September is winding down, and Realtor Safety Month will soon be behind us for another year. Before it’s gone, I want to take one last opportunity to focus on safety, as this topic is vital in our profession year-round.
Earlier this month, one of our fellow Realtors was shot while at a property adjacent to one where there was an issue. While the incident was unrelated to a real estate transaction, and this Realtor is thankfully recovering, it shows that our industry is especially susceptible to violence.
This attack is a sobering reminder of the potentially dangerous situations Realtors’ face each day and how we all need to be aware throughout in-person and online interactions.
With our name and reputation being our brand, we need to promote ourselves and maintain visibility as part of our business. But this self-promotion can sometimes lead to dangerous situations.
For example, in the recently released 2021 Member Safety Report, 14% of Realtors were more likely to say they had experienced a situation that made them fear for their safety or personal information.
This number is actually down from 2020 (23%), which is a hopeful sign that more Realtors are taking advantage of safety training. In fact, 72% report having personal safety protocols in place that they follow with every client. This trend is more likely among females (75%) than males (64%).
Realtors know firsthand how stressful the home-buying process can be. However, it’s easy to get swept up in the sometimes-frantic race to find the perfect home, so we mustn’t cut corners when it comes to safety.
One startling statistic from the safety report is that the typical respondent meets prospective clients they’ve never met before, either at their office or in a neutral location, 65% of the time. Meeting a stranger with whom you’ve had no previous interaction could prove dangerous.
These types of situations show why safety training is important. Nationally, 38% of Realtors said they have participated in a self-defense class. Among those who participated in a Realtor safety course, 39% said they feel more prepared for unknown situations.
Locally, we offer members complimentary self-defense classes. To date, more than 450 members have taken the training. Greater Chattanooga Realtors believe in promoting safe business practices, creating a culture where members are committed to excellence and educating members on safety.
One way Realtors can help homeowners have the best possible experience is to address safety and security best practices relating to real estate. That’s what our goal has been for this past month.
Realtors love serving our community, and we want nothing else than to help our clients safely and professionally.
Safety is our priority throughout the year. Realtors are focused on protecting our clients and ourselves. That’s Who We R.
Founded in 1912, Greater Chattanooga Realtors is a regional organization with more than 2,500 members servicing Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in Northwest Georgia. The association is one of approximately 1,100 local associations and boards of Realtors nationwide that comprise the National Association of Realtors. Greater Chattanooga Realtors owns and operates a Multiple Listing Service, which is one of approximately 600 MLSs in the country, and services more than 2,700 MLS users.