Safety Tips for a Realtor

Everyday there is a real estate agent who has become a crime statistic. Many of you Realtors feel that crime is not going to happen to you. You may be right because chances are it will not. According to law enforcement officials and security professionals, real estate is considered a "high-risk" profession. Sales agents are on the road, usually work alone, frequently interact with strangers, and visit unoccupied properties.

The following is some tips for a Realtor to ensure his/her safety:

Be suspicious of everyone. This is no benefit in being paranoid. Being a bit cautious can keep you from getting into a vulnerable situation. Be cautious of a man showing up alone. Assume that he will show up in a nice car, well dressed, perhaps with his wife and kids along for the ride. He might have a business card saying he is an engineer or a pharmacist. Do NOT let your guard down. He might decide to make you a target after two or three meetings. He wants to earn your trust first. You feel comfortable carrying jewelry and cash before he chooses that it is safe to move in.

Identify and pre-qualify during your first meeting. Whether you are at your office or meeting at the house, get a picture ID. Also, it may be to your benefit that the potential client purchasing a house is pre-qualified. Somebody who is pre-qualified by a lender and meets you at your place of work is less likely to be a predator. Make a file with the client's identification and include his personal information, such as license plate number, make and model of the car he is driving, and employer phone numbers.

Maintain contact with the office. Before showing a house, tell your co-workers, spouse, or friend where you are going and when you will return. Have this person call you at a designated time to check on you. It might be helpful to have this person set an alarm on their cell phone as a reminder. A "buddy" system where you call in has advantages. Have a designated in-out file. Use a clip board, cork board, e-mail, or voicemail system that everybody can access.

Have a plan for safe open houses. Bring a friend and carry a cell phone. Take a few minutes noting all the vulnerable points located within the property and how you would escape if necessary. When somebody walks in say to the client, "I'd be happy to show you the benefits of this home and in a few minutes, my partner, Rex, will be along to help me." When a couple comes to preview the house, ask that they remain together. Often, they split up. One has your attention while the other rifles through the jewelry boxes and drawers for anything of value. In high crime areas, especially blue-collar areas, consider hiring an off duty police officer to watch over the property during a showing.

Use predetermined code words to alert your office of distress. Use the colors of a traffic light: red, yellow, and green to alert your office of your levels of distress. For example, say to your caller, "It's in the green folder" letting the office know that you are okay. Or, "it's in the yellow folder" telling your office that you are in a shaky situation and you might need help. Consider using an acronym for help such as Have Emily Leave the Papers at 401 Main Street.

Conduct safe personal marketing. To a stalker, your picture on a sign or in print is a personal advertisement. He makes the determination if you have the "look" of a prey that he is seeking. Keep your pictures "professional" rather than "attractive." Use your cell phone number as opposed to your home phone number on the advertisement. If possible, use a personal 800 number which you can subscribe to anywhere in place of a home or cell phone number. Use P.O. boxes in place of your home address.

Use the buddy system. If possible, bring a co-worker. There is safety in numbers. Predators prefer isolation. By pairing up with a buddy, you reduce the chances of a potential attack.

Dress for safety and success. Do not wear expensive necklaces or rings. A $2500 diamond ring buys a lot of drugs. Dress professionally and not provocatively. Scarves and loose fitting items can give attackers something to grab onto. Wear shoes you can run and kick with so that you can defend yourself in case of an attack.

Do NOT take predators for a ride. Do not allow the client to ride in your car if you do not know who he is. Properly identify him. Make sure he is a client and not a potential attacker. Ensure you have taken the necessary precautions ahead of time before you are put in an isolated situation. If you feel uneasy about a client, let him follow you to the location and bring along a buddy. If he gets into your car and makes attempts to control you, put on your seatbelt and ram into a stationary object such as a parked car or a telephone pole.

Heed your intuition. Trust your gut instinct if you feel troubled by your new client. If something feels wrong, then it is wrong. Cancel your appointment with him if necessary.

Know how to defend yourself. Your life is worth fighting for. It is necessary to defend yourself if you are ever placed in a situation that would put you in harm's way. Aim for the eyes, throat, groin, and the top of his foot. Ground fighting is an advantage that few people realize they have. Kicking the knees and the groin is very effective when you are lying on the ground. Scream, yell, gouge, bite, and fight with whatever you have. Carry some pepper spray, stun gun, or a kubaton keychain in your coat pocket. Have a ball point pen ready to jab. It has been estimated that 80% of women who fought back against an attacker escaped. You have the power within you.

Fabiola Castillo is an online marketer for the website NinjaCOPS SuperStore. This virtual store specializes in personal defense products where you can buy pepper spray, kubatons keychains, wireless hidden cameras, nunchaku technique videos, Taser stun guns, expandable steel batons, and many other home security products.