Realtor WatchRealtor Watch

Training ObjectivesTraining Objectives

Topics:Topics:

Introduction to safety.Introduction to safety. Initial client meeting.Initial client meeting. Showing at night.Showing at night. Model homes.Model homes.

Training ObjectivesTraining Objectives

Topics:Topics:

Open house.Open house. Danger signals.Danger signals. Confrontation.Confrontation. What to do when trapped.What to do when trapped. What can we do?What can we do?

Are You SafeAre You Safe

Statistics tell us that people whose business brings Statistics tell us that people whose business brings them in contact with strangers out of their office are them in contact with strangers out of their office are at more risk than those who stay in the office.at more risk than those who stay in the office.

Real Estate and Insurance Agents are among those Real Estate and Insurance Agents are among those who place themselves in potentially compromising who place themselves in potentially compromising positions daily.positions daily.

Protect yourself - criminals fit no particular mold.Protect yourself - criminals fit no particular mold.

Initial MeetingInitial Meeting

Safety tips for initial client meeting:Safety tips for initial client meeting:

Meet at your office before showing property.Meet at your office before showing property. Obtain a photocopy of client driver license or photo Obtain a photocopy of client driver license or photo

I.D.I.D. Leave copy posted in the office along with other Leave copy posted in the office along with other

identifying info.identifying info.

Initial MeetingInitial Meeting

Safety tips for initial client meeting:Safety tips for initial client meeting:

Introduce client to co workers.Introduce client to co workers. Tell office staff in front of client you will call the Tell office staff in front of client you will call the

office periodicallyoffice periodically. .

During The MeetingDuring The Meeting

Safety tips while you show:Safety tips while you show: Call your office upon arrival at each location as a safety check. Call your office upon arrival at each location as a safety check.

If no one answers your call, fake it.If no one answers your call, fake it. Take your own vehicle and ask the client to follow you in their Take your own vehicle and ask the client to follow you in their

car.car. Your office should have all your vehicle information.Your office should have all your vehicle information. Communicate with other Realtors about any suspicious Communicate with other Realtors about any suspicious

individuals or incidents.individuals or incidents. Carry your cell phone with you.Carry your cell phone with you.

At NightAt Night

Safety tips while you show at night:Safety tips while you show at night:

Try not to show homes or property at night.Try not to show homes or property at night. If you must: use two salespeople and tell your office or If you must: use two salespeople and tell your office or

someone you will call regularly.someone you will call regularly. Carry a flashlight.Carry a flashlight. Leave lights on outside the place you are showing and leave Leave lights on outside the place you are showing and leave

the door open.the door open.

At NightAt Night

Safety tips while you show at night:Safety tips while you show at night: See that the client stays in front of you at all times and See that the client stays in front of you at all times and

continually plan an escape route.continually plan an escape route. Day or night; in or out of the office - - Have a pre-planned Day or night; in or out of the office - - Have a pre-planned

code word for a distress signal.code word for a distress signal.

Model HomesModel Homes

Safety tips for model homes:Safety tips for model homes: Use two salespeople if possible.Use two salespeople if possible. If you cannot; make it look as if there are two there, ie: phone If you cannot; make it look as if there are two there, ie: phone

message, coffee cups, men’s jacket or coat.message, coffee cups, men’s jacket or coat. Position desk for best view of front door.Position desk for best view of front door. Always leave a way out.Always leave a way out.

Open HouseOpen House

Safety tips for open house events:Safety tips for open house events:

Let prospects ring bell for access through locked entry door.Let prospects ring bell for access through locked entry door. Two or more salespeople if possible.Two or more salespeople if possible. Allow prospects to self tour or walk behind them.Allow prospects to self tour or walk behind them. Make those safety check calls to the office.Make those safety check calls to the office. Neighbors should know you are showing.Neighbors should know you are showing.

Open HouseOpen House

Safety tips for open house events:Safety tips for open house events:

Never advertise home as vacant.Never advertise home as vacant. Do not wear expensive jewelry.Do not wear expensive jewelry. Lock purse and keys out of the sales/office area.Lock purse and keys out of the sales/office area.

Danger SignalsDanger Signals

Behavior to look out for:Behavior to look out for:

Prospect wants appointment immediately.Prospect wants appointment immediately. Male asks to be picked up/can’t come to the office.Male asks to be picked up/can’t come to the office. Tells you they have large sum of money to invest.Tells you they have large sum of money to invest. Prospect refuses to give personal information.Prospect refuses to give personal information.

ConfrontationConfrontation

What to do when in a confrontation:What to do when in a confrontation: Never go with them in a car.Never go with them in a car. If situation gets bad, give up property or possessions.If situation gets bad, give up property or possessions. Use that cell phone.Use that cell phone. Make noise/use noisemaker.Make noise/use noisemaker. Use panic button on car alarm.Use panic button on car alarm. Use pepper spray.Use pepper spray. Run in opposite direction of a pursuing car. Run in opposite direction of a pursuing car.

TrappedTrapped

What to do when trapped:What to do when trapped:If there is nothing else that can be done and you must stand and If there is nothing else that can be done and you must stand and fight use anything available:fight use anything available:

Heel of shoeHeel of shoe KeysKeys CombComb Fireplace toolFireplace tool UmbrellaUmbrella FlashlightFlashlight

Minimize the RiskMinimize the Risk

Ways to help minimize the risk:Ways to help minimize the risk: Educate yourself on safety programs.Educate yourself on safety programs. Support a Realtor Watch Program.Support a Realtor Watch Program. Dress professionally but simply and comfortably.Dress professionally but simply and comfortably. Talk with fellow agents. Learn from their near miss Talk with fellow agents. Learn from their near miss

experiences.experiences. What you don’t know What you don’t know cancan hurt you. hurt you.

ConclusionConclusion

Nothing is foolproof but if we help just once, this Nothing is foolproof but if we help just once, this program will be a success.program will be a success.

Remember to always think about safety when Remember to always think about safety when showing properties.showing properties.

Keep a few of these tips in mind and one day they Keep a few of these tips in mind and one day they may come in handy and keep you safe.may come in handy and keep you safe.

Thank YouThank You

Any questions?Any questions?

Contact UsContact Us

Emergencies – Dial 911Emergencies – Dial 911

Non-emergency #’s:Non-emergency #’s: Dade City: 352-518-5000Dade City: 352-518-5000 Land O Lakes: 813-929-1204Land O Lakes: 813-929-1204 New Port Richey: 727-844-7711New Port Richey: 727-844-7711

Pasco Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Unit:Pasco Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Unit: 727-834-3376727-834-3376 352-518-5000, ext.5508352-518-5000, ext.5508