Danger Zone Number Three: Showing a Property

Predators have been known to target individual agents, learning about them through their social media presence and scheming to meet them alone. Maintaining control and adhering to your company’s established safety protocols can help weed out the bad apples.

Safety Tips:

• Ask clients to come to the office first. Those with criminal intent may refuse and become angry—signs that you’re dealing with a predator.

• Don’t park in the driveway. You can be blocked in.

• Always keep your keys and your phone on you. Don’t set them down on a table.

• Never turn your back on a prospect.

• Avoid spaces with no other exit, such as basements. They can be traps.

Real estate professionals may also consider running background checks on prospective clients. However, she cautions that if you run a background check on one prospect, then you should run them for all. “Otherwise, you could potentially create a fair housing violation,” she says.