Play it safe

Most real estate professionals agree that no listing or sale–no matter how large the commission–is worth risking their personal safety. But does that mean most agents take precautions to protect themselves? Answer these questions and find out what you know about REALTOR^® safety.

The answer follows each question, so scroll slowly if you wish to read a question before revealing the answer.

1. True or false? A June 2003 NAR safety survey found that one out of four respondents had been involved in threatening incidents or harassing situations while working as a REALTOR^®.
   
   
   True.

 

2. True or false? If someone threatens you while riding with you in your car, your safest course of action is to do what you’re told and stay with your vehicle.
   
   
   False. Get away as soon as possible. Do not allow an attacker to take you to another location. According to law-enforcement officials, this second location is where you are most likely to be harmed or killed.

 

3. Experts suggest any of the following maneuvers when trying to flee from an attacker who is with you in your car except:

   a) blocking the attacker’s door against a parked car
   b) driving over a curb to create a distraction
   c) ramming a tree at a slow speed
   d) swerving into oncoming traffic

d. Without endangering other people, you should try anything that distracts the attacker. Although a high-risk maneuver, ramming a tree at a slow speed is preferable to being taken to a secluded location.

 

4. When showing a property, you should keep your cell phone:

   a) in your pocketbook or pocket
   b) on a table by the front door
   c) in your hand
   d) none of the above
   
   
   c. If you need your phone in an emergency, you don’t want it on a table in another room, stuck in your pocket, or buried in your purse.

 

5. True or false? When hosting an open house, park your car in the driveway as close to the house as possible so you can quickly access it.
   
   
   False. Park your car where it can’t easily be blocked, such as on the street next to a neighbor’s driveway.

 

6. Where is the safest place to meet a prospective client for the first time?

   a) a vacant listing
   b) your office
   c) your house
   d) the client’s house
   
   
   b.

 

7. True or false? You’re less likely to be targeted by an attacker if most of your listings are in affluent neighborhoods.
   
   
   False.

 

8. Before leaving your office with a new client to look at houses, you should:

   a) ask him for ID
   b) tell someone where you’re going
   c) make sure your cell phone is charged
   d) all of the above
   
   
   d.

9. True or false? When showing a house, let the client lead the way.
   
   
   True. Try not to let the prospect get between you and the exit to
   a room.

 

10. True or false? Agents have been targeted as victims in the past because of their attractive pictures in newspaper ads.
    
    
    True. The Washington Association of REALTORS® reports that criminals in Washington state have actually circled such photos of victims.

Illustration © BananaStock.

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