Personal Safety for Real Estate Professionals

Be suspect of everyone. Be guarded but not paranoid. Be sure to keep your awareness level up at all times, especially when getting to know new clients.

Meet all potential first time clients at your office. Meeting first time clients at your office allows you to be at a more advantageous location for your safety. Be sure to ask for an official form of identification and make a record of it. Pre-qualified buyers are less of a safety risk, because you know more information about them.

Stay in communication with your office or others. Don't keep your location a secret. Let your office know when you will return or when they should hear from you.

Implement a buddy system. Take co-workers with you or establish a mutual drop-in or check-in system with someone you can rely on. Avoid isolation.

Have a safety plan for open houses. Be aware of distraction techniques or those who may be scouting out the house to return later to steal contents. Park your vehicle on the street instead of the driveway to allow you a quick exit.

Use a predetermined code word to alert your office of distress. If your whereabouts are known to others, and you make contact with them and use a known signal, then your need for help will be obvious. "The info I need is in the red folder." - "Red" would be your code word indicating trouble.

Dress for safety as well as success. Restrictive clothing/shoes, expensive jewelry, etc., should be avoided if at all possible.

Be cautious taking clients in your vehicle. If at all possible, avoid taking clients into your vehicle and maintain your awareness of your surroundings. Always have an escape plan in mind and be watchful for places to stop for assistance.

Pay attention to your instincts. Don't discount feelings of warning or caution. Listen to your survival mechanism.

Self-defense training. Look into self-defense classes that can teach you simple maneuvers to use if you find yourself in a physical altercation.