With their name and reputation being their brand, Realtors need to promote themselves and maintain visibility as part of their business. But this self-promotion can sometimes lead to dangerous situations.
For example, in the recently released 2022 Member Safety Report, 23% of Realtors were likely to say they’d experienced a situation that made them fear for their safety or personal information. This number is up from 2021 – 14% – which is a sign that Realtors should remain diligent and take advantage of safety training.
It’s a hopeful sign that 73% of Realtors report having personal safety protocols in place that they follow with every client. This trend is more likely among females (76%) than males (67%).
Threats aren’t just limited to in-person encounters. Residential Realtors most often reported feeling unsafe after receiving a threatening or inappropriate email, text message, phone call or voicemail (33%) and during a showing (27%).
Commercial Realtors most often reported feeling unsafe during a showing (29%) and after receiving a threatening or inappropriate email, text message, phone call or voicemail (29%).
Realtors know firsthand how stressful the property buying process can be. However, it’s easy to get swept up in the sometimes-frantic race to find that perfect home, so we mustn’t cut corners when it comes to safety.
In one startling statistic from the 2022 Member Safety Report, the typical respondent meets prospective clients they’ve never met before either at their office or in a neutral location 66% 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, 40% of Realtors said they’ve participated in a self-defense class and 43% of men and 54% of women carry a self-defense weapon or tool.
Among those who participated in a Realtors safety course, 75% said they feel more prepared for unknown situations after taking the course.
Locally, we offer members complimentary self-defense classes throughout the year. Greater Chattanooga Realtors believes 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 been our goal for this past month.
Realtors love serving our community – and we want nothing more than to help our clients safely and professionally. Safety is our priority year-round.
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 that’s one of approximately 600 MLSs in the country and services more than 2,700 users.