FEATURE

REALTOR Safety Month: Safety Is Part of the Job

BY DAN MAROIS

September is Realtor Safety Month, but safety is not something that should get our attention only once a year. 

Realtors routinely meet people they have never met before, show vacant properties, work alone and spend time in homes and neighborhoods they may have never seen before. They also handle personal and financial information, making cybersecurity another part of the job.

Most Realtors have safety routines they follow every day. According to the National Association of Realtors 2024 Member Safety Residential Report, 73% of residential members said they have personal safety protocols in place with every client. Still, 22% said they had experienced a situation that caused them to fear for their personal safety or the security of their personal information.

That does not mean Realtors need to walk into every showing wondering who they can trust. Most clients are exactly who they say they are. But the nature of the business makes a little preparation worthwhile.

One of the simplest precautions is to meet a new client in a public place before going to a private property. Jill Colety of Alex and Associates Realty in Rochester makes that part of her routine.

“I always meet someone new in a public place first. A Realtor should never meet a stranger alone at a private property for the first time,” said Colety. 

Planning Ahead Pays Off

New Hampshire Association of Realtors also has access to Forewarn, a program which is available to association members. The service allows agents to use a name or phone number to verify information about a prospective client. NHAR says the service can provide information about identity, addresses, property and criminal records, while emphasizing that it is intended for legitimate professional use and should not be used to discriminate or intimidate. 

When offering Forewarn to members in 2024, NHAR CEO Bob Quinn said the association “places a high value on the safety and well-being of our members.”  He added that the service can help agents “identify fraud, mitigate risks, and enhance their personal safety.”

With Forewarn, the idea is simply to know who you are meeting.

It is also worth making sure someone else knows where you are and who you are with. Before heading to an appointment, an agent can send a colleague, broker, family member or friend the property address, the client’s name and an approximate end time. A quick message when the appointment is over completes a simple check-in system.

There is also no rule that says a Realtor has to work alone. If a showing makes you uncomfortable, bring another agent. The same applies to an open house, particularly when the property is vacant, isolated or unusually large. NAR recommends a buddy system and encourages agents to establish procedures for checking in with their offices.

“We meet so many different people in this business, and you just never know. I think a lot of safety comes down to being aware, trusting your gut, and not worrying about being rude if something doesn’t feel right,” said Colety, who strongly believes that having someone else around can make a real difference as well. 

Trusting your instincts is particularly important in a business where agents are often trying to be accommodating and professional. If something does not feel right, there is no reason to stay in an uncomfortable situation simply to avoid offending a client.

Rebecca Beauchemin, president and principal broker, Realty ONE Group Next Level with offices in Bedford, Concord, Portsmouth and Nashua, takes a practical approach to the physical surroundings as well.

“Safety starts before you ever open the front door. Park on the street rather than in the driveway so your vehicle can’t be blocked in, and when touring a property, let the customer enter confined spaces—basements, bathrooms, attics—first. Always position yourself with a clear path to an exit,” said Beauchemin, whose agency has 150 agents. 

NAR advises that when arriving at a property, pay attention to where you parked and where the exits are. Be particularly cautious around basements, attics, crawl spaces and other confined areas. 

Open houses deserve some additional thought because an agent may be dealing with a steady stream of people coming through an unfamiliar property. Know who is in the house, keep an eye on the exits and, when possible, have another person there. Sellers should also be reminded to put away medications, valuables, personal documents and anything else they do not want left in plain sight.

Other Aspects of Safety

Safety concerns don’t end when showing a property is over. Realtors also have to think about the information they carry with them every day.

Every day, real estate professionals handle addresses, financial information, identification documents, alarm codes and other sensitive information as part of their work. Strong passwords, multifactor authentication and careful handling of information are basic precautions, but they are easy to overlook when business is moving quickly. NAR’s safety guidance specifically includes cybersecurity among the risks agents should consider.

The same goes for social media. Posting that you are alone at a particular property or sharing too much about your daily schedule may seem harmless, but it can provide information that is better kept private.

Safety should not be left entirely to individual agents, either. Brokerages can establish check-in procedures, discuss safety at office meetings and make sure newer agents know what resources are available. NHAR’s sample office policy manual tells agents to “exercise caution in all work activities” and to report unsafe conditions.

Most real estate appointments are uneventful. Most clients are exactly who they say they are, and most open houses end with everyone going home. But that does not make preparation unnecessary.

If a showing needs to be rescheduled or another agent needs to be called in, that’s a small price to pay for staying safe.

As Beauchemin advises, “No showing or sale is worth compromising your safety.”

That’s something worth keeping in mind in September—and all year long.