Realtor Attacked While Showing A Home....

Are FSBO's at risk?

When Realtor Janice Flasschoen was showing a home in South Daytona on Monday, a man posing as a buyer pulled out a hammer and hit her on the head, according to police and media reports. However, Flasschoen resisted and was able to turn the tables on her attacker.

"And I just reached out and I just kicked him between the legs and I just kept kicking, and he threw the gun aside and that's when I realized the gun wasn't real," Flasschoen told police. Suspect Balaz Gombos tried to get away, but nearby construction workers, alerted by Flasschoen's screams, came to the house and held him until police arrived at the scene. Gombos was arrested on several charges, including robbery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment and using a weapon in the commission of a felony.

Just last week another Realtor in St. Petersburg was attacked, bound, and left in a closet by a man posing as a buyer. She untied herself and escaped.

This makes me wonder why for-sale-by-owners will let anyone into their home. So many times when I call a for-sale-by-owner I'll hear, "My husband's at work, but you can come over and see the home if you want."

Realtors are trained to gather information on buyers before showing property, and trained how to protect themselves in dangerous situations.

Is saving a few thousand dollars worth the risk to the for-sale-by-owner?