Criminals posing as clients see the real estate ads as a “dial-a-victim” service. They can call an unsuspecting agent and arrange to meet them at an empty property without any witnesses. Stalkers and sex offenders use social media to track when and where to strike. Thieves have killed agents for the money and electronics in their pockets. Disgruntled former home owners and squatters have lashed out over being displaced from where they are dwelling. Even abandoned and aggressive animals can pose a threat.
Statistics indicate that since 2003 approximately 73 realtors are murdered on the job each year. This does not include how many are beaten, injured, or sexually assaulted. 32% of professionals admit to feeling fearful on the job and many have stories of close calls where something might have happened had circumstances been different.
Because of the growing number of violent crimes against real estate agents it is especially important that professionals be prepared. Use the following steps to stay safe:
- Listen to the little voice that says “Something’s not right”
- Be more concerned with being safe than being politically correct
- Don’t let anyone bully you into meeting in a situation where you are not comfortable
- Require all perspective clients to meet at the office and provide a form on ID to keep on file
- Use the buddy system to host open houses, close deals, show properties with an associate
- Make sure someone knows your schedule and is checking in on your safety
- Set up a secret word or phrase you can use as a distress signal to let someone know you're in danger
- Never get into a client's car, always drive your own and stock a safety kit in case of an emergency
- Call the cops if something is amiss because it’s better to be wrong than dead
- Take a self defense class to practice for situations where you need to get away quick
- Carry protection like pepper spray, a taser, knife or a gun if you can handle the responsibility
Some people who work in real estate fee more comfortable just bringing a dog with them. After all dogs are good at judging character quickly and can be a big deterrent for folks who would hurt their owners. Even little yippie dogs can act as a personal alarm system.
The best thing anyone can do to stay safe though is to act smart. Don’t agree to meet anyone simply out of desperation. It’s not worth the risk to list a client who could be that kind of trouble.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being petrifies and 10 being invincible) how safe to you feel showing properties?
By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for Nexxt, she is co-founder of a design and promotion company. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.
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