Because of rising concerns for Realtors' safety, the National Association of Realtors has initiated a number of actions to address personal safety and property loss issues among members. The NAR has conducted a survey of members to ascertain Realtors' feelings about safety, including which situations are more likely to provide higher risk to personal safety or property loss.

As part of the NAR's ongoing initiatives to raise awareness of safety issues among Realtors, the NAR has included a number of safety tips in its survey of members.

To view the PDF file of the report, click here.

Realtors face safety concerns, according to the survey in three key areas: following office procedures regarding safety, meeting prospects, and showing properties.

Safety begins with following office procedures designed to minimize risk:

Office Procedures

• Always let someone know where you are going and leave the name and phone number of the client you are meeting.
• Have someone from your office call you every half hour or check in with your office every half hour. Designate one person in the office as the point of contact for this procedure.
• Have a code word for cases where you feel that you are in danger. The designated person at the office is in charge of calling 911.
• Always carry a charged cell phone and program 911 in the speed dial.
• Establish an alert network among REALTORS in your office and association. Use this network to report incidents or suspicious individuals.
• Keep a log of every agent’s car make, model and license number.
• Post ‘REALTOR Watch’ signs on vacant or rehab homes.
• Do not use home phone number on business cards.
• Wear jewelry conservatively.
• Never meet clients after dark in limited cell phone areas.
• Carry pepper spray or mace.

Prospects

• If a prospect requests to see only vacant property or asks if you are coming alone…these are red flags. Beware.
• Never meet a prospect at a property site unless you’ve met before.
• Beware of individuals that walk up to you on the street and ask to see the property you’re locking up.
• Take down the prospect’s phone number. Call them to verify that the information is valid. Ask a prospect to come into your office before showing them any properties. Make a copy of their I.D. Place this information in their file.

Showing a property

• Know your surroundings.
• Always be aware of your nearest exit.
• Unless you know your client well, do not go into bedrooms or the basement with them.
• Work open houses in pairs. If not possible, have someone check up on you throughout the day.
• Let clients go upstairs and/or into bedrooms by themselves.
• If there is a need to show a property after dark, travel in pairs.

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Published: June 30, 2003

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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. For more articles by Blanche, click here.