From Passion to Safety: Navigating the Real Estate Industry with Caution

A career in real estate can be incredibly fulfilling. Real estate professionals often refer to their work as more than just a job, but a passion and a lifestyle. With a wide range of career paths to follow and the potential for significant income, it’s no wonder that many people are attracted to this industry. 

However, real estate can also be a risky field, especially if agents are not aware of, or choose to ignore, basic safety precautions.

Safety in the workplace is a concern across many industries, and real estate is no exception. According to the FBI’s 2020 Annual Crime Statistics Report, a violent crime occurs in the United States every 24.7 seconds. Workplace shootings and other violent incidents are all too common. 

Despite the risks, safety is often not discussed among real estate agents. The pressure to get a client and make a sale can sometimes lead agents to ignore recommended safety practices. 

Safety awareness should always be a top priority.

Breaking the Checklist Mentality 

It is possible to integrate safety into daily routines and build safety habits into your business practices, all while addressing the needs of your clients.

The internet is filled with checklists of real estate safety tips, but it’s worth questioning whether they are truly effective. In fact, many agents have been attacked despite following these tips. 

For example, one tip advises agents to “always let someone know where you are going.” In a tragic case in Decatur, Illinois, an agent, who let her broker know where she was going, was strangled and beaten to death after meeting with fake buyers at a vacant home.

Another common tip is to “meet new clients at the office first.” However, a St. Petersburg, Florida agent was brutally attacked by a client who had gained her trust during a meeting at her office beforehand. He hit her in the head with a gun, held a knife to her throat, and restrained her before stealing her jewelry and purse. This agent ended up leaving the real estate industry entirely.

Other checklist-type tips, such as conducting background checks on clients, can provide a false sense of security, at best, and potentially violate fair housing laws.

Prioritizing Prevention

The real estate industry must shift from reactive responses to proactive actions when it comes to safety. Agents can begin to take responsibility for their own safety by learning some of the behavioral science of criminology, the prototypes of criminals who wish to harm them, the most common crimes committed against them, and how to conduct business in a safer manner. 

Prevention should be the focus, rather than simply reacting to attacks after they occur.

Improving agent safety requires a better understanding of the magnitude of the issue and a shift in mindset. Safety should be an integral part of every agent’s routine, with a commitment to building safety habits into daily business practices. 

By prioritizing safety, real estate agents can better protect themselves and their communities while still providing excellent client services. It’s time for the real estate industry to take a proactive stance on safety and protect those who work tirelessly to serve their clients.