Having a Real Estate Security Plan is important

 Real Estate Agent's are at risk when it comes to showing homes alone, sitting Open Houses, and taking photo's of vacant listing. Because we-Real Estate Agent's, are independent contractors, our security and safety must be our own responsibility. As a successful agent, I have shown thousands of homes and sat hundreds of open houses alone, but not until last weekend did I realize that I needed a safety plan.

I was sitting an Open House in North Philadelphia on Sunday alone. I set up my open house table next to the door, so that the guest will immediately be able to sign in, enjoy my creative display, and review my handouts.  I placed my laptop bag and pocketbook slightly under the table, next to the wall and window and directly in front of my view. A few guest arrive and leave without any issues. Then a young man pushes in the unlock door , walks into the dining room, gets down on the floor on his hands and knees and begins to crawl and lick the floor. After I confront him, he gets up and stumbles all the way back into the kitchen and falls against the stove, tilting it back against the wall. He then walks over to me and begins to eye my pocketbook and laptop. I was trapped. My exit blocked by my open house table. But, I made a smart move. I picked up the phone and called a friend and told them that I was waiting for them to come over. After a few awkward questions, they realized  that I was in trouble and immediately came over.

I need a safety plan and I will spend the next several weeks writing and most important implementing the plan.

I decided to sell real estate to help my family and I do not want selling real estate to take me away from my family.  The real estate, rental and leasing industries have seen an average of 77 work-related deaths a year from 2011 to 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.  That is a very scary number. I plan on taking action and I hope you all do as well.

By the way, later that evening I received an offer on the house from one of the open house visitors.

Thanks for reading my post.