Agent Safety is No Accident

 

As real estate professionals, we often show vacant homes or work with new customers that we do not personally know.  As a result, there are inherent risks associated with our jobs.  Every year, there are news stories regarding assaults and other crimes against real estate agents.  To read a few of these stories, visit:  http://realguard.com/news.htm.  In September, 2008, NAR sponsored its annual Realtor Safety Week.  Over a month has passed since this event and I ask the following question: 

Have you reviewed your personal safety procedures to ensure that you don't become a crime victim?

 

Safety Tip #1 - Know Who You Are Dealing With When You Have New Clients or Customers:  Every real estate brokerage will have a different safety policy or procedure.  Here are some common practices:  (1)  Meet new customers at your office.  (2)  Use a customer identification form or photocopy their driver's license.  Record the customer's license number and auto description.  (3)  Verify the customer's identity.  Sometimes, it is simply confirming that their name matches their telephone number or home address.  If you are suspicious of a person, check their name against the sex offenders database.  Here are some links to such databases:  City of St. Louis,  St. Louis County, State of Missouri, St. Clair County (IL), State of Illinois, and other private databases such as AncestorHunt.com.

Safety Tip #2 - Tell Someone:  Before showing a property or conducting a tour tell someone - who, what, where and when.  That is, contact the office to tell someone who you are meeting with, where you are going, when you are meeting, etc.  Call in before the tour.  Call out when you complete the tour or a portion of the tour.  Knowing where you are and when and where you will be next is important so that we can track the events and notify the police in the event of an emergency.  By calling in, this helps us help you.  Provide your office manager with an itnerary form so your office can track your whereabouts if an emergency arises.

 

Safety Tip #3 - Keep Your Keys and Cell Phone within Reach:  Your keys and cell phone can be used as deterrents to avoiding a crime and for summoning police.  First, program your emergency numbers into speed dial. These numbers should include 911, emergency road serv­ice, your office, your Sales Associate buddy and your family numbers.  Second, keep your cell phone fully charged.  Third, carry your cell phone with you at all times. Get a hol­ster and make it a part of your apparel, or keep it in your hand at all times. Your greatest source of help is your cell phone. If you keep your cell phone in a purse or briefcase, it may not be available when you need it most.  Fourth, call the office on a regular basis to let know where you are.  Use your car key fob to activate your car alarm, flash lights, etc.

Safety Tip #4- Conduct a Safe Open House: Here a few suggestions for a safe open house:  (1) Don't advertise a listing as vacant.  (2)  Establish escape routes.  (3)  Call the office or a buddy hourly or at other regular intervals.  (4)  Keep your keys and cell phone with you.  (5)  Park where you can get out quickly.  (6)  Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate a faster escape. Double check the backyard to make sure you can get past the fence if necessary.  (7)  When leaving the property, secure the house and check all win­dows and doors.  (8)  Avoid attics, basements and getting trapped in small rooms. Always let prospective clients lead the way into rooms, while you stay close to the door.  (9) Remind sellers to put valuables in a safe, secure place. (10)  Do not leave your briefcase, purse or laptop sitting on a counter. Remember, that nice looking couple could actual­ly have other motives besides seeing the property. Thieves often work in teams; while one is keeping you occupied, the other is stealing whatever they can.  (11)  Be aware of suspicious behavior and your surround­ings.  Report suspicious behavior to your office or to the police.  (12)  Place one of your business cards, with the date and time on the back, and place it in a kitchen drawer in the display.

Safety Tip #5 - When in Doubt, Use the Distress Code:  Set up a pre-arranged distress code with your office or buddy.  The distress code is important because it allows you to communicate you need for assistance to your office or buddy without alerting your customer.  You may find yourself in a situation where you think you might need help and you can use the phone, but the person you are with can overhear the conversation and you do not want to alert him or her. When in doubt, use the distress code.

 

Safety Tip #6 - Don't Make Personal Marketing Too Personal:  Giving out too much of the wrong information can make you a target. Concentrate on your professional profi­ciency rather than personal information in newspapers, resumes, on business cards and websites.  Be careful how much personal information you give verbally as well. "Getting to know your client" does not need to include personal information about your children, where you live and who you live with.  Be guarded with your personal information.  Avoid using glamour shots in your personal marketing - your personal safety is too important.  Criminals have been known to circle photographs of their would-be victims in newspaper advertisements and home magazines. These victims were targeted because of their appearance in the photograph.

Safety Tip #7- Use the Buddy System:  Every agent should have a buddy or use a virtual buddy system.  Call your "buddy" when you start and end a showing.  If you feel uneasy about a showing request, bring the your buddy along.  There is safety in numbers.

Safety Tip #8 - Dress for Success and Safety:  Your image is important so dress professionally. However, dress for safety as well.  Expensive jewelry can make you a target. We recom­mend that you save the flashy jewelry for formal occasions. Criminals will scout real estate representatives and homes for jewelry, laptop computers and items that are easy to sell, so don't flash the cash or wear diamonds when you are in the office or on the road. Don't wear shoes that will hamper your ability to move quickly if necessary.

 

Safety Tip #9 - Danger is Not Always Easy to Identify:  Trust you instincts.  Gut feelings... hesitation... unexplained fear... apprehension.  These are signals that something isn't right.  Listen to your intuition.  Safety experts agree that it is best to assume that your instincts are right and to take the necessary precautions. Do not be so anxious for a sale that you ignore your own intuition in the heat of the moment. Use these same instincts before you give out your phone number or address, and especially before getting in the car with a new client (not a recommended practice).

 

Safety Tip #10 - Practice Car Safety:  Always have your keys with you.    Keep car doors locked at all times.  Park in a well-lit area.  Don't get blocked in.  Beware of dead-end streets. Use separate cars.  When you are alone, the first thing you should do when you get into your car is lock the doors. Be observant when approaching your car, looking underneath and in the back seat before you get in.  You spend a lot of time in your car. This, in itself, exposes you to a greater likelihood of running out of gas, a mechanical failure or an accident. Make sure you have a fully charged cell phone, tools, blankets, flares, first aid kit and warm clothes in the trunk of your car.  Secure valuables out of sight. 

 

Safety Tip #11 - Be a Follower, Not a Leader:  When you show a house or unit by yourself, avoid entering the room first.  It is too easy to be cornered or trapped in a room, basement or attic. Have your client go ahead of you. You can flee more easily if you get a bad feeling about the situation.  When you show a house or unit, be aware of possible escape routes and leave all doors open and unlocked.

 

Safety Tip #12 - Have a Defensive Plan - Fight or Flight?  It's not pleasant to think about, but even the most safe­ty-conscious real estate professionals might find themselves in a dangerous situation. If this happens, remember that the primary goal in any incident is to escape from the dan­ger and call for help. Try to find a discreet way of remov­ing yourself from the situation, such as saying you need to step outside to make a phone call and then not going back inside.  If an attack does occur, stay as calm as possible. Think rationally and evaluate your options. There is no one right way to respond to a confrontation because each situation is different. The response depends on the circumstances: location of the attack, your personal resources, the characteristics of the assailant and the pres­ence of weapons. There are many strategies that are effec­tive, but you must rely on your own judgment to choose the best one.

 

Safety Tip #13 - Use Personal Safety Equipment:  In addition to your cell phone and keys, consider the use of other personal safety equipment such as whistles, personal alarms, pepper sprays, and call back or check in services.

  

In conclusion, personal safety is no accident.  Review your personal safety procedures.  Watch the NAR safety video: 2008 Safety Video.  It is a dangerous world out there - be smart and stay safe. 

Note:  The opinions and statements contained herein represent my personal opinions and observations.  These blog entries are not reviewed, endorsed or approved for publication by Gilded Age, L.L.C., Gilded Age Sales, L.L.C. or Preservation Real Estate Advisors, L.L.C.

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PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

PREA Signature Realty is a full service brokerage located at 1709 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of the City of St. Louis.  PREA Signature proudly serves the following city neighborhoods:  Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Benton Park West, Downtown Loft District, Forest Park Southwest, Central West End, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Compton Heights, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, Carondelet, Holly Hills, St. Louis Hills, Dutchtown, and the Other Historic Neighborhoods of the City of Saint Louis, Missouri. 

The opinions expressed herein represent the opinions of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of PREA Signature Realty.  All photos and written content were produced by PREA Signature Realty.  All Rights Reserved - PREA Signature Realty (2009).  This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain re-blogging, without express written permission of PREA Signature Realty.

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.