Originally a parody sticker, the Guns & Coffee movement has shaken up America. Photo by John Fischer.
2011 safety report
In support of the National Association of Realtors Safety Month in September, AG supporter Moby has put together an extensive Safety Toolkit which features Moby’s 2011 Real Estate Safety Report, a real estate safety seminar, as well as a list of safety resources and tools.
Throughout Moby’s 2011 Real Estate Safety Report, it was immediately noticeable and not very surprising that there was a disparity between the attitudes of male Realtors versus female Realtors, and a drastic difference between their behaviors, chosen defense, and the attitudes of their loved ones. Male Realtors worry less about safety, yet are more likely to carry a weapon.
Click to enlarge.
We were surprised by the fact that people use a dog as a safety device and were shocked that although almost all agents use a phone as a safety device, ten percent of men do not. Does this mean ten percent of male Realtors don’t have a mobile phone, much less a smartphone, or is it something left in the car during tours? The answer is unclear, but the point remains that almost all women Realtors carry their phones while one in ten male Realtors do not.
The above chart outlines Canadian and American answers and although we knew a small portion of real estate professionals would indicate carrying a gun, especially those practicing in the foreclosure or short sale markets, but despite a massive disparity between men and women regarding carrying a gun or knife on the job, it is extremely intriguing that one in four male Realtors indicate they carry a knife or gun while on the job. One in four women carry some form of pepper spray while only five percent of male Realtors do.
The major differences between the behaviors between male Realtors and female Realtors is highly intriguing, but it is most interesting that such a high number of men carry either a knife or gun while they are on the job.
Gary Little
August 29, 2011 at 1:40 pm
I find it absolutely shocking that any Realtor is carrying a gun while they are on the job. You say that the chart "outlines Canadian and American answers" — please, please don't lump us Canadians in with our American neighbours (yes, I spelled that word correctly), it tars us with a trait we just don't share with our "11th province" to the south. To my American friends: please go watch "Bowling For Columbine" once again.
J Philip Faranda
August 29, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Relax Gary. Only a Sith deals in absolutes.
Mike Pennington
August 30, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Your unguarded comments can only lead me to conclude that we shall never share an intellectual conversation over drinks. Not even Molson, Budweiser, or a pint of the Queen's Guinness would change my conclusion.
To be quite clear, I'm not offended because you disagree with an American's Right to Bear arms or that your perception of America is based on a single movie. Quite simply, it's that your words of being "lumped in and tarred with those from the 11 th province to the South" are simply offensive, arrogant, and insulting.
Canadians as a whole are a beautiful and varied people. You sir, are not.
Mike
August 29, 2011 at 7:35 pm
I have no problem with any Real Estate Professional carrying. I do have a problem with it if they are not trained to handle it.
The 14.8% is misleading as many states as well as D.C. prohibit it. If it were allowed, how much higher would the percentage be?
Rob Hahn
August 29, 2011 at 9:38 pm
Gary – Don't worry, since the survey/study was done by NAR, instead of CREA, I'm sure it covered only REALTORS in the United States. You and other Canadian men need not worry about being tarred with the ugly American traits of self-reliance, spinal-chord ownership, and protecting one's life.
You go ahead and watch Bowling for Columbine and congratulate yourself. I'll be thinking about the CANADIAN Re/Max agent, Lindsay Buziak, whose 2008 murder in a vacant home she was showing remains unsolved. She was all of 24 years old, with her whole life ahead of her. News here: canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=72ccee53-11ff-4b35-aba6-4c9723322a28
Then there's Ashley Okland of Iowa, also murdered in a house she must have been showing to someone: truecrimereport.com/2011/04/ashley_okland_was_out_doing.php
Or Sarah Ann Walker of Texas, stabbed 27 times in a model home she was working in as an agent: foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203189,00.html
All three of these women might today be alive had they had those traits of your "11th province" down south, learned how to handle a gun, and had been packing the day they got attacked.
I'm actually shocked that so few women REALTORS carry. Your jobs involve meeting strangers in empty houses… Pepper spray is better than nothing I suppose, but… there's a reason why police are armed with more than just pepper spray. For your own safety, I urge you to look into getting properly trained and protecting yourself.
Dave Woodson - Michigan City Indiana Marketing
August 29, 2011 at 11:16 pm
this home and this body is protected by Smith Wesson and my bad attitude. I started carrying pepper spray in the car last year ever since some punk kid decided he wanted to fight me for flashing my brights at him when he swerved into my lane.
Alone in a home, we all are easy targets
Sig Buster, III
August 30, 2011 at 7:11 am
Pepper spray is ok I guess, but not as good as a hand gun. Wasp Spray on the front seat is not illegal, it sprays about 20 feet and is more powerful than pepper spray. In the south, if a man doesn't have a knife with him he should make sure he has his pants on. The point is, we live in a dangerous world and some people will kill or maim you for a stick of gum or for the fun of it. We have to protect ourselves even if it's with a sharp pencil.
Robert Worthington
August 30, 2011 at 8:33 am
Depending where I go, I've got a bad ass, "Hanable-Lector" type knife that I carry with me once in a while.
sfvrealestate
August 30, 2011 at 11:37 am
Rob, please be nice to the Canadians! We may all have to live there someday.
As a Realtor who has considered the safety issue, I do not meet strangers at vacant houses unless I know I can round up a colleague or my husband to accompany me. I also like to have an extensive conversation with and pre-screen potential buyers on the phone before I meet them at all.
And I never do open houses without a colleague or my husband being with me. This is less for my personal safety and more to avoid theft of seller possessions during open houses.
Nick Peskoe
September 2, 2011 at 10:26 am
Interesting…I've never been in a situation where I felt threatened enough to warrant carrying a gun. I certainly respect the right for someone to do so, but I think that common sense will help you avoid most situations where it would be necessary to carry a firearm.
Sheila Rasak
September 4, 2011 at 1:10 pm
I somewhat get the logic behind this report as I can only imagine how long it might take me to find a gun in my (loaded) handbag.
Pepper Spray
September 27, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I to find It really useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something again and aid others like you helped me.
Jimmy welch
October 28, 2011 at 3:57 pm
I find it shocking that so many realtors are carrying guns. Just as shocking is that 1 in 10 male realtors don't carry a phone. My business couldn't survive without being readily available to my clients
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