Three Reasons To Google Your Home Address (or your rental property, as well)
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
With virtually any type of information imaginable online, it makes sense to do regular internet searches for your home’s address.
There are at least six compelling reasons it makes sense to do so, especially if it’s an address you’re thinking of renting, buying or selling. Smart homeowners would do well to search for their addresses, too, and here’s three of the six reasons why:
1. To See If Megan’s Law Registrants Live Nearby
There is plenty of information available to the public regarding registered sex offenders in their neighborhoods. Nearly every state that has a Megan’s law-type sex offender registry has an online version that serves up the names, addresses, sex-offense history, and even photos in many cases, of convicted sex offenders. Googling your address and “Megan’s law”, or even your city or zip code and “Megan’s law”, will turn up a quick list of nearby registrants.
2. To Find Crime Reports and Data For Your Home and Environs
City, county and state law enforcement agencies all post crime data online, but a Google search for your address or city and “crime reports” is most likely to turn up your local police office’s crime map.
3. To Detect Scammers Trying to Rent or Sell Your House
Internet scammers have taken to ripping off home information and putting together fake listings offering other people’s homes for rent, or lease-to-own. They often list the home with inexpensive and easy terms, then ask the would-be-buyer or tenant to please wire or send the deposit money overseas. These scams often come to light only after the homeowner or current resident notices bargain-hunters checking out the place. If you start getting an inordinate amount of foot traffic to your home, or someone knocking on your door asking if they can see the place, you may want to Google your address. If you find a fraudulent listing, identify yourself as the home’s rightful owner and ask the offending site to take the scam posting down immediately.
- Scott Askew
Posted in: Intown Atlanta Real Estate News