Due to frequent contact with strangers in various public and private locations, REALTORS® face more on-the-job risks than many other business professionals. It is GAR’s goal to provide members with access to updated safety information, including details of criminal activity in and around Georgia. GAR has implemented an Agent Alert page on this Web site to notify members of recent criminal activity against REALTORS®. Please check this page on a regular basis to keep abreast of safety precautions that you may need to take. If you ever hear of an attack on a real estate agent, please inform GAR as soon as possible, so that we can spread the word throughout the state and our surrounding states as well.GAR would like to thank the Washington Association of REALTORS® for allowing us to use the following Safety Tools that they developed after one of their agents was tragically murdered on the job (see True Stories - Mike). The Safety Manual and office forms below were designed by agents for agents. Law enforcement officials were also consulted in the development of the forms. The purpose of these forms is as follows:
1. To deter assaults by positively identifying the people we are working with.
2. To have emergency information for everyone in the real estate office.
3. If a crime occurs - to know where the agent was going so the police can help.
4. Every client wanting to meet with an agent should expect to be asked for identification.Read the rest of this entry »
To all my Realtor Friends, I got this email today from Cheryl Watterson - Self Defense with an Attitude and she has some very good safety information that we all need to check out on carjacking. As we go out into our daily real estate business, we must stay very aware of what is going on and aware of our surroundings. One of the things I started doing, when I go out to make marketing calls, is to lock the car door immediately once I got into my car and never, ever just sit there making notes or whatever. I start driving right away. You never know if someone will come up and tap on your window and then things could go wrong, right in the Kroger parking lot. Read on and please, share with me and Cheryl, your thoughts on this article, I think it is fabulous and I definitely will take heed of all the information she has presented to us.
From: cwatterso@comcast.net [mailto:cwatterso@comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 6:59 PM
To: beth@realtorsafety911.com
Subject: Carjacking Safety Tips-Self-Defense with an Attitude
Beth, you will be getting this email but I wanted to send it to let you know this is an important criminal problem in a lot of areas. With our changing economy, more and more people are going to be out of work and some may be desperate enough to rob or carjack individuals. Both men and women need to be aware and alert 24/7 when they are on the road and follow the carjacking tips. Read the rest of this entry »
Don’t be a crime victim! Each year we see an increase in criminal acts against REALTORS®.Please exercise caution when dealing with any prospective purchaser who is a stranger to you. It is not unreasonable to request an I.D. and employment information prior to any showings. Never, never, never meet a purchaser by yourself, after only talking to them on the phone. Insist that they meet you at your office or take a fellow REALTOR® with you.Be reminded of the following safety tips compiled by NAR’s Public Policy Affairs Group:
Be alert. When you feel uncomfortable in a situation, get out.
Don’t sit an open house alone. Never show property alone at night, and never advertise property as vacant.
Don’t list your home phone number on your business card. Buy a voice pager. Use a cellular phone if you must sit a property that doesn’t have a phone. Call your office every hour.
Never meet a prospect based on only a phone call. Always take your own car when showing a property. Whenever you leave your car, lock it.
Let potential buyers explore areas of a home on their own, with you following behind. Avoid going into the basement or confined areas with a prospect.
Let your office know where and with whom your appointments will be.
Always meet first-time clients at your office. Ask them to show identification. If they question you, state it is company policy.
Find out as much as you can about prospects, such as where they world what they do and how much they earn. Ask questions like these and be a good listener:
“Who other than yourself will be seeing the property?”“At what number can I call you back to confirm the appointment?”“Are you working with an agent?”“Where do you reside currently?”“How soon would you like to move?”
Keep on file at your real estate office, in a place accessible by others, your photograph; car model and license number; drivers license number; whom to contact in cases of emergency; any important medical information.
Report any suspicious experiences to the police right away.
Develop a coded distress signal with your office and your family. This way, you can call the office or home with a message that would appear harmless to a prospect, but would alert others that something is wrong and you need help.
You may want to let a prospect know that someone else might be showing up at the property at any time. This might discourage a crime.
If you are suspicious, trust your instincts. Keep yourself between the prospect and the door.
Carry a whistle or shriek alarm and always keep it with you in an easily accessible place.
Most importantly: Remember that no sale is worth risking your life!
Below are some safety tips from some of my Realtor friends. I hope that you can get a little bit of information and use it in your own business.
Hi Beth, one thing I almost always do is take my wallet out of my purse and leave it in my locked car when I’m doing an open house. I also check out prospective clients by doing an internet search on their name, just in case there’s something I need to know about them. Usually, when I enter a house to preview it, I lock the front door behind me so that no one can follow me in. I don’t worry about safety too much, but I just try to be aware of my surroundings. Julia
Hi, I just found your blog and I think it is great what you are doing. I am always giving my friends little lectures on safety and have gotten in some bad situations myself. I actually use a mobile blog and send photos and messages to it so that people know where I am because I work alone and forget to tell anyone where I am. Our jobs are dangerous and we do some stupid things. I am going to put your blog on a couple of my bog roles and like I said I am happy you are doing it.
Hi Beth - You know what I do? Sadly it’s not very good but I really go with my gut. 24 years and that is what I rely on.
That said I always make sure my back is to the door and that I am not boxed in. The customers go in 1st, they go down the stairs 1st and my back is always to the door…so that I can escape.
I also always make sure my car is not blocked and that I have my keys in my hand and not in my purse. I also always close all my windows and sunroof when parked at a showing that way if I need to make a run for it I won’t have to struggle to lock the door and close the windows at the same time.
If meeting someone for the 1st time at a property I tell them that another showing has been scheduled and that I just noticed the other brokers car driving by but that they probably won’t come till we leave but just in case they pull up not to be alarmed.
Beth, my gut is what I depend on…if it does not feel right I am not going to do it. The money is simply not worth it to me.
Hope this helps.
Moni
Hi Beth: I sold real estate for 7 years and right when I got my license, there was an agent who was kidnapped and killed. I almost did not continue with my real estate career, I was pretty scared. Back in 1995, my office did not provide much training or information on safety for us. I got a stun gun (which I never had to use, thank you Lord), and kept it in the side pocket of the door of my car. There is a time when I had a listing presentation on a piece of property way out in the country. I took my 7 year old son. When we got there to meet the seller at his 2nd home, 2 guys came out of the house to meet us. I got that ‘gut’ feeling andshould have left but you know what I did? Nothing. Again, thank God nothing happened, but it could have. We have got to listen to our ‘gut’ feelings. Its better to feel silly later on and reschedule the listing or heaven forbid, lose the listing altogether, but what if something bad had happened? My son would have been involved in it too. All I can say is, follow your company procedures and if you get that ‘gut’ feeling, get out of the situation. Thanks for allowing me to give my 2 cents worth. Julie
Do you have some good safety tips or information to share that you use in your day to day real estate business? If so, leave a comment. So many others would love to know what they can do that will help keep them safe while conducting their real estate business.
As a former agent and currently a safety trainer specializing in agents, I always include education on “safety tools.”
I teach realtors how to be aware, how to screen clients, creating a safety plan, how to host a safe open house, safe showing techniques, etc., but my inclusion of safety tool training is just as important.
Many agents choose to carry a defense spray. This is the most popular choice. Know that all sprays are not created equally. Know what you are carrying. Know the difference between pepper spray, mace and tear gas. Know what they will and won’t do.
It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in. Here are 8 tips for Realtors to consider so they can protect themselves. We work in a very unusual work environment, where occassionally we are meeting strangers. Recently, in a Mill Valley, California Real Estate office, a well dressed couple walked in, and robbed the floor agent. Another couple with a similar profile has been also robbing houses throughout the Bay Area. If you feel this information is helpful, please pass it on to someone you know.
1. (Tip from Tae Kwon Do) The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If your close enough to use it, do!
2. From a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet or purse, Do Not Hand It To Him! Toss it away from you…chances are he’s more interested in your wallet or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet or purse. Run like mad in the other direction!
3. If you are ever thrown in the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won’t see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, ect. and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, ect. Don’t Do This! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. As soon as you get into your car, lock the doors and leave! Read the rest of this entry »
#10 - If you are showing several properties, phone your office occasionally to check in, often, just to let them know that all is okay. If you’re suspicious or fearful of someone, use these calls as a reason to return to the office immediately – (BE CREATIVE)
#9 - Take a self defense course, through your local police department, private business or individual or through your local board of realtors. Knowing how to defend yourself - using whatever self-protection devise you have, this will ultimately save your life, if need be
#8 - Drive separate cars, when possible, if not, make sure that you drive But never let yourself get blocked in by another vehicle(s)
#7 - Limit the amount of personal information that you share about yourself to your client, until you get to know them a little better, (because you do want them to ‘know you, like you and trust you’) but then be selective
#6 - Ask a friend to join you when showing property with a client that makes you feel uneasy. Pre-plan your escape routes from each level of a home, before you show it
#5 - Have and Be Prepared to Use Safety Products – carry a personal alarm, pepper spray, etc
#4 - Always carry your cell phone, charged and programmed to 911 on speed dial. Use it when danger first appears. Do not wait
#3 - Always let your office know where you are, your schedule and who you are meeting when going to a property
#2 - Meet the prospective client at your office for the first time; never ever at a vacant property, and ask them to fill out the client identification form. Verify the client’s identity, photocopy driver’s license, obtain the car make and license number
And Beth’s # 1 Realtor Safety Tip…
#1 - Pay attention to your intuition - Never put yourself at risk to avoid social awkwardness. You have every right to be cautious
Remember, Your Personal Safety Depends On YOU!
When something bad happens in the real estate community, everyone tightens up on their personal safety and security. When things are going well, we stop thinking about it. You have got to be thinking and planning for your Personal Safety and Security ALL THE TIME! Make it part of your day to day business planning.
There are many professions that are considered “risky” professions, but none (other than our great soldiers) are as risky as the real estate profession. There are sales professions that I would also consider risky – such as in-home sales – but the Real Estate Profession over the last 20 years has been marked with sexual assaults, brutal physical attacks, and murders. Enough so that the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has placed Realtor Safety among its’ top priorities.
Let’s consider the Real Estate Profession:
• The Real Estate Profession is made up of more than 60+% women who for the most part are trusting individuals.
• Real estate professionals are independent business agents and tend to work and meet clients alone. Many agents occasionally go into an office but primarily work from home. They come and go without others always knowing their whereabouts.
Real Estate agents advertise in many venues – billboards, magazines, newspapers, flyers, and corner benches – and usually have their picture and phone numbers out there for everyone to see and know how to contact them.
• Many real estate agents still use “old” glamour shot photos dating back 5-10 years or more on their business cards and advertising material. Back then these photos were more on the glamorous/sexy side and are probably not the best photos to use today. Displaying a professional business photo is the type of photo to use – indicating a more professional image.
• Many realtors are very busy and have become complacent about their personal security and safety. Sometimes without giving a second thought they quickly accept an invitation to meet a prospective client without following the proper safety precautions and guidelines.
With the real estate market so volitale – agents are taking prospects who are looking to buy a home without doing the proper background check. Follow the prescribed real estate safety guidelines before meeting with new clients. Criminals can be very savvy. They may consider this criminal activity “their” business and think that real estate agents are an easy target. While the real estate professional is trusting and thinks the prospect is a potential buyer, he on the other hand may be contemplating his next criminal move.
This is why it pays for real estate professionals to follow personal safety precautions. No potential sale is worth your life and losing your life could happen if you become lax and complacent about safety.
Taking a Realtor Personal Safety Awareness Class can reiterate safety issues and concerns that you already know but have pushed aside as you go about your daily life. Sometimes little reminders will make us stop and say “ah-ha” I knew that – but why haven’t I been doing it? If we haven’t had a realtor safety issue that has affected our life or anyone around us – the tendency is to think bad things aren’t going to happen to us.
It’s at that very moment of letting your guard down that the unexpected happens. That is why it is important to do a few of the following things that can help you stay safe on your job.
1. Take a realtor security & safety awareness class. Most classes last an hour or so and can remind you of things you already know but have momentarily forgotten.
2. Review the Safety Rules & Guidelines that are put out by the National Association of Realtors.
3. Take a self-defense class so you will know what to do in an attack or assault situation. The knowledge and awareness of how you can protect yourself will give you a great deal of empowerment. It’s awesome. Most classes last anywhere from 4-6 weeks and usually last 1-2 hours. This is a small amount of time to devote to something that could ultimately save your life.
4. Carry a personal protection device like a C2 Taser, Pepper Spray, Mace Spray/Gun, Personal Alarm or Stun Gun. These are non-lethal devices that are meant to take down or throw off an attacker long enough for you to get away to safety.
My hope is that you are truly successful in your business. Like every segment of your business, you need to consider your personal safety as the number one factor in your success. If you don’t and you let your guard down, that’s when you could potentially become a victim of some real estate predator.
Real estate professionals, who are aware of basic safety guidelines, can improve their chances of not becoming a victim and keep their daily business activities fun, profitable and safe!
Check out this video also. You need to always be aware and on guard and ready to do what needs to be done, at a moments notice. Don’t be caught unprepared!
With so much going on in our world today, we have to be on-guard all the time. Are you ready for any kind of situation that might come your way? You may never get into a situation where you have to think very fast and make split-second decisions, but if you had to, would you know what to do?
Watch this video and then think about what you might do to make these kind of decisions easier to make. Have you thought about a self defense class? There are many types of classes and there may be one right in your area!
There are several things agents can do to protect themselves:
* Have a prospective buyer meet you in your office, NOT AT THE PROPERTY, preferably with co-workers present and NOT near closing time. Obtain identification from the buyer in the form of a drivers license and their vehicle license number. Leave this information with a responsible person in your office and advise them where you are going.
* If possible, have someone go with you to the showing and have them wait in the car with a cell phone. The best scenario is to go to the showing in two different cars, but if this is not possible, try to be the driver. This will give you somewhat of an advantage.
* Always have the person enter the residence or rooms in front of you. Never put your back to the person or allow yourself to be cornered.
* Have area police phone number on speed dial on your cell phone.
* DO NOT be lulled into a false sense of security by a female “buyer”. There are more and more cases of women being used to set up robberies and even rape.
* Always follow your gut feelings. If something doesn’t feel right, pass on it.
* When alone in your office at night be sure the doors are locked, preferably with deadbolts, have the blinds drawn and DO NOT open the door to anyone you do not know well enough to trust.
* One very important thing is to have your mind conditioned and ready to react in case of emergency. Think about all the vulnerable positions you may find yourself in and think about what you would do if someone tried to attack you. Play the scenario over and over in your mind so that if it were to ever occur you would react automatically and quickly and not freeze or panic.
* Carry a self defense product with you, have it ready, and know how to use it without hesitation.
At the very least every realtor should carry pepper spray. A pepper spray pen could be carried very inconspicuously and would be at the ready should the need arise. The use of this product should allow the realtor to escape from the predator without confrontation. In case the attacker gets within close range maybe a C2 Taser stun gun/taser would be a good choice. The Pretender 950,000 volt cell phone stun gun looks like a camera cell phone but can temporarily disable the attacker giving the realtor time to escape and summon the police.
The key to not becoming a victim is awareness of your situation at all times, being mentally and physically prepared to protect yourself, and having the element of surprise on your side with a self defense product. Just pretend you are a gazelle at the watering hole, constantly looking around for the ever present predator.
The following scenarios are typical REALTOR® situations. Think about what would be your normal response, what possible dangers are indicated, and what you could do better to lessen the risks. Find the answers suggested by NAR at the end.
Scenario #1: Open House
You are hosting an open house by yourself on a winter day. As the sun is setting and you are locking up, a nicely dressed man pulls into the drive and quickly hops out of his car. He apologizes for coming so late and says that he is very glad to have arrived before you left. He begs you to let him see the property as he has wanted to buy this style of home in this neighborhood for some time now. You had very few prospects visit the open house, so you would hate to miss this opportunity. What do you do?
Scenario #2: Listing Presentation
You receive a phone call from a man who says he is interviewing REALTORS® to sell his lakeside vacation home. You can hear children laughing in the background and he apologizes for all the racket his kids are making. He wants to hear your listing presentation and get your ideas about a good asking price, so he asks you to meet him at the property this evening at 8:00. What do you do?
Scenario #3: Showing a Property
On your first day with this prospect, you showed him three homes, and he acted like a typical buyer, asking all the expected questions and looking carefully at each home. On this occasion, it is a cold day and he offers to drive you since his car is already warmed up. He mentions that he would really like to see a home with a basement bedroom for his teenage son so he can play his music as loud as he likes. You know a house that’s fits his needs perfectly so you take him there to show him the nicely finished basement with recreation room, bedroom, and full bath. What would you do?
Scenario #4: Answering Calls
You get a cold call from a prospect who says he is about to take a new job in the area and he would like to look at some houses in a particular neighborhood his future boss recommended. He says that he’s open to other suggestions, and he asks where you live and what your neighborhood is like. Because he’ll need to move quickly, he wants to look at homes that are already vacant. After chatting about the kind of house he is looking for, he says he’s looking forward to working with you and asks if you’re as cute in person as your photo in the ad. He asks, with a friendly chuckle, if you’re still “on the market” or has a lucky guy already snapped you up. He closes by saying he’d like to start his search at a particular house in the ad, first thing tomorrow morning, and asks for directions so he can meet you there. How do you respond?
Scenario 5: Going to Closings
As you are about to leave a closing, you see three men loitering in the parking lot. When you get in your car, they also get into their car, and they pull out behind you as you leave. How would you react?
Answers to the Safety Scenarios
Scenario 1: Open House
Open houses are especially dangerous as they expose you to strangers, often while alone, with limited opportunity to pre-qualify the prospect or verify his identity.
Extra care should be taken at the end of the day when predators may think you are more likely to be alone. There are enough red flags here to warrant not going back into the house with him.
Don’t let his nice clothes influence your behavior.
Try to arrange for a showing later, after a meeting at the office where you can obtain and verify his identification.
If you do choose to let him see the house, do not follow him in—wait for him in the doorway (or in your car) so you can easily escape if necessary.
When he is finished looking, answer any questions he has, give him your card and a blank prospect card, and ask him to drop off or mail in his information.
Scenario 2: Listing Presentation
Any time you are meeting a stranger alone, whether it’s for a showing or a listing presentation, there is a potential for danger.
Don’t make assumptions. There could be any reasons for the sound of children; he could be calling from a pay phone in a restaurant with a noisy play area. Sometimes violent predators do have wives and kids at home.
First verify that he is actually the owner of the property by checking tax logs.
Try to set up a preliminary meeting in your office so that you can record his information before going to the property.
Even if you decide it is safe to go, make sure that while you’re at the property, you call in to the office regularly.
Scenario 3:Scenario #3: Showing a Property
Don’t let the fact that he acted normally on other showings cause you to let your guard down. Criminals may try to gain your confidence at first as they size you up.
Unless you know them personally, never ride with a client; drive your own car and park so you can get away easily if you need to. Park in the street, not in the driveway where you can be blocked in.
Even when the remote areas of the house are the best features, resist the urge to lead a prospect into a basement or a back bedroom where you can be trapped. Let them explore those areas on their own or, at most, follow them only as far as the doorway so they cannot block your exit.
Always have an escape route planned, and make sure exit doors are unlocked (or even better, left open even on cold days).
Scenario 4: Answering Calls
Always avoid giving out personal information to prospects. Do not put your home phone number on your card, and never give out your personal address.
Be sure that your photo in your marketing materials presents a professional image. Glamour shots can attract the wrong kind of attention. Predators have been known to use agent photos in ads to choose victims.
What might seem like friendly banter in a social setting can be highly inappropriate in a business relationship. Questions about marital status should raise a red flag. Let him know, politely, that it’s your policy to never discuss your personal life with prospects.
Make sure the prospect is who he says he is by getting the number of his employer so you can verify his story.
Asking to see only vacant properties is another warning sign…is he trying to make sure you’ll be alone?
Always insist that first meetings take place in your office, and have him fill out a prospect information form. Let him see that other people in your office know where you are going, with whom you are going, and when you’ll be back.
Trust your instincts. If the prospect’s behavior is too out-of-line, walk away. No commission is worth compromising your safety. With this prospect, telling him that you are too busy now and referring him to another colleague might be a good test of whether he is looking for a new home or targeting you for harassment or worse. If it becomes clear that he is not really looking for a home, communicate your experience with him to other agents in your area.
Scenario 5: Going to Closings
You may have been targeted by criminals because they think you will be carrying a large sum of money.
If you see something that makes you nervous, go back into the office until you feel it is safe to leave, or ask to be escorted to your car.
You can check to see if someone is following you, not by racing away, but by taking an unusual route (such as circling a block).
If it is clear that you are being followed, drive directly to a police station.
We have all got to be careful when we are setting up a showing. We must adhere to a few basic procedures. In this day and time, you can never be too safe. I mentioned in an earlier post about the 71 year old agent in Wisconsin, who was brutally murdered by a craze-O, you just never know, so don’t take chances. Do the right thing and following procedures. They could save your life!
When an ex-con kills a 71 year old REALTOR® in Wisconsin just because her innocent question made him mad, it’s no wonder St. Paul real estate agents are taking more safety precautions. Read the story here.
Safety tips used by agents are becoming more common:
Do not show vacant properties alone unless you know your customers. This applies to both men and women as men can be overpowered as well. A male California real estate agent was kidnapped at gunpoint to get his electronic key to open listed houses with the electronic lock boxes. When I meet a customer for the first time at a home, I bring a trusted colleague or my husband to stay in the car in case I don’t return.
Record the names, number, description and license number of a customer you are meeting at a home for the first time. I call these details into my broker’s voicemail. If someone accosts me, there is at least a modicum of information for the police to use to get the perpetrator back!
Carry my cell phone into the house with me and have 911 programmed at the touch of a button.
Never have an open house alone. The decrease in new buyer clients obtained through open houses and the increase in crime associated with opens is the basis for many St. Paul agents discontinuing the practice.
Let customers precede you into a house and the rooms in the house. Personally, I’d never be able to outrun a perpetrator. If my gut suspects something, I’m not going in! I would rather be alive and wrong while I lose a future client than dead because I didn’t want to lose that commission!
Carry some form of pepper spray or mace in my pocket. Good idea, but my pockets are already full of electronic key, car keys, MLS listing sheets, my cheat sheet of combinations for the tour, business cards, phone, daily planner, and sometimes a huge flashlight. I don’t think there’s room for that pepper spray. I think I’ll whack the perpetrator with the flashlight!
One of the REALTOR® safety tips is to pay attention to exits. Personally, I generalize that to PAY ATTENTION PERIOD!
Don’t assume women customers are safer than men. Frankly, I think women fight meaner and dirtier than men and wouldn’t care to be the victim of either! Besides, there may be a partner waiting by the scheduled house.
There always a struggle between leaving the front door unlocked during a showing (easy exit when escaping or easy entrance for bad guys) or not. Because of discrimination laws, an agent cannot lock the front door while showing a house in one neighborhood and leave it open in another. That can be perceived as discriminatory or giving a message about the neighborhood to the client. Some agents choose to leave the key in the front door so they don’t forget and lock it in the house. Others choose to lock the door. There are pros and cons to each system.
Leaving a proposed schedule and the contact info for who you are meeting with a family member or colleague is wise. Checking in after the showings are finished is a good policy. When there is no check-in your trusted person knows when to call the police.
The last point on my proposed safety procedures list has a funny story attached to it. Early in my career cell phones were not common (I know I’m older than dirt!) but my broker’s policy was that ALL of his agents would check in by phone after their open houses. My open house was in a vacant HUD home where I spent the afternoon killing mice with a broom. My pre-occupation with getting some shopping done on the way home distracted me from making the prescribed check-in call. When I finally remembered to stop at a pay phone, my husband informed me I had been given 15 more minutes and the two of them were going to call the cops! That was the last time I “forgot” to check in when done with my St. Paul real estate business! I can’t imagine my embarrassment if I had been pulled over by the cops as a “missing person”!
Cheryl Watterson has a blog called www.selfdefensewithanattitude.com,where she discusses self defense, personal safety and personal security. I get a lot of good information from her site and pass along to family and friends.
Today she and her business associate put on a Realtor Personal Safety Awareness class for one of the largest Century 21 offices in Northern Indiana and the turn out was Great! Read below.
On Wednesday my business associate from ADT Security and I gave a Realtor Personal & Home SecuritySafety Awareness Program to one of the largest Century 21 offices in Northern Indiana. Our program provided targeted personal safety and home security strategies that each agent can use on a daily basis. We believe that personal security starts in the home. Therefore, your home must be a safe haven whether you or family members are home or away.
Experts agree that the single most important step towards ensuring an individual’s total personal security is to make the decision to refuse to be a victim. That means you must have an overall personal safety plan or strategy in place before you need it and be able to aggressively defend yourself if attacked.
Our goal is to provide a program of personal safety and security, self-awareness, and empowerment that will enable real estate agents to protect themselves and not become a victim of an attack by a perpetrator, an unruly prospect, or customer.
We all need to make personal safety and security a proactive habit 24/7. We can then ensure we’re one step ahead of a predator who preys on defenseless women.
Remember, Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!
Below is information that can help you in your day to day business of staying safe in our unsafe world!
Realtor Tips For Staying Safe On The Job
-Always be aware of your surroundings.
-Develop a habit of being alert.
-Trust your instincts – it could just save your life.
-When you enter a home, look for other entry/exit doors.
-Don’t host an open house by yourself.
-Dress conservatively and don’t wear expensive jewelry or flashy clothing.
-Only list office and cell phone numbers on business cards – noy your home number or home address.
-Stay in touch with your office – always carry a cell phone or voice pager.
-Be sure your cell phone is fully charged should you sit at an empty/new construction open house.
-Meet prospects at your office.
-Always take your own car when showing a property and have prospects follow in their car.
-Don’t go into the basement or confined areas with prospect/s.Try to keep your back closest to the exit door.
-Let potential buyers explore the home by themselves – keep some distance.
-Let someone else know your whereabouts and with whom you have an appointment with.
-Use sign-in sheets and have prospects show ID.If in doubt when meeting a prospect, state that it is your company’s policy to ask for identification.
-Never show a property alone at night.
-Never advertise a property as vacant.
-Report any suspicious experience to police.
-Offices should have a coded distress signal that is obvious to the office but not the prospect.
-Consider taking a personal safety/self-defense awareness class.
-Carry personal protection such as pepper spray, mace, a personal alarm or a C2 Taser.
Cheryl Watterson Linda Sokol
Personal Security Solutions ADT Security
(574) 514-1214-Cell (574) 220-0349-Cell
Be sure to visit the following sites for additional tips on realtors staying safe:
When you are planning your open house, this is a good thing to do - call the local police department and ask them to have a squad car drive by during your open-house hours.
Unfortunately, there are a few sick people out there looking for an easy victim. What industry makes their job easy? The real estate industry for one. For the most part, real estate professionals are independent agents –predominantly women - who work alone and will jump at the opportunity to get a new prospect – especially in these crazy times. Read the rest of this entry »
Realtor Safety At Open Houses: A Warning That Could Save Your Life As reported by John Harper “East Bay Rapist Arrested” nearly a year ago, ex convict Daniel Duran was attempting to assault Realtors at open houses in the Dublin-San Ramon-Pleasanton areas. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident as described by the following video about similar activity in the Cincinnati, Ohio area.Warning: Do not get caught in the “Earthquake Syndrome.” Even though we, here in Northern California know we are in earthquake country, very few take precautions and prepare a plan ahead of time.
Watch the video then please consider utilizing any or all of the security tips provided below. Be safe Not sorry!<Remember, Your Personal Safety is up to YOU!
Agent Safety Tips from Peter Den Boer, Prudential Georgia Realty
Being a male Real Estate agent, I have not run into the same types of safety issues that many female realtor friends do. However, safety is still a real concern.
I am aware that Real Estate agents are targets for many crimes, some very serious and we do seem to attract our fair share of strange customers. Common sense is the best defense against most problems. I make sure that I follow some basic safety tips.
I make sure my cell phone has an entry marked ICE. This stands for In Case of Emergency. If you have not done this simple step, please do. If you are found incapacitated for some reason, ie a car accident, health problems, etc, one of the first things a police officer will do is check your cell phone for this entry. It allows him to contact the person that you have selected for an emergency.
I also let the front desk at our office know that I will be out showing property. This way they will know that I am with clients. I have several friends in the business that will call me when they are leery of meeting a client and they will ask me to go with them to show a home. I pretend to be a Realtor that is previewing the home. I stay around until the other agent feels comfortable or until their client leaves.
Also, I have been asked by other agents to call them at a certain time when they are meeting new clients for the first time. I will call them and ask if they are all right. Usually this call is made after the agent and client have been together for about 15-30 minutes. At this point, most agents will know if they are comfortable with the client or not.
I try to always park at the curb when showing homes for two reasons. The first is that it gives my clients a good look at the curb appeal of the home. Second, I cannot easily be blocked in by another car.
At open houses, I try to remain within earshot of potential buyers but never far from an outside door. Ladies, please, please, please don’t walk in front of a potential buyer and enter a room first. Let them go first. This will allow you clear passage to the door. If they follow you into a room or the basement, they might be able to block your exit.
Make sure your office has a policy about safety. We do at Prudential. We have a code word that if we call in to the office and use this code word, the answering person immediately asks if they should send the police. This is a good strategy plan for your office.
And as always, keep your cell phone charged up and ready to go. A 911 calland announcing that you have 911 on the line will go a long way to deterring a potential issue.
You can learn what is available and then make a decision about finding a good self-defense class. Health clubs, martial arts studios and community colleges offer some type of class. Ask your fellow Realtors, friends and family if they have taken a self-defense class that they would recommend.
Ask these 5 questions of the self defense instructor:
#1 - Is the person an expert in Real Estate Safety or are they a self proclaimed “general safety guru” who attempts to teach EVERYTHING about EVERY aspect of safety to EVERYONE?
#2 - Does the person have a black belt or similar martial arts teaching credentials? Do they really teach students, or are they a glorified bar bouncer who travels from city to city performing speeches?
#3 - Is the person currently active in the fields of self defense and real estate and knowledgeable about current trends, or are they a retired “consultant?”
#4 - Is the person you are considering hiring available for continuing education, consultations and support? Do you really want your questions about safety issues addressed by someone who is not there for you?
#5 - Is the person trying to sell their products or educate Real Estate Agents?
Here is a great tip; as the showing agent, take a photo of the buyer’s license plate with your cell phone and send it to your spouse so they have info on who you are meeting.
Take a few minutes to watch this video. There are some good tips and wonderful information that you can use in your own day to day real estate activities -
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