73% of HomeFinder.com homebuyers have told us that when shopping for a home, the neighborhood crime rate is the most important factor to consider. As part of our series on safety, we want to offer (1) some tips to keep you safe when you are showing your listings, and (2) some ideas to share with your customers who are in the process of shopping for their new home.

Safety Tips for Showings and Meeting New Prospects

Meeting new clients and having the opportunity to show your seller's house is exciting, but there are several precautions to keep in mind before you venture out on your appointments:

1.) Devise a system – Prior to your appointments with new customers, let someone know whom you will be with, where you are going, and when you will return. Schedule a time to check in on your cell phone, and devise a secret phrase to use if you are in trouble. Ex: "Please put the purple folder on my desk."

2.) Meeting a new client – When meeting a potential client for the first time, request that he or she comes to your office first. Photocopy his or her driver's license so your office can easily access in the event of any issues. This will also be helpful to have on hand in the future, when building your client database.

3.) Use your vehicle for showings – If this isn't possible, ask that your prospects follow you in their own vehicle. Avoid getting into a new prospect's vehicle.