Hosting open houses is a great way to show off your listings, get buyer leads and meet new prospects. That said, there’s always a risk with meeting unfamiliar people, and while connecting with people is important, your personal security should always be your first priority.
Here are some tips for how you can practice REALTOR® and client safety at your next open house.
Use pre-registration
An easy safety precaution to take before hosting an open house is to have attendees register for the event in advance, requiring them to provide their name, address, contact information, etc. By using this registration process, you will know who is going to show up. If you want to go the extra mile, you could even run a brief background check.
The easiest way to have your open house attendees register is online, via a Google Form or similar platform. That doesn’t mean all your advertising has to be digital though. Pro tip: Include a QR code on physical flyers that takes the viewer to the sign-up page. To ensure prospects don’t miss, add “REGISTRATION REQUIRED” in bold font on the flyer.
Inform your colleagues
Make sure your colleagues know when and where you’re either showing a home or hosting an open house. Use smartphone safety apps to track your whereabouts and alert colleagues in case of an emergency. The most commonly used apps include: Find My iPhone feature; GPS Phone Track for Android; SentriKey™ Real Estate App Agent Safety Feature; Forewarn; and HomeSnap Pro: 3%.
Never show a house the same day to an unknown buyer
Regardless of the time on the job, agents should never meet strangers at a property. There should be procedures in place to screen potential new clients, check their backgrounds, and plan to meet in a place with witnesses. The first meeting can be at an industry partner’s office, or it should be a public place where you are known (to create witness potential), as opposed to a busy coffee shop or public place, as sometimes is advised.
Know the exits
Survey the house you’re showing so you know where the closest exits are at any particular location. Talk with the seller, too, as they will know the house better than you do. Be sure to confirm if they have any safety features installed, like security cameras or a panic room. Even if you don’t need to use them, you can make them part of your pitch about the house.
Last but not least, make sure you have keys to the house on you so you can make use of these escape routes.
Self-defense
In case you find yourself in a position where you do need to defend yourself, there are strategies you can take to keep yourself safe. Stay up-to-date on the latest REALTOR® safety tips from the National Association of REALTORS®, where they offer best practices, webinars and training videos, and share additional resources.
Consider taking a local self-defense class to boost your confidence in a potential situation. Also, be sure to always have your cell phone with you, in case of an emergency to call 911.
