Today's blog was inspired by Commander A.J. Gwyn of the Southern Crime Prevention Task Force. Commander Gwyn is a retired Atlanta police officer who travels to real estate offices all over the country teaching safety tips for Agents. His service is free of charge and he will go anywhere in the country. This class was very timely for my office as an Agent in a nearby city had recently been accosted as she sat alone in an Open House. Thankfully, she was released by this man with no bodily injury, but that is definately the exception and not the rule. With Commander Gwyn's permission, I am sharing and paraphrasing the information so you can protect yourself when you are doing your job.

• When anyone you don't know calls to view property, ALWAYS ask them to meet you at your office first. Then fill out a Client Identification Form that will include their name, address, phone, employer and their vehicle information. On this form there is a spot for you to include your itinerary (what properties you will be visiting with this Buyer). Before you leave the office, make a copy of their drivers license, attach it to the completed form and leave it with your office manager. Ask the office manager to call you if you have not checked in with her or have not returned at the time you designated on the information sheet. I know this sounds like a lot to do just to show property, but how many times have you just dropped what you were doing when a random person calls to view one of your listings, you show up and it is a man that is larger than you, alone, no one knows where you are and you have nothing to protect yourself? I am guilty of it all the time and I have been fortunate that nothing has happened to me. After hearing Commander Gwyn's stories about Agents that have not been so fortunate, I will be taking the above advice from now on. If the Buyer protests, then there is a reason you should not be working with them. Remember to listen to your gut instincts, they will be correct most of the time.

• How many of you sit in an Open House by yourself? Guilty as charged. How many of you show the prospect around the house, including the basement? Guilty as charged. Whenever you work an open house, always ask another Agent to join you. Better yet, kill two birds with one stone and invite your preferred Lender to sit with you, they can prequalify prospects, while deterring anyone from harming you since there is strength in numbers. Some other tips for holding open houses is to never leave the front door. When someone comes to view, ask them to show themselves around because you are expecting lots of showings today and you need to watch the door for them. The reason for this is threefold. If you tell them to show themselves, they will get the impression that there will be a lot of traffic and it would be risky for them to harm you. If you are showing the prospect rooms in the house that are isolated (a basement, an upstairs bonus room, etc.), you are putting yourself in a position for possibly being attacked. No one will hear you screaming in a room that is far from the front of the home. If they shout to you from a back bedroom that they need you to answer a question about that room, ask them to come to the front and you will be happy to answer. The third point is that if you get a suspicious feeling that all is not right, you are closer to the door and you can leave if need be. According to statistics, the chance for a crime occurring during an open house drops to 20% if you are partnered.

• When showing property to a new Client, ask if they can follow you in separate cars. If they agree, when you approach the driveway of the home you are viewing, park on the street if feasible, if it's not feasible, pull aside and wave them into the driveway first. The reason for this is because if you pull in first (again, guilty as charged), and they are planning on harming you, they can pull in behind you and block you in. You will have no escape if you need it.

• When you show property, always invite the Client to walk into a room, house, in front of you. They will think you are being polite, but what you are doing is protecting yourself. If they are behind you, what will stop them from pushing you into a room and doing what they want? Or what will stop them from hitting you on the head and robbing you? Keep at least 6 feet between you and Client, if you need to run, you will have time and space to do it. Always keep your cell phone with you. If you have an emergency and you have 911 and your office number on speed dial, you will be ahead of the game. Don't ever put your home address or home phone number on your business card. One click on many search engines and your home number will reveal your home address and now you are setting your family up for a crime.  Commander Gwyn advises against arming yourself with a firearm while working as it can easily be taken away and used against you. He recommends the type of pepper spray that you can only buy from a police officer and it will render someone helpless no matter if they are on drugs, alcohol, full of adrenaline, or not in their right mind. This pepper spray will attack their lungs and stop them in their tracks for about 45 minutes, it will also mark them with a dye for 3-4 days so they can be identified if they do get away. Pepper spray bought in the store is not high potency and will only burn your eyes for a little bit, it won't even affect someone on drugs, alcohol, adrenalinized or not in their right mind.

These precautions are meant to keep you aware of your surroundings. Being cautious is different from being paranoid and neurotic, we have a profession that is often targeted and we need to protect ourselves.  If you are interested in having Commander Gwyn come to your office and teach these invaluable precautions (he also brings the pepper spray and other safety items for sale), you can reach him at 678-947-5914 or www.southerncrime.net.  If you would like me to fax you the Client Identification Form mentioned in Bullet  Item #1, drop me a note and I will be happy to email it to you. Have a safe and productive day!