REALTOR® Safety Month: 10 Keys to Keeping Showings Safe

September is REALTOR® Safety Month, and it’s a great time for brokers to review their health and safety practices.

10 Important Tips on How to Keep Yourself - and Your Clients - Safe During Showings:

1. Schedule Showings During Daylight

   • When scheduling showings, try to book clients during daylight hours. If you must show a home after dark, be sure to arrive early to turn all lights on inside the property. Additionally, let your supervisor and a trusted family member or friend know of your whereabouts.

2. Limit Sharing of Personal Information

   • Oversharing personal information, such as your home address or middle name, can sometimes make you a target. Use your business address only, and don’t reveal other personal details to clients.

3. Use Care When Meeting Clients

   • When meeting a client for the first time, do so at the office or in a public place. Always let a fellow agent or someone in your office know who, when, and where you are meeting.

4. Ensure Cell Service is Available

   • Sometimes, thick walls and remote locations can mean weak cell phone signal. Before heading to site, make sure you’ll have service, as being disconnected can be a safety hazard.

5. Arrive at Appointments Early

   • When it comes to safety, getting to the property first is key. REALTORS® should plan to arrive at the site at least 15 minutes ahead of the showing time to turn lights on, survey the property, and map out an escape route should a dangerous situation arise.

6. Practice Open House Safety

   • Firstly, do not host open houses alone. In addition, after closing an open house for the day, don’t assume everyone has left the premises. Before locking the doors, check every room and the backyard. If you believe someone is still on the property, contact law enforcement as soon as possible.

7. Walk Behind Clients

   • When showing a home, always walk behind clients instead of leading them into the home. You can direct them to go ahead of you by gesturing toward a certain room, saying something like, “The living room is straight ahead,” and then following behind.

8. Keep Seller Information Safe

   • Sellers can be targets as well, so tell them to lock up valuables, such as jewelry or electronics, ahead of their showing. They should also store any documents that have personal information on them, such as mail or bills left on countertops.

9. Take Care With Keys

   • When handling keys, use a lockbox system designed to improve REALTOR® safety. This will ensure homeowners’ keys don’t fall into the wrong hands.

10. Follow Your Instincts

    • Sometimes, your gut is telling you something for a reason — that a situation isn’t safe. If something is off and you’re feeling uncomfortable, use the Buddy System.
    • Have code words prepared to notify each other. Also, it’s okay to leave or change plans, such as finding a new meeting space. Your safety is always more important than getting a sale.