September is Realtor® Safety Month

flickr/Jonathan Warner

September is Realtor® Safety Month. You wouldn’t think real estate was a profession that deals with a lot of risk or safety concerns. Though rare, over the years there have been several instances locally and across the country of Realtors® being physically or cyber stalked, injured or abducted. Locally, our industry was rocked by the murder of a well known and respected broker just over 20 years ago.

Realtors® are trained and educated about the potential dangers faced while on the job and reminded to practice safety strategies designed to keep themselves, and their clients, safe while visiting homes or attending open houses. Safety guidelines have been designed and implemented utilizing tips from national and local law enforcement and industry veterans to keep all of us safe and be sure we all make it home safely.

Most of the safety protocols are common sense, but can sometimes be thought of as inconvenient or unnecessary. Keep in mind . . . your broker is taking precautions and is concerned about their own safety as well as yours. If your Realtor® suggests a first meeting at the office rather than going directly to a property, asks for ID, or discourages showing homes after dark, keep in mind, their concern is for their own safety as well as yours.