Today at our sales meeting we had a presentation my A.J. Gwyn with the Southern Crime Prevention Task Force about personal safety.
The unique thing about this Task Force is they go around the country "free of charge" to companies giving their "personal safety" course and offering personal safety products.
I felt it timely because with the New Year and the market the way it is we all tend to JUMP at the chance to show a client a home, possibly without even giving it a second thought.
A.J. told us that NAR said 1 in 4 agents will come across a criminal. Those are odds that I found shocking.
These are important things that the Southern Crime Prevention Task Force recommend when it comes to your personal safety.
1. Always meet a client at the office first before going out and showing them property.
2. Always get a copy of their drivers license while you are at the office. Some offices post a little sign that states that the agents will be asking to make a copy of their drivers license for the protection of everyone involved.
3. Make note of their license number.
4. Make note of the description of their vehicle.
5. Have 911 on your speed dial.
6. Have an ICE contact in your cell phone (ICE= In Case of Emergency: When entering the number in your phone, enter in the word ICE before the last name that way if a police officer picked up your phone and under your phone contacts punched in the word ICE, your emergency contact would show up immediately)
7.Holding an Open House with a partner reduces your vulnerability by 80%.
8. If you are hauling a client around that attempts to over take you at knife or gun point, use your car as a weapon and run into something... a tree, another car, just anything to keep them from taking you to another location.
9. Don't use home phone numbers on business cards or websites. You are not only exposing yourself, but your family.
I think the most shocking fact I took away was the technique criminals are using now instead of duct tape to restrain you. It's super glue. They super glue your lips together, still allowing you to breath and do what they want. When they are finished with you, they squirt the super glue up your nose sealing your nostrils together.
This doesn't sound pretty to me and I don't mean to be an alarmist nor do I intend to scare anyone to death. Your average person does not think like a criminal.
So what we need to do is THINK!
Gals, leave your BLING at home. Some criminals do their jewerly shopping via realtors!
First and foremost follow your gut instinct in every situation and be aware of your surroundings. Walk with your head up, alert and with confidence, you'll be less likely to be a victim.
If you would like the Southern Crime Prevention Task Force to visit your sales meeting for a personal safety presentation, their website is www.southerncrime.net and A.J.'s email is scptf@aol.com
Comments(13)