Special offer
Jane Kalinowsky, 3rd Generation REALTOR® SRES®, CCS® (Luxury) (Pantanella & Partners)

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Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Well, I would. I would do a huge favor for a neighborhood relocating that person somewhere else. At the same time, I'd love to remind you that NOT ALL sex offenders are monsters. The law is too wide, and one can get on the list just for urinating in public or having sex with his girlfriend( not rape!) and parents are not happy about that.

I'm a mother of two kids and long time ago, I  was an attorney who was helping to punish monsters who hurt kids and  woman,  but I would definitely talk to that person. A good advice would be to bring someone with you and not show that you are disgusted. You don't know what happened.

There are a lot of information online. Judging is easy, but tell me what this boy did wrong? One mistake destroyed his life forever: " Anthony, a 13-year-old boy who weighed 350 pounds, told his four-year-old cousin to expose herself. Anthony, now 24, swears he did not touch her. Nonetheless, her father pressed charges and Anthony was found delinquent for assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, sentenced to sex offender treatment, and assigned a lifetime spot on Iowa’s public sex offender registry.''

Apr 18, 2015 05:13 PM
Rainmaker
911,228
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

I wouldn't use that app. It could cause you to discriminate. You don't know the circumstances of the offenders case, and many times those databases aren't accurate, or the offense was minor or simply an accusation that was never proven, but attorneys suggest plea deals and people accept to avoid jail. Plus, if you're going by just address, and not names of offenders, how do you know it wasn't someone else that was living at that address that is the offender, it could be the wife, a relative, someone that was renting the basement apt, etc. Are you going to skip homes that have herion addicts, meth addicts, convicted drug dealers, ex prisoners that were convicted of beating their wives, drunk drivers that killed someone in an accident, arsonists, etc? If I were you, I would go back to that street, and go back to that house, and tell the man exactly why you felt uncomfortable because you went to some seminar about sex offender apps. You might be surprised. Also ask yourself, does he have neighbors? Kids? a wife? Are their kids playing in the neighborhood around his house?

Apr 18, 2015 09:33 PM
Rainmaker
3,626,530
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Tough answer while I agree with Inna's answer it would depend on the level of the offender.  For those who are on a high likelihood to re-offend I would defiantly bring someone along with me when I approached the home.  

Apr 18, 2015 09:47 PM
Rainer
19,697
Jane Kalinowsky
Pantanella & Partners - Redondo Beach, CA
3rd Generation REALTOR® SRES®, CCS® (Luxury)

Inna Ivchenko . You are correct, NOT all sex offenders are monsters. It was just awkward at the time because I did know of his crime. 

Apr 18, 2015 06:04 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,801
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

I told my wife I just had that encounter of the 4th kind.  It was a woman offender.  She jokingly said: " Good luck to you!". "You are probably not her type!".

 

Apr 19, 2015 12:10 PM
Rainmaker
1,767,597
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

I agree with Inna Ivchenko and others who advise being careful not to judge. I know one man who was accused of molesting a child because he checked to see if her diaper was wet. Another was arrested for putting a band-aid on an upper hip after his daughter's friend came to him to say she had hurt herself.

The trouble with sex offender databases is that you don't know what their "crime" was or if they were actually guilty. 

Meanwhile... discrimination can come back to bite you!

Apr 19, 2015 05:23 AM
Rainmaker
582,106
Eric Kodner
Madeline Island Realty - La Pointe, WI
CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -

Check the laws in your state or seek competent legal advice before you decide to bypass an offender's house when distributing literature or refuse to make equal services available to everyone in a particular neighborhood. It might not make sense to you or meet your personal moral code, but behavior that appears to be discriminatory can get you sued, or worse.

Apr 19, 2015 03:38 AM
Rainmaker
1,661,836
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Door knocker I am not.  I would probably list the home.  

Apr 19, 2015 12:49 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,896
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Sandy and I always work together, so sure; we would list the home. Door knock? Yes, but me alone

Apr 18, 2015 11:12 PM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I don't knock on doors.

Oct 12, 2018 05:44 AM
Rainmaker
630,251
Ajay Pandya
e-Merge Real Estate Unlimited - Columbus, OH
Realtor Ajay Pandya

I doubt very much if I'd do this.

Apr 24, 2018 10:17 PM
Rainmaker
196,080
Jill Moog
Coast & Country Homes and Estates, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad, CA Homes for Sale

Jane, I agree it is not for us to judge. However, if you are alone and feel uncomfortable - go with your gut.

Apr 19, 2015 02:16 PM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

I would give the offender information.  The neighbors may consider me a hero if I sold him home nd he left.  Of course I may feel differently if I were  female.

Apr 19, 2015 01:55 PM
Rainmaker
4,272,548
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

 We have an ordinance against door-to-door solicitation so it is not a factor in our area !!

Apr 19, 2015 08:48 AM
Rainmaker
7,835,260
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Many of the neighbors would love to see you list the property and will be happy when you have a successful transaction. They might even refer prospective buyers to you.

 

Apr 19, 2015 04:05 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

if you know that for a fact, you should just leave it alone.... why would you want to complicate your business and freeze yourself up with the issues of your client's!!!

Apr 19, 2015 04:01 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Jane,

I would list and knock on the door if that was accepted in the neighborhood.  Our legal system is not perfect, many are convicted who should not have been, and many are freed who should have been.  I am not a judge or an attorney.  A

Apr 19, 2015 02:55 AM