In a few days, the National Association of Realtors will release its 2021 Member Safety Report, which surveys Realtors around the nation about how safe they feel while on the job, their personal safety experiences and their brokerage’s safety procedures and protocol.
NAR publishes this report each September for Realtor Safety Month. Yet safety is a focus for Greater Chattanooga Realtors all year long.
In previous years, a small but noticeable number of respondents reported they experienced a situation in which they feared for their personal safety or the safety of their personal information.
Realtors understand the safety risks associated with real estate transactions, so it’s imperative to create and share safety protocols with clients to learn about what they might encounter throughout a real estate transaction.
Greater Chattanooga Realtors is committed to providing consumers with the resources and education to stay safe and secure. Here are some safety protocols to expect to provide a safe experience for all parties involved.
Meet your agent at their office
Instead of meeting for the first time at a property, a Realtor might set up the initial meeting at their office. Most people agree that meeting at a real estate professional’s office is much more comfortable and appropriate for the first meeting.
Generally speaking, meeting a stranger at an unknown location can be an uneasy notion, and this is no different for that initial real estate transaction.
Secure your personal information
Your agent might make copies of your driver’s license and mortgage preapproval letter for their records. This allows the agent to keep a record of your information at their office to be stored in a secure place.
So be sure to have these items on hand for your initial meeting. As Realtors, we safeguard our clients’ data and ensure it stays away from prying eyes. Keeping this information safe and secure is a crucial step in maintaining a safe agent and client relationship.
Avoid carpooling
Even though more and more people are returning to a pre-COVID world where carpooling was common, don’t expect your Realtor to drive you to a property. Driving separately is a safety precaution for you and your Realtor – so don’t feel offended.
Most people don’t pick up hitchhikers and understand the importance of not transporting strangers to a property showing. Driving separately also enables both parties to depart separately from the showing and get back to other business, such as returning to the office or picking up the children from school.
Your agent might walk behind you
Realtors typically let buyers take the lead when exploring a home. This is a common safety protocol and also allows you to view each room on the property first and make your own impressions.
View a vacant property by day
Your Realtor might show vacant properties only during the day so you can see what safety hazards exist, such as loose floorboards or any other defects. So, when viewing a vacant or occupied property, expect to view it when the sun is up.
Safety is our priority year-round. Realtors are focused on protecting our clients and ourselves. That’s Who We R.
Greater Chattanooga Realtors is The Voice of Real Estate in Greater Chattanooga. A regional organization with more than 2,400 members, Greater Chattanooga Realtors is one of 300 local boards and associations of Realtors nationwide that comprise the National Association of Realtors. Greater Chattanooga Realtors services Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in northwest Georgia. For more information, visit www.gcar.net or call 423 698-8001.