A career in real estate can be exciting, fun and rewarding. However, being a real estate agent, especially today, also has its risks. Since 2003, the National Association of REALTORS® has dedicated September as REALTOR® Safety Month, with a goal of reducing the number of safety incidents that occur in the industry and improving the overall safety culture for agents as they work to help their clients and show properties.
According to NAR’s recent Member Safety Report, there are a few key findings that can help agents work smarter, and some preventative tips to help agents work safe year-round.
- Open houses and showings hold particular risk, as 17% of reported criminal activity occurred at an open house.
- A large percentage of those who encountered criminal activity said that it followed threatening communication.
Understanding that REALTOR® safety as a strategy and a system will allow you to go to work every day with peace of mind knowing that you are working with clients who know and trust you, and who you know and trust. The Council provides safety courses to help members assess risk in their current practice and create systems that help them conduct business safely while creating positive business outcomes. Check out “Systems for Agent Safety,” available at CRS.com/webinars.
If you aren’t sure what safety protocols are in place, ask your broker and call your local REALTOR® association executive and ask for an update on safety best practices.
If you’ve experienced an emergency or a safety concern, NAR offers a REALTOR® Safety Network to notify members across the country at NAR.realtor/safety.
Photo: iStock.com/Martina Birnbaum
