The National Association of Realtors has declared the month of September as Realtor Safety Month to bring awareness to the recent violence faced in the real estate agent community.
According to a recent report by Agent Genius and Realtor safety expert Andrew Wooten, 2021 has been the most violent year for the industry to date, with a noticeable increase in assaults, murders, and suicides of real estate professionals.
In observance of Realtor Safety Month, our team has compiled 5 Realtor safety tips to help keep real estate professionals out of harm’s way. All tips are taken from NAR’s REALTOR® Safety Resource Kit. Direct your members to your own association website or to NAR’s safety web pages at www.nar.realtor/Safety for more information on the important topic of REALTOR® safety.
Show Properties During the Day
It’s no surprise that violent crimes tend to happen more often during night hours. Therefore, it’s a good idea to try to schedule all property showings during the day. If you must show a property after dark, turn on all lights as you go through, and don’t lower any shades or draw curtains or blinds.
Make Your Location Known
Whenever you’re meeting with a stranger for the first time, you should let a trusted friend or family member know where you are going, and when you’re planning to return from that location. It’s also a good idea to give that person the name and phone number of the client you’re meeting.
Don’t Send Private Information Via Email
Your email is public, and therefore any private information sent through it can be easily accessed. Keep in mind that unlike websites, email is never secure.
Lock Up Client Keys
Be sure to use the lockbox property-key procedure that has been established to improve real estate agent safety. A reliable, secure lockbox system ensures that keys don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Ask New Clients to Complete a Prospect Identification Form
Last but not least, when you gain a new client, ask him/her to stop by your office and complete a Prospect Identification Form (find a copy online at www.nar.realtor/Safety). Also, take a photocopy of their driver’s license and store this information securely in your office. Be certain to properly discard this information when you no longer need it!
While not all risk can be eliminated, putting these safety tips into practice can greatly reduce your chances of running into any trouble while on the job.
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