A major concern for realtors is personal safety. Many times the
realtor is working alone in showing a property, having an open house, or manning
the model house in a new subdivision. Some personal safety issues should
include:
On the first meeting of a client, always meet a new client at your office, never
at a property. Get as much personal information as possible. A copy of the
driver’s license is a good start not only for safety, but also for the client
database.
During this first meeting, if you have any suspicions or
uneasiness about a client, do not go to the showing alone, no matter what time
of day. Ask another person to accompany you. If you are at an open house and you
feel that you are in danger, leave the home and seek assistance.
Always drive your own car to the property as this might be the
only means of escape. Keep your car locked while driving to the property and
after you park it. On the way make notes on the type of car, color, and license
plate number and call the office with this information. Once at the property do
not park your vehicle where it can be blocked.
Always follow the prospect through the home and never let them
get behind you. Your attention should be focused on the client, not on the
house.
Here is a checklist to follow for safety:
When a person comes through the office to view your model
homes have them complete a guest register that includes making a copy of
their driver’s license. Get this information back to the office by fax or
e-mail and let the office know it is coming.
Keep the keys to your vehicle and your cell phone with you
at all times. Keep your handbag locked in the trunk of your vehicle rather
than in your desk.
When closing the model homes for the night never assume that
the home is vacant. Be familiar enough with each home to know the exits.
Check the interior of the house prior to locking the doors, working from the
top floor to the bottom, back of the house to the front, locking the doors
behind you. Be aware of your surroundings. Be prepared to protect yourself.
Enroll in a self defense education course to assist you in
protecting yourself until someone can respond to your call for help. Never
assume that you can talk your way out of a situation. Look for and take the
first opportunity to escape.
The DO list:
Take the safest and best-lighted route--day or night--while
driving to appointments.
Always inform your office of where you will be, who you will
be with and when you will next be in touch. Make sure the person you are
meeting knows that you’ve given your office this information.
Be aware of the neighborhood in which you are showing a
listing. If the neighborhood poses any possible threat to your personal
safety, take another person with you.
Allow the client to proceed ahead of you while showing the
property. Make sure you have previewed the property and know all of the
accessible exits. Leave the doors unlocked for easy exit. Carry your
cellular telephone with you.
Establish a method of being able to relate an emergency
situation to the office or a contact person.
Have a secret phrase to notify the office you are in trouble
such as “Pick up dog food” when you don’t have a dog.
The DON'T list:
Hold an open house alone, if at all possible. Working with a
partner allows you the luxury of having someone available to call or go for
assistance if needed, and someone to help monitor how many people are in the
house. If you must do an open house alone, stay near the door and let the
prospect look through the house alone. Keep all valuables--jewelry, money,
guns, etc.-- locked away.
Host an open house at a property you have not already
previewed. Know the location of all of the exits and how to contact the
closest neighbors. Make sure that if you use the backyard as an escape route
that there is an exit out of it. Make sure all of the exit doors are
unlocked during the open house.
Wear expensive jewelry and, if at all possible, keep your
handbag locked in the trunk of your vehicle while you are hosting an open
house. Have your car keys readily available by keeping them either in a
pocket or clipped to a belt.
Assume everyone has left the premises at the end of an open
house. Check all of the rooms and the backyard prior to locking all of the
doors. Be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.
Show a property alone at night, especially if it is vacant.
What the office can do to protect its agents:
Each office should keep a file on each agent’s vehicle —
make, year, model, color and license plate number.
Each agent should leave a daily schedule of outside
appointments with their office showing client names and times.
Always meet your client, prospect or buyer at your office
and have them complete an information form, taking a photo of their driver’s
license. The information form should contain vehicle information, also.
Have each agent carry a log to write down prospective
client‘s name, driver’s license and vehicle information.
At open houses, a guest registry should be kept for all
persons viewing the house. This registry should include vehicle information.
Never have an agent show a property as the result of only a
telephone call. Always meet them at the office and have them complete an
information form.
Do not list your home address or telephone number on your
business cards.
All agents in your office should use only their first
initial and last name on their “For Sale” signs to conceal gender and
prevent anyone other than a personal acquaintance asking for you by name.
Many of these points may already in practice for the profession.
Look to these procedures as also a safety concern. These safety tips should
become second nature with little thought to be truly effective.
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