Safety

Safety

Quick Takeaways

Trust your instincts
Show strength, not vulnerability
Always walk behind the prospect

Source: ‘Everything Changed the Minute I Opened the Door’ (REALTOR® Magazine, Apr. 30, 2021)

Safety needs to be at the forefront of every REALTOR®'s mind. Keep staff or family informed of your whereabouts, gather information from new clients, meet in populated public spaces ahead of showings, and always have an "out" planned. Stay safe while door knocking—be aware of your surroundings and only door knock in the daytime.

Read about REALTORS®' real life harrowing experiences with dangerous situations and customers. Trust your gut when something doesn’t feel safe. Don’t let open houses become dangerous—keep the blinds raised, always walk behind the client, look for exits and check in with your office. Increase your safety knowledge with information from NAR, including a safety video, courses and persona protection resources.

See References for more information.

Featured

REALTOR® Safety Program Resources

For Associations & Brokerages

Free REALTOR® Safety Month Webinar

Stay Safe on the Job: Essential Safety Tips for REALTORS®

September 18th at 12:00 PM CT

This webinar is designed to prioritize your personal safety by covering essential protocols for in-person showings and client meetings. You will learn to identify potential threats, leverage technology for safety, and effectively handle emergencies.

The goal of the REALTOR® Safety Program is to reduce the number of safety incidents that occur in the industry, so every REALTOR® comes home safely to his or her family every night. We will accomplish this goal together with our members by improving the Safety Culture in the industry: Talk about safety; create a safety plan and follow it; and encourage your fellow REALTORS® to do the same.

Top 5 Safety Action Items for REALTORS®

REALTOR® Safety Network

NAR now offers a REALTOR® Safety Network to notify members across the country of safety concerns and emergencies.

Drive With NAR: The Safety Series—powered by REALTOR® Magazine in partnership with the REALTOR® Safety Program—examines risks you face on the job with firsthand accounts from members highlighting tools, tips, and tactics to help you stay safe in the field with a new podcast episode every month.

Listen now

REALTOR® Safety Tip

See all Safety Tips

Putting REALTOR® Safety First Course

This course aims to instill safety awareness and habits so that real estate professionals and their clients/customers will always remain safe.

Member Safety: Residential

report

September 12, 2024

This report details how REALTORS® feel about their safety in residential real estate and what steps they are already taking to protect themselves.

Boost Your Cybersecurity Awareness

Price: $29.95
Member Price: FREE
Member Savings: $29.95

Buy from the REALTOR® Store

Safety In Your Home eProduct Bundle - Download

Price: $22.85
Member Price: $14.85
Member Savings: $8.00

Buy from the REALTOR® Store

The Little Red Book: Safety Rules to Live By for REALTORS®

Price: $19.95
Member Price: $9.95
Member Savings: $10.00

Buy from the REALTOR® Store

More REALTOR® Safety Products

The REALTOR® Store has an entire array of products, books, and downloads on REALTOR® Safety, many with member discounts.

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References

NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require a password.

Real Estate Agent Safety Tips

Vet new contacts
Meet in public
Share your location with co-workers
Work in pairs
Be vigilant
Create code words
Protect listings

Source: Brokers Share Tips and Tech for Staying Safe in the Field (REALTOR® Magazine, Dec. 8, 2023)

REALTOR® Safety Forms, Products, Guides, Handouts & Videos

REALTOR® Safety Reimbursement Grant Program (National Association of REALTORS®)

A Safety Grant must be used to fund projects that will keep safety awareness top of mind for REALTORS® and Association staff. Grants are available up to $2,500.

Window to the Law: Safety Best Practices for Real Estate Professionals (National Association of REALTORS®, Mar. 1, 2021)

First, create a personal safety plan that addresses common scenarios that place real estate professionals in potentially risky situations, such as meeting new clients, showing properties, or hosting an open house.

Pivot in Place: REALTOR® Safety (RISMedia, Sep. 23, 2020)

In this week’s video, REALTOR® Safety Program Manager, Breanne Gingerich, shares lifesaving tips and best practices to help real estate professionals work smart and stay safe.

About the Putting REALTOR® Safety First Course (National Association of REALTORS®)

This course is an essential primer on how real estate professionals can limit risk to preserve safety and facilitate positive business outcomes.

Resources for Personal Protection (National Association of REALTORS®)

There are a variety of tools you can add to your personal safety protocol, such as the smartphone apps and safety products listed here.

Episode 1: Why REALTORS® are Targeted (REALTOR®SafetyFirst.com)

Presented by Iowa Realty

REALTOR® Safety Alert Submission Form (National Association of REALTORS®)

Complete the form below to notify the National Association of REALTORS® of a critical REALTOR® Safety-related issue.

General Safety Tips

15 Realtor Safety Tips That Could Save Your Life (The Close, Mar. 13, 2024)

Schedule property showings during daylight hours as much as possible. Daytime appointments are much safer and offer better visibility compared to evening showings. Often, more people are around during the day who may notice cars coming and going from their neighborhood. If you encounter a neighbor, introduce yourself and give them your business card. That way, they know who you are and where to call if something happens.

Health and Safety Tips for Real Estate Agents Touring Construction and Renovation Sites (Occupational Health & Safety, Feb. 20, 2024)

For agents’ own safety, it's best not to touch anything on the construction site. Some areas may still be works in progress. So be sure not to touch any loose wires or materials — they could cause a spark or have sharp edges.

Real Estate Agent Safety Tips from San Mateo County Sheriff (San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®, Aug. 8, 2023)

Scout Locations Early: Prior to meeting someone in a neighborhood, ensure you're familiar with the area by checking it out beforehand.

Tips to Keep Yourself and Your Agents Safe on the Job (REALTOR® Magazine, Sep. 15, 2022)

Taylor advises people to follow their gut. If something feels off, it’s okay to change plans. Safety is more important than the sale, he often says to his agents and in his classes.

When Your Instinct Tells You to Run (REALTOR® Magazine/Drive With NAR, Sep 1, 2022)

These two REALTORS® say practitioners can’t ignore the inherent risks of their job and must adjust how they interact with clients to put safety top of mind.

eBooks & Books

As a member benefit, the following resources and more are available for loan through the NAR Library. Items will be mailed directly to you or made available for pickup at the REALTOR® Building in Chicago.

Be Alert, Be Aware, Have a Plan (eBook)

Be a Hero (eBook)

Dangerous Personalities (eBook)

A Guide to Improvised Weaponry (eBook)

Health & Safety at Work Essentials (eBook)

Knack Self-Defense for Women (eBook)

Practical Self-Defense (eBook)

Protect Yourself (eBook)

No Second Chance (eBook)

7 Safety Habits That Could Save Your Life (eBook)

Reinvent Your Personal Safety (eBook)

Safety at Work (eBook)

Staying Alive (eBook)

Stay Safe (eBook)

The Tao of Survival (eBook)

Watch Your Back (eBook)

Workplace Safety (eBook)

The Workplace Violence Prevention Handbook (eBook)

The Gift of Fear (New York, NY: Random House, 1997) HV 7431 D35

Strong on Defense: Survival Rules to Protect You and Your Family from Crime (New York, NY: Simon & Shuster, 1996) HV 7431 St8 M31

Bug Off! : 50 Simple Ways to Protect Yourself from Burglars, Thieves, Muggers, Con-Artists, and Other Lowlifes (Evanston, IL: Walnut Grove Publishers, 1992) HV 7431 M31

Have an idea for a real estate topic? Send us your suggestions.

The inclusion of links on this page does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked in this page complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.