Safety Tips: What safety measures you use depends on you.

Hi, Everybody, Cheryl Knowlton, coming at you with your safety tip of the day.

Get safety tips from NAR

NAR 2018 Member Safety Report

Okay, so what I want you to do, especially if you are a broker, if you work for an association, or an MLS, or any real estate entity that could help pass along this information, and utilize it for other agents, go to www.nar.realtor, and go into the search box at the top right of that home screen, and type in “safety”.

You are going to get all kinds of ideas, suggestions, webinars, tips, tricks. A wealth, and a plethora of information that you can utilize for any of the real estate professionals in your life, to help keep them safe.

One of the things I want to talk to you about today, is the 2018 Member Safety Report. So, if you type in “member safety report”, in the search box, hopefully this will come up.  It is a free download.  It’s not terribly long.  It’s not going to take up a whole bunch of space on your computer. But it’s very, very worth having. So, that’s tip number one.

Tip number two, for the day is, should I arm myself with any kind of a self-defense weapon? That is a question that a lot of people ask me. I just was asked that the other day by an agent. Ultimately, that depends. It depends on your comfort level with firearms, with pepper spray, and it also depends on what you do.

January 2019 was horrifically tragic. David Stokoe, real estate professional, amazing man, was killed on the job. And right after that, several students came to me, saying should I carry a weapon? And the answer to that is, it totally depends on what is comfortable for you.

2018 Safety Report from NAR

I wanted to share this one page with you from the 2018 report, in terms of self-defense weapons, and what are agents using throughout the country. So, red is female, and blue is male. 24% of females are carrying pepper spray.

There are various and sundry sizes of pepper spray that you can utilize and can purchase. 4% of males were using pepper spray. Firearms, 12% of females, and 19% males were using firearms.

Again, that is state-specific, very personal decision about whether or not you feel comfortable with that. But, if you do, do it right. Get a concealed carry permit, if it’s legal in your state. Get the firearm that’s going to work for you.  Then get trained in how to use it so that you can use it safely.

Pocket knife, 6% of females, 9% of males. Taser, a little more popular, females 7%, males 2%. Baton or club, that’s very small, and really, ultimately, when we’re talking about the day-to-day practice of real estate, it’s a little hard to be subtle with a buyer, when you’re carrying around a baton, or a club.

Yeah, not to make light of that, but, yeah, I can just see, as a real estate professional, trying to carry that around and being subtle.  That would be a little difficult.

Battery-operated noisemaker, men were not using that, 4% of women were.

There are some really cool tasers on the market, that actually double as flashlights. So, it’s not obvious and apparent, that it’s a taser. I have had several of my agents in my office, tell me horror stories. They tried to balance their gloves, and a purse, and their super-key. While fumbling with that, along with their keys, and accidentally, with the flashlight, tazing themselves in the neck. That is a highly, not recommended activity. Please do not taze yourself.

Find out what works for you

But you need to talk to your broker. Talk to other agents in your marketplace, that you know, and like, and trust, about what you think is going to be best for you. Do it, implement something that is going to help keep you safe on the job.  It does not matter what that looks like.

I’d love to hear from you. I’d love to get your ideas, and thoughts, and comments about what is working for you. What have you done or tried? What hasn’t worked? Let’s keep this conversation going. So, please like and comment on this post. Share it with those that you feel like it will benefit. Ultimately, the object of the game, is to help keep you safe