Real estate agents on the defense: making safety a priority

BY KATE SHELLNUTT – MEDILL NEWS SERVICE

Real estate agents can find themselves in scary situations; for example, all alone in an empty house.

So companies, like @properties in Chicago, and industry groups across the country are doing more to emphasize safety and self-defense.

Agents are often working on their own and welcome in dozens of complete strangers to open house showings. Unfortunately, this exposure brings risk to real estate agents: One in four has been involved in incidents involving harassment or threats while on the job.

@properties is offering its agents, around 700 in the area, training in situational awareness and self-defense.

“You’re in a house by yourself. You have to be careful. We want our Realtors to feel safe,” said George Schultz, with @properties in Bucktown. “Anyone can walk in off the street. There are dangers that are part of the job.”

Although Schultz has not heard of many attacks in the area, he says it’s still important that agents be aware of the potential for danger, no matter what neighborhood they’re in.

Joe Rosner, a self-defense instructor and director of Best Defense Illinois, tailors classes specifically for real estate agents. He conducted a class in the Milwaukee area last year, after a local agent was attacked and killed at a showing.

Fox 6 Now, in Milwaukee, covered his seminar:

Plus, the Chicago Association of Realtors posts safety suggestions on its Web site. It encourages Realtors to:

- Be familiar with the home they are showing. Know the layout and exits in case they need to escape.

- Carefully observe visitors in the home, follow them into rooms rather than leading them and checking the entire property to make sure everyone has cleared out before leaving.

- Stay connected with people at their office, let them know where they will be and keep their numbers on speed dial.

Tags: Chicago, danger, Housing, Milwaukee, open house, real estate, realtor, self-defense, violence