Safety should always be your priority! As an agent, safety is something that can’t be discussed enough. From every open house showing to every meeting you have, safety should be an important factor.
From adequate preparation to communicating effectively with colleagues, there are several ways you can better ensure your safety on the job. Here are some steps you can take towards achieving that:
Keep Lines of Communication Open
Although this is one of the easiest precautions to take as an agent, it’s also one of the most commonly overlooked. Letting others in your office know where your headed—whether it be a showing or to take clients out in your car—is one of the most important habits to get into to ensure your safety. If you’re a very busy agent, creating a shared Google Calendar with the location and time of all your appointments may be an easy solution.
Control Your Own Schedule
Set the hours that you’re comfortable meeting with clients, and stick to them. Make them readily available to all sellers and prospective buyers by including them in your marketing materials. If you’re uneasy about working after dark, be sure you make that known and notify family or colleagues of where you’ll be if you ever plan to work late.
Always Be Prepared
Remember to always be prepared and don’t be afraid to carry pepper spray. You can keep it on your person and concealed at all times. Also, self-defense classes are an excellent way to prepare yourself for a worst-case scenario. Be prepared when you leave the office or your home, so that you’re ready should an uncomfortable situation ever arise.
Agents, what precautions do you take to ensure your safety?
Jameson Doris is RISMedia’s blog and social media editor. Email him your real estate blog ideas at jdoris@rismedia.com.
Comment Letting someone know where you are is nice but crimes happen in seconds and the only benefit will be that they know where to find you. Self defense is very good, also carrying (when you are licensed and have proper training) is a good solution. Criminals are intent on harming you, half measures can get you in more trouble. Talk to your local police department. They can give you good advice. It’s your life.
Have clients enter each room first allowing you to have a clear exit if needed.
Park your car where you would not be blocked in nose out to the street if in a driveway, or allow adequate space in front of you to pull out if parking on street.
During the week, I have new clients meet me at the office where there is a sign stating that a copy of a driver’s license is necessary to view properties. On the weekends, my daughter or son accompanies me. When viewing a house in a less than desirable neighborhood, I take a colleague with me. I have a concealed carry permit, so I am always armed as well.
Your article needs to go further! I work in a major metropolitan area where 9 out of 10 clients prefer to meet you at the showing location, and rarely want to be driven around by the agent, or meet at the office, as distances are great. This means that an agent must be doubly vigilant about noting who shows up, and not enter rooms in advance of an unknown client, keep purse/valuables secured, get names and verify cell phone contacts in advance, and if the location is woodsy/secluded–try to have a second person with you/possibly your dog on a leash.
I am 63 yrs old, and not as swift as I was in my earlier years, therefore, I always let someone know of my schedule, as well as in accordance to my state’s laws and the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution, I carry a gun. I also have take self-protection courses to fight off any idiot that thinks he’s gonna get his way because I already decided I’m surviving.
Comment NOT at all impressed with this “safety” blog! WAY too elementary and many law enforcement officers will say – pepper spray is NOT a good suggestion – wind can blow it back in your face, someone on certain drugs are not easily affected AND if they are that close to you, you’ve waited too long PLUS it does not last forever and depending on hot and cold left in cars can be totally ineffective. Appointments made in advance – requiring a drivers license AND a snapshot of their face sent to you by their phone is a better suggestion. Then you leave that info with the office before showing. AND request also a pocket card and driver’s license IF it is another agent! Only one time attacked and you will be more careful – IF it’s not too late!! GIVE STRONGER SUGGESTIONS – these were a joke.