The nature of the Realtor's profession is such that one can reasonably expect to be meeting clients at homes and hosting open houses where one is alone. There are enough news stories about robbed/raped/murdered Realtors that one should know to be extra careful when putting oneself in a situation where one is alone. Attacks happen on men and women alike, so it is important for everyone to follow safety guidelines.
Rule #1: Never be afraid of looking weird or losing a sale by being too safe.
Insist on meeting people at your office, preferably when someone else is there and it is clear that you have people who know where you're going, with whom and for how long. Get the information of the person that you are showing a house to - driver's license or other ID, name, address, etc. If you feel better knowing that your spouse or a friend is with you, take them along. This is one of the best ways to avoid problems, although it doesn't mean that you can relax your guard. At Open Houses, when just about anybody can walk in and around, this can be a really important part of staying safe. Have pepper spray dangling from your key chain. If you have a concealed carry permit, by all means carry a firearm if you are well-trained and confident in its use.
Rule #2: Learn to defend yourself and others.
Carefully investigate self-defense courses and take some that have the best likelihood of giving you skills you can use as soon as possible. While karate, jiu-jitsu and other martial arts are very effective and valuable when one has been practicing them for a time, for people who are just starting out in self-defense, a quick-and-dirty course in basic holds, strikes, blocks and immobilizations is going to give more resources faster. If you are interested in self-defense as a long-term activity, see if your instructor also offers courses in quick self-defense techniques.
Rule# 3: Be aware of your surroundings.
You should always keep track of who is around you and what they are doing, and that goes double, triple, quadruple when you're in a situation where you don't know the people very well. Don't let people get around you and trap you in rooms or in corners. You can do this without being too obvious. When hosting an Open House, be aware of how many people are going through the house. Thieves and worse have been known to target Open Houses, knowing that the owners are probably not around and the host is often alone.
Rule #4: Be assertive.
If someone is giving you trouble or a bad feeling, don't be afraid of telling them, "No". You don't have to go down in the basement with them and you don't need to accompany them into every room. Give yourself some breathing space and if someone violates it, tell them to back off. No sale is worth the risk of harm and any genuine buyer should respect your wishes in the matter. Don't hesitate to call the police if someone is giving you trouble. The first tactic of many predators is intimidation, to see how much they can make you give.
Rule #5: Be ready and willing to fight back.
Many predators target people who look like they won't give much trouble. Someone who fights back, screams and makes the predator's life very uncomfortable has a better chance of avoiding injury and death. Even the knowledge and willingness to do so can make someone more confident and less of a target by predators. That being said, whether to fight back and how much to fight is a personal decision that the individual makes on their own and no one knows what they will do when in a life-threatening situation. Go with your instincts and most of all, try to get away rather than being a hero.
Accepting that there is danger in being a Realtor and that some people target Realtors is the most important part of staying safe. Many victims of crime never thought it could happen to them and didn't take steps to minimize their risk. By accepting the danger, you will have taken the first step to defending yourself.
David Ellis is a realtor specializing in St. George, UT real estate. David's dedication to customer service and knowledge of the Southern Utah real estate market that makes him the smart choice when thinking about a move to Utah. Contact David today for information on the growing home market in Utah or visit online at http://www.davidellisrealtor.com
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