realtor safety: Keeping Real Estate Professionals Safe: One Smartphone at a Time - 10/26/11 03:54 PM
As illustrated by the 2011 Realtor Safety Report, attacks against real estate professionals have been on the rise. We aim to shed light into these attacks to ensure that real estate professionals across the nation can take the necessary safety precautions and scout out the current trends used by criminals who attack agents. 
This past week Akron, Ohio real estate agents were warned of a sexual predator who disguised himself as a client who pretended he was interested in viewing properties. Read full article.
Even more tragic was the news that a real estate agent from Myrtle Creek, Oregon was caught … (4 comments)

realtor safety: Safety Month Recap: What You Might Have Missed! - 10/03/11 05:16 PM

Time sure does fly! In the blink of an eye, Safety Month has come and gone, and what a great month it has been!
We are very thankful for the great response we have received from the ActiveRain community this past month. We would like to dedicate this post to share the links to our month-long safety activities in case you might have missed some of them:
All-In-One Real Estate Safety Toolkit Download:
Early on in the month we shared with you our free 2011 Real Estate Safety Toolkit. The toolkit is your one-stop-shop for real estate safety resources that … (3 comments)

realtor safety: Safety and The Real Estate Industry: Exclusive Safety Interview with MRIS - 09/25/11 09:07 AM
The issue of real estate safety is not always as blatant as black and white. Many of us know that we have to take responsibility when it comes to our personal safety, yet we also find ourselves asking the question 'Should others take responsibility for our industry’s safety too?’.
On our path to establish a safer work environment for real estate professionals, we scout out organizations that take the extra step to ensure the agents that work for them are as safe as possible. We are very happy to say that we have come across numerous organizations that deserve to be highlighted for … (0 comments)

realtor safety: Safety Series Part 3: Safety At The Office - 09/12/11 04:38 PM
This week in support of REALTOR® Safety month, we would like to highlight safety practices within the office. Many of us assume that the risks in real estate lie solely while meeting clients or viewing vacant properties, when in fact offices are also areas where we should pay special attention to our safety. From late nights at the office, to walking back to our vehicle through a dark parking lot, we expose ourselves to risks that we can reduce by following a few simple safety steps.
Document Safety
Many of us store confidential documents, both paper and electronic, in our brokerages/office … (5 comments)

realtor safety: Safety Series Part 2: Safety At Vacant Properties - 09/09/11 12:25 PM
REALTOR® Safety Month is moving ahead full force! In part 1 of our safety series, we highlighted key safety tips to stay safe at open houses. This week we would like to focus on safety at vacant properties.

According to the 2011 Real Estate Safety Survey results, real estate professionals felt the most unsafe while they were conducting private showings at vacant properties. The apparent risks of showing vacant properties range from unexpected visitors inhabiting the vacant property, to criminal minded individuals who disguise themselves as prospective clients.
Below we have compiled a few key safety tips to ensure that … (4 comments)

realtor safety: Safety Series Part 1: Safety At Open Houses - 09/04/11 03:24 PM
REALTOR® Safety Month is upon us! As many of you know, last week we kick-started our month-long safety campaign with the introduction of the Real Estate Safety Toolkit. If you missed our last post, you can request your copy of the toolkit by filling in the form at the bottom of this post!
To ensure the ActiveRain community is as safe as possible on the job, every week for the month of September, we will provide safety tips for different aspects of the real estate profession: starting with Safety at Open Houses. We sincerely hope these tips will help you create, or … (12 comments)

realtor safety: REALTOR® Safety Month Has Arrived! Download Your Free Real Estate Safety Toolkit - 08/31/11 03:34 PM
It’s that time of the year again! Dig deep in your closets and put on your safety caps, because this year REALTOR® Safety Month will be coming your way full force!
For those of you unfamiliar with REALTOR® Safety Month, every-year NAR uses the month of September as a means to promote safety within the Real Estate industry. It’s a time where we have a chance to take a deeper look into our day-to-day safety practices and remind ourselves that safety should always be our first priority.
The apparent increase we have noticed in attacks against real estate professionals this past … (10 comments)

realtor safety: 5 Essential iPhone Apps To Keep REALTORS® Safe - 08/21/11 04:12 PM
We have come to a point, where we are virtually using our smartphones for everything! We have transformed into mini merchants with Square, and have become mini accountants with iFinance. Well among the many hats we are able to wear thanks to our smartphones, we have a list of apps that will allow you to be a Safety Expert in the real estate field!!
With REALTOR® Safety Month around the corner, what better way to jumpstart our safety campaign with a list of essential iPhone Apps that will help keep you safe on the job!

Do you have any iPhone … (8 comments)

realtor safety: Unexpected Surprises At Vacant Properties! What’s a REALTOR® To Do? - 08/10/11 01:15 PM
It is not uncommon to have unexpected visitors when we go to view a vacated property. Whether it is a homeless person taking shelter, or a place for teens to gather to do unsafe activities, we might be faced with a situation that can harm our personal safety. Below are three key points to remember so that we are always prepared for the unexpected and have the right tools to combat it:
Prepare:
One of the most effective tools a criminal can use against you is the act of surprise. A moments distraction or being unprepared when confronted can lead to … (22 comments)

realtor safety: What the Airbnb Disaster Can Teach REALTORS® - 08/02/11 10:43 AM
Headlines have been buzzing this past month with the robbery and ransack of an innocent homeowner's house due to an Airbnb visit gone terribly wrong.
For those of you unfamiliar with the story, a San Francisco event planner, EJ, rented her house for a week on Airbnb. When EJ returned to her property after her 'guests' left, she was faced with a house that had been ransacked from the inside out, and all of her valuable possessions had been stolen.  What followed was a PR disaster for Airbnb, and a yet-to-be-resolved case for EJ.
Airbnb is a website that enables people … (11 comments)

realtor safety: 5 Smartphone Apps That Will Keep You Safe and Connected While Driving! - 07/25/11 12:02 PM
Ask any REALTOR® what the two most important tools for the job are and the unanimous answer would be their phone and car. Our cars are an inseparable part of our work lives where it seems we spend a majority of our time, especially if we are working in rural areas! Our phones are as necessary as air when it comes to connecting with clients, colleagues and family. Unfortunately problems arise when we mix the both of them!
All of us are familiar with dangers associated with the use of gadgets, such as phones, while behind the wheel. However, even we … (13 comments)

realtor safety: Top 5 Reasons You Should Have Moby On Your Smartphone - 07/21/11 01:04 PM
Lets face it, we all know that we need to stay safe on the job as headline news sources remind us of the dangers of the real estate on what seems like a weekly basis. However, with the hectic work schedule we have, maintaining our safety strategy sometimes slips through our fingers.
Knowing the dilemmas that real estate professionals face when it comes to the managing the time and cost balance of staying safe, we wanted to dwelve deeper into how Moby can ensure you are safe on the job, and that your family has peace of mind!
1) Check-in at … (16 comments)

realtor safety: Missing Toronto REALTOR® Case Nears Closing With Murder Charges - 07/15/11 01:52 PM
6 months ago, Toronto REALTOR® Tony Han had been reported missing, while he was viewing a luxury property he was trying to sell. It was reported that he had been abducted along with his client, Johnny Fei. 
According to the Toronto Star, Mr. Fei was found safe a few days following the abduction, however Tony remained missing, until police this week discovered the remains of man who they suspect is Mr. Han, although forensics have not yet been released.
It is now reported that a 23-year-old Waterloo man, Senthuran Sabesan, is being charged with first-degree murder. Our hearts go out to Han’s … (1 comments)

realtor safety: SAFETY REMINDER: REALTOR® Attacked While at Model Home in Georgia - 07/15/11 01:32 PM
Once again we are reminded to keep our personal safety at the top of our minds, with the attack against a Georgia REALTOR® that took place yesterday.
A female REALTOR® was at a model home in Decatur, GA, when a robber entered the house with a paint mask. According to Fox Atlanta, the REALTOR® was tied up at gunpoint while the attacker robbed her of her jewelry, credit cards, laptop and car.
We are glad to hear that the female REALTOR® was not physically injured following the attack. The police are currently looking for the suspect and we hope that justice … (2 comments)

realtor safety: REALTOR® Safety Series: Staying Safe While Showing Properties - 07/13/11 06:13 AM
Following the great success of our last Safety Series: Staying Safe At Open Houses post, we wanted to continue our safety tips series with a focus on Showing Vacant Properties.
Those of you familiar with our 2011 REALTOR® Safety Report will recall that over 31% of Real Estate Agents feel unsafe while showing properties to prospective clients. These results do not come as a surprise, as many of us meet prospective clients very briefly prior to venturing out to show vacant properties alone with them.
To ensure that you are as safe as possible while showing the properties to these clients, … (6 comments)

realtor safety: REALTOR® Safety Series: Staying Safe At Open Houses - 07/09/11 04:20 PM
Sadly another tragic REALTOR® attack has made headlines this past week in Atlanta. Reports have surfaced claiming that a man robbed and attacked a female REALTOR® at gunpoint inside her leasing office. Luckily the REALTOR® was able to escape without any major injuries.  You can read the full article from Fox Atlanta for more details. 
Unfortunate events such as these are a true reminder that we need to prioritize our safety, and look at ways in which we could improve our own safety practices. To help jumpstart our Best Safety Practices series, we wanted to share with you quick and easy … (17 comments)

realtor safety: Introducing Andrew Wooten: Safety Training Expert and Educator for REALTORS® - 06/28/11 10:53 AM
One of the most common comments we receive on our safety posts is “It’s a shame that we only remember the importance of our safety when something tragic happens”. Our aim throughout blogging on ActiveRain has been to promote safety all day, everyday with tips and ideas to keep you safe!
That is why we wanted to let all of the ActiveRainers out there know about S.A.F.E. – an organization dedicated to training REALTORS® on how to be safe – from property showings to open houses, and even self defense.
Andrew Wooten, the President of S.A.F.E., has been a safety … (9 comments)

realtor safety: Moby: All-In-One Safety App for REALTORS® is now on the iPhone! - 06/13/11 10:30 AM
What a great week it has been for our movement towards a safer lifestyle for all real estate professionals. Following two very exciting partnerships with Iowa Association of REALTORS® and Michigan MLS service, MiRealSource, we could not be more pleased to announce the first launch of Moby for the iPhone!
Following the unfortunate news of attacks against Real Estate Professionals across the country this past year, we have been working harder than ever to develop Moby for the iPhone so that REALTORS® on this platform could have peace of mind knowing they are protected while on the job.
 
… (15 comments)

realtor safety: Iowa Association of REALTORS® and Moby team up to enhance safety in wake of assaults - 06/05/11 01:48 PM
Those of you familiar with Moby, know that our primary goal has always been to ensure that real estate professionals everywhere are as safe as possible. Over the past few months we have been partnering with a number of real estate associations, MLS providers, and firms such as Keller Williams Realty to make our security service available to real estate agents across North America.
This is exactly why we are more than pleased to announce our latest partnership with the Iowa Association of REALTORS® (IAR)!
In wake of the two highly publicized assaults on real estate professionals this past Spring, the … (4 comments)

realtor safety: The State of Our Safety: Our Real Estate Safety Survey Results Are In! - 05/25/11 03:53 PM
Following the great response we recieved for the 2011 Real Estate Safety Report last week, we have decided to re-post our blog post for those of you who might have missed it!
As a big advocate of real estate safety, every year we hold a Safety Survey to research the current safety issues real estate professionals face on a daily basis. After two months of gathering statistics, we are excited to share with you the results of this year’s safety survey!
Following the tragic safety incidences numerous agents have faced this year, we wanted to survey the market to see … (30 comments)