8 Safety Tips and Tools for Avoiding Tragedy

This year's REALTOR® Safety Month ended on a tragic note. Authorities announced early Tuesday morning that the body of missing real estate agent Beverly Carter was found nearly 30 miles from the bank-owned home she was showing when she disappeared.

Rather than recount the somber details here, we simply want to remind Realtors of the safety precautions they can take to help keep them safe. Brokers can be particularly helpful by requiring that their agents meet unknown buyers at the brokerage's office first--and then enforcing that policy.

We've gathered a list of safety resources here for your convenience. Brokers, please share this information with your agents.

• Open House Safety - The high traffic of open houses can be a challenge. These 10 tips help ensure the safety of sellers, their property, and your agents.
• Keeping Listings Safe - How can you better ensure the safety of your sellers' homes? These eight tips will show you how.
• Safety During Showings and Meeting New Prospects - Entering vacant houses and meeting unknown people can make agents vulnerable targets. Incorporate these common sense ideas into your work routine to protect yourself.

Beyond the safety precautions mentioned above, there are also tech tools that your agents can use to help protect themselves. Here are some of the best:

• AgentsArmor - This mobile app was created specifically for real estate agents. Users can set check-in times at select intervals. If the agent fails to check-in at the pre-specified time, authorities will be notified. The app will then use your phone's GPS to activate the "Agent Locator" feature. Brokerages and Associations who would like to provide the app to all of their agents should visit the app's Brokerage page.

• React Mobile - Notify a wide network of contacts about your location with one touch whenever you feel your safety is in danger. They'll then be able to track your location until you tap the app's green "I'm Safe" key.
• Guardly Safety App - Conference call, text, or email up to 15 safety contacts with one touch. GPS tracking, along with the ability to take and share photos of your surroundings, ensures pinpoint location if you're lost or abducted.
• MyForce - This subscription service has premium features like dimming your phone to avoid detection and recording audio and video of emergencies. Users can also set up "safe words" that help operators verify your situation and take action to help you.
• Guardian Angel - This is a panic button disguised as jewelry that be worn as a necklace or a bracelet. It offers two functions: the first will initiate a fake call to your cell phone to create a distraction. If your situation is more dire, pressing a button for three seconds will send an emergency text with your geo-coordinates to a pre-selected number of your choice.

This article also highlights five tech tools you can use to host a safe open house.

Above all, trust your instincts. It's all too easy for fears of not being polite to overcome safety worries. If a situation or person seems "off," don't be afraid of making an excuse and trying to quickly get away. Your safety is more important than possible hurt feelings or potential commissions.