September is REALTOR® Safety Month and a timely opportunity for you to assess your own professional safety plan. REALTORS®, perhaps more than any other business professionals, are daily at risk.  Often alone with strangers at unfamiliar places, REALTORS® must constantly be aware of potential dangers and be prepared to respond.  The National Association of REALTORS® encourages its members to make a commitment to safety using these five action items with the goal of every REALTOR® returning home safely at the end of the day.

1. Plan Your Safety Strategy
2. Tips and Best Practices
3. Training Videos
4. Personal Protection Resources
5. Take the REALTOR® Safety Pledge

Preparation, caution, and communication are key elements of any safety plan.  Simple steps like making sure your cell phone is fully charged and has a signal; carrying a personal safety device; never hosting an open house alone; and making sure someone knows where you are and who you are with during showings can prevent or thwart a dangerous or life-threatening situation.  

NAR makes available to members a wide array of resources including downloadable safety tips designed to prepare you for the unexpected.  Consider incorporating safety tips as part of your weekly planning.

Your approach to safety should be intentional and ongoing.  As long as you are a REALTOR® your safety should be paramount.  A good first step is taking the REALTOR® Safety Pledge and keeping a copy of it visible as a reminder.  

“As a Realtor®, my first priority is the well-being and safety of myself, my Realtor® colleagues, the clients and customers we serve, and the business partners who foster our profession.

Therefore, I pledge to always conduct business and prospecting activities in a reasonably safe manner, which includes following the recommendations from the National Association of Realtors® and adhering to the Safe Listings Form to the best of my ability.

I am committed to receive education and in turn to advise consumers and colleagues on best safety practices.

Realtors® are committed to safety, and I take this pledge because I care about the wellbeing of myself, my clients and customers, my colleagues, and my profession.”

Take advantage of NAR’s free Safety Month Webinar on September 13, at 12 p.m. (CDT).   The webinar will focus on identifying potential threats and practicing situational awareness.  Here is the link to register for the webinar.

An online library of safety videos produced by NAR, as well as local and state associations, is available on demand.   Get a cup of coffee and invest some free time learning some safety tips and best practices.   

While NAR uses the month of September to heighten safety awareness, your safety is important throughout the year.  Don’t put safety training and practices off until it’s too late.  A few minutes of your time and a few simple precautions can help ensure you will be a success and not a statistic.