For Managers
Sales Meeting Tool Kit

What you can do about SAFETY
Selling real estate can be fun, and most salespeople do it because they like dealing with people.

But selling real estate can also be one of the riskiest professions because of all the strangers you may have to meet alone, crime experts say. Real estate professionals who are aware of basic safety guidelines can improve their chances of not becoming a victim and keep their daily business activities fun, profitable, and safe.

Here are some tips you may pass on to your sales associates or post on your office bulletin board.

Safety Tips
1. Don’t host an open house alone; take along a colleague. Never show property alone at night or advertise it as vacant.

2. If you must sit a property that doesn’t have a phone, bring along a cell phone. Tell someone at your office you’ll call every hour, then do it like clockwork so that person will know right away if something is wrong.

3. Be careful how you dress. Flashy or expensive jewelry might attract the wrong kind of attention.

4. Don’t put your home phone number on your business card. Buy a voice pager.

5. Always take your own car for showings. When you leave your car, lock it.

6. Let potential buyers take the lead when exploring a home, with you following behind. Avoid going into the basement or confined areas with a prospect.

7. Always have prospects meet you at your office the first time. Ask them for identification. If they question you about it, say it’s company policy.

8. Find out as much as you can about prospects, such as where they work, what they do, and how much they earn. Ask lots of questions and be a good listener.

9. Know your sales area. Preview the property.

10. Don’t be greedy. If you’re suspicious, it’s better to walk away from a listing or a showing.

For more information on safety, visit onerealtorplace.com and search “safety tips.”

A video on personal safety for real estate practitioners is available from the Women’s Council of REALTORS^® for $39.95. To order, phone (outside California) 888/750-3343; in California, 213/739-8227. Ask for REALTORS^® Safety Video, #444-49.


10-second guide to Personal safety
Inattention is sometimes the key factor in personal attacks, say security experts. On the positive side, it’s a factor you can do something about, says Night Owl/ Vector Security in Landover, Md.

Whether you’re going or coming, you can reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim by taking just 10 seconds to focus your attention:

• Arriving--Take two seconds to look around. Does everything seem normal, or is there questionable activity? Are you parked in a well-lit, visible location?
  
• Getting out of your car--Take two seconds to see whether there are any suspicious people around. Are they acting normally? Do you know exactly where you’re going?
  
• Approaching the property--Take two seconds as you walk to the property. Is there normal people activity, or are things unusually quiet? Any hazards in the parking lot or street? Is anyone loitering nearby?
  
• At the door--Take two seconds to look inside. Do things look normal? Are you comfortable walking in? Is somebody following you in?
  
• As you enter--Take two seconds to see whether anything inside is out of place. Is there anybody there who shouldn’t be?
  
  During these 10 seconds, also pay attention to yourself: Do you feel uneasy? What’s your inner voice saying? Always trust your instincts, security experts advise.
  
  By paying attention to your surroundings, you’ll have the opportunity to see potential danger and avoid it.
  
  Make it a habit.
  —From Night Owl/Vector Security in Landover, Md.