Make REALTOR® Safety a Year-Round Commitment

Each year, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) dedicates September as REALTOR® Safety Month. However, both NAR and RASM encourage you to keep safety a top-of-mind priority every day of the year. The real estate industry is especially vulnerable to outside risk due to daily interaction with the general public. No matter how hot the market is or where an agent is showing property, no deal is worth gambling your safety. Knowledge, awareness, and caution go a long way in this profession. It’s imperative to take the issue of REALTOR® safety seriously and mitigate risks by educating oneself, remaining vigilant and aware, and doing your best to always be prepared.

Headlines frequently feature distressing accounts of agents encountering assault, rape, and even death. While the statistical probability of such horrifying incidents remains low, the stark reality is that as an independent agent, you become a susceptible target.

What doesn’t make headlines are the issues that are more likely to occur: things like slips and falls, car accidents, theft (including wire fraud), and other types of scams. The realm of agent safety encompasses more than just potential dangers during property showings and open houses. It extends to safeguarding yourself and your clients on a daily basis against a wide spectrum of potential challenges.

NAR REALTOR® SAFETY PROGRAM

The issue of REALTOR® safety is so important, that NAR took proactive measures to create a program solely focused on protecting its members. Over ten years ago, NAR launched the REALTOR® Safety Program to help reduce, and hopefully eliminate, the number of safety incidents that occur in the real estate industry. The goal is not to scare agents, but rather empower them with the resources they need to combat the real threats that they face when working in the field. Accomplishing this goal includes talking about the safety culture in the industry, creating a safety plan and following it, and encouraging your fellow REALTORS® to do the same.

TOP 5 SAFETY ACTION ITEMS FOR REALTORS®

• Plan Your Safety Strategy
• Tips and Best Practices (NAR’s annual REALTOR® Safety Survey and Report)
• Training Videos & Courses – Ongoing Education
• Personal Protection Resources – Have a Safety Plan
• REALTOR® Safety Pledge 1

PLAN YOUR REALTOR® SAFETY STRATEGYFOLLOW BEST PRACTICES

NAR has compiled tips and best practices from subject matter experts, law enforcement, and industry veterans to help keep REALTORS® safe. A handful of these valuable tips include:

• Always meet new clients at the office or in a neutral location.
• Share your schedule with a colleague, assistant, or family member.
• Do not overshare your personal life.
• Do not host open houses alone.
• Check your cell phone battery and signal before heading to an appointment.
• Never go into attics, crawl spaces, or garages where you could be trapped.

Always follow the safety protocols put in place by your brokerage. For more helpful safety tips, visit www.nar.realtor/safety/realtor-safety-tips-from-nar and click on “56 Weekly Tips for Realtors®.” These tips cover a variety of topics including client meetings, safety during open houses and at showings, cyber security, and more.

“For open houses or office hours we team up as much as possible,” said Tracie Miller, Broker/Owner at Selling the Sunshine Realty. “My agents really take their personal safety seriously as they fully understand the risks that agents face. I encourage all my agents to meet first-time clients in the office first during normal business hours. Do your due diligence ahead of time, and never rush safety protocols. No deal is worth jeopardizing your personal safety.” added Miller.

NAR REALTOR® SAFETY SURVEY & REPORT

One of the many resources provided in the Safety Program is NAR’s annual REALTOR® Safety Survey and Report. The Report is an excellent source of information regarding safety protocols, risks, and updated safety trends. Over the past 12 months:

• 23% of Realtors® reported experiencing a situation that made them fear for their personal safety or safety of their personal information.
• Residential Realtors® most often reported feeling unsafe after receiving a threatening or inappropriate email, text message, phone call, or voicemail (33%) or during a showing (27%). Industry experts advise taking any threat of any kind seriously and report it to your broker and the local police.
• Of those who reported being a victim of a crime while working as a real estate professional, 30% of those crimes were likely to be encountered after receiving a threatening or inappropriate email, text message, phone call, or voicemail.
• 34% of residential Realtors® said that they had met a new or prospective client alone at a secluded location or property.
• 18% of residential Realtors® felt unsafe while hosting an open house alone.
• 43% of residential Realtors® have shown vacant properties in areas with poor or no phone coverage.
• 51% of residential members choose to carry self defense weapons.

“As a self defense expert, I speak to REALTORS® on the topic of personal safety A LOT,” said Jennifer Cassetta, International Speaker, Performance Coach and Author of The Art of Badassery, and recent speaker at the Florida REALTORS® Conference. “I recommend every agent create their own personal safety plan. I ask them questions such as, ‘What is your first time meeting protocol? Do you share your location with someone? If so, how, verbally or through an app? Do you carry any tools to help you enhance your safety such as alarms, pepper sprays, etc? Do you know any self defense?’ These questions tend to make people uncomfortable but they need to be addressed. Education is so important because in many cases, people don’t take their safety seriously until they’ve been faced with a situation where their safety was in jeopardy.”

INVEST IN ONGOING SAFETY EDUCATION

Scheduling time every month for REALTOR® Safety training and education should be part of every REALTOR'S® business plan. NAR and RASM offer numerous webinars, videos, and articles to educate REALTORS® on a variety of topics, including working with clients, open house safety, safety at the office, cyber security, and more.

UPCOMING SAFETY WEBINAR

According to the NAR Annual REALTOR® Safety Survey and Report, only 20% of residential REALTORS® have attended a REALTOR® Safety course in 2022, but 75% of those who did take a course said that they felt more prepared after. Knowledge is power, and these courses will empower you to make life-saving decisions and keep your personal safety a priority throughout the year.

On September 13, at 1:00 p.m. EST, NAR is hosting a live webinar entitled “Unmasking Threats: Enhancing Safety through Situational Awareness,” led by Geoff Fahringer, REALTOR®, safety instructor, and law enforcement officer. Both NAR and RASM encourage you to take the time to watch and absorb the valuable information shared from industry experts covering safety topics such as overall safety, client protection, and mental wellness.

Additional recent NAR safety webinars include “How Safety Differs Across the Nation,” “It’s Ok to Not Be Ok! – Prioritizing Your Mental Health,” “Avoiding REALTOR® Danger Zones,” and more. To watch the upcoming “Unmasking Threats” webinar and other important safety webinars, visit www.nar.realtor/videos/realtor-safety-webinars.

PERSONAL PROTECTION RESOURCES –HAVE A SAFETY PLAN

No one plans to encounter a personal safety issue, but going about your day-to-day schedule without a safety plan in place can have disastrous results. A safety plan can be as simple as having a set protocol for different situations and not deviating from it. For example, your safety plan for safe showing practices might look something like the following. “As a REALTOR®, I will ask that my sellers consider the following recommendations:

• Valuables: Valuables include everything from the mail left on the countertops (which may contain personal information) to such items as jewelry, money, artwork, laptops, cellphones, and gaming systems. Please remove these items from plain view and away from the front of drawers.
• Personal Info: Removal of unnecessary personal items from your home. This not only helps stage your home, but it can also protect your privacy. This might include framed diplomas, awards, family photos, wall calendars, reminder boards, address books, diaries, or journals.
• Medications: Remove or secure all prescription medications in your home. Weapons: Remove or safely store all firearms, weapons, or other objects that could be potentially harmful.
• Showings: Do not open your door to any strangers who might inquire about the home. Contact your REALTOR® to help potential buyers schedule a showing.”

As for your safety as an agent, there are a variety of helpful tools you can add to your safety protocol.

• InstaAlert™ is a simple to use device to send emergency texts and emails with GPS location without needing to fumble around with your phone. It sends automatic alerts for failing to check-in, and includes impact detection for falls, accidents, and assaults.
• KATANA Safety™ is a personal security system that attaches to your smartphone. The system triggers a loud audible alarm or you can push a discreet silent panic button. A 24/7 response center is alerted and contacts the appropriate emergency services.
• ORA is a personal alert device that sends alerts instantly to your contacts along with your GPS location. ORA can also make a backup call to 911.
• FOREWARN is an app that is tailored to the real estate industry and provides real-time verification of an individual to instantly verify a prospect’s identity and reduce potential risks.

“We rely heavily on the FOREWARN app; it’s an amazing asset,” said Miller. “All we need to do is run our clients phone numbers through the app, and it provides real-time, up-to-date information verifying identity, and providing criminal history, financial data, and current address. It’s an amazing safety tool that has saved us time and time again.”

The best safety tool is the one that you feel most comfortable using. Familiarize yourself completely so that there is no fumbling or hesitation when you need to use it.

“Prioritizing safety is a responsible and essential aspect of building a successful career in real estate,” said Kara Wootson, PA, Broker Associate with Coldwell Banker Realty, Sarasota Downtown. “Have a personal safety plan in place and always look out for potential hazards that could jeopardize your safety or the safety of your clients. For instance, securing your digital practices and presence is vital. Your online presence and personal brand should not reveal too much about your movement. In addition, be mindful when driving ‘new’ customers in your personal car. Until you have properly vetted an individual, your first responsibility is always to yourself,” added Wootson.

SELF DEFENSE

Part of a personal safety plan should include some form of basic self defense.

“I recommend that every person regardless of their job should learn even just the basics of self defense,” said Cassetta. “In the world we are living in today, it just makes sense. From targeted racial attacks to random shootings to sexual assaults, we unfortunately need to be prepared for the worst. My basic self defense training not only helps you understand how to leverage your body to be able to protect yourself physically, but it also begins with lessons in mindset to help avoid danger when possible. I begin every class with situational awareness lessons to help you tap into your intuition (A.K.A. your inner guidance system) so you can avoid predatory behavior or be able to shut it down before it gets dangerous physically. For more information, visit https://jennifercassetta.com.

REALTOR® SAFETY PLEDGE:

To inspire fellow REALTORS® (and REALTOR® Associations) to keep safety top of mind and implemented into daily business protocols, NAR encourages you to make a pledge to REALTOR® safety.

The pledge is a commitment to receive education, follow NAR’s recommendations, and take personal safety to heart. It shows your fellow Realtors® that you care, and that you are committed to making safety a top priority in your business. Brokers are uniquely positioned to provide their agents with valuable advice and direction. Both NAR and RASM encourage our brokers to take this pledge and set the example for their agents. Part of the Realtor® Pledge states that:

“As a REALTOR®, my first priority is the wellbeing and safety of myself, my REALTOR® colleagues, the clients and customers we serve, and the business partners who foster our profession.” 

Thankfully, the majority of real estate agents do not encounter dangerous situations while out in the field. However, there are some real risks in the real estate industry. Just as we commit to providing the best service to our clients, we need to commit to personal safety. Make sure you understand the risks, learn the warning signs, and know how to avoid becoming a victim.

Sources:

1. www.nar.realtor/safety
2. www.nar.realtor/safety/planning-your-safety-strategy
3. www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/member-safety-residential
4. www.nar.realtor/safety/resources-for-personal-protection
5. www.forewarn.com