September is
SAFETY Month! BY DIANE M. STERRETT
After the spring and summer we’ve been through, when you hear the word “safety” the first things that probably jump to mind are COVID-19 safety procedures such as wearing face masks when meeting clients and in the office, not shaking hands with clients any more, and holding virtual open houses. All those things are still really important, but as the virus spread fluctuates, so do the rules. The best advice we can give you is to keep listening to the governor’s guidance, follow all CDCrecommended health protocols, and take care of yourself.
Now that we have the compulsory COVID-19 talk out of the way, what other kinds of safety are we concerned about as Realtors®? Personal safety, brokerage safety, and cybersecurity. Let’s take a brief look at all three. Personal Safety
When asked if their brokerage had standard procedures for agent safety, only 45% of Realtors® in a recent survey said yes. A full quarter, 26%. said no; while a startling 29% said they didn’t know. Breanne Gingerich, manager of NAR’s Realtor® Safety Program, is working hard to change that and improve the safety culture among Realtors®. “Realtors® are incredibly personable and kind people, that’s who they are at the core. But that works against us when you consider that by nature of our business, we meet with strangers for a living,” Gingerich says. What she means by safety culture is talking about safety procedures often, and training agents from the beginning about the importance of having safety protocols in place that they follow with every client, every day, every time. Increasing awareness of safety risks Realtors® face on the job empowers them to be prepared and helps reduce risk. The job holds inherent risks, such as meeting with strangers and unlocked doors at open houses. “Another hidden danger is a misconception that most crimes against Realtors® are crimes of opportunity or random acts of violence,” Gingerich explains. 16
Bay State REALTOR®
