Are You Protecting Yourself?

SEpTEMBER IS REALTOR® SAfETy MONTh. SuRE, yOu’vE REAd TIpS ON hOw TO STAy SAfE, BuT hAvE yOu REALLy IMpLEMENTEd ThE STEpS TO ENSuRE yOu’RE pROTECTINg yOuRSELf? BELOw IS A LIST Of hELpfuL SuggESTIONS TO SAfEguARd yOu AgAINST hARMfuL SITuATIONS

Safety at the Office

General Office Safety:

 Get to know staff of nearby businesses and familiarize yourself with their schedules.

 Secure all doors other than the main entrance.

 Chart out a clear exit route.

 Never allow visitors to wander freely about the business.

 Have a visitor log book at the front desk (to keep track of those entering and exiting the building).

 Create a rule to let colleagues know when they are the last person in the office.

 Never leave personal items (purses, tablets, keys) on desks or in plain view.

 Maintain an inventory of equipment and important documents.

 Lock up audio/visual equipment when not in use.

 Secure spare and master keys in locked cabinets.

Smart Marketing Materials:

 Keep your marketing materials polished and professional.

 Limit the amount of personal information you share on business cards, flyers and your website.

Safety with Clients

Safety at Property Showings:

 Ask new clients to stop by your office and complete a Prospect Identification Form (find an example at www.REALTOR.org/Safety) and make sure to record the client’s auto information (make, model, color & license plate number).

 Introduce the prospect to someone in your office.

 Always let someone know where you are going and when you will be back; leave the name and phone number of the person you’re meeting.

 Show properties before dark. If you must show a property after dark, turn on all the lights and don’t lower any shades or draw curtains or blinds.

 If you think it may be some time before a property sells, get acquainted with a few of the immediate neighbors.

 Lock your purse in the car trunk before you arrive. Carry only non-valuable business items (except your cell phone), and do not wear expensive jewelry or watches.

 Park at the curb rather than the driveway. This attracts more attention and it is much easier to escape in your vehicle if you don’t have to back out of a driveway.

 Always leave the front door unlocked for a quick exit and prepare a scenario so you can leave, or encourage someone who makes you feel uncomfortable to leave.

 As you enter each room, stand near the door.

 Prepare a scenario so that you can leave, or encourage someone who makes you uncomfortable to leave.

Safety on the Road:

 Your office should keep a file on each agent’s vehicle, including the make, model, year, color and license plate number.

 Remember to always lock your car when at a showing.

 When you’re alone and getting in your car, the first thing you should do is lock the doors.

 Keep roadside essentials in the trunk, including flares, a tire-inflation canister, basic hand tools, water, flashlight and a first-aid kit.

 If you are in an unfamiliar place, make mental notes of landmarks, points of interest and intersections.

Safety at Open Houses:

 If possible, always try to have at least one other person working with you.

 Check your cell phone’s strength and signal prior to the open house and have emergency numbers programmed on speed dial.

 Check all rooms and determine several “escape routes”.

 Have all open house visitors sign in with full name, address, email and phone number. (See “Top Tech Tools” article on page 10 for a recommended App called Open Home Pro).

 Communicate frequently with your office, answering service, a friend or a relative and prepare a scheduled time for one of you to check-in.

 Check all the rooms and the backyard prior to locking up at the end of the open house.

Personal Safety

Safety with Technology

 Keep technology locked up literally and virtually (don’t leave laptops or tablets out at an open house or in your car).

 Make your smartphone hack-proof by choosing a tough password that is unique to you (not 1-2-3-4!).

 Install a tracking device on valuables which allows you to erase all information stored on your smart phone from a remote location.

 Install the same antivirus software and protections as you would on your home or office PC on your phone.

 Store documents on a safe cloud platform to keep information on laptops/tablets safer.

Refer to the “Networking in the Digital Age” and “Top Tech Tools for REALTORS®” articles in this issue of Insight for more tips on remaining safe in today’s changing environment. And remember, the most important tip to ensure your safety is to follow your gut. Intuition is a powerful tool we all possess. Always be aware of your surroundings and respect and listen to your inner voice – it could just save your life! v

(Source: REALTOR® Safety presentation handouts, National Association of REALTORS®)