Share

cover art for #69: Stop Scams Sooner with Tammy from Fireball Approves

San Francisco Real Estate: Escrow Out Loud

#69: Stop Scams Sooner with Tammy from Fireball Approves

Season 3, Ep. 69

In this episode of Escrow Out Loud, our San Francisco Real Estate podcast we have a very special guest and founder of Fireball Approves, Tammy Sorrento.


[00:21] Fireball Approves is a company that helps protect people from getting scammed. Tammy explains how she developed the company because she wished she had access to this type of service when searching for a short-term vacation rental online.


[07:21] Does California have public records readily available for people to access? Tammy also poses an interesting question: say your home has been fraudulently rented out while you were away, how hard is it to get it sorted out?


[11:11] Online scams are not only fairly low risk crimes with a high payout for the scammers and they are so rarely reported.


[14:56] If you are a potentially looking at renting property, Tammy recommends you do your due diligence. What does this mean? She shares a few helpful tips with us and shares what she does to help.


P.S. Tammy is also writing a blog on what people can do on their own and when to contact her on fireballapproves.com for assistance, so be sure to keep an eye out for that!


[17:16] A cool service Tammy has partnered with is a free Chrome extension called Cluck. What is Cluck and how is it different to others services like it on the market?


[21:18] The price of the rental ad verification is only $19 and Fireball also offers a listing of Fireball approved vacation rentals free to renters. How can owners of properties become gold, silver or bronze members on the approved rentals list?


[23:45] Why the name, Fireball Approves? While the rental market is the focus now, in the future Tammy plans to expand to other services including virtual job scams, for example.


[27:24] To find out more about her services find Tammy on the fireballapproves.com website or any social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn. Also, don’t forget to share this information with others as she relies on word of mouth to get the word out.


Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode leave us a review on your favorite platform, tell your friends and don’t forget to join us again next week!

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 1. What Really Happened to Tracy Kasper, NAR President?

    05:19||Season 8, Ep. 1
    SummaryThe resignation of Tracy Casper, NAR president, raises questions about the timing behind her departure. San Francisco Real Estate Broker Matt Fuller presents a thought-provoking analysis of the situation, shedding light on potential alternative explanations for Tracy Casper's resignation.KeywordsTracy Casper, NAR president, resignation, blackmail, lawsuit settlement, NDA, real estate, San FranciscoTakeawaysThe resignation of Tracy Casper from the NAR presidency raises questions about the timing, circumstances, and motivations behind her departure.The timing of events surrounding the $1.8 billion lawsuit settlement and Tracy Casper's resignation suggests a possible relationship between the two events.Speculation arises about the possibility of an alternative explanation for Tracy Casper's resignation, involving disagreement with the proposed NAR settlement and the likely presence of a comprehensive NDA.Matt Fuller's analysis provides a thought-provoking perspective on the situation, prompting further exploration and consideration of alternative explanations.
  • 119. Doing Business In The Castro

    19:19||Season 6, Ep. 119
    In this episode our guest is San Francisco local business owner, past member of The Castro Merchant Association and current board president of The Castro Street Fair. Meet Jenn Meyer, owner of Local Take, a one-of-kind amazing hand-crafted local artist-maker gallery/gift store. She talks to Matt about owning a business in The Castro, her role supporting the upcoming Castro Street Fair and Why Her One Perfect Bite Has Nacho Cheese It.What is Local Take, and what do they sell?Jenn's Favorite Neighborhood?What is Castro Street Fair?Who Shops Local Take?What Do Tourists Miss in San Francisco?Differences between Castro and Inner Sunset?Opinion on the Formula Retail?When is Castro Street Fair?As always, thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, a five-star rating on your favorite podcast app really makes a difference to our show rankings. Until next time, thanks for listening from your San Francisco real estate friends!
  • BONUS: Matt and Kevin’s Market Update

    12:55||Season 6
  • 118. Cooperation-ish

    49:50||Season 6, Ep. 118
    In this episode our guest is Real estate broker Kevin Birmingham. He's founder and broker of Park North Real Estate and Past-President of the San Francisco Association of Realtors®. With more than 20 years’ experience, clients choose to work with Kevin for his full service, expertise and ethics. Kevin's insight on San Francisco's residential real estate market is unparalleled. He is known for outstanding customer service, high-level marketing techniques, and is a skilled negotiator with his clients’ best interest at heart. Born and raised in San Francisco, Kevin's list of contacts is as impressive as his historical knowledge of the City's unique neighborhoods. Kevin has a degree in economics from Colorado State University. The father of 3 children, Kevin and his wife Terra enjoy Bay Area sports and walks with their dog.How is Cooperation Amongst Realtors and Their Brokerages Going?Is the Market Slowing Down?How Hard is a Realtor Job?What Has Changed In the Internet Era?What are the Threats to Realtor Associations?Is the MLS in an Orderly Marketplace, or is it a Monopoly?As always, thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, a five-star rating on your favorite podcast app really makes a difference to our show rankings. Until next time, thanks for listening!
  • 117. Paint By Number with Dr. Color

    24:51||Season 6, Ep. 117
    In this episode our guest is Dr. Color, Bob Buckter. He's provided home color consulting on over 23,000 homes across the world, and more than 17,000 of those are in San Francisco and San Francisco Bay Area. He's responsible for many of the bright, standout colors of some of the city’s most iconic Victorians and Edwardians. We're talking about his beginnings in color consulting, what he likes and what he hates, plus, we'll be getting some great advices and insights about his work. Learn more about his work at drcolor.comOn What Types of Buildings did Dr. Color work?How to Define Good Taste?Why Should We Use Test Colors?What are the Current Trends Right Now?  When Did Colorist Movement Started in San Francisco?What Should You Never Do When Picking Colors?As always, thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, a five-star rating on your favorite podcast app really makes a difference to our show rankings. Until next time, thanks for listening!
  • 115. Matt Has a Size Problem

    35:26||Season 5, Ep. 115
    In this episode our guest is Feng Shui certified trainer and real estate stager Steve Kodad. He's a former math teacher and successful basketball trainer. He has taught thousands of real estate agents, home stagers and home owners how to sell property quickly using Feng Shui.What is Feng Shui?What are the Most Common Misconceptions About Feng Shui?How to Make Small Apartment Look Better to be in?How Important is Natural Light in Your Living Space?What are Benefits of Having a Few Plants in Your Living Space?Importance of Artwork in Feng Shui?Which Colors Suit Which Room?What are Steve's Four Big D's?As always, thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, a five-star rating on your favorite podcast app really makes a difference to our show rankings. Until next time, thanks for listening!
  • 116. It's Complicated, Meet SB9

    34:32||Season 5, Ep. 116
    In this episode our guest is Brett Gladstone, Of Counsel Goldstein, Gellman, Melbostad, Harris & McSparran, LLP. For the past 35 years, Brett Gladstone has focused his practice on land use entitlement matters and real estate transactions, along with condominium and subdivision law, Mr. Gladstone represents investors and developers in land-use entitlement proceedings and CEQA compliance with respect to residential and mixed use development throughout the Bay Area. As part of his work, Brett makes regular appearances before Bay Area Planning Commissions, City Councils, Board of Supervisors, and Landmarks Boards. He lectures and writes on a variety of topics, including development entitlements, condominium law, and planned developments. Brett is called on from time-to-time to give expert witness testimony on real estate entitlement matters.What is SB 9 Law?What Does it Solve?What is the Future of Single-Family Zoning?Is There Anyone Who'd Like to Avoid SB 9?How do Dwelling Unit Built Under SB 9 Differ From ADU's?As always, thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, a five-star rating on your favorite podcast app really makes a difference to our show rankings. Until next time, thanks for listening!
  • 114. Earthquake Vulnerabilities and Preparing for the Big One

    39:32||Season 5, Ep. 114
    In this episode we are joined by Chief Mitigation Officer for the California Earthquake Authority, Janiele Maffei. She was hired as C.E.A.'s first Chief Mitigation Officer in May 2011, and became their director of research in 2015. Currently her responsibilities include managing the California Residential Mitigation Program and that program's first retrofit incentive program, known as the Earthquake Brace and Bolt Program. On top of all that, she's also responsible for various research projects that will benefit us all through strategic insurance, mitigation, and education goals of the California Earthquake Authority. In our conversation with Janiele, we talk about a lot of topics, including all of the following:How to manage Earthquake Safety and Earthquake Insurance in San Francisco?What Kind of Houses are Most Vulnerable to Earthquakes in Bay Area?Which are the Top Five Vulnerabilities in Houses?What are Cripple Walls in Buildings?What are Vulnerabilities of Hillside Houses?What Construction Work Should be Done to Make Homes Safer from Earthquakes?How to Retrofit Homes to be Safer in the Future?What and How to Plan for an Earthquake?As always, thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, a five-star rating on your favorite podcast app really makes a difference to our show rankings. Until next time, thanks for listening!
  • 113. A Chat About the SF Leasing Market with Inna Rubinchik

    28:19||Season 5, Ep. 113
    In this episode we are joined by the Regional Leasing Director at Compass, Inna Rubinchik. You can find her as LeasingAgent415 on social media including her YouTube channel. Check out all of her amazing videos and photos of properties around San Francisco.These are some of the topics we cover in this episode with Inna:How it is to Work as a Real Estate Agent in San Francisco?Has the Leasing Market hit the Bottom?Which Neighbourhoods are First or Worst these days?What can You Expect and What are the Prices on the Market?How Much of Her Job is to Help People Correct Misunderstandings of What They See on the Internet?Are There Many Scams on the Market?Is San Francisco a Pet-Friendly City?What is Her Ideal Client?What was the First Deal She Made?As always, thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, a five-star rating on your favorite podcast app really makes a difference to our show rankings. Until next time, thanks for listening!