Main Content

Home » Realtor Safety

Realtor Safety

Safety Card

KEEP IT LIGHT

Show properties before dark. If you are going to be working after hours, advise your associates or first-line supervisor of your schedule. If you must show a property after dark, turn on all lights as you go through, and don’t lower any shades or draw curtains or blinds.

KEEP IT LIGHT TIPS

Take two seconds when you arrive at your destination to check out any potential dangers:

  • Is there any questionable activity in the area?
  • Are you parked in a well-lit visible location?
  • Can you be blocked in the driveway by another vehicle?
Safety Card
Safety Card

BE CAREFUL WITH KEYS

Don’t hand out keys to friends, even if they are trustworthy. Know the location of all of your house keys all the time. Never use hide-a-keys or leave the key under a doormat, above the door, or in a flowerpot or anywhere outside the house. You may think you’re being clever, but experienced thieves know all the tricks. Also, keep your car keys and house keys on a different ring if you ever use valet parking or leave your keys with parking lot attendants or even at a repair garage.

DON’T GET PARKED IN

When showing property or meeting someone park your car in front of the property rather than in the driveway. You will avoid having your car blocked in. You’ll have an easier time escaping in your vehicle and you will attract lots of attention running and screaming to your car at the curb area.

Safety Card
Safety Card

SHOP ONLINE SAFELY

When shopping online checkout the website before entering your credit card number or other personal information. Enter this information only on secure web pages with addresses that start with ‘https’ and have a closed padlock symbol at the bottom of the browser window. These are signs that your information will be encrypted or scrambled protecting it from hackers.

OFFICE DISTRESS CODE

Create a voice distress code, a secret word or phrase that is not commonly used but can be worked into any conversation for cases where you feel that you are in danger. Use this if the person you are with can overhear the conversation, but you don’t want to alarm them. Example: ” Hi, this is Jennifer, I’m with Mr. Henderson at the Elm Street listing. Could you email me the RED FILE?”

Safety Card
Safety Card

BEWARE OF ADWARE AND MALWARE

Be sure that you don’t click on error messages with unfamiliar logos that state “your computer has been infected with a virus or Trojan found.” These messages with unfamiliar logos will tell you there is something wrong with your computer and to download their protection service when in actuality you’re downloading a virus and setting yourself up for information loss.

HAVE A LIFELINE

If you find yourself to be the last one in an open house and your car is not in the immediate vicinity of the venue then make a phone call as you walk. Assailants will be less willing to attack if you are mid conversation with another person. Give your best friend a call, they would love to hear about your day.

Safety Card
Safety Card

HIDE PERSONAL INFORMATION

Tell your sellers: DON’T leave personal information like mail or bills out in the open where anyone can see it. Be sure to lock down your computer and lock up your laptop and any other expensive easy-to-pocket electronics like iPads, before your showing.

SCAM ALERT

At an open house, be alert to visitors’ coming and goings, especially near the end of showing hours. Police have reported groups of criminals that target open houses showing up en masse near the end of the afternoon. While several “clients” distract the agent, others go through the house and steal anything they can quickly take.

Safety Card
Safety Card

WHO’S CALLING

Install caller I.D. on your telephone, which should automatically reject calls from numbers that have been blocked. This will provide you with immediate information about the source of the call.

DON’T USE THE “V” WORD

When describing a listings, never say that a property is “vacant”. This may be an invitation to criminals.

Safety Card
Skip to content