Every showing, meeting and open house carries its own share of risks in real estate. Here are a few tips to keep you and your clients protected.
1. Pre-screen prospective clients
Before meeting with clients:
- Obtain and verify their full names, addresses, contact information and phone and email,
- Check their public social media accounts to see if they’re legit
- Do informal online search for background and check their social media accounts
- Instead of meeting at the house, invite your clients to your office to review their pre-approval letter, wants and budget. Ask questions to gauge whether they are serious about buying or selling a property and why they are buying or selling. Ask how long they have been looking, and which other agents they have worked with.
🚩Caution: If they refuse to meet you publicly or at your office. Remember, always trust your instincts.
2. Open Houses
Never have an Open House alone. Maintain visibility; stay aware of everyone inside to reduce the risk of theft or personal unsafe situations.
🚩Caution: Large crowds moving freely through the property can make it difficult to track who’s inside, increasing the risk of stolen items, property damage, or unsafe situations.
3. Always Share your location with colleagues, family or friends
If no one is available to accompany you at a property showing or an open house practice agent safety by ensuring someone knows your location. Inform a colleague, friend, or family member about your whereabouts when meeting clients or during showings. Share your location in real time using GPS-enabled technology or apps.
🚩Caution: In areas with low cell signals, especially rural locations where cell service may be unreliable, planning and taking additional precautions for your safety is essential. Bring a colleague, friend, or family member along when visiting properties or conducting showings in remote areas. In addition, not only share where you are going with your colleagues, family or friends, but also share when you expect to be done.
4. Schedule daytime showings
Schedule property showings during daylight hours as much as possible. Daytime appointments are much safer and offer better visibility compared to evening showings. Often, more people are around during the day who may notice cars coming and going from their neighborhood. If you encounter a neighbor, introduce yourself and give them your business card. That way, they know who you are and where to call if something happens.
🚩Caution: Even with daytime meetings, always screen your clients. Them refusing to meet in daylight can indicate potential safety concerns. If they cite work conflicts, arrange to meet them publicly or at your office. Again, bring a colleague, friend, or family member along when visiting properties or conducting late showing. In addition, not only share where you are going with your colleagues, family or friends, but also share when you expect to be done.
5. Don’t advertise a Home listing as ‘vacant’
Never advertise a house as “vacant” on listing websites or other marketing materials. Instead, opt for neutral language that does not explicitly disclose whether the property is occupied or vacant. Focus on highlighting the property’s features and amenities to attract genuine buyers or renters without compromising security. Use virtual home staging to make the home look lived in for your real estate photos.
🚩Caution: Advertising a property as vacant can encourage intruders to break into the home, for squatters to set up residence, or someone with bad intentions may try to get you to show them the house, knowing that no one will be there.
6. Always let the client walk in front of you
During property showings or house tours, allow your clients to walk ahead of you while you follow behind them. This position lets you maintain visual contact and a safe distance in unexpected situations. By positioning yourself slightly behind, you’ll be able to observe your client’s responses to the property while also monitoring their movements.
🚩Caution: When you let someone walk behind you, they can approach you from behind without your knowledge and catch you off guard. Walking behind them also gives a little freedom to explore without rushing them. If a home has a basement, always have your client go downstairs first, and if you’re not comfortable, stay upstairs while they check the basement. Going first can give unscrupulous individuals the ability to lock you in the basement. Knowing a property’s layout, exits, and possible hazards puts you in control. A little prep work goes a long way in keeping you and your clients’ safe during a showing.
7. Familiarize yourself with the property & neighborhood
Research the property and its surroundings before showings, and note nearby amenities, exits, and any hazards like unstable structures or uneven floors. Ensure all exits work and security features, such as alarms or deadbolts, are in place. Being well-informed about the property and its surroundings can help you effectively show the house and ensure a safe and successful experience.
🚩Caution: Arriving at the home before a showing allows you to identify areas where you can get out in an emergency. If the prospective buyer is there when you arrive, that could be a red flag or simply an eager buyer. Ask them to wait in their car while you get things ready. Make a comment about the presence of security including security cameras. Go inside alone and lock the door behind you while familiarizing yourself with the property.
8. Park your car in a highly Visible or well-lit area
When meeting clients, park your car in well-lit areas with good visibility. Park on the street instead of the driveway to prevent someone from blocking your vehicle.
🚩Caution: If they block your vehicle, it could hinder your ability to escape quickly in an emergency or if you feel uncomfortable during the showing. This situation could leave you feeling trapped or vulnerable. Parking your car in the driveway instead of on the street may also isolate you from neighbors or passersby who can provide assistance or intervene in the event of suspicious activity. If possible, inform the neighbor you are about to show the home.
9. Limit personal information
Exercise caution when sharing personal information. As a real estate agent, avoid disclosing details about your personal life and schedule to minimize the risk of targeted attacks. Here are some steps to protect your personal information online:
- Use a professional email address and office or business cell phone number instead of personal accounts for real estate transactions.
- Adjust your privacy settings on social media to control the visibility of personal information.
- When creating listings or profiles on real estate websites, provide only the necessary contact information. Avoid sharing sensitive info such as your home address.
- Use caution on online platforms or directories where the public can access personal information. Doing so reduces the risk of identity theft.
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Protecting personal privacy & image
What you share with others influence your safety. Setting boundaries with your personal information and appearance helps minimize unnecessary risks. Real estate agents who publicly share personal information online may become targets of harassment, stalking, scams or unwanted solicitations. Exposing personal details also increases the risk of identity theft, privacy breaches, or fraud.
🚩Caution: Be careful of posting or letting people know too much about your children.
10. Don’t wear expensive jewelry
Instead of wearing expensive or flashy jewelry that can attract thieves’ attention that make agents more susceptible to assault or, worse, violent crimes. Opt for accessories with built-in safety features, such as smartwatches that let you send messages to your emergency contacts with your GPS location. Dress professionally and modestly to minimize the risk of becoming a target for robbery or assault. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing if you need to make a quick getaway. 🚩Caution: Utilize apps specifically designed for agents. Real estate safety apps typically offer panic buttons, emergency alerts, and location tracking features. Ensure your phone is readily accessible, preferably in your pocket, rather than buried in your purse or bag. In an emergency where you need to use a panic button on a safety app, having your phone quickly within reach allows for an intuitive response, potentially minimizing the time it takes to send an alert or call for help.
11. Stay alert and Have an emergency plan
Always stay calm and maintain awareness during all client interactions and property showings. Most people who try to buy or sell a house or property are legitimate and harmless. However, a level head enables you to think clearly and respond effectively in a crisis.
Always Trust your instincts. If you arrive at a property and something does not feel right, it probably isn’t. It is OK to leave or drive around the block and phone someone to come with you.
· Self-defense Many agents take personal safety courses that can teach you how to respond to a crisis. Many agents get training, licensed and carry a gun.
🚩Caution: Always trust your instincts. If you are feeling threatened, prioritize your safety by attempting to de-escalate the situation, seek refuge in a secure location and contacting emergency services immediately.
NOTE: Not all realtor safety tips involve an attack from a person. The dangers could be weather-related, property hazards, or uncontrollable pets. Prepare an emergency response plan for various scenarios, including hostile encounters, medical emergencies, animal attacks, and natural disasters.
