Prioritizing Safety: A Guide for REALTORS® during REALTOR® Safety Month

With the shift in the market that has taken place over the past 14 months, REALTORS® find themselves showing more properties, conducting open houses, and spending more time out in the field than in the last few years. Constant vigilance is the key to staying safe. Stay aware of your surroundings, avoid distractions, and always be prepared to react to unexpected situations. If you conduct an open house, make sure that all doors are unlocked and that you are familiar with the layout of the house before opening the doors. The best practice would be to partner with a colleague or assistant so that you are not alone on the property. Mortgage Loan Officers love to partner with REALTORS® during open houses, and it’s a great way to get the buying process for a potential client in motion.

Keeping a personal safety kit in your vehicle that includes water, a flashlight, a personal alarm, pepper spray, and other essentials will help you respond effectively in challenging circumstances. Enrolling in a local self-defense class will help equip you with the skills and confidence needed to handle potentially dangerous situations.

In our industry, safety should be one of our top priorities. Creating a safety protocol is not as daunting as it seems. By taking steps to create healthy habits, you may not only be saving your life but those around you as well. The real value in real estate is you. Stay vigilant, trust your instincts, and prioritize your security, making each transaction a safe and successful one. Not only in the month of September but every time you conduct your business.

JENNIFER TUCKER-NEELY 2023 PRESIDENT

Next month is REALTOR® Safety Month, the time of year where we slow down to look at prioritizing our safety protocols, tools, and habits to ensure that we are practicing in the safest manner possible. Working in our industry involves meeting complete strangers, showing vacant properties, and navigating various communities. This not only makes our profession exciting, but it also poses potential safety risks.

According to the 2022 REALTOR® Safety Survey, last year over 45,000 REALTORS® were victims of a crime while performing their duties, and over 300,000 REALTORS® felt fear for their safety while on the job. Upon further analysis, it was found that an alarming 400,000 REALTORS® admitted to not having safety protocols in place to protect themselves.

Creating an entire safety protocol may seem like a daunting task, but it is easier than you think. Working to create habits that prioritize your well-being is the first step in being the safety-first REALTOR® that you are meant to be.

Pre-screening potential clients is an essential step to gaining a baseline of who you are conducting business with. It is good practice to require your potential clients to complete a registration form and provide a valid ID. With the uptick in seller/buyer impersonation fraud, always insist on conducting business in person for the first meeting. Always meet your client in a neutral public location before taking them to view properties.

Your safety should always be your top priority. Make sure that you are listening to your inner voice, and don’t dismiss any red flags when conducting business. If something feels off or makes you uncomfortable, don’t ignore it. It’s okay to excuse yourself from a situation or reach out to a trusted friend with your location before proceeding. Technology is an invaluable tool in REALTOR® safety, as there are many apps that allow you to share your whereabouts with others during meetings or showings.

KW