Realtor Safety

Today is the last day of Realtor Safety Month and is, unfortunately, making news for all the wrong reasons. Last week, Arkansas Realtor Beverly Carter went missing while showing a home to a stranger. Yesterday, a suspect was arrested and this morning news broke that her body has been found. It is a tragic reminder for everyone, but especially Realtors, that, when you deal with the public, you must take security into your own hands.

Whether you are showing homes to a client, checking out an REO property, hosting an open house, or just out and about in the community, every Realtor should have a plan, have a way to alert someone if you're in trouble, and have a way to protect yourself in the event that you find yourself in a situation that is life-threatening. This is no slight to our law enforcement community, but chances are there won't be a police officer nearby when you need them.

The old adage that when seconds count, the police are minutes away should be assumed when you are planning for your own safety.

Here is a simple top ten list of things you can do today to help protect yourself when you are out doing your job:

1) Trust Your Gut

This is number one for a reason. Your instincts are almost always right. If something doesn't feel right in your gut, don't do it. Trust yourself. It is always better to be safe than sorry. A reasonable client will understand your concern for your personal safety and won't take offense to your precautions before you go and show them a house.

2) Have a Plan

There's no need to make this more complicated than it needs to be. Have a simple plan that lets people who care about you know where you're going to be, with whom, and for how long. Think about it this way: how many times have you run out of the house and just told your significant other that you're "gonna go show a house real quick. Be back soon."? Make it specific. Which home(s) are you showing, who will you be with, and when will you be finished? Will you communicate once you meet the client? How will you let someone know if there is a problem?

3) Stay in Touch

To go into more detail on your plan, have regular communication be a part of your safety plan. Have code words. When I sold new homes I was the only male salesperson on my project team. If one of the female salespeople felt uncomfortable in their model home, they would call my model and say that they weren't going to be able to make our appointment because someone just walked in. That was code for me to get over to their model quickly. It rarely happened, but it was there for peace of mind.

4) Have a Partner

Obviously, to have a plan, you must have someone to communicate with. Whether this is a spouse, an adult child, or a teammate, you need to have someone who knows where you are. I like having a working partner, another Realtor, who knows how we work, to be my partner on safety. My wife is also great with this because she is overly cautious and I tend to be a little more trusting. Whoever it is, they need to know the plan and understand what needs to be done in the event something goes wrong.

5) Trust, but Verify

When you inevitably get that call from the client who wants to tour your listing, it is my recommendation that you meet first in a public place where there are people, and preferably cameras. When you meet them, get their id and take a photo of it. Send that photo to either your partner or your office. Like I said in the first point, if the client(s) have a problem with that then they can find another agent to show them. A commission is not worth your life.

6) There's an App for That

There are numerous resources available to you to help protect you. If you're an iPhone user, the new iOS 8 will allow you to turn on location sharing with family members. Even if your family member is not your safety partner, turn it on and let your safety partner know about it. I don't know if Android offers something similar because I am a member of the Apple cult. Additionally, the NAR has an entire safety section on their site with tools and tips for keeping you safe. Finally, there are a number of apps for your smartphone or tablet that can be used to alert people if something is wrong, schedule check-ins and help keep you safe. Run a Google search, pick the one that is best for you and make it part of your plan today. Check out this article for some mobile apps as a starting place.

7) Tour Strategically

This is a pretty simple one. When you're showing a home, never put yourself in a place where you are "trapped". Let your client(s) enter the home first, don't put a client between you and a door, etc. In the military they call it "situational awareness". It simply means acting in a deliberate way in relation to your surroundings. As easy as it sounds, it takes some practice and requires you to be not only paying attention to your clients as you present the home, but also to your surroundings.

8) Have an Exit Strategy

Again, this is a simple yet deliberate action. What's your strategy for getting out of the house if you need to in a hurry? Take a moment as your client looks around to scan the room and figure out how to get out quick.

9) Take a Class

If you aren't aware of how to defend yourself in an altercation, go take a class. From the very basics of deflecting an attack to more complicated martial arts to firearms safety, there are classes out there for you to take. Call your local sheriff's department and they can point you in the right direction. If you want something more in-depth, try a Krav Maga or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class. The added bonus is that the classes are good exercise too!

10) Have a Way to Defend Yourself

Finally, I am a firm believer in having a way to defend yourself. For me, that's a handgun. For others, it might be pepper spray or a taser. Whatever it is, you need to have something on you that you can use to protect yourself. Two notes on this before you go get a weapon. First of all, make sure that you follow your state laws, especially if you are talking about a handgun. Second, see point 9 and go take a class to learn how to use it. Having a weapon and using a weapon are two very different things. This is especially true when you are talking about a firearm.

It is unfortunate that a tragedy like the one that has unfolded over the past few days has to happen to remind us to be safe. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Beverly Carter. Use this time wisely though and get your plan together. It could save your life.