Whether you're a seasoned agent or just starting your real estate career, prioritizing safety during property showings protects both you and your clients while building the trust and professionalism that defines successful REALTORS®. Safety isn't just a personal responsibility - it's a professional standard that demonstrates your commitment to excellence and care for your clients.
Here are four essential strategies to enhance your safety practices and create secure showing environments.
Establish Trust Through Proper Client Vetting
Smart safety practices begin long before you meet a client at a property. Taking time to properly vet and establish rapport with new clients creates a foundation for secure interactions and professional relationships.
Essential vetting practices include meeting new clients in public locations or at your office before showing properties, using identity verification tools to confirm client information, conducting phone conversations to establish rapport and assess client needs, and documenting client contact information and showing details in your CRM system.
Creating a simple client intake checklist helps ensure consistent vetting practices across all new relationships. Consider scheduling a brief coffee meeting or office consultation as standard practice. This allows you to establish trust while demonstrating professionalism and market expertise.
Master Communication and Boundary Setting
Professional communication protocols are essential for maintaining safe showing environments. Clear expectations and professional boundaries help prevent misunderstandings while building client confidence in your expertise.
Key communication strategies include explaining your showing process and safety measures upfront, sharing your schedule with a colleague, office manager, or family member, establishing check-in protocols with your office during showings, and trusting your instincts when something feels uncomfortable or inappropriate.
Setting up standardized communication templates for showing confirmations and follow-ups ensures consistency while maintaining professional standards. Consider developing scripts for common scenarios, such as rescheduling appointments or explaining safety protocols to new clients.
Leverage Technology for Enhanced Security
Modern technology offers powerful tools to help agents stay connected and protected during property showings. Understanding and utilizing these resources can significantly enhance your safety protocols.
Valuable safety technologies include GPS tracking apps that share your location with trusted contacts, personal safety apps designed specifically for real estate professionals, smart scheduling tools that maintain visibility of your appointments, and mobile panic buttons or emergency alert systems.
Many local REALTOR® associations offer discounted access to safety apps and services, while some brokerages provide technology stipends that can offset the cost of safety tools. The National Association of REALTORS® provides a list of resources for personal protection to help ensure you're leveraging the best available resources.
Develop Emergency Preparedness Habits
Prepared agents handle unexpected situations more effectively and with greater confidence. Building emergency preparedness into your routine showing practices creates an additional layer of protection for challenging circumstances.
Important preparedness steps include familiarizing yourself with property layouts and exit routes before showings, establishing discreet code words or phrases with your office for emergency situations, carrying a fully charged phone and backup power source, keeping emergency contacts readily accessible, and positioning yourself strategically during showings to maintain clear exit access.
For property showings in unfamiliar areas, consider driving through the neighborhood beforehand to identify nearby safe locations such as police stations, hospitals, or busy commercial areas.
Moving Forward as a Safety-Conscious REALTOR®
Building comprehensive safety practices is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time training event. Market conditions change, client expectations evolve, and new safety challenges emerge over time. The most successful agents continuously refine their safety protocols and stay informed about industry best practices.
Remember that prioritizing safety doesn't mean being fearful or overly cautious. It means being prepared, professional, and proactive in protecting yourself and your clients while delivering exceptional service.