2011 safety report
In the previously mentioned Moby 2011 Real Estate Safety Report, we analyzed the use of weapons used by Realtors while on the job and were surprised that one in four male Realtors surveyed carry a gun or knife.
In preparation for the National Association of Realtors’ Safety Month in September, Moby has released an extensive Safety Toolkit with the full safety report and safety resources. Below is an infographic as found in the safety report. This last year has been one of the most violent against Realtors, so it is critical that real estate professionals understand safety, are trained and equipped to deal with bad situations. Not all attacks can be avoided, but for those that can, can be done so by being alert and trained.
Many agents tell us that their internal alert system is heightened right now because they are dealing with short sales, foreclosures, abandoned property and the like, whereas four or five years ago, they dealt mostly with standard resale listings. Most Realtors check in frequently with others as their primary method of safety precautions, but they are just that- precautions. We were shocked that 13 percent take no precautions given that 36 percent surveyed feel unsafe on the job frequently or occasionally.
Spending time in vacant properties and at open houses currently have Realtors feeling the most unsafe and although there is a major disparity in responses to almost all questions with men answering quite differently than women, almost all responded that their loved ones worry about their safety at least sometimes.
Whose responsibility is safety education?
According to the Moby survey, almost half deem it everyone’s responsibility from the brokerage to the state to the national association with the most emphasis on the local office bearing the most burden. At AGBeat, we have privately asked many Realtors who they believe to be responsible and they agree, with most noting they do not believe any do a good enough job.
