REALTOR® Safety Month: Why Safety Is Everyone’s Business in Real Estate

Every September, the real estate industry recognizes REALTOR® Safety Month, a nationwide effort to increase awareness of the risks real estate professionals can encounter and encourage safer practices throughout the industry.

For REALTORS®, safety is more than a topic for one month of the year. It is part of the job.

Real estate professionals routinely meet people they have never met before, enter vacant and unfamiliar properties, work independently, host public open houses, travel throughout their communities, and conduct appointments during evenings and weekends. Much of the work that makes real estate personal and accessible can also create situations where additional awareness and preparation are important.

That is why REALTOR® Safety Month matters.

At Coldwell Banker Premier, we believe protecting our people, our clients, and the properties entrusted to us is part of providing professional real estate service. September is an opportunity to review the habits, technology, procedures, and conversations that can help everyone involved in a real estate transaction operate more safely.

Safety Starts Before the Appointment

One of the most effective approaches to safety is preparation.

Before meeting a new client, showing a property, hosting an open house, or traveling to an unfamiliar location, real estate professionals should know as much as reasonably possible about where they are going and what the appointment will involve.

Whenever possible, new prospects should first meet their real estate professional at an office or another public location. An initial meeting provides an opportunity to learn more about the client’s needs, establish expectations, discuss the home buying or selling process, and create a professional relationship before entering private properties together.

Agents should also make sure someone else knows their schedule.

A colleague, manager, assistant, family member, or trusted contact should know where an agent is going, who they are meeting, and approximately when they expect to finish. When an itinerary changes, that information should be updated.

A simple check in system can become one of the most valuable habits in an agent’s business.

Showing Homes Safely

Showing homes is one of the most routine parts of residential real estate, which can make it easy to become comfortable with the process.

But routine should never replace awareness.

Before arriving at a property, agents should review the location, parking situation, available entrances and exits, and any other property characteristics that could affect the showing.

When possible, park somewhere that allows for an easy departure. Avoid situations where another vehicle could block your car.

During a showing, allow clients and prospects to walk ahead rather than turning your back and leading them through every room. Maintain awareness of exits and avoid unnecessarily placing yourself in confined spaces.

Basements, garages, attics, walk in closets, storage rooms, outbuildings, and other enclosed areas may require additional caution. An agent can direct a client toward an area without physically entering it first.

Agents should also keep their phones charged and accessible rather than buried in a purse, bag, or vehicle.

These precautions do not need to make a showing feel uncomfortable or unfriendly. When incorporated into a normal professional routine, they simply become part of how business is conducted.

Open House Safety Requires a Plan

An open house presents a different set of considerations because a property is intentionally being opened to the public.

Depending on the property and marketing, numerous visitors may arrive throughout the event, and the hosting agent may have little or no previous relationship with them.

Preparation should begin before the doors open.

Agents should familiarize themselves with the home’s layout and identify all available exits. Whenever possible, avoid working an open house alone, particularly at isolated properties or when circumstances create additional concerns.

A visitor registration process can help the hosting professional understand who is entering the property. Agents should also remain aware of how many visitors are inside and where they are moving throughout the home.

When multiple groups arrive simultaneously, it may be appropriate to ask new visitors to wait briefly rather than allowing more people into the property than can reasonably be monitored.

At the end of an open house, additional caution is important. Walk through the property carefully, secure doors and windows, and avoid assuming that everyone has left simply because the scheduled event has ended.

Sellers Play an Important Role in Open House Safety

REALTOR® Safety Month is also a good reminder that preparing for an open house involves more than cleaning and staging.

Before opening a home to visitors, sellers should remove or secure valuables and sensitive information.

That can include jewelry, prescription medications, financial statements, bills, checkbooks, credit cards, spare keys, electronic devices, personal documents, mail, calendars, identification documents, and anything displaying private account information.

Family photographs and other items that reveal personal information may also be worth considering.

The goal is not to create fear around an open house. It is simply smart preparation when inviting members of the public into a private residence.

Sellers should talk with their real estate professional before an open house about what should be secured or removed.

Buyers Can Help Create Safer Showings, Too

Safety is a shared responsibility.

Buyers can help by communicating clearly with their real estate professional about who will attend a showing and by avoiding unexpected additional guests whenever possible.

If plans change, tell your agent.

Buyers should also respect showing instructions, occupied spaces, restricted areas, seller belongings, and any safety guidance provided by their agent.

Children attending showings should remain supervised, particularly around pools, stairways, balconies, construction areas, garages, waterfront properties, animals, or other potential hazards.

The same applies to vacant homes. A property being vacant does not necessarily mean every part of it is safe to explore without caution.

Vacant Properties Require Additional Awareness

Vacant homes can create unique challenges.

Utilities may be disconnected. Lighting may be limited. Steps, flooring, decks, handrails, or other property features may be damaged. A property may have been unoccupied for an extended period.

Before showing a vacant home, agents should review available property information and use appropriate caution when entering.

If something about the property appears unsafe, there is no requirement to continue exploring it simply because a showing has been scheduled.

The same principle applies to distressed properties, foreclosures, investment properties, construction sites, rural acreage, and homes undergoing major renovations.

Professional judgment matters.

Personal Information Is Part of REALTOR® Safety

Physical safety is only one side of the conversation.

Real estate professionals also manage substantial amounts of information.

Email addresses, phone numbers, transaction documents, identification information, financial documentation, signatures, property access information, and other sensitive data can move between buyers, sellers, agents, lenders, title professionals, attorneys, and other parties during a transaction.

Protecting that information is part of modern REALTOR® safety.

Agents should use strong, unique passwords and multifactor authentication whenever available. Devices should be secured with appropriate passwords or biometric protections, and sensitive client information should not be stored or shared unnecessarily.

Unexpected requests for passwords, verification codes, account access, financial information, or changes to transaction instructions deserve additional scrutiny.

Wire Fraud and Cybersecurity Remain Serious Concerns

Real estate transactions involve large amounts of money, which makes the industry an attractive target for cybercriminals.

Email accounts can be compromised. Fraudulent messages can imitate legitimate professionals. Criminals may attempt to redirect funds by sending false wiring instructions or creating communications that appear to come from an agent, lender, attorney, title company, or other trusted party.

Clients should independently verify wiring instructions using a known and trusted phone number before transferring funds.

Last minute changes involving money should receive particular attention.

Never rely solely on an unexpected email, text message, or contact information contained within that message when verifying where funds should be sent.

Technology makes real estate transactions faster and more convenient, but convenience should never replace verification.

Think Before Posting Your Location Online

Social media has become an important part of real estate marketing.

Agents use social platforms to promote listings, advertise open houses, connect with clients, share community information, and build their businesses.

But real time posting can also reveal an agent’s exact location and schedule.

Consider the difference between marketing an event and publicly announcing that you are alone at a specific property.

Agents should be thoughtful about how much information they share about their daily routines, home addresses, family schedules, travel plans, vehicles, and current locations.

A post can still be effective marketing without revealing unnecessary personal information.

Protect Property Access Information

Lockboxes, smart locks, access codes, showing systems, and other technology have made coordinating property access significantly easier.

That access should be treated carefully.

Codes, lockbox information, alarm details, garage codes, gate information, and other access credentials should only be shared through appropriate channels and with authorized individuals.

Agents and clients should avoid posting or casually sending property access information in places where it could be viewed or forwarded by unintended recipients.

Once access is no longer needed, codes and permissions should be changed or removed when appropriate.

Use Technology as Another Layer of Protection

Technology can be a valuable component of a personal safety plan.

Today’s smartphones and safety applications can provide location sharing, emergency calling, check in features, timers, emergency contacts, and other tools.

Agents should take time to learn the safety capabilities already available on the devices they carry every day.

The important part is not simply downloading another app. It is knowing how to use the tool before an emergency happens.

Practice matters.

A safety feature that someone has never activated or tested may be much less useful during a stressful situation.

Trust Your Instincts

One of the simplest safety principles can also be one of the most important.

If something feels wrong, pay attention.

Agents sometimes feel pressure to be accommodating because real estate is a service business. A prospective client wants to meet immediately. Someone wants to see a vacant property after dark. A visitor refuses to provide basic information. An appointment changes unexpectedly.

Being professional does not mean ignoring legitimate concerns.

Move the appointment to another location. Ask a colleague to accompany you. Reschedule for daylight hours. Contact your office. Leave the property.

No lead, showing, listing, transaction, or commission is worth compromising personal safety.

Create a Personal Safety Strategy Before You Need It

A safety plan is most useful when it is created before an uncomfortable situation occurs.

Real estate professionals should consider questions such as:

• Who knows where I am during appointments?
• Who would notice if I did not return when expected?
• What is my process when meeting someone for the first time?
• What will I do if I become uncomfortable during a showing?
• How quickly can I access emergency services from my phone?
• Does someone have access to my schedule?
• How do I handle appointments at vacant or isolated properties?
• What information am I sharing publicly through social media?
• How am I protecting client and transaction information?
• What is my office’s procedure if an agent needs assistance?

Having answers in advance can make decision making much easier when circumstances change quickly.

Safety Should Never Depend on Assumptions

It is important to remember that safety practices should be consistent.

A person’s appearance, age, gender, occupation, background, or communication style cannot reliably tell you whether a situation is safe.

Good safety procedures work because they are procedures.

Meeting new prospects appropriately, communicating your schedule, protecting personal information, remaining aware during showings, and following office safety practices should be normal parts of doing business rather than decisions based on assumptions about an individual.

Consistency protects agents while supporting professional and equitable service for every client.

Safety Is Part of Professionalism

The best safety practices are not designed to make real estate less personal.

They help professionals continue providing the responsive, relationship driven service clients expect while reducing unnecessary risk.

When safety procedures are built into everyday business practices, they become as routine as confirming an appointment, preparing listing documents, or following up after a showing.

That benefits everyone involved.

Buyers benefit from organized and professionally managed showings.

Sellers benefit from stronger property access practices and better protection of their homes and belongings.

Agents benefit from clear procedures and greater awareness.

Brokerages benefit from creating a culture where people know that speaking up about safety is encouraged.

REALTOR® Safety Month Is a Reminder, Not a Deadline

September gives the real estate industry an opportunity to put additional attention on REALTOR® safety, but the conversation should not end when the month does.

Safety is a year round commitment.

The National Association of REALTORS® REALTOR® Safety Program provides resources covering personal safety, office and brokerage practices, open houses, client meetings, cybersecurity, technology, safety planning, and other topics relevant to today’s real estate professionals.

Agents should periodically revisit those resources, review their own practices, and update their safety plans as their businesses and technology change.

At Coldwell Banker Premier, our affiliated real estate professionals work throughout communities across Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, and Washington, D.C.

From residential sales and commercial real estate to property management, relocation, mortgage, title, and other real estate services, our professionals work every day to help clients navigate important decisions.

That responsibility makes preparation, professionalism, and awareness especially important.

Make Safety Part of Every Move

Buying or selling a home should be an exciting experience, and working with an experienced real estate professional can help make the process more organized, informed, and secure.

This REALTOR® Safety Month, we encourage real estate professionals to review their safety practices, buyers and sellers to understand their role in creating safer real estate experiences, and everyone involved in a transaction to speak up when something does not feel right.

Safety does not begin when a problem happens. It begins with the habits we practice before one ever does.

Learn more about REALTOR® safety and access resources from the National Association of REALTORS®.

About Coldwell Banker Premier

Coldwell Banker Premier is a full service real estate brokerage serving communities throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, and Washington, D.C.

Our comprehensive real estate services include residential and commercial real estate, property management, mortgage, title, relocation, and more.

Whether you are buying, selling, investing, or building a career in real estate, Coldwell Banker Premier connects you with experienced professionals, resources, technology, and support for your next move.

Find a Coldwell Banker Premier agent, explore available homes, or learn more at PremierMove.com.

This article provides general safety information and is not intended to replace law enforcement guidance, emergency procedures, brokerage policies, cybersecurity guidance, or other professional safety recommendations. In an emergency, contact 911 or the appropriate local emergency service.