The National Association of Realtors has funded, produced and released a new safety video called "Don't Be A Victim: Personal Safety For Realtors," but the lessons contained within should be equally important for buyers and sellers to take to heart.

"Last fall, the NAR received a call from the Washington State Association of REALTORS®," said Chris Kaucnik, spokesperson for the NAR. "They had a grave incident in the area where a male Realtor was assaulted and killed.

"All real estate agents are at a higher risk than those of us who do not go outside our offices or work with the public on a daily basis," continued Kaucnik. "We certainly agreed that we needed to get more aggressive on showing our own membership how to protect themselves better in daily public contact situations."

Last year, according to the Washington Association of Realtors, 21 agents nationwide lost their lives while showing homes, which raises the question - how safe is it for buyers and sellers to strike out on their own?

While most outings don't result in loss of life, real estate agents often deal with people they don't know, making theirs a high-risk occupation. But Realtors are also trained in information-gathering techniques which helps them determine others' motivation. They frequently have a "sixth sense" which tells them whether they are in danger.

You have a sixth sense, too, but would you know the right questions to ask if a stranger came to your door and wanted to see your home? As a buyer, would you enter an unoccupied home alone?

Even if you are represented by a Realtor, there could be situations in which you are vulnerable. For example, if a prospect came to your door with an Internet printout of your home, would you let that person in to see your home or refer him or her to your Realtor?

Don't let your enthusiasm to buy or sell a home cause you to put yourself in unsafe situations. To avoid them, use these tips that NAR shares with its Realtors:

• Be careful meeting any prospect whether you are a buyer or seller. Try not to be alone in any home with a stranger. If you are looking at homes or showing homes, try to let the other person walk ahead of you. Stay near exits, and don't turn your back.

• Park in a well-lit location. Never park in a someone else's driveway where your car can be blocked in.

• Robbery is the motive for most attacks, so don't wear expensive jewelry or carry a lot of cash to look at homes. Hide your precious belongings if you are showing your home.

• Provocative clothing and behavior could send the wrong signal.

• If you are viewing homes, keep your keys in your hand. Make use of a keychain alarm if you have need to.

• If you are confronted by someone with a knife or gun, give him or her what they ask, but take the first opportunity to scream and run.

• Keep self defense simple - stomping on a foot, twisting and running could allow you to get away safely even if you don't know any real self-defense techniques.

• Give someone else the addresses of the homes you plan to visit if you are going alone. Give an estimated time you will return. If you are showing your home to a prospect, make sure someone else knows of the appointment and when it will end. Sometimes attackers will wait for the end of an open house, when they think you are most likely to be alone.

• If you are a seller, make sure you don't let anyone in your home who doesn't have an appointment through a Realtor or who has been prequalified by a lender or someone that you know.

• Many Realtors today offer fee-for-services. If you aren't already represented by a Realtor, you can pick and choose the services you want, including being accompanied while you host or attend an open house or showing.

Published: February 26, 2002

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Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment. Blanche has been named one of the "25 Most Influential People In Real Estate" by REALTOR Magazine, and has been twice recognized as a "notable." In 2005, she was named "Top Reporter Covering the NAR" by Delahaye-Bacon's. Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. To contact Blanche, email her at . For more articles by Blanche, click here.