REALTOR Safety Month Reminds Agents that the best way to stay safe is to be proactive and plan ahead
In all the stories, there is a common thread… the victim was alone in a vacant home.
Realtors are often targeted because they work alone and are perceived as having money or items of value, making them more at risk for crime. Not to mention, realtors work with people they don’t know personally, no location is off-limits, and their open houses are advertised publicly.
In 2019, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shared a member safety report that stated, “33% of realtors had been in situations that made them fear for their safety.” That number is staggering. Since then, NAR and other realtor associations realized it was important to bring awareness to these risks and train realtors in strategies to stay safe.
Realtors must be proactive. Due to the nature of the job, real estate agents must prepare themselves, in advance, to remain safe. Some simple steps that can be taken when you are considering working with an unknown client include:
Pre-screen clients / Ask Questions
Insist on meeting for the first time in a public place or at your office
Require identification
Take a colleague with you
Above all, listen to your gut. Your safety is far more important than the sale of a home. We have all heard the stories and recognize the names of realtors who have been hurt or killed on the job. If you have a bad feeling about the showing, don’t ignore that small voice that is warning you.
You are the first line of defense. The idea of protecting ourselves isn’t something any of us like to imagine, but not having the ability to defend yourself in the event that you are targeted, is far scarier, in my opinion. You must know how to defend yourself. When you choose that self-defense tool, whether it is a pepper ball gun or a firearm, it is crucial that you get proper training on how to carry it safely and know how to use it in the event you need to.
For the last year, I have partnered with Texas Law Shield to teach realtor safety courses. The two-hour continuing education course is an in-depth look at the dangers realtors encounter on a daily basis and the strategies they can take to proactively lower their risk. The course also addresses what happens if you have to defend yourself; from the first 911 call to the legal system, the course explains how to best navigate the process. A realtor safety course is the most important class you can take because it truly does come down to life and death.
If you’re interested in or would like more information about the realtor safety course, please contact lindsey@theashtonagency.com
Lindsey Jensen, Realtor Safety Course Instructor
Realtor, The Ashton Agency