Realtor Safety Guide

[Erik Kamatro]

Great article on Realtor Safety. 

"On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 representing absolute confidence in your safety), how would you rate your safety as a real estate agent?

Are you doing the utmost to keep yourself, your colleagues, and your clients safe?

Or are you conducting your business while leaving yourself open to risks that could be avoided?

Most people would believe that pursuing a career as a real estate agent would be pretty safe compared with say, a police officer or a construction worker. But the truth is that real estate agents are open to many dangers and risks that would shock their clients.

If you’re just starting out as a real estate agent, you can’t afford to miss out on the safety advice that this article brings you. You need to know how to protect yourself, your peers, and your clients.

This is the stuff that wasn’t covered on the real estate licensing exam.

Safer Advertising

Advertising & marketing is how the public learns of your existence as a real estate agent in the first place.

Mailers, postcards, fliers, emails, business cards and social media posts are all different types of advertising you can use in the real estate industry.

But are you advertising your real estate expertise in a safe manner?

Here are a few pointers for making sure you’re keeping yourself and your business safe.

Advertising & marketing is how the public learns of your existence as a real estate agent in the first place.

Mailers, postcards, fliers, emails, business cards and social media posts are all different types of advertising you can use in the real estate industry.

But are you advertising your real estate expertise in a safe manner?

Here are a few pointers for making sure you’re keeping yourself and your business safe.

Dress Professionally

If you insist on posting a picture of yourself in any of your real estate advertisements, make sure that your attire is professional. Photographs in outfits that could be construed as provocative (i.e. trying to capitalize on the idea that “sex sells”) can attract more trouble than actual clients. If you wouldn’t wear it to an interview, don’t wear it in an advertisement.

Don’t Advertise Personal Information

It is dangerous to post personal information about yourself in a real estate advertisement. Never use your personal phone number, email, or home address when sending out advertisements. We live in an age where even the smallest amount of personal information can be used for criminal purposes.

No Listing Properties as “Vacant”

If you’re advertising a home for sale that is currently vacant, do not put that information on any of your advertisements. Squatters, burglars, and looters are always on the lookout for an opportunity to make money with little opposition. Publicly listing a property as vacant is a green flag to them for an easy profit.

Safety in the Office

You may believe that your real estate office is the safest place in your career, but it’s also where your first line of defense begins. If you don’t practice safety in your own office first then the rest of your attempts at safety will fall apart.

If you want to keep yourself and your business safe, here’s what you’ll need to do.

Keep Personal Information Stored Away

Keeping personal information (finances, client contact info, etc.) out in plain sight on your desk is reckless and provides an easy opportunity for identity thieves posing as clients. Make sure all important information is filed safely away in a locked desk/file cabinet and out of sight. And make sure you keep the key in your possession at all times (and don’t lock it in the desk!).

Keep Client Keys Locked Away

If you’re a sellers agent and you have copies of keys to your clients’ houses, make sure that they are also kept in locked storage in the office. Keep them organized, labeled, and unattached to other sets of keys.

Invest in Anti-virus software

Whether you’re the head of a real estate brokerage or you’re just starting out, anti-virus software is an absolute must. Viruses can cripple your business if you’re not careful and don’t take care to protect it. Remember that your personal information and that of your clients is at stake so make sure you invest in a high grade anti-virus program for your office and tech.

Beware of Suspicious Emails

Hackers are a persistent lot who are always trying to find new ways to steal information behind a guise of legitimacy. Do not open any suspicious emails, especially ones that request personal information. Even if it appears to come from a legitimate company, do NOT send personal information via email.

Shred Documents that are no longer needed

Once you’re finished conducting business with your client, make sure that you shred any copies of their personal information before you dispose of it. Make sure that all of it is shredded thoroughly and taken care of in a secure manner. This also includes junk mail sent to you (such as ones offering new credit cards).

Ask Clients for Proof of Identity

It may seem impersonal, but it’s a good idea to ask potential clients for proof of identity (driver’s license, state ID, etc.) as well as asking them to fill out an identification form. This way you can check their background and have some way to contact them and/or identify them. Identity thieves and other criminals posing as clients are hesitant to provide any personal information.

Introduce clients to another coworker

This may seem strange, but when meeting with a new client at the office, see if you can arrange one of your coworkers to come in and introduce themselves. This gives you the advantage of someone else seeing the client’s face. Once again, criminals prefer meeting as few people as possible when trying to pull something. They’ll think twice if someone else sees their face.

Always tell a colleague where you’re going

If you’re going to attend a showing or you’re hosting an open house, make sure that someone at your office knows where you are. Tell them before you leave the office, call them when you arrive, and call them just before you leave. It’s important that someone knows where you are in case you need assistance.

Establish an Office Safety Phrase

If you feel that you’re in danger (like at a showing) but you don’t want to cause a panic, it’s good to have an office safety phrase that seems meaningless to others when said in a phone conversation. For example, “Oh hi Jane, the showing at West St. is going great, but could you send me that email from Mr. Morgan?” Subtlety saves more people than you think.

Organize an Office Self-Defense Seminar

If you feel like it’s necessary, you could organize an office self-defense seminar for yourself and your coworkers (also makes for a great team building exercise). Though it is recommended that you do not engage any assailants you encounter, having some basics of self-defense ready can be a lifesaving piece of knowledge.

Office safety is important, but so is safety out in the field. As a real estate agent, you’re probably attending dozens of showings each week and hosting open houses. This is where all of your safety prep in the office comes in handy.

But there are more safety tips you’ll need to know when you’re out & about. These will protect yourself and your clients from loss and harm.

No Night Time Showings

Home showings are best conducted during the day time. This is so the home can be shown in its best light and so that everyone can practice safety. If you’re attending a showing or hosting an open house, make sure that your business is done between dawn and dusk. This will keep you safe and minimize the probability of opportunistic criminals.

Bring a Coworker/Friend

If you’re hosting a showing, see if you can convince a coworker or a professionally dressed friend to accompany you. There’s strength in numbers and having a second person on hand not only gives you an extra set of eyes, but it also deters thieves from making a move.

Don’t Carpool with Clients

This tip may seem like paranoia, but many real estate agents have experienced trouble from criminals who posed as clients just to get inside the agent’s car. Drive to a showing/open house in your own vehicle and have your client arrive in their own (or recommend a reliable cab company or Uber).

Park Wisely

Once you arrive at the showing/open house, make sure you park your car in a visible area that is close to the property. If possible, try and park under a streetlamp in case the showing runs long and night has set in by the time you’re finished. Avoid parking lots, driveways, and other spots where your car (and you) can be blocked in.

Alert & Enlist the Neighbors

This is a good safety tip for hosting an open house: knock on the doors of the neighbors, introduce yourself, and tell them that you’re hosting an open house next door. That way, they’ll know what’s going on and they may feel inclined to keep their own watchful eyes on the people coming and going.

Dress Professionally & Practically

When attending a showing/open house, make sure that you have the look of the professional real estate agent. Wear clothing that is professional but easy to move around in (and possibly run in, so shoes too!). Also, refrain from wearing flashy and expensive jewelry (or anything else you’d regret being robbed of).

Plan Your Routes

Once again, if you’re hosting an open house make sure you have the touring route planned ahead of time. You can treat each guest to the same tour and you’ll be able to work off of a plan. Having a route planned before the open house will also give you the opportunity to plan out escape routes in case of an emergency.

Keep Your Phone on you & Charged

It’s a good habit for any real estate agent to keep their phone on their person and charged at all times. This is not only essential for lead capturing but also for emergencies and situations that may occur during showings and/or at the office. Don’t set your phone down during an open house and charge it before you leave your car.

Guest Sign In

When hosting an open house, it’s good to have a sign in sheet (or a notepad with a sign in app) located near the door for guests to use. Ask guests to supply their name, phone number, and email so that they can be reached. Once again, criminals will be hesitant to make a move on anything that requires them to sign anything (even if they plan on using a fake name).

Tell Clients to Hide Valuables

Far too many sellers agents forget to impress this safety tip on their clients: lock away your valuables if you’re hosting an open house. Cash, checkbooks, credit cards, mail, jewelry, priceless mementos, expensive electronics and prescription drugs all need to be locked away or moved somewhere else during an open house. You don’t know who is moving through the home and what they plan.

Guide from Behind

When touring the home with potential buyers, make sure that you follow them (and guide) rather than lead. Again, it sounds paranoid but it’s better to not have your back to people you don’t know. Also, avoid taking them fully into rooms with only one escape and or tight areas (such as basements of attics).

Always Know Your Surroundings

From the moment you first arrive to every guest you talk to and even when you leave, don’t let yourself become distracted. Always maintain situational awareness of what’s happening around you. Some crooks may try to distract with talk of making an offer while a friend tries to steal something. Don’t let them distract you from the fact that you’re in command.

Safety First

Practicing safety as a real estate agent is essential for a long and successful career in the field.

Getting into these kinds of habits early in your career and making them part of your daily routine will only benefit you in the present and the future.

Remember, making these safety tips part of your job as a real estate agent isn’t just about protecting yourself. These tips also protect your business, your colleagues, and your clients."

Ladies and gentleman, what are your strategies on realtor safety?