Real estate agents grapple with Illinois' new gun law

Chicago Tribune ^ | 04 mar 2014 | Mary Ellen Podmolik

[rellimpank]

At homes listed for sale this spring, a prospective buyer may notice the manicured lawn, the pot of flowers by the walkway, and possibly the state’s official “no guns” sign posted by the front door.

Realty firms, like other businesses, are grappling with how to handle the state’s new concealed carry law. But in an industry whose very foundation involves strangers sitting in agents’ cars and offices and walking through private homes, devising guidelines is proving difficult.

Late last week, just as the state was mailing out the first 5,000 concealed carry licenses, the Illinois Association of Realtors unveiled a consent form that could take the conversation between real estate agents and home sellers into uncharted territory.

The form, if realty firms and agents choose to use it, allows homeowners to specify whether they would allow a potential buyer with a concealed firearm inside their property.

If the seller says “no,” an agent would display the state-authorized sign, a drawing of a black gun with a red circle and line through it, outside the home during all showings and open houses.

[cyclotic]

I once opened a cabinet at a house I was looking at and found the sellers gun storage.

Cool.

[Oatka]

There are attractive female agents that I know who try and bring their husband/boyfriend/brother to a showing if they don’t know the guy.
They bring a partner to an open house. And it doesn’t matter how nice the neighborhood.

That's what happened in the "Forensic Files" episode - the original agent brought her husband along. The perp walked towards the car, spotted the man, and high-tailed it. He cruised around until he saw an "Open House" sign, walked in and ended up killing the woman on duty.

[albie]

Sounds like a show that gives robbers and murderers ideas. I guess every does that. I’m sure it also helped to wake up some Realtors and to keep them more alert to the possiblities.

[Oatka]

Indeed. After watching these shows, I told the wife that it like taking a class in Crime 101, by learning what NOT to do when breaking the law in these high-tech days.