Realty Safety: Your PriorityBy Barbara Pronin
As a real estate professional, you face potentially risky situations every day – showing homes, conducting open houses, even walking to your car after dark.
A 2017 Member Safety Report compiled by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) noted that 38 percent of real estate agents found themselves in a situation that made them fear for their personal safety. Fifty-two percent of men and 57 percent of women carried self-defense weapons of some sort, pepper spray the most common – and 44 percent are using a smart phone safety app. That is a good beginning. But now more than ever, it is essential for every agent to take precautions, make safe decisions and know what to do if confronted with trouble. From NAR and other sources, here are 15 common-sense tips every working agent should know:
The vast majority of showings and open houses occur without incident. But reviewing and adopting all or most of these tips can help keep you on the safe side. Barbara Pronin is an award-winning writer based in Orange County, Calif. A former news editor with more than 30 years of experience in journalism and corporate communications, she has specialized in real estate topics for over a decade. |
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