Columbus REALTORS® is thrilled to announce a COMPLIMENTARY PROACTIVE SAFETY AND LEAD INTELLIGENCE service for our Columbus and Central Ohio Regional MLS subscribers and participants beginning Jan. 4, 2023.
“We have read testimonials from REALTORS® across the country who have said that FOREWARN saved them from being placed in a potentially serious situation,” said Columbus REALTORS® CEO Brent Swander. “We know the challenges our REALTORS® face daily, and I hope this valuable membership benefit will give our members some peace of mind moving forward.”
FOREWARN brings intelligence to the real estate industry through innovative solutions to help ensure safer engagements and smarter interactions. The FOREWARN application gives an agent the ability to gain instant insight (within seconds) on a prospective client using only a phone number! Don’t have a phone number… you can also search by name.
Instantly verify:
Identity (first name, last name, alias, and age) Phone numbers (residential and mobile history) Address history (rental, ownership, and associated addresses) Financial indicators (bankruptcy, lien, and judgment history) Property records (nationwide property ownership history) Criminal records (nationwide criminal history search)
Verifying your prospects in FOREWARN is not only critical for your personal safety and efficiency but also a benefit to your listing homeowners, providing an added layer of protection for their homes and families.
As a Central Ohio Regional MLS subscriber, setting up your complimentary FOREWARN account is quick and easy! You should have received an initial email from Columbus REALTORS® on Jan. 4 with instructions to register.
Searching FOREWARN in Seconds
FOREWARN provides instant & mobile identity verification and public records (criminal, property, court, etc.) for over 98% of the U.S. adult population. With FOREWARN’s roughly 90% coverage of mobile and residential phone numbers, you should be able to search and verify most people from their phone numbers alone. When you are unable to find an individual in FOREWARN using a phone number, this does not necessarily mean fraud or criminal intent. FOREWARN users are encouraged to gather further details and use the additional search functionality (the “Search by name” link) within the FOREWARN app to ensure verification of the prospect. Name search tip: When searching by name, if there are more than 100 results to your query, FOREWARN will display “Too many records found” and prompt you to re-run your search using additional criteria. Phone search tip #1: In the search results, FOREWARN displays all the individuals who have ever been associated/linked with the searched phone number. It is normal for multiple people to be linked to a single phone number, either as previous owners of the phone number or relatives. Phone search tip #2 – “Record not found”: If you search missed calls from telemarketing companies (typically, they will not leave a voice message), you will get the result “Record not found” because that phone number has never been owned by, or associated with, a person.
IMPORTANT – COMPLIANCE:
As a professionally licensed agent, you can use FOREWARN to verify the identity and potential risks associated with your business prospects. Please note that you must limit your FOREWARN searches to professional use only. FOREWARN is only to be used for verifying inbound prospects that have initiated the interaction, such as when a potential buyer or seller has contacted you or initiated a request for information. The FOREWARN service is not to be used for marketing (e.g., prospecting for potential leads/clients) or to determine anyone’s eligibility for credit, insurance, or employment, or for any other purpose regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Search activity is actively monitored (search terms and volume) to ensure proper use by our Subscribers as outlined in the Subscriber Agreement and the FOREWARN Terms and Conditions. Any use that is outside of the outlined proper usage that you agree to upon activating your account is prohibited and can result in your service being terminated. Below are a few examples of ways you should NOT use FOREWARN:
DO NOT use FOREWARN to search for anyone who is not engaging in business with you (including, but not limited to, celebrities, public figures, friends, and family). DO NOT share information from FOREWARN, or your FOREWARN access credentials, with any third-party and DO NOT publicly post such information. DO NOT tell a prospect that they are not permitted, or unqualified, to purchase or sell a property because of information you obtain from FOREWARN. DO NOT use information from FOREWARN to harass or intimidate anyone or to otherwise violate applicable laws.
The above examples are NOT meant to be all-encompassing, and you should refer to the Subscriber Agreement and the FOREWARN Terms and Conditions for additional information. FOREWARN is a powerful tool intended for the increased safety and efficiency of your business. Proper use of the service by real estate professionals ensures that we can continue to provide this valuable tool to the industry.
FOREWARN Customer Support
If you experience any difficulty setting up your password or logging into FOREWARN, please reach out to FOREWARN support at 561-757-4551 or[email protected](Monday – Friday; 9 AM-5 PM ET).
