Intuition: Trust Your Gut
In the high-stakes world of real estate, where every interaction carries its own set of risks, safeguarding oneself and staying one step ahead in terms of personal safety is not just crucial—it’s a matter of survival. In this industry, intuition becomes your most valuable weapon, capable of steering you away from potentially life-threatening situations.
Everyone has an intuition, also referred to as a sixth sense, or gut instinct. Some have learned to hear it loud and clear, while others may consider it a passing thought, barely loud enough to notice.
Understanding your intuition takes a little practice and a lot of self-awareness. Being able to identify those feelings and the ways your body is trying to tell you something is “off” about a person or situation could literally be the difference between life and death.
Don’t Ignore That Feeling
Sometimes, intuition comes across as a deep sense of knowing with no logical explanation. Maybe you “just know” the couple who went through last week’s open house is going to put in an offer. Or the seller is having second thoughts about moving. No one explicitly said anything, but when it does come up in conversation, you find yourself thinking, I knew it.
Intuition can also show up as a way to focus your attention. You may sense something isn’t right. Maybe you feel the hair on the back of your neck suddenly standing up, or get goosebumps on your arms or a shiver down your back. Your stomach may feel upset, your jaw may clench, or you suddenly realize your shoulders are lifting toward your ears.
No matter which way you feel the sensation that something isn’t right, pay attention to your body, take a moment to observe the situation, trust your gut, and take the appropriate action.
Stay Alert to Your Sixth Sense During Property Showings
You can use your powers of observation to evaluate properties and assess whether your environment feels safe or not. Remain aware of your surroundings and notice the way you feel around potential buyers.
If you start to feel uncomfortable, you can choose to remove yourself. Better to excuse yourself to “take an important call” than to doubt your feelings and put yourself in danger.
Be Aware of Nonverbal Cues
Your intuition can pick up on a person’s state of mind based on subtle indicators like facial expressions, eye contact, hand gestures, and nervousness or evasiveness. Are there any weird requests that make you feel uncomfortable? Is their manner of speaking off-putting in some way? Trust your instincts to assess any potential clients for their credibility, intentions, and overall demeanor.
And remember, you can always choose not to work with someone if something gives you an uneasy feeling.
Instincts On Point
In a case of “listening to your gut,” a real estate agent in Iowa experienced an unsettling encounter with a potential client. The client had contacted the brokerage expressing a strong desire to view some vacant land. However, his insistence on meeting directly at the property raised a red flag.
The agent, well aware of the extremely rural area of this vacant land, held firm that an initial meeting at her office would be more appropriate. Despite her repeated offers to schedule a meeting at a convenient time, the man remained adamant that they should meet at the property itself.
Trusting her instincts and relying on her training, the agent held her ground, refusing to go along with the potential client’s demands. He kept insisting that meeting at the property was the only acceptable option. It became evident that the caller’s true intentions did not align with a genuine interest in purchasing the land.
By following her instincts and not diverging from her safety protocols, the real estate agent may have saved herself from a dangerous outcome. She’ll never know for sure—thank goodness!
Remain Vigilant and Intentional
Neglecting safety doesn’t make problems vanish. Choosing not to prioritize your safety puts you at a significant disadvantage, increasing the risks you face as you go about your job each day.
When the inevitable occurs—and a preventable tragedy strikes—everyone is suddenly discussing it, and there is a surge of safety awareness. The incident serves as a catalyst, tipping the scales towards heightened precaution.
However, as the initial shock subsides, complacency creeps back in. Time flies, and we find ourselves caught up in the daily grind, returning to a state of reduced awareness and increased risk.
And the cycle continues.
But it doesn’t have to be this way! To learn more about real estate agent safety and preparedness, I encourage you to read my book, Not Today Predator, and host a safety workshop for your brokerage. Together, we can empower agents and create a safer environment for everyone in the industry.