Safety precautions are a part of everyday life….so much so that it’s easy to take them for granted or disregard them altogether.  You always fasten your seat belt – except for that quick trip to a shop a mile or so away.  You can’t resist posting a fabulous beach sunset photo on social media even though it broadcasts that you’re away from home.  You enter your emergency contacts into your cell phone, but you forget to update them.

To be effective, safety measures must become second nature because it only takes one crack in your defense to place you in a difficult, or even life-threatening, situation.  REALTORS® face unique safety concerns since they’re often in unfamiliar settings alone with clients they know little about.  Want to test your safety awareness?   Take this quick safety quiz.

REALTORS® face unique on-the-job dangers.  Frequently in close contact with strangers, meeting clients in remote locations or vacant properties poses risks other business professionals rarely face.

The National Association of REALTORS® brings safety to the forefront by designating September as REALTOR® Safety Month.  Awareness is the key, says NAR.  By consistently following safety protocols you have a greater chance of returning home safely at the end of the day.  Along with useful safety tips and best practices, NAR encourages REALTORS® to take the REALTOR® Safety Pledge and to utilize their Safe Listings Form.

"As a REALTOR®, my first priority is the well-being and safety of myself, my REALTOR® colleagues, the clients and customers we serve, and the business partners who foster our profession.

Therefore, I pledge to always conduct business and prospecting activities in a reasonably safe manner, which includes following the recommendations from the National Association of REALTORS® and adhering to the Safe Listings Form to the best of my ability.

I am committed to receive education and in turn to advise consumers and colleagues on best safety practices.

REALTORS® are committed to safety, and I take this pledge because I care about the wellbeing of myself, my clients and customers, my colleagues, and my profession."

• Begin with your office to ensure you have an emergency exit plan that works.   Also, restrict office key access only to those who need them.  Electronic locks with individual access codes are a great way to know who’s been in the office and when.  Use a sign in board to know who’s in the building or who’s away and where.
• Take someone with you for showings to clients who are unfamiliar or give you a sense of unease.  Always let clients enter a property ahead of you.
• Open houses present special challenges.  Control access by keeping garage and back doors locked.  Be alert to visitors who linger too long and listen to make sure everyone is out of the house at the end.  Ask the seller to check to ensure all windows and doors are secure.
• Take a self-defense course.
• Always make sure to carry a fully charged cell phone and a backup charger.  For areas where signals are poor, take a wireless hotspot to ensure you’re able to make a call if needed. Communication is vital.

NAR’s library of safety videos is a valuable tool to keep agents safe at work.  Safety education is an important part of your overall continuing education and benefits you and our colleagues.  Make plans to participate in NAR’s safety webinar, REALTOR® Safety Coast to Coast: How Safety Differs Across the Nation on Thursday, September 22 at 1:30 p.m. CDT.

NAR also has a useful list of devices and cell phone apps aimed at enhancing your personal safety.  Harness the technology of your cell phone and employ GPS-driven alert devices to let your contacts know you’re in trouble and, more importantly, where you are.  The small investment of time and money can make a difference in the outcome of a bad situation.

Now, be safe out there.