preparing-taxes/52275800/1

Here's a link to:

My Most Memorable Murderer - Gary Evans

where it took me 3 posts to flesh out Gary's Profile as a Real Estate Customer in this old thread.

Remember, none of these folks has "FELON" tattooed across their foreheads (unless times have changed since I left the big City).

Keys to watch out for remain 1) those big wads of small bills; 2) an unwillingness to park where their License Plates can be viewed; and 3) that look of readiness to slit your throat if you simply asked him to buckle his seatbelt.

Gary committed suicide by jumping into the Hudson River while on his way to an arraignment in an Albany, New York Court House; but I learned a lot from him.

And besides . . . . he used the same currency as the rest of us.