When you list your house, you're inviting people you've never met to walk through the place where you live. Your bedroom, your kids' rooms, the drawer where you keep the mail. That's a big deal, and you should know exactly who's coming through the door and how your agent decided they were okay to let in.

Safety is our number one priority at Winner Realty. This post walks through how we screen every buyer before they set foot in your home, what you can do to protect your stuff during showings, and how to protect yourself from one of the fastest-growing scams in real estate right now: seller impersonation fraud.

How we screen every buyer before a private showing

Before a Winner Realty agent brings a buyer into a home, we ask that buyer for the same three things. Every buyer, the same way.

1. A pre-approval letter or proof of funds

We want to know the person walking through your house can actually buy it. A lender's pre-approval letter or, for cash buyers, a recent bank statement in their name tells us they have skin in the game. It filters out the tire kickers and the "just curious" crowd before they ever get to your front door, which means fewer wasted showings and fewer strangers in your home.

2. A copy of their photo ID

Our agent and our office know exactly who is coming to your house and when. If anything ever goes wrong, there's a record.

3. A verified phone number

Our agents run every new buyer's number through Forewarn, a safety app provided to Louisville-area REALTORS® through the Greater Louisville Association of REALTORS®. In a few seconds it confirms the person is who they say they are and pulls up their address history, property records, and a nationwide criminal records search. That way our agent can plan the showing with real information instead of guessing.

We apply these steps to every buyer the same way, no matter who they are. That's the fair way to do it and the legal way to do it, and it means your home is protected the same way at every single showing. Here is exactly what we ask buyers for and why, and the full safety standard our agents follow.

How showings are scheduled and tracked

Showings on our listings are scheduled through ShowingTime, which runs alongside our MLS. That means every showing request is logged, you can be notified when someone is coming, and there's a record of which agent and which buyer were in your home and when. Electronic lockboxes also keep a log of who opened them, which is a lot safer than a key under the mat.

Showing safety checklist for sellers

Even with every buyer verified, you should still prep your home like strangers are coming through, because they are. Before you go live, walk through this list.

• Lock up or remove prescription medications. Bathroom cabinets get opened.
• Put away jewelry, cash, watches, small electronics, and anything easy to pocket.
• Store firearms in a locked safe or take them off the property during your listing.
• Shred or lock away mail, bank statements, tax returns, and anything with account numbers or your Social Security number on it.
• Log out of laptops and tablets, and don't leave passwords on sticky notes.
• Take spare keys, garage remotes, and car keys with you.
• Take down family photos with your kids' names or school logos if you're comfortable doing that. Less personal information out there is always better.
• Lock any rooms or sheds that aren't part of the sale, and let your agent know.
• If you have security cameras, tell your agent. Recording rules can be tricky, especially for audio, so talk to an attorney before you record conversations.
• Plan to be gone during showings. Buyers are more comfortable, and you're not stuck making small talk with strangers in your kitchen.

Seller impersonation fraud: the scam every property owner should know about

This one is growing fast and most homeowners have never heard of it. Seller impersonation fraud is when a criminal pretends to be you, the owner, and tries to list and sell your property without you ever knowing. By the time you find out, the money's gone.

How big is it? In the American Land Title Association's 2026 study, 59% of title companies reported at least one seller impersonation attempt in the past year, more than double the 28% reported in 2024. In June 2026, the FBI issued a public warning about fake sellers using stolen personal information, fake IDs, new email accounts, and internet-based phone numbers to sell vacant land they don't own.

It hits close to home, too. This summer, WDRB reported on a Louisville case where a woman found out a deed transferring her home had been recorded with the Jefferson County Clerk's Office. She said she never sold it. The clerk's office used the case to urge every local property owner to sign up for its free alert system.

Who gets targeted most

Scammers look for properties where the real owner isn't around to notice. According to ALTA's research, the biggest targets are:

• Vacant land
• Properties with an owner who lives somewhere else, like rentals, second homes, and vacation homes
• Properties owned free and clear, with no mortgage
• Properties of someone who recently passed away

If you own a rental, a lot, inherited property, or a house you don't live in, this is about you.

How Winner Realty verifies sellers

We screen sellers the same way we screen buyers. Before we take a listing, our agents verify the seller's identity, match it against the owner on the county property records, and talk to the seller live by phone or video. If a "seller" won't get on a call, wants to sell vacant land fast and below market for cash only, and is conveniently out of the country, that's a pattern we're trained to stop and check. We also work closely with our title partners, who verify identities again at closing.

Protect your property for free with ClerkAlert

If you own property in Jefferson County, sign up for ClerkAlert. It's a free service from the Jefferson County Clerk's Office that emails or texts you any time a deed, mortgage, or other document is recorded under your name or your business's name. It won't block a fake deed from being filed, but it gives you an early warning so you can act fast. You can sign up on the Jefferson County Clerk's recording page. Own property in other counties? Check with that county clerk's office to see if they offer something similar.

Protect your sale proceeds from wire fraud

Scammers don't only go after buyers' down payments. They go after sellers' proceeds too. The FBI received 12,368 real estate fraud complaints in 2025, with more than $275 million in reported losses.

• Give your payout instructions directly to the title company, by phone or in person. Never by replying to an email.
• If you get an email "changing" where your money should go, assume it's fake. Call the title company at a number you already know.
• We close with trusted Louisville title partners like Next Title and Borders & Borders, who verify identities and payout details every time.

Thinking about selling?

You should feel completely comfortable with every person who walks through your house. That's our job. If you're thinking about listing, start with what your house is worth in today's Louisville market, or text us at (502) 305-8915 or email Rob@thewinnerrealty.com and we'll walk you through exactly how we'd market your home and keep it protected the whole way to closing.

Frequently asked questions

Does my realtor screen buyers before showings?

At Winner Realty, yes. Every buyer provides a pre-approval letter or proof of funds and a copy of their photo ID, and our agent verifies their phone number with Forewarn before a private showing. Not every brokerage does this, so it's a fair question to ask any agent you interview.

What should I hide before a showing?

Prescription medications, jewelry, cash, small electronics, firearms, spare keys, and any documents with personal or financial information. Log out of computers and take your keys with you.

What is seller impersonation fraud?

It's when a criminal pretends to be a property's owner and tries to sell it without the real owner knowing. Vacant land, rentals, homes owned free and clear, and properties of recently deceased owners are the most common targets.

How do I protect my property from deed fraud in Louisville?

Sign up for ClerkAlert, the Jefferson County Clerk's free alert service. It notifies you by email or text when a document is recorded under your name.

Should I be home during showings?

It's better if you're not. Buyers relax and look more carefully, and you avoid having strangers ask you questions that could hurt your negotiation.