Before a tour, you will most likely be asked for an ID that the office will hold onto why you check out your potential new home. This is usually no problem, but you get the occasional, "Um, why would you need that? I don't want to give that to you."
What many people don't understand is how potentially dangerous our job is. We take a person we don't know into an empty unit to show them around. While I would say 99% of tours are very honest and good people, there is always that 1%.
Months ago, I had a couple come in. We go through the usual "what size are you looking for, what price range, can I hold onto your ID, let's show you around" and head out.
They don't look like they can afford the place, but this job quickly teaches you to not judge someone's ability to pay rent by what they look (or smell) like. They seem normal as we talk, and everything is going well until we get to the apartment and the door is shut behind us. The man asks, "So I have a criminal background, is that going to be an issue?" Red flag. I proceed to tell him it depends on the crime and how long ago it was committed.
He walks closer to me and calls me naive, and then proceeds to tell me him crime. I don't imagine it's legal for me disclose the gruesome details he told me, but I can tell you that he is on the sex offenders list.
I quickly ended the tour, gave him back his ID when we got to the office, and told him he would not be approved with his background.
Please be patient with us as we ask for your ID. It is simply a safety precaution.
-K.
No comments:
Post a Comment