Address the Amenity of Security

You may think you are in the business of offering housing, or perhaps you use the word “shelter.” It might surprise you to think that you are in the business of offering a few other, more important things. Your residents can find shelter many, many places. They came to you for other qualities which your property represents to them.

The perception of security is one such quality. Your prospect became your client in part because they have a sense that their belongings, and even their lives, will be secure in the dwelling they are leasing from you. While you cannot and do not want to take full responsibility for your residents’ personal safety, you should take a look at those risk-reduction matters over which your business does have control and be alert to any opportunities for improvement.

Randy Davis of Downstate Detective Agency recommends the first place to start is to “Understand security. Security can be equipment, policies, or personnel that are in place to prevent undesired activities. Security is also the sense one has when on or about a property. Each can influence the other but the difference should always be considered when making ‘Security’ decisions.” Schedule time regularly, once or twice a year or perhaps more frequently, to review your business’s effectiveness at preventing problems before they start. For example, take a walk around all the public space to ensure self-latching doors are closing fully, carpets are smooth and do not present trip-and-fall potential, exterior lights are working properly. An exam like this should also include how your business handles your clients’ personal information. As Colin Haley and Penelope Parmer of Thomas, Mamer & Haughey, LLP explained to us at our June 2008 meeting, we need to have a plan in place for how we handle information such as birth dates and Social Security numbers. The Federal Trade Commission distributes Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business with tips on how to create a plan for keeping data out of the wrong hands.

When it comes to instituting procedures, Neil Fotzler of Abe Lincoln Realty advises, “Stick by your guns.” In his experience, a great threat to property owners and residents alike is not having screening practices or worse, not using them. According to Fotzler, “People with problems bring their problems with them.” Fotzler says, “If you screen your residents and stick to your guns with your application requirements, you’ll get good clients with good judgment and you won’t have an unmanageable problem with security.”

In his years as a sworn police officer and now a licensed private detective, Davis has also found that “The more involved property owners and managers are with their clients, the better the property and the less incidence of problems.” So next time you have a chance, say hello to your residents and ask them how they are and really listen to their answers. When you show you care about them, they’ll cooperate with you in the process of protecting themselves and your property. For three other tips from Randy Davis of Downstate Detective Agency, download this page.