Stay Safe Out There

While more agents work from home and use technology to stay updated with their colleagues, some face-to-face meetings still need to happen to make a sale.

And whether you’re in a big city or small town, it’s key to stay safe during those in-person connections.

According to NAR’s 2021 Member Safety Report, 72% of responders said they have personal safety protocols in place that they follow with every client. How about you? September is REALTORⓇ Safety Month, so it’s a great time to consider ways to put your safety first during client interactions.

Here are 5 tips to stay safe at your next one-on-one client meeting or open house:

Neighborhood Watch: After you win a listing, introduce yourself to the neighbors and let them know to look out for your car at upcoming showings and open houses. Feel free to invite them, too!

Roll Call: When hosting an open house, use sign-in sheets. Ask everyone to sign in at the door, and take photos of IDs with your phone (don’t forget to shred the info when it’s no longer needed).

Buddy System: Invite a colleague to co-host your open house, or ask a friend to stop by for support. (And with so many agents WFH, it’s a great way to catch up with your coworker!)

Who/What/Where: Keep a record of your meetings with clients, and include their names, meeting times and locations. You can write it down in a personal notebook, or use a shared calendar to let your colleagues know which clients you’re with that day. Bonus: Are you booked with several showings, or meeting a client for the first time? Schedule a time for a coworker to call you to check in.

In Case Of Emergency: If you’re with a client or open house guest and feel uncomfortable, you have a few options to safely leave the situation. Have your phone on you during the meeting or showing, and use the speed dial on your emergency contacts. Another option is to create a “code” to use in a phone conversation that won’t raise suspicion with the person you’re with. Let the person on the other line know your location and who you’re with — for example, “Hi Tara, I’m with John Doe at the Van Ness property. Could you email me the red folder ASAP?”

Being a good agent — and a good person — means looking out for each other. We hope these tips help you stay safe at your future showings and meetings!