Real Estate Agent Safety & Self-Defense Awareness
The Real Estate Professional has a riskier job than one might imagine. Everyday real estate agents are meeting.jpg)
with complete strangers to look at a vacant property or home and are usually meeting alone with the client.
Because of the high number of violent attacks, assaults, and murders of women and men in the real estate profession, the National Association of Realtors has made safety and security programs available to members throughout the U.S.
They realized the dangers that these professionals deal with unwittingly each day. Attending a self-defense class or a real estate agent safety awareness seminar can remind professionals of things they should be aware of each time they meet with new clients. When you follow the personal safety rules and guidelines for your industry, you make yourself less likely to become a victim of a violent criminal attack.
Many criminals view real estate professionals as "easy prey" because they are usually meeting with women agents — alone - in a vacant or unoccupied location or home. The agent views the meeting with the prospect as a way to sell a home while the criminal prospect may have other motives.
If an attack is part of the criminal’s plan, he will most likely have the upper hand knowing when his imminent attack is coming. The agent on the other agent may have a proactive safety plan in place should something like that happen. That plan should include being a student of a self-defense training program or a safety awareness class which stresses the importance of always being aware and alert to the surroundings and individuals you are working with at all times.
As a real estate agent in a high risk job your personal safety and security should be a #1 priority. Keep in mind and follow the rules and guidelines that the NAR has set up. Don’t let a potential client steer you from doing what you know is right. Follow proper guidelines — such as meeting the client first in your office and completing necessary paperwork. If the client persists that they can’t do that, find another way to meet the person in a safe environment.
When meeting with a client to show a home or when hosting an open house, always let your client lead the way as you follow. Keep some distance as you move with the client throughout the home or property and know where they are at all times. When you first enter a property, find out where each entry and exit doors are located. Have an escape route if you need it. If your gut instincts tell you something is wrong, be sure to listen and wrap the meeting up immediately. Read more
Real Estate Safety-Be Prepared When Holding Open Houses
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She looks so happy go-lucky without a care in the world! What do you think she would do if confronted by a prospect who turns out to be a violent perpetrator??
When you schedule an Open House with your clients, do you give much thought to your personal safety? When your new construction builder asks you to work an Open House in an isolated subdivision or development, do you give much thought to what you would do if confronted or attacked by a perpetrator or predator that unexpectedly shows up at your Open House?
Many realtors work Open Houses by themselves. However, with crime on the rise against real estate agents – especially women - the trend may be moving towards working as teams or at least having someone else with you (a spouse or a friend) during your time at the Open House.
If you are like many agents, you may never have experienced a confrontation with a potential client so personal safety may not be high on your priority list. If you live in a city with a very low crime rate, the tendency may be to shrug off the thought of being attacked thinking “it won’t happen to me”. This type of thinking may cause you to let your guard down leaving you vulnerable and at risk to being attacked because you didn’t recognize potential danger signs.
Whether meeting clients in their home to take a listing, showing homes to new prospects, or holding Open Houses – what can you do to stay safe on the job and make yourself less of a target to the criminal predator?
First you must be Prepared and have a Personal Safety Plan of Action! Be prepared - both mentally and physically - for the unexpected situation (and hope it will never happen). But if it does, you are now prepared and have developed a safety plan of action to know exactly what you will do if put in a dangerous, confrontational situation.
One of my first recommendations for real estate agents and those who perform in-home sales/services is to take a woman’s self-defense class. The RAD Self-Defense training for women is a tremendous way to learn how to protect and defend yourself in an attack/assault situation. Being physically prepared and knowing what to do to protect yourself is a valuable tool to have.
Consider carrying some type of a personal protection device like pepper spray, mace spray, TASER C2 or a personal alarm in the event you feel threatened or are attacked. Your main objective with non-lethal protection is to throw off the attacker enough so you can get away to safety and alert the police.
You can checkout a complete selection of Personal Protection Products at http://www.ThePersonalSecurityStore.com.
Remember, your personal safety should be a #1 concern. Being prepared and knowing how to protect yourself on-the-job - whether holding an Open House or showing property to clients - is a valuable tool to have.
Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!
Common Sense Real Estate Agent Safety
Courtesy of RealtorSafety911.com
As real estate agents, you must always be on guard and thinking. You shouldn’t be afraid to show property but you must be smart when showing property.
If you are going to show property to a new client early in the morning or late in the evening, it is wise to take someone with you. If you cannot take someone with you, always be prepared for the unexpected. It is a good practice to meet new clients in your broker office first. Also have a digital came and take a picture of the client’s license plate and even of the client. Then email this to your broker or your spouse. That way someone has information on who you are working with. If the client doesn’t like that, then you should take that as a sign to ‘get out’.
Daytona Beach Area Real Estate Market, Data and Updates. By Lisa Hill, “THE SMART CHOICE!” 
I was recently reminded of an incident that happened to a REALTOR® friend of mine, a few years ago. This incident was the type of horror story we all fear.
My friend received a call from a potential buyer who had to catch a flight out of town later that morning and he needed to leave by 9:00 a.m. He was anxious to see a model in a development my REALTOR® friend was representing and the only time he was available was early in the morning. So my friend scheduled an appointment to meet this potential buyer at one of the models at 7:30 a.m.
When she arrived at the model, the buyer was waiting and they proceeded to go inside the house. A few minutes later, another vehicle arrived with a couple in it. The potential buyer told my REALTOR® friend that these were friends of his and they all proceeded to view the house.
Then they got to the master bedroom. At this point, the original potential buyer pulled a gun out of a briefcase, then used garbage bag ties on my REALTOR® friend, and put her in the closet of the master bedroom. Now while my friend was in the closet, she could hear the 3 people rummaging through the house and talking on what sounded like walkie talkies, but she couldn’t understand what they were saying, nor could she understand what they wanted in a model home. Read more
Spring Is Here - Let’s Talk Real Estate Agent Safety
The Real Estate Professional has a riskier job than one might imagine. Everyday real estate agents are meeting with complete strangers to look at a vacant property or home and are usually meeting alone with the client.
Because of the high number of violent attacks, assaults, and murders of women and men in the real estate profession, the National Association of Realtors has actually made safety and security programs available to members throughout the U.S.
They realized the dangers with which these professionals deal with unwittingly each day. Attending a self-defense class or a realtor safety awareness seminar can remind these professionals of things they should be aware of each time they meet with new clients. Following the new rules of the game is so important in keeping yourself safe…and alive!
Many criminals view real estate professionals as "easy prey" because they are usually meeting women realtors — alone - in a vacant or unoccupied location or home. The agent views the meeting with the prospect as a way to sell a home while the criminal prospect has other motives. He will most likely will have the upper hand and know when an imminent attack is coming. However, the realtor may already have a proactive safety plan in place — and that’s being aware and alert at all times.
It is always best to have your personal safety and security as priority number one. Keep in mind and follow the rules and guidelines that the NAR has set up. Don’t let a potential client steer you from doing what you know is right. Follow proper guidelines — such as meeting the client first in your office and completing necessary paperwork. If the client persists that they can’t do that, find another way to meet the person in a safe environment.
When meeting with a client to show a home or at an open house, always let them lead the way as you follow. Keep some distance behind and know where they are in the home should you stay back. Know where entry and exit doors are located and stay up-to-date on safety rules and guidelines. If your instincts tell you something is wrong, be sure to listen and wrap the meeting up immediately.
Realtor Safety Awareness and Personal Protection - Always Carry With You.
A violent situation can happen anywhere at anytime, especially in an unknown home or deserted location. If the potential client intends to assault or attack you — being armed with some type of self-defense or awareness training and personal protection like Pepper/Mace Spray, a Personal Alarm, a TASER C2 or a Stun Gun can save your life. These non-lethal devices can easily fit into your pocket, briefcase, portfolio, on your keys, or in your purse. It is better to be proactive and safe than physically attacked or murdered. Go to The Personal Security Store for your personal protection products.
As we enter Spring, more and more people will be looking to buy or sell a home. Take a few minutes to review your safety action plan and remember to keep your personal safety a high priority!.
Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!
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Real Estate Agent Personal Safety - Part I
Last year I was interviewed for the Texas Association of Realtors magazine; however, I never did receive a copy of the article which was about realtor safety. As I was searching through Google today, I came across the article that was done through that interview. Turns out to be a pretty good article on Real Estate Agent Safety. If you are an agent, take a few moments to read the following article. I put it in (3) parts as it was very long.
Courtesy of Texas Association of Realtors
Protect Yourself - Isn’t It Time To Get Serious About Your Safety?
Most of Joan Malone’s clients were either past customers or referrals. That was, until the REALTOR® with RE/MAX DFW Associates in Coppell just happened to be working in the office one day in 1997 when a man walked in wanting to see a few of the homes on the market at the time. She took the seemingly innocuous customer out to do just that, but it didn’t take long for the hackles on the back of Malone’s neck to rise. For starters, she was suspicious of the “friend” who was tagging along, claiming to be an attorney and boasting about the cash funds that would soon be freed up to purchase a home. “I had a strange feeling about the situation,” says Malone, a REALTOR® since 1990. “I even wrote the word flake on the graphic of the home that he liked the best that day.”
Three months later, the potential buyer resurfaced … this time alone. The next day Malone took him out to look at four homes, including one that he’d seen back in January. “I opened the front door and then stayed in a spot where I could watch what he was doing and what was going on,” says Malone. “The next thing I knew, he knocked me off of my feet, broke my back, stabbed me, and tried to strangle me to death.”
Malone passed out, leaving her attacker to assume he had finished the job. Upon waking, Malone painfully crawled to the kitchen phone, dialed 911, and was rushed to the hospital. She spent five days in intensive care and was out of work for three months.
Unwilling to let the attack keep her from the work that she loved, Malone returned to real estate with a renewed spirit and a newfound suspicion of potential threats.
“I learned that I should always trust my intuition,” she says. “Early on, something just wasn’t right with this guy, and I sensed it. But we don’t relate to everyone in the same way all of the time, so it was difficult to just blow someone off who might turn into a sale.”
Should the scenario ever repeat itself, Malone says she’d never take the person out again by herself. Instead, she would bring a friend or colleague along for safety. “One thing’s for sure,” she says, “if a prospect does have a motive other than buying or selling a home—and you do bring someone with you on the appointment—you’ll never see that customer again.”
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What to do with all that advice?
The amount of safety information provided to REALTORS® can be overwhelming. The fact that some of it is conflicting makes it even more difficult to figure out what will work best. Should you really ask for ID from open-house visitors? Is it better to keep your pepper spray on a key chain or hide it in your purse? Should you fight back or allow the criminal to have his way in hopes that he lets you go safely? Cheryl Watterson of Personal Security Solutions says agents need to realize that every situation is different, and that the safety measures that work in one scenario may not necessarily function as planned in another. To avoid getting too caught up in minute details, Watterson says agents should take a step back and consider a few commonsense guidelines, such as doing a gut check before going into a situation alone, taking precautions before working with a client (getting an ID and prequalification paperwork, for example), and avoiding situations that look and feel dangerous.
Robert Siciliano of RealtySecurity.com says sifting through conflicting safety advice is a lot like the sales process itself. You need to listen to all of the experts, digest the information, and take away and implement those strategies that best fit your situation. “Some of my tips just may not be feasible and may not work for someone’s personality style,” he says. “But fundamentals like understanding body language and knowing what’s going on 50 to 100 feet around you at all times work for everyone.” And, as both Joan Malone and Jeannette Armstrong learned, if something feels wrong, it probably is. “Remember,” warns Siciliano. “Your intuition doesn’t lie.”
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Real Estate Agent Personal Safety - Part II
Courtesy of Texas Association of Realtors
Protect Yourself-Isn’t It Time To Get Serious About Your Safety?
Watch for red flags and trust your gut
Safety is a concern for people in all professions, particularly those that require workers to work one-on-one with prospective customers in the field. Whether holding open houses, showing homes, or attending listing appointments, real estate agents can be particularly vulnerable to criminals, as evidenced by the numerous media reports of crimes against licensees.
“Anytime you’re alone with a potential criminal, you’re vulnerable,” says Nancy Hightshoe, a former police detective, professional speaker, and president of Nancy Hightshoe Seminars, Inc. in St. Louis. “REALTORS® are alone with strangers all the time—that’s the nature of their business.”
Robert Siciliano, CEO of RealtySecurity.com in Boston, says the faltering economy is also breeding more criminals. “Desperate times mean desperate measures, and ‘regular’ people end up committing crimes,” says Siciliano. “Combine that with the fact that real estate is a high-risk profession, and you really have to keep your head up and be aware of how vulnerable you are right now.”
Jeanette Armstrong, a REALTOR® with Keller Realty of Frisco, found that out a year ago when she received a phone call from a supposed cash buyer who was interested in $600,000-plus homes, but who wanted to see her $289,000 listing. “That was the first red flag,” says Armstrong. “The second was that he wanted to close in three weeks, but was vague about what he wanted in a home.”
Not comfortable meeting the man alone, Armstrong brought her husband along on the appointment. She had also asked her team leader to meet the prospect in person at the office prior to the showing. The buyer refused to sign a buyer’s representation agreement or Information About Brokerage Services form (yet another red flag), and a nervous Armstrong neglected to get a copy of his driver’s license. For the showings, the prospect drove his own car, following Armstrong and her husband. He was “barely interested” in any of the new home builders that the REALTORS® introduced him to.
“He acted like he couldn’t wait to get out of there,” recalls Armstrong, who has been licensed for eight years. “He then told me that he was meeting someone for dinner, and that he’d call me tomorrow. He never called.” Looking back, Armstrong is relieved that she went with her gut instinct by protecting herself and bringing backup along on the showing appointments. “I don’t know what this buyer’s intentions were, but I know they weren’t to buy a home,” says Armstrong. “When we saw a shovel in the back of the rental truck he was driving, we knew that he could have been dangerous.”
Real Estate Agent Personal Safety - Part III
Courtesy of Texas Association of Realtors
Protect Yourself - Isn’t It Time To Get Serious About Your Safety?
What would you do if … ?
One of the best steps agents can take to protect themselves is to have a plan in place that addresses any scenarios that could take place, says Cheryl Watterson, president at Granger, Indiana-based Personal Security Solutions. Think about what you would do if you found yourself in a potentially dangerous situation, says this self-defense expert, and then mentally walk through the steps you would take to get out of it safely.
Watterson compares her 20-year stint in sales for a national alarm company to the work of a real estate agent. Both are out in the field most of the time and are exposed to a wide variety of people on a daily basis … sometimes under potentially unsafe circumstances. To make sure she wasn’t victimized while working at someone’s home, Watterson trained herself to watch how doors were shut and/or locked behind her, avoided basements when possible, maintained a safe distance from customers, surveyed her surroundings regularly, and knew what she was going to do if someone grabbed or attacked her.
Watterson also urges agents to follow Armstrong’s lead by always carrying pepper spray or mace, particularly when working alone in the field. A fully charged cell phone is equally as valuable, she says, as are self-defense classes and safety-awareness seminars.
Siciliano says a little suspicion can also go a long way in keeping agents safe from harm. “Be suspect of everyone,” he says. “While there isn’t any benefit in being paranoid, being a little guarded can keep you from getting into a vulnerable situation.” And remember that criminals don’t always make their move on the first meeting (as Malone found out). “They like to gain your trust so you feel comfortable carrying cash and jewelry,” says Siciliano, “and then they decide it’s safe to move in.”
Put systems in place to protect yourself.
Get ID and prequalification information from clients during the first meeting, says Siciliano, whether that interaction takes place at the office or offsite. “Start a file with all their identification, including information such as a license plate and employer contact information,” he adds. “Someone who is prequalified by a lender and meets you at the office is less likely to be a predator.”
If the unfortunate occurs, Siciliano advises agents to use predetermined code words to alert the office of the problem, such as green, yellow, and red to indicate the level of severity. For example, say to your contact back at the office, “It’s in the green folder,” letting your contact know you are fine. Or you would say, “It’s in the yellow folder,” thus alerting your contact that the situation is shaky and that you might need assistance.
And remember that regardless of current market or economic conditions, there is—and always has been—a criminal element lurking out there. “There will always be predators stalking their prey and seeking their next victim. Your job is not to be chosen as their next victim,” says Siciliano. “Do that by understanding the fundamentals of personal security and incorporating as many safety strategies into your personal and professional lives as possible.”
Bridget McCrea is a writer and former real estate agent in Dunedin, Florida.
Remember, Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!!
Realtors-How Prepared Are You For The Unexpected Predator Visiting Your Open House?
She looks so happy go-lucky without a care in the world! What do you think she would do if confronted by a prospect who turns out to be a violent perpetrator??
When you schedule an Open House with your clients, do you give much thought to your personal safety? When your new construction builder asks you to work an Open House in an isolated subdivision or development, do you give much thought to what you would do if confronted or attacked by a perpetrator or predator that unexpectedly shows up at your Open House?
Many realtors work Open Houses by themselves. However, with crime on the rise against realtors – especially women - the trend may be moving towards working as teams or at least having someone else with you (a spouse or a friend) during your time at the Open House.
If you are like a lot of realtors who have had no issues or confrontations with potential perpetrators, personal safety may not be high on your priority list. If you live in a city with a very low crime rate, the tendency may be to shrug off the thought of being attacked thinking “it won’t happen to me”. This type of thinking may cause you to let your guard down leaving you vulnerable and at risk to being attacked because you didn’t recognize potential danger signs.
Whether meeting clients in their home to take a listing, showing homes to new prospects, or holding Open Houses – what can you do to stay safe on the job and make yourself less of a target to the criminal predator?
First you must be Prepared and have a Personal Safety Plan of Action! Be prepared - both mentally and physically - for the unexpected situation (and hope it will never happen). But if it does, you are now prepared and have developed a safety plan of action to know exactly what you will do if put in a dangerous, confrontational situation.
Read the 7-Point Personal Safety Plan of Action.
Remember, Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!
Realtor Fights Off Attacker In House - South Bend, IN
This past weekend there was an incident where a realtor (female) was attacked by her prospect. As I have written about on many occasions - it doesn’t matter that you live in a small community like South Bend, Indiana where crime may not be as prevalent as in the larger cities - but crime still happens! And these criminals are looking for the avenue of least resistance. Realtors are considered a high risk profession and they need to do everything they can to ensure that their personal safety is one of their highest priorities.
That means ensuring you have a Safety Plan that includes taking self-defense training to learn simple, yet effective defensive techniques and tactics that will enable you to protect and defend yourself against an attacker. Also, take a personal safety awareness class that reviews and reiterates many realtor safety guidelines that are designed to promote everyday awareness to keep you safe. Read more
Realtors - Become Proactive In Your Home Security & Personal Safety
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Courtesy of CA Home Security
If you’re a real estate professional, your primary job is meeting with complete strangers – showing homes, holding open houses, and even being out walking to your car late at night…all in the hopes that you secure a new client that you sell a home or property to. You’re faced with potentially risky situations almost every day. Because of the very nature of your job…..your safety should be a main priority for you.
There are crazy predators who seek out female realtors – not really caring who you are so long as you are a female. Then there are those crazies who seek out realtors who are high visibility agents. These are the million dollar agents who are on the cover of magazines, on the billboards, in the newspapers – their name is highly recognizable.
These predators see million dollar agents and assume you must be earning that full amount for yourself. There have been many realtors who have been followed to their homes by such predators and attacked in their own home. Some agents have been stalked and had their homes burglarized. Consider your safety and the safety of your home and family Priority Number 1.
First and foremost, be sure you follow all of the Safety Rules for your business:
1. Never have a first meeting with a customer at a property. Always meet customers in the office, where you can introduce them to the broker, manager or other colleagues. If you must, meet them at a public place to introduce yourself and conduct a buyer interview.
2. Leave an itinerary with the office. Let someone know what houses you will be viewing—and be sure the customer knows there is a schedule you’ll be following.
3. Carry a cell phone. Stay in contact with someone while you’re out in the field.
4. Don’t wear flashy jewelry or carry several credit cards. Carry only a small amount of cash or one credit card, and have a key ring with just your car key and lockbox key on it.
5. Use your own car. Be in control of the presentation and be the guide. If a customer wants to drive, have him or her follow you. And don’t park where you can be blocked in.
6. Always enter through the front door. If you have to use a side door, have the customers wait at the front door and let them in that way.
7. Inside the house, stay between the customer and an exit. Don’t ever walk into a room first. It’s safer and a better experience for the customer.
8. Have a secret code. Create a code word or phrase to let your colleagues know that you’re in need of help. Then, if you feel threatened, you could call your office and say, “Could you please call Mr. CODEWORD to cancel my appointment?” This let’s the office know that you need help without giving any indication to the listener.
9. Carry pepper spray if it’s legal in your area. This may be used for defense from animals, snakes or any predators and give you time to get to safety. Read more
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PERSONAL PROTECTION
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