Whether you’re a seasoned real estate agent or are just starting your real estate career, safety should be at the forefront of everything you do. It’s essential to ensure you have an existing personal safety protocol whether you’re showing a property, meeting a new client, or simply communicating online.
In this article, we explore over 50 safety tips realtors can use to protect themselves and their clients better.
September is REALTOR® Safety Month
Since 2003, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 1 has dedicated September as REALTOR® Safety Month to remind real estate professionals of the daily dangers they face. As a part of these efforts, NAR has also developed REALTOR® Safety materials for use throughout the year. All safety tips for this article are taken from the NAR Safety Program 2.
TIP #1 Keep it light
Show properties before dark. If you are going to be working after hours, advise your associate or first-line supervisor of your schedule. If you must show a property after dark, turn on all lights and open shades before going inside with your client.
TIP #2 Checking in
When you have a new client, ask them to complete a Prospect Identification Form (you can find a copy online at nar.realtor/safety) and photocopy their driver’s license. Be sure to properly discard this personal information when you no longer need it.
TIP #3 Don’t be too public
Limit the amount of personal information you share. Consider advertising without using your photograph or personal contact details. Use your office address—or list no address at all. Giving out too much of the wrong information can make you a target.
TIP #4 Touch base
Always let someone know where you are going and when you will be back; leave the name and phone number of the client you are meeting with and schedule a time for your office to call you to check in.
TIP #5 Open house: it ain’t over till it’s over
Don’t assume that everyone has left the premises at the end of an open house. Have a colleague or buddy help you check all the rooms and the backyard before locking the doors.
TIP #6 Stranger danger
Tell your clients that not all agents, buyers, and sellers are who they say they are, and they should NEVER show their house alone. Predators come in all shapes and sizes. We tell our children not to talk to strangers. Tell your sellers to refer all inquiries to you.
TIP #7 Sturdy doors are key to home safety
Make sure that all your home’s doors to the outside are metal or solid, 1 ¾” hardwood, and have good, sturdy locks.
TIP #8 Block identity theft
Contact the fraud department of any of the three consumer reporting companies—Equifax®, ExperianSM and Trans Union®—to place a fraud alert on your credit report. The fraud alert automatically lets credit card companies and other creditors know they must contact you before opening new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts.
TIP #9 Keep track of colleagues
Have an employee board at your office that keeps track of where realtors are in the field, where they are going, who they are meeting with, and expected return time.
TIP #10 Wear your REALTOR® ID
Always wear visible company identification such as a badge, and always carry your photo id card on you. These will be invaluable for identification if you end up needing assistance.
TIP #11 Bring up the rear
When showing a home, always have your prospect walk in front of you. Don’t lead them, but rather, direct them from a position at least 3-4 arm lengths behind them. You can gesture for them to go ahead of you and say, for example, “The main bedroom is in the back of the house.”
TIP #12 Pick up some self-defense skills
Many health clubs, martial arts studios, and community colleges offer classes. You can also ask your peers, friends, and family if they have taken a self-defense class that they would recommend.
TIP #13 You take the wheel
Do not drive clients in your car. Instead, have them meet you at the property. When you leave your car, lock it.
TIP #14 Shield your computer from email viruses
Computer viruses can impair and seriously damage your computer. Viruses are often distributed via attachments in email spam. Never open an attachment from someone you don’t know, and if you receive a strange or impersonal-sounding message from a familiar address, check with that person to ensure they sent it. Risk management is an important part of staying safe online, but realtors should also consider Cyber Insurance.
TIP #15 Got cell service, everywhere?
Thick walls and/or remote locations may interfere with mobile phone reception when showing commercial property. Be sure to check the cell service of the property before the showing and call the listing agent if necessary. If there is no or poor cell service, always take an accompaniment.
TIP #16 Choose flight over fight
While every real estate agent should take a basic self-defense course, the primary goal in any threatening situation is to escape from immediate danger and call for help.
TIP #17 Your trash is another man’s treasure
Just bought a new entertainment system? A bunch of empty boxes out by the curb triggers an alarm to would-be thieves. Instead of putting boxes out in plain sight, cut them down, and stuff them in trash bags.
TIP #18 Hide personal information
Tell your sellers: don’t leave personal information like mail or bills in the open where anyone can see it. Be sure to lock down your computer, laptop, and other expensive, easy-to-pocket electronics, like iPods, before your showing.
TIP #19 Agree on an office distress code
Create a voice distress code, a secret word or phrase that is not commonly used but can be worked into any conversation for cases where you feel that you are in danger. Use this if the person you are with can overhear the conversation, but you don’t want to alarm them. Example: “Hi, this is Jennifer. I’m with Mr. Henderson at the Elm Street listing. Could you email me the RED FILE?”.
TIP #20 Have your excuse ready
Part of being prepared to deal with a threatening situation is having “an out.” Prepare a scenario in advance so you can leave—or you can encourage someone who makes you uncomfortable to leave. Example: You left some vital information in your car, or another agent with buyers is on his way.
TIP #21 Assess potential dangers
Take a few minutes when you arrive at your destination to check out potential dangers:
- Is there any questionable activity in the area?
- Are you parked in a well-lit, visible location?
- Can you be blocked in the driveway by another vehicle?
- Are people coming and going, or is the area unusually quiet?
- Do you observe any obstacles or hiding places in the parking lot or along the street?
- Is anyone loitering in the area?
TIP #22 You are not alone
Always lock the doors if you are working late or alone in your office. And if you do run into someone when you are alone, pretend like a colleague is there with you. Say something like, “Let me check with my supervisor to see whether she’s able to see you now.”
TIP #23 Your email is public
Don’t send any vital or private information via email. Keep in mind that, unlike websites, email is never secure.
TIP #24 Don’t get lost
If you are in an unfamiliar area, make mental notes of landmarks, points of interest, and intersections. And always know the exact address of where you are going. If you must use a GPS, pull over and stop in a safe place first.
TIP #25 Careful with cash deposits!
If you periodically carry large deposits to the bank, be especially aware of any strangers lurking around the office parking lot. If you must transport cash deposits, use the buddy system or arrange for a security service or police escort.
TIP #26 Lock up client keys
Be sure to use the lockbox property-key procedure established to improve real estate agent safety. A reliable, secure lockbox system such as those made by NAR REALTOR Benefits® Partner SentriLock ensures that keys don’t fall into the wrong hands.
TIP #27 Shop online safely
When shopping online, check out a website before entering your credit card number or other personal information. Only enter this information on secure sites with addresses that start with “https” and have a closed padlock symbol at the bottom of the browser window. These are signs that your information will be encrypted or scrambled, protecting it from hackers.
TIP #28 Nothing personal…
When talking to clients and prospects, be friendly without offering personal information. Never mention where you live, your after-work or vacation plans, or similar details.
TIP #29 Be careful with keys
Don’t hand out house keys to friends, even if they are trustworthy. Know the location of all your house keys all the time. Never use hide-a-keys or leave the key under the doormat, above the door, in a flowerpot, or anywhere outside the house. You may think you’re being clever, but experienced thieves know all the tricks. Also, keep your car keys and house keys on a different ring if you ever use valet parking or leave your keys with parking lot attendants or even at a repair garage.
TIP #30 From dawn till dusk
When showing a vacant commercial site, find out if the property is well-lit and has good cell phone coverage—if one or both of those criteria do not apply, take someone with you to the appointment.
TIP #31 Thwart thieves
Remind your clients that strangers will be walking through their home during showings or open houses. Tell them to hide any valuables in a safe place. For security’s sake, remember to remove keys, credit cards, jewelry, crystal, furs, and other valuables from the home or lock them away during showings. Also, remove prescription drugs. Some seemingly honest people wouldn’t mind getting their hands on a bottle of Viagra, uppers, or downers.
TIP #32 Long-term thinking
If you think it may be some time before a property sells (and you may, therefore, be showing it often), get acquainted with a few of the immediate neighbors. You will feel better knowing they know your vehicle, and they will feel better about the stranger (you) who frequently visits their neighborhood.
TIP #33 Don’t text and drive
Anytime you shift your attention from driving, you’re distracted. But it’s cell phone use — specifically, texting, talking, and social media use — that has become the most common distraction.
TIP #34 Carry less
If you carry a purse, lock it in your car trunk before arriving at an appointment. Carry only non-valuable business items (except for your cell phone), and do not wear expensive jewelry or watches or appear to be carrying large sums of money.
TIP #35 Don’t get parked in
When showing property or meeting someone, park your car in front of the property rather than in the driveway. You will avoid having your car blocked in, you’ll have an easier time escaping in your vehicle, and you will attract lots of attention running and screaming to your car at the curb area.
TIP #36 Monitor your financial accounts
Open your credit card bills and bank statements right away or check your accounts online a few times per week. Check for any unauthorized charges or withdrawals and report them immediately. Call if bills don’t arrive on time or you see suspicious charges or withdrawals on your accounts, but you are not receiving notifications. It may mean that someone has changed contact information to hide fraudulent charges.
TIP #37 Plan ahead with escape routes
Upon entering an open house property for the first time, check each room and determine at least two “escape” routes. Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked for easy access to the outside. If necessary, move furniture slightly to create a straighter path to the door. If there is an interior door and a storm door, open the interior door; this increases visibility and ensures that you do not have to open an inward swinging door to escape.
TIP #38 Keep it professional
All of your marketing materials should be polished and professional. Don’t use alluring or provocative photography in advertising, online or on your business cards. There are many documented cases of criminals circling photographs of their would-be victims in newspaper advertisements.
TIP #39 Best practices for model home showings
When a person comes through the office to view a model home, have them complete a guest register that includes their full name, address, phone number, e-mail, and vehicle information.
TIP #40 Safe apartment living
Moving into an apartment? Have the locks changed when you move in. (The maintenance crew can simply swap lock cylinders with a random vacant apartment, a project that is free and takes only a few minutes.) And just use your last name, or if necessary last name and first initial, on your door or mailbox. This keeps strangers from knowing your gender or how many people live in your apartment.
TIP #41 Rely on good neighbors
Inform a neighbor that you will be hosting an open house and ask if he or she would keep an eye and ear open for anything out of the ordinary.
TIP #42 Be prepared: pre-program!
To best prepare for an emergency, pre-program important numbers into your cell phone. These may include your office, your roadside assistance service or garage, and 9-1-1.
TIP #43 Beware of “phishers”
Don’t respond to emails requesting personal or private information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or bank account numbers. Even if a message appears to be from your bank or a trusted vendor, credible companies never request private information this way. Also verify by phone before acting on any requests made by your client that were requested via email.
TIP #44 Scam alert!
Control your open house traffic by limiting the number of people allowed in the house at any given time. Police have reported groups of criminals that target open houses and show up near the end of the afternoon. While several “clients” distract the agent, others go through the house and steal anything they can quickly take.
TIP #45 Make your clients your “safety partners”
Inform clients who are selling that while you are taking safety precautions and that you’ve checked and locked the home before leaving, they should immediately double-check all locks and scout for missing items immediately upon their return in case you’ve missed any less-than-obvious means of entry.
TIP #46 Don’t use the “V word”
When describing a listing, never say that a property is “vacant.” This may be an invitation to criminals or squatters.
TIP #47 Check suspicious emails
Before you act on an email request, check a list of the latest email scams on the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site at ftc.gov/bcp/menu-internet.htm.
TIP #48 Shred, shred, shred!
Thoroughly shred all papers with personal information before you throw them away. Shred unwanted credit card applications and “convenience checks” that come in the mail, credit card receipts with your account number, outdated financial papers, and papers containing your clients’ personal information.
TIP #49 Get charged up
Whenever possible, be sure your cell phone battery is charged, and always check the cell coverage of the property prior to the appointment. You should also keep a fully charged portable cell phone battery on hand in case of an emergency.
TIP #50 Be aware of adware and malware
Be sure that you don’t click on error messages with unfamiliar logos that state “your computer has been infected with a virus” or “trojan found”. These messages with unfamiliar logos will tell you there is something wrong with your computer and to download their protection service when in actuality, you are downloading a virus and setting yourself up for information loss.
Safety tips for real estate agents
Real estate professionals can start by choosing a few of the safety tips discussed in this article and make them an integral part of their daily routine. By implementing these crucial safety measures, real estate brokers and agents can empower themselves and create a safer and more successful real estate journey for all involved.
The world of real estate offers ample opportunities, but it’s important to prioritize safety in every aspect of your work.