Realtor® Safety Month: Prioritizing Safe Business

In 2023, 22% of residential Realtors® experienced a situation that made them fear for their personal safety or the safety of their personal information, a slight decrease from 2022 (23%), according to the National Association of Realtors® Member Safety Residential Report.

While September marks Realtor® Safety Month, Realtors® need to be aware and practice safety all year round. Realtors® are dedicated real estate professionals willing to go the extra mile, but, when meeting new people in unfamiliar homes – a key aspect of the Realtor® job – safety should come first.

The top situations in which Realtors® feared for their personal safety last year included:

1. Other (30%)
2. After receiving a threatening or inappropriate email, text message, phone call or voicemail (29%)
3. During a showing (26%)
4. During an open house (25%)
5. While meeting a new client for the first time at a secluded location/property (22%)
6. While meeting a new client for the first time in a public place (6%)
7. While driving a client in their car (3%)

The report also notes that more female than male Realtors® feared for their safety (25% vs. 16%), and Realtors® practicing in suburban areas were significantly more likely to feel threatened (48%, compared to 23% in urban areas, 17% in small towns and 13% in rural areas).

Still, 95% of Realtors® said they have not been a victim of a crime (violent or not) while working as a real estate professional, a decrease from 98% in 2022.

Realtors® can take various steps to protect themselves and ensure their safety. A notable 71% of Realtors® said they had personal safety protocols in place to follow with every client, and 51% said their brokerage had standard procedures for agent safety.

Other ways Realtors® reported prioritizing their safety included:

• Taking a self-defense class (38%)
• Carrying self-defense weapons (50%)
• Using smartphone safety apps (67%)
• Attending a Realtor® safety course (19%)

For more Realtor® safety tips and information:

• Register for this month’s PAR webinar, “Prospect or Predator? Reduce the Risk of Being Attacked Without Sacrificing the Sale!” on Sept. 12 at 10 a.m.
• Check out NAR’s Realtor® Safety Program, which includes articles, training videos, webinars, tips and more
• Read previous JustListed articles on Realtor® safety