A key, and often overlooked, way to protect yourself is to trust your intuition. “We have instincts, but then we tell ourselves, ‘I’m being foolish,’” For example, if you see someone sitting in a van outside the property you’re showing, you should be able to come up with some plausible guesses—it’s the neighbor’s exterminator—as to what the person is doing in the area, he says. When you can’t, be especially vigilant.
Even though this article was posted in 2003, you can still see how the same things are so important, day in and day out today. Don’t take your safety for granted. Even though you can say, ‘hey, that has never happened to me”. Count your lucky stars that it hasn’t, but don’t take it for granted”!
This article was published on: 09/01/2003
POINT OF VIEW:Whatley Report
Put your safety first
We don’t ever think it can happen to us. We feel terrible when we read news stories about innocent victims of a crime or see people on TV grieving for lost loved ones. We think we’re immune from such misfortune. Unfortunately, we’re not. Every year, men and women in our profession are robbed, raped, or murdered on the job.Read the rest of this entry »
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 »
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 »
1- Always meet a client for the first time in the office. Introduce him or her to co-workers and make it clear that they know you are taking him out of the office. Try to take separate cars but if that is not possible, then you will have slightly more control if you drive. Do not meet a client at the property, particularly if he is calling on a yard sign. He will already have had a chance to note if the property is vacant.
2- Get a license plate number and leave it at the front desk. Just explain that it is office policy; a customer who means no harm won’t mind. You might also leave an itinerary for your house tour.
3- Don’t identify a property as vacant to a caller on an ad or sign.
4- When showing property to a stranger, follow rather than lead him through the house. Don’t let him get between you and the door. At an open house, take up a position as close to the door as practical.
5- Always carry a cell phone where it is easily accessible (not in the purse you left in the car or stowed in a kitchen cabinet.) Make sure emergency numbers are programmed into the speed dial. Have a speed dial number indicated as ICE, In Case of Emergency. That way emergency personnel will always have a contact person if for some reason you are incapacitated in any way.
6- Ask the office manager to control keys to the office and to place deadbolts on the doors. If you are alone in the office at night, draw the the shades and do not admit anyone you do not know well and trust.
7- Go with your gut feelings. If something doesn’t feel right, if anything raises the hair on the back of your neck, escape the situation immediately. You might feel like an idiot but don’t worry about it. It could save your life!
There has also been an increase in crimes where a women sets up the female agent. Women agents tend to be a little more trusting of another female and let their guard down. Until you know a customer, remain vigilant regardless of their gender, appearance, dress or charm. Your personal safety is up to you.
Sid Cameron went well beyond his ‘call of duty’ to bring together some very good and thorough information that should definitely be an ‘eye opener’. These acts of violence against realtors have happened to others, doing the same type of real estate transactions as you. Please don’t ever think that it cannot or will not happen to you. Always be on guard and aware of what is going on - Your life could depend on it!
If you’re not from St. Louis (or haven’t read the news lately) there were two real estate agents robbed at open houses in the St Louis area last week. One had their car stolen; the other was kidnapped at gun point where he was forced to take money out of an ATM. A suspect was apprehended yesterday. Now, it’s easy to shrug that off and say, “It was a one time occurrence,” or, “It was in a different town; I’m safe where I’m at.” However before you do, I would encourage you to read the rest of this article.
#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.
As a real estate professional, your primary job is meeting with complete strangers - in your day to day activities; you’re faced with potentially risky situations! Like every segment of your business, you need to consider your personal safety as the number one factor in your success. Just a little pre-planning and upfront knowledge will help you stay ahead of the dangers.
Another wonderful realtor, Leslie Spennato of Prudential Georgia Realty, Woodstock, Georgia, has taken the time to share with us her realtor safety tips; tips that she uses in her day to day showing and selling of real estate.
In our day to day lives, we get so busy that we tend to be a little lax on our own personal safety & security. Always be aware of what is going on around you and as they always say, trust your gut feelings, it could save your life.
When you are working in a subdivison, you have people coming in to preview properties all the time. To be safe, you need to get them to register with you and get additional information about the client such as a copy of their drivers license and also, get their car tag information. You should immediately fax that information to your office, so they are aware of who you are showing homes to. This is an added safety measure and a good thing for your office to have, heaven forbid, if anything should happen. If they are a reputable client, they will understand your ‘company’s’ procedure on your safety.
Check out this video from Debbie Jones, with E. S. Johnson Real Estate about the safety things she and her agents do while in their subdivison:
If you have good, safety tips to share, please respond to beth @ realtorsafety911.com and I’ll be happy to share your tips on safety along with your information.
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!
Always keep a mobile phone at your side; program emergency numbers into speed dial.
Meet all new clients at your office; verify their identity.
Whenever possible, avoid being at the office alone.
Take a personal safety course.
Install deadbolts with full one-inch bolts on all entry doors to your home and the door to your home office.
Make sure you know your route to and from each property you visit.
When you’re alone getting into your car, the first thing you should do is lock the door.
Just a little pre-planning and upfront knowledge will help you stay ahead of the dangers. We are not saying that all customers are a danger, we are just making sure we are knowledgeable of any and all dangers that could be out there.
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.
Take 2 Seconds when you arrive at your destination to check out potential dangers -
-Is there any questionable activity in the area?
-Are you parked in a well lit, visible location?
-Can you be blocked in the driveway by a prospect’s vehicle?
Be on guard at all times. Make safety your first priority. Be aware of your surroundings and who you are meeting with so you can make your best decision if anything should happen. Always choose Flight over Fight. Your primary goal in any threatening situation is to escape from immediate danger and call for help!
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”!
I have been working on my Realtor Safety 911 blog for about three and a half months. It has been fun and I’ve totally enjoyed the information that I have been able to obtain, learn from and put out there for my realtor family and friends. But I need your help! What I would love is to get some insight from you - the ones with the expertise. You are out there every day hitting the streets, getting the listings, showing and selling the properties, working with buyers and sellers. You have the necessary information to stay safe while doing all that you do in your real estate career. I would love it if you would share your safety tips with me so I could share them with my realtor family and friends.
The real estate profession is a scary one - you meet and deal with complete strangers every day. You get your necessary identification of your client up front but what other things do you do to stay safe? I would love to hear from you.
My email address is beth @ realtorsafety911.com. I will be happy to post you safety tips along with your information and I will add your site to my blogroll. I truly appreciate your help and look forward to providing good, safety tips to you all.
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.
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