Six Real Estate Agent Safety Tips

Being a real estate agent means you are meeting people and going places that you have not previously been before. That means you operate in uncharted territory. The best way to navigate the waters is by being extra cautious and taking additional measures to ensure your safety. Today we are going to go over how to do your job while staying safe! To give you a little background about me, I am a current Realtor in Ohio. I love listening to true crime podcasts. And I often listen when I am driving from showing-to-showing, which makes me hyper-aware of my surroundings.

Here are six guidelines that I follow as a real estate agent to stay safe.

1.  Let people know where you are.    This can be as simple as a text, a call, or a screen shot of the showing address. These all will let people know where you are. I share my location with immediate family. This allows my sister and mom to track me when I am at showings.

2.  Let your clients lead the way through the property.    Every sales agent I have ever met has always recommended that you allow the client to enter the home first. Then you will never have your back to the client. Another tip is to pass on going down into the basement. If it is a confined space skip it! Just briefly address your client and let them know you “don’t do basements” it can be as simple as that.

3.  Walk through the property before you meet your client.    This should be a regular ritual when showing houses. One, it makes you look prepared and limits any surprises. Two, it allows you to be one step ahead of your clients by already knowing the layout of the home before you explore it with them. Make sure you give yourself enough time to survey the property making sure lights are on, all doors are open, and there is circulating air if need be. 

4.  If you have not met them, previously make sure to ask for a pre-approval letter first or a copy of their driver’s license.  You can simply make this a part of your process. Then do a quick google search to see if anything comes up about this person. Having a pre-approval letter is going to ensure that this client is serious about buying a home and will help you write a stronger offer. Make sure that if you chose to make this a part of your process you are consistent with every single client. You should not have different protocols based on different clients. Everything should remain consistent.

5.  Do not drive with anyone, ever.  I keep this rule because it keeps things professional and ensures you are never in an uncomfortable situation. This can change depending on your relationship with the client, but I feel that making it a rule keeps things simple. This method keeps the day simple by not having to worry about picking the client up before hand or dropping them off after.

6.  Until you know the person/family, try to plan showings for the daytime.  This is a simple and easy way to make sure the showing goes well and there are no surprises that you could not see because it is dark out. Sometimes this is hard to do in the winter because the sun sets earlier, and some people can only see things after work. If that is the case, consider having showings on the weekend. That way you will have more daylight hours.