Dear SAR REALTOR®and Affiliate Members,
September is REALTOR® Safety Month. A few months ago, I was doing a virtual showing via Facetime with one of my out-of-town buyer clients at a single family home. I opened the lockbox, entered the home and locked the door behind me, quickly looked around the house, and then called my clients to start the virtual showing. About 5 minutes in, someone started pounding on the front door. There was a very angry-sounding person outside demanding to come inside “because he left something in there”. And the angry knocking and yelling continued. I did not open the door. And, because I had quickly done a tour of the house, I knew I could exit through the backdoor and through a gate to the alley. You can bet I got the heck out of there and drove away with the key with me. My clients witnessed the entire thing on Facetime and were terrified I would be harmed. And I was terrified I would be harmed! I called the seller and listing agent and apologized, and arranged to bring the key back later. And no, that angry knocker was not anyone known to the seller.
I tell you this story because an encounter like this can happen to any of us at any time. What if I had not locked the door? What if I had not known the layout of the house? What if, what if, what if?
It is important that you review your own personal safety protocols especially when you are meeting clients alone in your office or during a showing. There are a number of resources available to help you learn more about safety precautions. Please stay safe!
MetroList offers Real Safe Agent (RSA), the newest software App that empowers you to stay safe during showings and open houses by providing access to other RSA users when help may be needed. Learn more about RSA and download the RSA App. The more real estate agents that sign-up and participate in RSA, the safer everyone becomes.
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR®) also offers a variety of resources to help you audit your existing safety measures and explore some new ones.
Visit the NAR REALTOR SAFETY Webpage.
Again, please take steps to ensure your personal safety — there is nothing more important than returning home at the end of each day.
Regards,
2022 SAR President
916.342.1372 Call or Text
erin@erinstumpf.com
