Safety Tips for Real Estate Agents

**Waterfront Specialist** · 12-02-2010, 01:26 AM

Whether young or old, male or female, every day you put yourself at risk just doing your job. This article isn’t meant to frighten but rather to inform. Accidents happen, it is a fact of life. And just as often, things much more dangerous can happen. Here are a few tips to keep you safe, aware and reduce your risk of becoming a victim.

1. Cell phone – The very bread and butter of your real estate business. A cell phone can also be you greatest asset when it comes to an emergency. Having your cell programmed with a few emergency numbers in your speed dial could very well save your life. Which numbers should be in your speed dial? 911 of course – you’d think that would be a no brainer but very few people think to include it in their cell phone. Your office number so if there is a problem you can speak with a live person to get help.

Your emergency contact – police/rescue/EMT’s often look for an emergency contact in a persons phone, but having it listed as “Joe” or “Sally” won’t tell them anything… Even if it means adding a duplicate entry have an contact in your phone labeled Emergency Contact then list the name, relationship, home, office and mobile phone numbers and an address.

2. Keep your cell phone on your person. It won’t do any you good if you fall in the bathroom in the house you’re holding open, if the phone is tucked safely into a kitchen cabinet or in your car. Keep it close at hand, on your belt, in a pocket or on a lanyard around your neck.

3. Trust your gut instincts. If you don’t feel comfortable escorting a unknown person into the basement of a vacant home. Don’t do it. Let him go by himself, simply saying feel free to tour the home, I’ll answer questions when you’re done – then take a stroll outside – talk to a neighbor, call your office or spouse- let someone know your discomfort and make sure someone knows where your are.

4. Use the buddy system. If you are meeting someone for the first time and you’re uncomfortable or have a bad feeling either skip the meeting all together or take someone with you, a friend from the office, your spouse, etc.

5. Don’t look like a victim. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Pay attention to what is going on around you. Look people in the eye when you meet them. Carry your keys threaded through your fingers (like brass knuckles). Stand up straight, don’t hunch down, or look at the ground when around strangers. Look people in the eye, if you are looking at a person in stead of the ground, it is much more likely that you could give a full description of that person to the police.

6. Use common sense. Stay out of questionable neighborhoods after dark. Keep your gas tank filled. Keep jewelry to a minimum. Don’t flash wads of cash around. If you use an MP3 player, make sure the volume is set so you can hear someone coming up behind you. Let someone know where you’re going and when you are expected back. Keep your risk taking to investment, don’t risk your safety.

**Contractor Florida** · 12-03-2010, 12:43 AM

Nice tips.....
I read you post. This is informative and helpful.. I like to know more about real estate Agents. Thanks for sharing your knowledge about it.

Know with whom you are dealing.
Live by the three Ws: Tell someone whom you are with, where you are going, and when you will return.
Always keep your cell phone with you.
Trust your instincts.
Have a pre-arranged distress signal.
Always let the client led the way.

**Jonathan Radford** · 12-03-2010, 07:05 AM

Good advice. I would also suggest locking doors upon entering properties to ensure that nobody slips in behind you.

**EricRE** · 12-03-2010, 07:51 AM

Great tips and tricks for real estate agents and brokers alike. We all need to be aware of safety and our surroundings. Also like Jonathan R's tip of locking the door behind you so that nobody slips in after you...kind of a scary prospect.

**mnhouses** · 12-07-2010, 08:48 PM

Yikes! I never lock the door behind me while showing a property. In fact, I leave the key in the door handle or dead bolt so I don't lose the key. Thinking about how this could put me at risk is making me rethink my showing habits. Thanks for the great posting!

**MikeAustin** · 12-09-2010, 05:01 AM

With over 2 million real estate agents according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), becoming a successful real estate agent takes more than just a license and a knowledge of current laws and regulations.The first year drop out range estimated to be from 40% to 80% demonstrates that many real estate agents are not as successful as they could be and research suggests that 90% give up after 3 years. The following 7 tips may help you avoid becoming one of these statistics.

1. First and Foremost YOU are a business. Real estate agents work for a broker, but are independent, commissioned sales people. This means that you are a small business and must run your practice as a business. Again, remember you are a small business owner.
2. Embrace a Planning Attitude. If you don't have a plan, then you are on some else's plan - usually the successful real estate agent's. During the last 10 years, what I have learned as a performance improvement consultant or coach is that most people place more value in planning a trip to the grocery store or a vacation than planning their lives either professionally or personally.
3. Research Your Market Plan. Since you, as the real estate agent, are responsible for your own expenses, do your research specific to your marketing plan within your strategic plan. Time spent in constructing your marketing plan is definitely well spent. NOTE: Remember a business plan usually is data driven, while a strategic plan identifies who does what by when.
4. Establish Sales Goals. Using your strategic action plan, establish sales goals. If you are new to this industry, it may take 6 months before the first sale. HINT: Use the W.H.Y. S.M.A.R.T. criteria for goal setting.
5. Create a Financial Budget. Budgeting is critical given the up and down of this volatile market place. Your financial budget should plan for your marketing costs, any additional costs such as education and your forecasted income.
6. Make Managing Yourself a Priority. Building a business is not easy. You must learn how to manage yourself especially in the area of time management, ongoing real estate business training coaching continuing education units, and personal life balance. Real estate is said to be a 24/7 business much like any small business. However, it is important not to lose sight of your personal life including family, friends, physical health, etc.
7. Find a Mentor or a Real Estate Coach. Going it alone is not easy. Take the time to find a mentor who can help you steer through some of the known obstacles and help you during the "peaks and valleys." If you have the resources, you may wish to hire a real estate coach or an executive coach who specializes in small business help and sales.

Being an incredible sales person and entering the real estate market does not guarantee similar sales success. However, these 7 tips may help you avoid many of the pitfalls by not being one of the four real estate agents who quit within one year or one of the nine who give up after 3 years.

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You probably do not want to be uncomfortable. Who does? Yet, you want to increase sales and to stop all those sleepless nights right before sales figures are due. Now is the time to give Leanne a call at 219.759.5601 to schedule a free business coaching training or sales coaching strategy session. Experience how being uncomfortable can help you increase sales.

**vijendrasnv** · 12-09-2010, 09:53 PM

All the tips are good to be implemented but, the biggest tip that I would like to add here is the Duplicability, Fraud which happens many time. Agents are meant to get through and to serve all other people and Sometime such problems happens with them.

I must say it is somewhere very necessary and essential to understand all the things before get started.

**sonee mark** · 12-14-2010, 09:03 PM

All the tips are very nice and useful.

**Luxury Homes Tampa** · 12-15-2010, 03:44 AM

Hey this is nice tips and activities for total land agents and brokers alike. We all accuse to be familiar of declaration and our setting.

**stevenl** · 12-20-2010, 06:32 AM

I am not a realtor (I am a part-time real estate investor, which is why I am here at this forum), but I've been curious how realtors handle the potential risks mentioned in this thread so I decided to read the posts here. I am glad to see people paying attention to this matter and helping each other.