While Realtor® Safety Month has just passed, Realtor® safety should be a priority year round.
Even though most Realtors® are aware of the precautions they need to take, some have still found themselves in precarious situations. For residential Realtors®, 24% reported they were in a situation that made them fearful for their personal safety or for their personal information, according to NAR’s 2022 Member Safety Residential Report.
Commercial Realtors® had similar experiences, 26% said they were in a situation that made them fearful for their personal safety or for their personal information, according to NAR’s 2022 Member Safety Commercial Report. Commercial Realtors® were more likely to report they felt their safety was in jeopardy during a showing (29%) and after receiving a threatening message (29%), while residential Realtors® were more likely to be fearful after receiving a threatening message (33%) and then during a showing (27%). About a quarter of both commercial and residential Realtors® reported feeling unsafe when meeting a new or potential client at a secluded location.
Female Realtors® were more likely than their male counterparts to report feeling unsafe in a work situation, with commercial Realtors® at a higher rate than residential ones. Commercial Realtors® reported feeling unsafe more often in metro or urban areas, while residential Realtors® said it was more common for them in suburban areas.
Fortunately, the majority of Realtors® reported not being a victim, according to 95% of commercial agents and 98% of residential ones. Of those who reported being a victim, residential Realtors® were most likely to say it happened after receiving a threatening message (30%), while commercial Realtors® were more apt to report it happened during a showing (29%).
Despite safety concerns, 42% of commercial Realtors® and 34% of residential Realtors® said they had met a new client at a secluded area in the last year. More than 40% of residential agents said they hosted an open house alone and 18% said they felt unsafe during it. Nearly half of Realtors® confessed to meeting a client at a vacant property with no or unreliable cell service.
Some Realtors® are preparing themselves though, 40% of residential agents and 45% of commercial agents said they have taken a self-defense course. More than half of both residential (51%) and commercial Realtors® (54%) said they carry a weapon, most likely to be pepper spray, a firearm or a pocket knife. Additionally, two-thirds of commercial agents and 73% of residential agents said they follow safety procedures with every client.
Topics
Member Discussion
Recent Articles
-
Protect Against a Cyberattack
- February 19, 2025
- 5 min. read
“Cybercrime is increasing exponentially, and the reality is that’s the 21st century,” said John Iannarelli, who served 20 years as an FBI special agent and national spokesperson.
-
How Much Did Home Construction Cost in 2024?
- February 18, 2025
- 1 min. read
In 2024, the average cost of construction of a home in the U.S. was $428,215, which accounted for 64.4% of the average price of a home ($665,298), according to NAHB.
-
How to Take Your Value Prop to New Levels
- February 17, 2025
- 3 min. read
During RISMedia’s Rocking in the New Year virtual educational event, a few real estate agent panelists discussed how others can take their value proposition to new levels.
Daily Emails
You’ll be the first to know about real estate trends and various legal happenings. Stay up-to-date by subscribing to JustListed.