Realtor Safety 911

Realtor Safety Tips:

1- Always meet a client for the first time in the office. Introduce him or her to co-workers and make it clear that they know you are taking him out of the office. Try to take separate cars but if that is not possible, then you will have slightly more control if you drive. Do not meet a client at the property, particularly if he is calling on a yard sign. He will already have had a chance to note if the property is vacant.
2- Get a license plate number and leave it at the front desk. Just explain that it is office policy; a customer who means no harm won’t mind. You might also leave an itinerary for your house tour.
3- Don’t identify a property as vacant to a caller on an ad or sign.
4- When showing property to a stranger, follow rather than lead him through the house. Don’t let him get between you and the door. At an open house, take up a position as close to the door as practical.
5- Always carry a cell phone where it is easily accessible (not in the purse you left in the car or stowed in a kitchen cabinet.) Make sure emergency numbers are programmed into the speed dial. Have a speed dial number indicated as ICE, In Case of Emergency. That way emergency personnel will always have a contact person if for some reason you are incapacitated in any way.
6- Ask the office manager to control keys to the office and to place deadbolts on the doors. If you are alone in the office at night, draw the the shades and do not admit anyone you do not know well and trust.
7- Go with your gut feelings. If something doesn’t feel right, if anything raises the hair on the back of your neck, escape the situation immediately. You might feel like an idiot but don’t worry about it. It could save your life!

There has also been an increase in crimes where a women sets up the female agent. Women agents tend to be a little more trusting of another female and let their guard down. Until you know a customer, remain vigilant regardless of their gender, appearance, dress or charm. Your personal safety is up to you.

Sid Cameron went well beyond his ‘call of duty’ to bring together some very good and thorough information that should definitely be an ‘eye opener’. These acts of violence against realtors have happened to others, doing the same type of real estate transactions as you. Please don’t ever think that it cannot or will not happen to you. Always be on guard and aware of what is going on - Your life could depend on it!

Courtesy of Darin “Sid” Cameron, posted on September 8, 2006 @ http://www.stlagent.com/blog/agentsonly/2006/09/crimes_against_real_estate_age.shtml#more

Crimes Against Real Estate Agents

If you’re not from St. Louis (or haven’t read the news lately) there were two real estate agents robbed at open houses in the St Louis area last week. One had their car stolen; the other was kidnapped at gun point where he was forced to take money out of an ATM. A suspect was apprehended yesterday. Now, it’s easy to shrug that off and say, “It was a one time occurrence,” or, “It was in a different town; I’m safe where I’m at.” However before you do, I would encourage you to read the rest of this article.

Read the rest of this entry »

Courtesy of Massachussets Association of Realtors

Safety on the Road

As a REALTOR^®, you spend a great deal of time in your car. These tips may help protect you from dangerous situations on the road or while waiting in your car. Read the rest of this entry »

Courtesy of www.warealtor.org

Below your will find some very good Safety Information for the Real Estate Professional. Sometimes we tend to forget, in our busy lives, to remember our own personal safety. We have so much going on but your personal safety should be your number 1 priority. When you are planning a showing, setting up an open house, working late on a contract, etc, always have your options available. Know what you are going to do so you don’t have to think about what you are going to do. Read the rest of this entry »

Self Defense Tips

Courtesy of Protect Your Home and Family

Do as much as you can to avoid a confrontation - “anticipation and avoidance” are the key words. If you get caught up in a situation, try to talk to an aggressor without provoking them. Practice relaxation, as appearing fearful or stressed can actually provoke an attack. Remember that body language is important in aggressive situations, so maintain a comfortable distance between you and the aggressor. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever been out and witnessed an unsafe situation and wondered how you would have reacted if that had been you? and you were glad that you didn’t have to make that kind of quick decision right then? Just so you know, you have more power than you know. Watch this video below, you will see what I mean. Read the rest of this entry »

You Just Never Know! This is truly an unbelievable story but what was Troy to do? There are situations that you can prepare yourself for and can defend yourself, you can even take self defense classes, knowledge and awareness type classes, etc. but how can you prepare yourself for something like this? My prayers go out to Troy’s family. Thank you Monica.

By Dee Morrison and Tony Tagliavia http://www.woodtv.com/

MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — A man, allegedly upset over a real estate transaction, shot a realtor in the head at the realtor’s office Tuesday morning.

Robert Johnson, 73, walked into Nexes Realty at 880 Broadway in Muskegon and asked for the realtor, Troy VanderStelt, by name. He went into a conference room and waited. Read the rest of this entry »

I was on the internet and found this article about the real estate professional being at a risk with their safety! As a real estate professional, you have got to be aware and on guard at all times. Whether you’re on your way to the office, meeting a prospective client, sitting at an open house, working late in the office, at any time, you must be aware of what is going on around you. It seems that real estate professionals are singled out because criminals seem to think they are loaded! As a professional, you should always know what is going on around you; check things out and if you have a bad feeling about anything whatsoever, then go with that feeling and get out of there.

Courtesy of http://www.resaa.org/

21 Realtors were murdered nationwide in the year 2000 alone, according to a survey by the Washington Association of Realtors!

Maybe it’s easy to shrug that off and say, “It was a one time occurrence,” or, “That was in a different town, I’m safe where I work.”

But before you do, I would encourage you to please keep reading …

Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t Walk ahead of the prospect.  When showing a home, always have your prospect walk in front of you. Don’t lead them, but rather, direct them from a position slightly behind them. You can gesture for them to go ahead of you and say, for example, “The master suite is in the back of the house.”

Your Personal Safety Is Up To YOU!

This information is from a previous post but the information is so good, I wanted to post it again!

The 10-Second Rule

One of the most common reasons that people find themselves in dangerous situations is that they were not paying attention. Take a few precious seconds during the course of your day to assess your surroundings.

• Take 2 seconds when you arrive at your destination.
  Is there any questionable activity in the area?
  Are you parked in a well-lit, visible location?
  Can you be blocked in the driveway by a prospect’s vehicle?
• Take 2 seconds after you step out of your car.
  Are there suspicious people around?
  Do you know exactly where you’re going?
• Take 2 seconds as you walk towards your destination.
  Are people coming and going or is the area unusually quiet?
  Do you observe any obstacles or hiding places in the parking lot or along the street?
  Is anyone loitering in the area?
• Take 2 seconds at the door.
  Do you have an uneasy feeling as you’re walking in?
  Is someone following you in?
• Take 2 seconds as soon as you enter your destination.
  Does anything seem out of place?
  Is anyone present who shouldn’t be there or who isn’t expected?

Safety in Just 10 Seconds

It takes just 10 seconds to scope out your surroundings and spot and avoid danger. Make this “ten-second scan” a habit in your everyday work as a REALTOR. ^® Then share it with someone else.

I heard of this site while watching tv last night and got on their website. We should be so proud of our military and support them in any way we can. We are here because of them.

America Supports You - Our Military Men and Women

• America Supports You is a Department of Defense program that provides opportunities for citizens to show their support for the US Armed Forces. The program was launched in 2004 in an effort to highlight citizen support for our military men and women and communicate that support to the members of our Armed Forces at home and abroad.
• America Supports You connects individuals, organizations and companies to hundreds of home front groups offering a variety of support to the military community.
• The program also connects military service members and their families to home front groups that provide assistance.
• The America Supports You website, www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil, provides a one-stop location for citizens and service members to connect with hundreds organizations eager to help.
• America Supports You homefront groups show support in many ways including writing letters and e-mails, sending care packages, offering scholar­ships and helping the wounded when they return home. Dozens of corporations, recognized on the website, are also America Supports You supporters.

Check out this site, see what you can do, I know I will! Beth

On Saturday, I had a meeting with a Personal Safety and Security Professional who explained to me a seminar he is putting on in the Atlanta area in August. It is a Safety and Security training seminar in the actual preparation and implementation process, for Realtors, to make you fully capable of creating a mental and physical Proactive Survival Action Plan.

A survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors Marketing Research Department revealed the following disturbing statistics:

*of more than 4300 Realtors who responded; more than 1/2 reported experiencing safety concerns and incidents while in the field

*1 in 4 Realtors personally experienced safety related or harassing situations while conducting their professional duties

*Nearly 40% recounted knowledge of other Realtors who have experienced safety related ‘uncomfortable circumstances’ while working

*The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has placed Realtor Safety among its top areas of concern. To the criminal minded, you are the perfect target for the easy ’set up’. Read the rest of this entry »

Beth’s Top Ten Realtor Safety Tips

#10 - If you are showing several properties, phone your office occasionally to check in, often, just to let them know that all is okay. If you’re suspicious or fearful of someone, use these calls as a reason to return to the office immediately – (BE CREATIVE)

#9 - Take a self defense course, through your local police department, private business or individual or through your local board of realtors. Knowing how to defend yourself - using whatever self-protection devise you have, this will ultimately save your life, if need be

#8 - Drive separate cars, when possible, if not, make sure that you drive But never let yourself get blocked in by another vehicle(s)

#7 - Limit the amount of personal information that you share about yourself to your client, until you get to know them a little better, (because you do want them to ‘know you, like you and trust you’) but then be selective

#6 - Ask a friend to join you when showing property with a client that makes you feel uneasy. Pre-plan your escape routes from each level of a home, before you show it

#5 - Have and Be Prepared to Use Safety Products – carry a personal alarm, pepper spray, etc

#4 - Always carry your cell phone, charged and programmed to 911 on speed dial. Use it when danger first appears. Do not wait

#3 - Always let your office know where you are, your schedule and who you are meeting when going to a property

#2 - Meet the prospective client at your office for the first time; never ever at a vacant property, and ask them to fill out the client identification form. Verify the client’s identity, photocopy driver’s license, obtain the car make and license number

And Beth’s # 1 Realtor Safety Tip…

#1 - Pay attention to your intuition - Never put yourself at risk to avoid social awkwardness. You have every right to be cautious

Remember, Your Personal Safety Depends On YOU!

When something bad happens in the real estate community, everyone tightens up on their personal safety and security. When things are going well, we stop thinking about it. You have got to be thinking and planning for your Personal Safety and Security ALL THE TIME! Make it part of your day to day business planning.

As a realtor, when you are out previewing homes or you have your clients with you, you must always be aware and on guard when going into the homes. The best thing to do when you arrive at the property is to look around to see if there are cars in the driveway or in front of the home. That could mean the seller is home and you wouldn’t want to walk in on them unexpectedly. Check to see if the door is unlocked. Ring the doorbell - wait a few seconds, then ring the doorbell again. If no one answers, open the door and show the property.

Once you get into the home, you may want to call out again. You would hate to walk in on someone getting out of the shower…

One of our good referral agents, Steve Matthews of Maximum One Realty Greater Atlanta, shows us what he does when he arrives at a property and then once he’s inside. Watch the videos below-

Thanks Steve for your realtor tips, we truly appreciate them. For more information on properties in the Atlanta area, contact Steve at
Steve Matthews
Maximum One Realty Greater Atlanta
Cell: 404.786.2184
Fax: 404.551.5471
www.eSignatureHome.com
SOLD@eSignatureHome.com

I want to say Happy Father’s Day to my own dad. He lives in Indiana and I won’t be able to actually see him and hug him today but I definitely will call and talk with him and let him know how much I love him!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY DAD!!!

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers out there. I wish you the best day and the most fulfilled day with your kids. Enjoy your dad today and enjoy being a dad today, Its All About You!!!

As a real estate professional, your primary job is meeting with complete strangers - in your day to day activities; you’re faced with potentially risky situations! Like every segment of your business, you need to consider your personal safety as the number one factor in your success. Just a little pre-planning and upfront knowledge will help you stay ahead of the dangers.

Another wonderful realtor, Leslie Spennato of Prudential Georgia Realty, Woodstock, Georgia, has taken the time to share with us her realtor safety tips; tips that she uses in her day to day showing and selling of real estate.

In our day to day lives, we get so busy that we tend to be a little lax on our own personal safety & security. Always be aware of what is going on around you and as they always say, trust your gut feelings, it could save your life.

Remember, Your Personal Safety Is Up To YOU!

Choose Flight Over Fight 

While it is recommended that every Realtor should take a basic self-defense course, the primary goal in any threatening situation is to escape from immediate danger and call for help.

Remember, Your Personal Safety Is Up To You!

Source: Nevada County Board of REALTORS® (CA)

P R O T E C T  Y O U R  C L I E N T S  AGAINST  CRIME

Consider these tips in helping your clients protect themselves against crime:

Remind clients who are selling their house or condominium that strangers will be walking through their home. Tell them to put any valuables in a safe, secure place. This includes items they might not initially think would attract interest:
Recently, the San Diego Police Department reported that an individual was going through medicine cabinets at open houses and stealing the owners’ prescription drugs. Suggest that they hide any such items.

*Don’t leave your own briefcase, purse, laptop or cell phone in view. (You should have that phone on your person at all times anyway.) Wear clothing with pockets so that you can always have your car keys with you as well, and never carry
large amounts of cash or credit cards.

*At an open house, be alert to the pattern of visitors’ arrivals, especially near the end of showing hours. In some areas, group of thieves will show up together near the end of the open house and, while a string of “potential buyers” distracts
the REALTOR®, the rest of the group walks through the house, stealing any valuables they come across.

*Finally, when you leave a client’s property, whether after an open house or a standard showing, make sure that all doors and windows are locked. Thieves commonly use open houses to scout for valuables and possible points of entry,
then return after the agent leaves.

*Let your clients know that you will take all of the above safety precautions, but that when they return home, they should immediately verify that all doors are locked and all valuables accounted for.

Courtesy of Chery Wattersonwww.selfdefensewithanattitude.com

If you’re a real estate professional, your primary job is meeting with complete strangers – showing homes, holding open houses, and even being out late at night, walking to your car…all in the hopes that you secure a new client that you sell a home or property to. You’re faced with potentially risky situations almost every day. Because of the very nature of your job…..your safety should be a main priority for you.

There are crazy predators who seek out female realtors – not really caring who you are so long as you are a female. Then there are those crazies who seek out realtors who are high visibility agents. These are the million dollar agents who are on the cover of magazines, on the billboards, in the newspapers – their name is highly recognizable.

These predators see million dollar agents and assume you must be earning that full amount for yourself. There have been many realtors who have been followed to their homes by such predators and attacked in their own home. Some agents have been stalked and had their homes burglarized. Consider your safety and the safety of your home and family Priority Number 1.

First and foremost, be sure you follow all of the Safety Rules for your business:

1. Never have a first meeting with a customer at a property. Always meet customers in the office, where you can introduce them to the broker, manager or other colleagues. If you must, meet them at a public place to introduce yourself and conduct a buyer interview.

2. Leave an itinerary with the office. Let someone know what houses you will be viewing—and be sure the customer knows there is a schedule you’ll be following.

3. Carry a cell phone. Stay in contact with someone while you’re out in the field.

4. Don’t wear flashy jewelry or carry several credit cards. Carry only a small amount of cash or one credit card, and have a key ring with just your car key and lockbox key on it.

5. Use your own car. Be in control of the presentation and be the guide. If a customer wants to drive, have him or her follow you. And don’t park where you can be blocked in.

6. Always enter through the front door. If you have to use a side door, have the customers wait at the front door and let them in that way.

7. Inside the house, stay between the customer and an exit. Don’t ever walk into a room first. It’s safer and a better experience for the customer.

8. Have a secret code. Create a code word or phrase to let your colleagues know that you’re in need of help. Then, if you feel threatened, you could call your office and say, “Could you please call Mr. CODEWORD to cancel my appointment?” This let’s the office know that you need help without giving any indication to the listener.

9. Carry pepper spray, if it’s legal in your area. This may be used for defense from animals, snakes or any predators and may give you time to get to safety.

Cheryl has some great information and safety tips. Some we have gone over several times. The only way to know how you will react to a situation, is to go over the situation time and time again. You cannot let your guard down, you have got to know how you are going to react when a situation comes up!

The next thing to think about is a self defense course. Not a ‘martial arts’ class but a course that teaches you how to react to certain situations. How to get out of a bad situation alive. Because as we know - Your Personal Safety Is Up To YOU!!!

Below is a comment from a realtor and he mentions showing or previewing vacant homes; how a predator could be waiting there for you to show up. You have got to be careful. You could be in a upscale neighborhood and something bad could happen. As I mentioned earlier, you must follow procedures and stay in touch with your office, family and/or friends. If you are going to preview homes for a client, especially vacant homes, take someone with you. Let others know where you are going and how long you should be gone. Remember, Your Personal Safety Is Up To YOU!

Thanks for stopping by my site the other day, it lead me to your wonderful site! How refreshing to find someone dedicated to getting the word out about Realtor safety.

Another danger with vacant homes comes from possible predators lying and waiting for you in a house that you may preview or bring a client to.

I had a situation in Baltimore while showing vacant row homes to an investor. When we entered the home we saw a cell phone on the kitchen counter. Turns out, someone was hiding under the kitchen sink. We got out of their quick.

A good article would be about how Listing Agents can keep their vacant properties safer.