Everyone wants to believe that the people they meet every day are good. Unfortunately, the reality is that not everyone is trustworthy.
The numbers are alarming: 40% of females and 21% of males REALTORS® have been in a situation that made them concerned for their safety or the safety of their personal information, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2019 Member Safety Report.
Knowledge of common-sense safety practices coupled with an awareness of your surroundings can be empowering. Take a look at these safety tips — from personal safety to online protection — provided by NAR:
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Checking In
- When you have a new client, ask them to stop by your office and complete a Prospect Identification Form (Find a copy online at www.REALTOR.org/Safety). Also, photocopy their driver’s license and retain this information at your office. Be sure to properly discard this personal information when you no longer need it.
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Open House: It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
- Don’t assume that everyone has left the premises at the end of an open house. Check all of the rooms and the backyard before locking the doors. Be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.
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Bring Up the Rear
- When showing a home, always have your prospect walk in front of you. Don’t lead them, but rather, direct them from a position slightly behind them. You can gesture for them to go ahead of you and say, for example, “The master suite is in the back of the house.”
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Scam Alert!
- Be alert to visitors’ comings and goings at an open house, especially near the end of showing hours. Police have reported groups of criminals that target open houses, showing up near the end of the afternoon. While several “clients” distract the agent, others go through the house and steal anything they can quickly take.
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Stranger Danger
- Tell your clients not to show their homes by themselves. Alert them that not all agents, buyers, and sellers are who they say they are. Predators come in all shapes and sizes. We tell our children not to talk to strangers. Tell your sellers not to talk to other agents or buyers, and to refer all inquiries to you.
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When in Doubt, Shred!
- Shred unwanted credit card applications and “convenience checks” that come in the mail, as well as credit card receipts with your account number, outdated financial papers, and papers containing your clients’ personal information.
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Shield Your Computer From Email Viruses
- Never open an attachment you are not expecting. For example, if you receive a strange or impersonal-sounding message from a familiar address, check with that person to make sure they sent it.
All tips are taken from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’® REALTOR® Safety Resource Kit. Visit NAR’s safety website for more information on the critical topic of REALTOR® safety.
