457,437
"Safe is subjective. Where I feel comfortable, you may not. What I have told my other clients is to check out the crime statistics and talk to the neighbors, they are always too willing to fill you in. Would you like me to come with you to knock on a few doors?"
I find this usually works. I instruct them to do their due diligence.
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Jeff Dowler, CRS
Carlsbad, CA
3,345,091
I direct them to sources to check on crime rates, etc. I also suggest that they visit the neighborhood at various times of day and night, weekends, etc. That will help them get a "feel" for it. I also explain that we must be careful about what we say about neighborhoods.
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Jeff Dowler, CRS
Carlsbad, CA
33,892
I respond that ethically and legally I can't answer that question. If this is a concern of yours I would recommend doing research via the web and talking to people who live in the neighborhood. Also coming by at diffent times of the day and week can help them in making a decision about the area.
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Jeff Dowler, CRS
Carlsbad, CA
443,220
I respond that agents are legally not allowed to commend on safety issues and that safety is different for everyone. My suggestions include: visiting crime statistic sites, speaking with local police stations, and observing the neighborhood at different times of day/night.
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Thomas McCombs
Akron, OH
6,393,179
I think our whole city is safe, check w the police dept if you want stats on this.
4,319,419
617,935
Jeff,
Our "calls for service" (a crime may not have been committed) are online. It does help to show a client how to use the site.
90,543
When a buyer customer asks about a neighborhood, I tell them that all the information can be found online. As Kathleen Daniels stated, I also tell them that they might want to drive around the area at different times and that they can also find out information at the local police department.
1,525,616
I suggest that they drive through the neighborhood in the evening or on the weekend and talk to neighbors.
2,443,250
I point them to the City or county Sheriff who are over that subdivision. I also have a list of websites that show crime stats.
3,988,007
Oh that is easy, I refer them to the crime reprot website and let then use my computer to do it. I let them satisfy themselves and don't try to be a reporter.
2,161,048
1,771,867
Read the police incident reports, we Realtors are not allowed to comment due to fair housing. I then point them to my large collection of Police report URL's which speak for themselves
885,790
I can't tell them about safety or the demographics. I can tell them that they can find the info by sitting in the neighborhood in their car for an afternoon, call the police department and request info on crime states, and knocking on doors.
5,049,058
Thanks for all the responses!
Everyone seems pretty much to be on the same page. It's definitely a subjective question and can mean so many different things to different people.
I often refer people to the local police, suggest they spend time in the area at different times of the day, check out www.Crimemapping.com as noted by Inna, and chat with the neighbors.
6,047
If you are at the property and they ask that question. Tell them let's go and talk to the neighbors.
What do you think a neighbor would say to this question?
Is this a safe neighborhood to live?
You be surprise how protective are people from their neighberhood and in many cases they will answer favorably.
Many times people say that only to be heard and I think most answers were very good to have them check it out for themselvs.
If they still persist. Write your offer and tell them I will hold it until tomarrow you go ahead and check online or even even drive by the neighborhood to statisfy your answer and then give me the oky to present it.
1,622,432
This is not my favorite question to hear, since I'm not legally allowed to talk about it. Even this information might materially affect the value or desirability of the property and Buyers decision to purchase the property or not.
Here is a link to Crime Mapping ( any state, easy to use, enter your zip code):
And Crime Reports:
Here is a link to a booklet of CA disclosures: http://www.dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/re6.pdf
The above comment does not constitute legal advice, and you may not rely on it, and should always discuss your particular situation with an experienced attorney as soon as possible after a dispute arises.
943,583
I must say that I refer them to a city web site that gives them crime information about the local area. That is out of my purview on what I can say about safety, Jeff.
4,800,082
I like to say: "I've been in and out of this neighborhood hundreds of times and I've never had a problem. You can always call the sheriffs' office and see what they can tell you."
5,772,575
Jeff,
The best thing to do is as Jim Paulson said. Since we lived in OJ's neigborhood, he did not have trouble selling that home, nor did his former wife's heirs (up the street from our office in LA) have difficulty. What is it a safe neighborhood? What is safe anymore?
We were in Beverly Hills coming from a residential area onto Wilshire Blvd. We were stopped by a SWAT team. There was a robbery arrest accross the street...that doesn't condemn Beverly Hills safety, does it? I think, this is a really subjective question. A
409,203
Since my license does not allow me to answer subjective questions like that which could steer a buyer toward or away from an area, I respect their question and give them links to our local Sherrif's website or the local police department's website. That way, people can define for themselves if it is a "safe neighborhood". I actually sold a home many years ago BECAUSE of a murder. It was in summer of 2000 and it was front page news as Boise's first murder of the year and my buyer told me, heck it wouln't have even made the paper where he was from! (by the way, they did ultimately catch the murderer and executed him).