Everyday, you and thousands of other real estate professionals put yourselves at risk by welcoming complete strangers into a vacant property, brokerage office or home office, or getting in a car alone with someone you just met. These occurrences can pose serious risks to your personal, professional and client safety, if you don't understand and follow basic guidelines.
The National Association of REALTORS® has designated September 14-20, 2008 as REALTOR® Safety Week, an annual event that promotes safety-conscious practices. Now, is the time for you to evaluate yourself, and see how you can keep yourself safe on the job, at home or on the road.
TREND will promote REALTOR® safety this week and throughout the year by posting tips on the Info Center to help educate and inform you about the potential risks you face. Taking steps now to increase your safety could make the difference in a future situation turning into a personal nightmare.
On the Job
NAR recommends this checklist of safety tips when you work in the field:
- Always make certain someone - a relative or friend - knows where you're going and who you plan to meet there - including the client's name and phone number.
- Always schedule initial meetings with new clients in your office, verify their identity and introduce them to a colleague.
- Always keep a charged cell phone with you, whether you're in the office, on the road or at a showing.
At Home
In your own home, you should keep safety in mind by following these important tips:
- All doors to your home should have a deadbolt lock with a full one-inch bolt, and inside the door to your home office.
- Even if you have a regular telephone in your home office, you should keep a charge cell phone with you at all times.
On the Road
When you travel to appointments or showings, these tips could come in handy:
- Make certain you know your route to and from each property you visit.
- When getting into your car, the first thing you should do is lock the doors.
Emergency Numbers
Whether you are in the office, at home or on the road, you should keep a list of important phone numbers or other information on your person, so you always have them at your fingertips. These phone numbers include:
- Police (non-emergency)
- Locksmith
- Roadside assistance
- Insurance representative
- Doctor
- Types of allergies
Remember, if there is an emergency, you can always dial 9-1-1.
While every job that requires interaction with consumers involves some risk, TREND is committed to increasing safety awareness by helping to educate and empower you to make good choices and practice personal safety on the job, at home and on the road.
Information in this story was reprinted with permission from the National Association of REALTORS®.