By Scott Bonvisutto, President – Console Vault
Real estate agents maintain a high public profile and routinely meet with strangers alone, sometimes in isolated locations, due to the nature of their work. Yet, according to a National Association of Realtors (NAR) study, only 51 percent of realtors know their brokerage’s standard real estate agent safety procedures. Thirty-nine percent of realtors surveyed reported that their local association provides safety training during orientation for new members, but only 29 percent reported being aware of such safety programs.
While there is rarely a “perfect” time to discuss how real estate agents can ensure their personal safety, the truth is that protecting themselves and their clients is an ongoing practice. In this article, we will dive into how realtors can find themselves in a dangerous scenario and the steps they can take to safeguard themselves against threats.
Why Realtors are Vulnerable
As with any potentially dangerous situation, the first step to protecting oneself is becoming aware of potential risks. Real estate agents tend to be vulnerable for four main reasons. The first is that criminals tend to target people — especially women — who are alone, and real estate agents work by themselves for much of their workday.
Second, real estate agents must frequently meet and work with strangers. Sometimes, criminals or mentally unstable individuals pose as interested buyers or sellers. Thefts, sexual assaults, and even murders have occurred as a result. While we may like to believe that something so heinous could never happen to us, it’s likewise crucial to remember that several realtors have been killed during showings.
Similarly, drug addicts might attend open houses or showings to gain access to medicine cabinets and the prescription pharmaceuticals inside them. Given incidents like these, perhaps it should come as no surprise that, according to the aforementioned NAR study, 22 percent of respondents reported feeling unsafe during a showing.
Third, realtors may be required to show properties that are located in unsafe or remote areas. Sometimes, these properties don’t even have cell phone coverage, making it impossible to call for help if necessary. Arriving at an abandoned property or foreclosure can also risk bringing realtors face-to-face with squatters or other individuals who may pose a threat to them and their clients.
Finally, real estate agents need to promote their services and showings, which means their faces, names, and events become widely known in the community. As a result, criminals can also easily figure out where to find them, making real estate agent safety so important.
For these reasons, it’s absolutely vital for realtors to take proactive measures to shield themselves from possible harm.
Self-defense Courses
NAR’s study points out that only 38 percent of real estate agents have taken a self-defense class. Yet, being prepared to protect oneself can make the difference between being a victim or not. For instance, these classes can teach students how to leverage their entire body in a punch and ensure it lands in the right place, enabling them to break away from an attacker and gain time to run.
Moreover, taking a self-defense class brings other, perhaps unexpected benefits for real estate agent safety. For instance, it can alleviate anxiety about one’s personal safety, boost confidence, improve physical fitness, and support positive mental health. These courses also teach students how to set healthy boundaries and assert them effectively.
New Safety Technology
Numerous innovative safety solutions can also keep real estate agents safe while on the job. If a realtor does not already use a GPS tracking device to follow their movements, they should keep in mind that these can give them a way to alert their friends and family if a situation should arise.
According to the NAR survey, 72 percent of respondents use an app on their smartphones in this way, the most popular of which was the Find My iPhone feature used by 43 percent of those surveyed. Many participants also indicated that they routinely notify a loved one of their location whenever they need to conduct a showing.
In addition, automated solutions for confirming appointments can reduce the number of no-shows, meaning realtors will spend less time alone in an unfamiliar setting. Confirming showings in this way can also help realtors project confidence and appear less awkward or uncertain while waiting for clients, which makes them less attractive as a target.
In the wake of the pandemic, virtual property tours have become more accepted. Since these allow realtors to decrease the number of in-person meetings they have with clients, they present another way to reduce how much danger realtors could potentially be exposed to.
Carry protection
According to the 2023 NAR study, “Forty-nine percent of men and 50 percent of women carry a self-defense weapon or tool.” Eighteen percent of these respondents carry pepper spray, 14 percent list a firearm, and nine percent list a pocket knife, though another nine percent said they prefer not to reveal what their weapon is.
While having recourse to a weapon can help deter a criminal, it’s also important to have a secure place to keep dangerous items while out for the day, which is why in-vehicle safes are indispensable. In addition, these lockboxes can protect a realtor’s valuable items, such as prescription medications or even documents with sensitive client information.
Stay vigilant
Even the most experienced real estate professionals must remain vigilant and ensure their personal real estate agent safety. To reduce their vulnerability, realtors should consider taking a self-defense class, using new technologies, and keeping protection close at hand. In many cases, simply being prepared is enough to project the strength that makes a criminal choose someone else.
