Paul Henderson Agent Safety
The Zoom call this week was on Agent safety and only fitting as September is Agent Safety month.
Paul Henderson, has made the presentation before so it was a simple call for him.
Our business has been very visible the past few years but also opportunists hve gotten bolder.
He opened the call with a story of an agent that was placing signs out for an Open House event. She started to walk across a very busy roadway and let her car running so she could put up an open house sign. When she turned back someone had gotten into her car and drove off with her purse, cell phone and as she wanted to feel secure, there was also a gun that she had for protection.
The message is to be ever aware and vigilant and focused on what we do. We need to always make sure we shut off our cars, as well as lock it before we walk away from it or do something as simple as pump gas.
Paul offered as to how he had gone to several police stations and only 2 had talked to him at any length and one even commented that it is just our current society, and that we are not unique to danger.
Bodily harm is a state of our current times, and now we need to be more aware of visitors to our open houses. It is now common for a couple to come in and one will talk to the agent to distract them while the other one goes through to look for valuables and now even prescription drugs.
Open houses should not be done alone for safety. Cell phones should be protected at all times as someone can very easily grab it and place it into a seemingly harmless metal lined chip bag, which makes the phones' tracing capabilities useless as it then becomes invisible. They can take it to a place that has already been similarly prepared to make it impossible to locate
The call was not just a presentation but also a shred call for others to share their experiences and help.
Margaret Rome discussed a device called Ripple which is a simple button sized protection device that when pressed will immediately call a service center. Easier and quicker than dialing 911. It operates similarly as those devices shown in the 'Help I fell down and can't get up commercials.' It operates off an app on the phone. Unlike 911, the person on the other side will call whoever is needed for assistance as well as anyone else we might call when in need.
Paul discussed sone of the safety methods that he and his agency have been employing for years, such as walking a fellow agent out to a car after a meeting, especially at night.
For open house it was necessary to call someone to let them know they have started as well as a call when the event was closing.
Fo an Open house, they would not allow themselves to be blocked from their car, so leaving it on the street was the wisest thing to do.
Common sense and thinking ahead is important. Margaret also mentioned that she invitee lenders to attend the events which serves a dual purpose. The second person is security as well as a way of getting business for the lender.
During Covid, Paul's MLS mandated that no more than 2 people in a house at one time, and if this was violated, it could be as much as a $500 fine. For open houses it was difficult especially if a buyer showed up with other family members or their agent.
The limitation of people does allow for a more focused discussion with those people coming.
Eileen Burns did offer input as to the frequency now of sellers having cameras in the house and also the need to caution potential buyers to keep comments to themselves.
There was a discussion of having food and alcohol at open house events but also the pros and cons that are associated with that, especially the potential to dirty the house or an attendee driving away intoxicated.
It was also discussed that our personal safety takes a precedence over the desire to get a contract and being mindful of when we open a door and wit whom we may be.
Sham Reddy offered that his Board would have events and invite agents that have encountered issues in the field to present to all so that others will be more aware of the issues as well as being more ready to stay safe.
The case of Beverly Carter, the Arkansas agent that was kidnapped and killed was offered as an example of what can happen and not only to a female agent.
Kathy Streib offered that for safety especially women, little is best and specifically, just keeping the necessary items in one's pocket and leaving the purse home or out of sight. Others also agreed and offered that a simple elastic band made for a perfect way to keep all together.
Paul Henderson Agent Safety
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