August 25 2015
Real Safe Agent, an Austin based company, has retained the WAV Group to conduct comprehensive research into agent safety. The study will involve interviewing agents who have been victims of crimes and convicted felons who have committed crimes against real estate agents, as well as quantitative data collected from thousands of general safety survey results.
"If we can identify specific circumstances, behaviors, and patterns that predators use to target and lure real estate agents then we can prevent the crime from occurring," said Lee Goldstein, CEO of Real Safe Agent.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there has been a 300 percent increase in violent crime against professionals selling or leasing real estate since 2006. Previous safety research primarily used surveys to collect quantitative data about the opinions and habits of real estate agents regarding safety. This study differs from others in that it will collect qualitative data from victims and perpetrators.
Additionally, the purpose of the research represents a paradigm shift in the real estate industry from "reaction" to "prevention." Marilyn Wilson, founding partner of WAV Group, said, "We now have the opportunity to uncover new information that could help save someone's life. I can't imagine any more meaningful or important work."
About Real Safe Agent
Real Safe Agent is based in Austin, Texas and is the creator of the first crime prevention system for the real estate industry. The patent pending system combines real world training with technology to help agents protect each other while they're in the field.
The system uses geo-proximate technology to have another agent casually drop-in at a showing when they first become uncomfortable, preventing a crime if the prospect was a threat without endangering a sale if the prospect wasn't. Other system features include allowing agents to visually verify a prospect, helping agents identify people who are victim shopping, and helping an agent arrange for another agent to accompany them on an appointment.