Practical Safety Ideas For Real Estate Agents

Through the years, the number of real estate agents who are victimized of different crimes while on duty has been increasing. There are reported incidents of robbery, rape, and even murder happening while agents are out to show prospective clients homes and properties for sale. The safety of such professionals is somehow compromised especially when they are left alone with a total stranger/s in a secluded or uninhabited home.

The real estate industry has been quick to respond to this issue. Now, many property firms are implementing standard procedures to help ensure and keep overall safety of their agents. It is imperative that you as a professional real estate agent stringently follow those agent safety policies at all times. Other than that, it would also be of great help if you would observe the following safety guidelines.

Verify customer data.

Before touring your prospective customer to the property, ask about his basic personal information like name, phone numbers, and physical address. Verify such data by calling the numbers or finding out if the name and address match through the local search engine. There is no reason to go with a customer with a suspicious personality.

Meet the customer at the office. It is not a safe practice to meet the customer at the site of the property. Most real estate firms now require their agents to always tell the customers to come to the office before you go together to the site location. When they come, make sure some office personnel take note of the license plate number.

Coordinate with other office staff. Real estate agents should always share their itineraries with designated officemates. This is to make sure everyone knows where to find you all the time. It is a good practice to always call the office whenever you are on duty touring a client around a property. Assign a code phrase alert that would serve as a queue for your office staff to send help or seek police assistance when you feel distressed and uncomfortable showing an estate to a suspicious customer.

Use your own vehicle. It is not appropriate for any real estate agent to ride into the car of the customer. Follow standard professional practice of using your own car when going to the site. This is not only ethical and appropriate; it could also help you maintain overall safety.

Keep communication with others in the office open. Do not ever forget to bring your mobile phone whenever you go out to show a property to a client. As mentioned, it is safe to always get in touch with your secretary or other staff at the office while touring the client in and around a property for sale.

Try not to conduct a public open house alone. As much as possible, never resort to showing vacant properties to unknown customers by yourself. If it could not be helped, make sure you always stay by the door or other exits and let the customer enter the room by himself. Always trust your instinct. It is most important to always ensure your safety.