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REALTOR® Safety Tips From SentriLock

How to Stay Safe on the Job as a REALTOR®

September is REALTOR® Safety Month, and SentriLock is committed to keeping REALTORS® safe and educated on potential risks of their job. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2022 Member Safety Report, 23% of REALTORS® experienced a situation that made them fear for their personal safety or safety of their personal information, most commonly after receiving a threatening or inappropriate message via phone call, email, etc. (33%). Forty percent of residential REALTORS® said that they have participated in a self-defense class, which is an increase from 2021. It is crucial to stay up to date on safety protocols and self-defense methods to prevent yourself from being in dangerous situations.

How To Protect Yourself

Here are seven safety tips for when you’re at the office or at a showing with potential buyers: 

  1. First interactions with a client should ALWAYS be at your office or in a public area with other people around. 
  2. Screen all potential clients with a background check and trust your gut if something feels off about their behavior. 
  3. It’s always a good idea to host open houses with a colleague rather than by yourself.
  4. Connect with your local police department and be aware of the closest police station in case of emergencies.
  5. At showings, let your clients lead the way and avoid going into any attics or basements.
  6. Don’t give out more personal information than necessary. Your clients are still strangers, no matter how friendly they may be.
  7. Use technology with built-in safety features – Your phone is a great safety tool with built-in features like GPS location and the ability to send an SOS message. 

SentriLock Has the Solution

REALTORS® often have to be in unfamiliar situations with unfamiliar people every day, which is why our SentriKey® Real Estate App is the first and only lockbox management tool to have a built-in Agent Safety feature. During an active showing, the app will periodically check in with the REALTOR® and will automatically alert emergency contacts if the REALTOR® does not or cannot confirm they are safe.

How To Enable The Agent Safety Feature with The SentriKey® Real Estate App

If you’re interested in learning more, SentriLock recently hosted a REALTOR® Safety Webinar with Carl Carter, Jr., Executive Director and Founder of the Beverly Carter Foundation and REALTOR® Safety Expert Tracey Hawkins.

Click here for a recap of the event!