September Is Realtor® Safety Month

Realtor® Safety Month is a time to reflect on your practices and what you can do to keep yourself safe in your profession.

In the real estate industry, there are often times a Realtor® can find themselves feeling vulnerable, whether they are alone with a client who makes them feel uncomfortable or at an empty property where something just doesn’t seem right. Firstly, always trust your intuition, it is better to be safe than sorry. It’s important to always be aware of your surroundings and have an exit plan. If you have a showing, always let someone know where you are going, who you are meeting and what time to expect your return. Additionally, it’s a great idea to have clients meet at your office first and have them show proper identification, so you have that on file. And while it can be tempting to reveal personal information while casually chatting with a client, that can be used against you.

Don’t forget about cybersecurity as well. Change your passwords frequently and warn clients to never wire money, unless discussed directly over the phone or in person prior.

When hosting an open house, have a colleague with you. It’s OK to ask for photo identification here as well, or at least have visitors sign in. Always keep clients ahead of you when walking around a home. At the end of an open house, do a thorough search to make sure there is no one hiding and be alert for the possibility.

There are plenty of resources available to educate yourself, including an upcoming one from PAR. On Monday, Sept. 27, at 10 a.m., join PAR for Never Give Safety a Day Off, with Carl Carter Jr. Carter is a Realtor® and the founder of the Beverly Carter Foundation. Carter established the foundation after losing his mother, Beverly, at the hands of two clients in 2014, and now spreads the message of Realtor® safety.