Real Protection: Ensuring Personal Safety as a Real Estate Agent
Guest Article by Charlotte Meier, homesafetyhub.org
Although we don’t often think of real estate work as dangerous, for many of us in the profession, there are hazards that can occur during private showings, open houses, and other isolated encounters. If you want to prevent any unwanted occurrences, it’s important to put safety first — here are a few tips from The Springfield Board of Realtors to help.
Pre-Meeting
Before you agree to meet with a new client, it’s important to have a few precautions in place. Start by requesting identification — this should include name, phone number, and also a copy of their driver’s license. Screening practices like these are common amongst industry professionals and with these details on record, you can carry out a search on social media to see if the client is who they say they are, there are also apps to help you check for criminal records.
Once you’re comfortable, it’s customary to host a meeting with a client at your office. Make sure that coworkers or partners are made aware of your appointment, and if you are unable to host on your own territory, it’s worth finding a public location to carry out the session. The important thing is that you avoid a first encounter in the property itself.
Property Meetings
When showing a property, a cautious approach is always advised. You can start by introducing your client to the property during daylight hours. This helps you to show the property at its most clear and bright, it’s also a necessary safety protocol, as nefarious activities are more common during nighttime hours.
Make sure that you have a clear route to leave the building and that you are not obstructed from doing so. This means parking on the curb and not the driveway, learning the house layout/floor plan prior to your showing, always ensuring the client walks ahead of you at all times, and never turning your back. You should also be certain to keep the keys to your vehicle and your cell phone with you at all times — to ensure this, don’t let the client see where you keep them hidden or the access code to your lockbox.
Electronic Bookkeeping
Transitioning to electronic bookkeeping can enhance personal safety for real estate agents by reducing the need to carry large amounts of cash or sensitive financial documents, thus decreasing the risk of theft. It enables secure, remote access to financial records, minimizing travel to offices or meeting places where personal safety might be compromised. Additionally, digital systems often include a free invoice creator and fraud detection features, providing an extra layer of protection against identity theft and financial scams.
Added Tips
In addition to the core strategies, there are plenty of additional precautions you can take into consideration to safeguard your well-being and ensure maximum security.
- Travel in pairs or with additional colleagues whenever possible
- Protect your personal information by keeping home addresses and personal phone numbers separate from your business
- Establish a clear method of communication to your office or an emergency contact - this could mean setting a speed dial or establishing code words
- Protect from theft by leaving personal valuables in the trunk of your vehicle before leaving for the viewing
- More than 50% of realtors carry a weapon, this might be pepper spray, a knife, or a firearm
- Consider adding temporary surveillance to a property for the duration of its listing - the knowledge that a property has cameras is often enough to deter crime
- It’s no longer necessary to drive clients to the property, let them drive themselves
- Some real estate companies use geolocation apps or ‘find my iphone’ to keep each other updated with their movements
- It’s often a good idea to introduce yourself and to become familiar with neighbors in the area — they can keep an eye on the property whilst you’re away
- Make sure you’re updated with the NAR’s ‘Safety Resources for Brokers’ and, if possible, take the ‘Safety Matters’ course
As a realtor, your safety should be the highest priority. Even if you’re worried about offending or losing a client, it’s important that provisions are in place to safeguard you during the work day. Safety doesn’t have to dominate your thinking, but you should always be aware when on the job.
The Springfield Board of Realtors is the authority on real estate buying, selling and regulation in the city of Springfield and surrounding areas in Ohio. Visit our website to learn more!
