Little Black Book of Safety: 150 Real Estate Safety Tips That Every Agent Should Consider When Showing a Property

By Keisha Gebre

The recent 2020 murder of Minneapolis real estate agent, Monique Baugh, highlights the dangers of showing houses to strangers.

When you think of dangerous jobs, selling real estate is hardly the first thing that comes to mind. Taxi drivers, logging, mining, police work, test pilots yes, that sounds scary, but not a job that is known for glamour, sophistication, glossy ads, beautiful homes, lifestyles that many only dreams of living.

Let's face it, how many people meet a perfect stranger, talk to them over the phone, and then enter a secluded place, well, hmmm, not many!

As crime victims go, Real Estate agents fall short of taxi drivers, who suffer the highest rate of homicides of any particular occupation. But, unfortunately, Real Estate agents are included in the dangerous job category according to the U.S Department of Labor.

Beverly Carter was abducted and murdered while meeting potential clients in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2015.

Sidney Cranston Jr was murdered in 2015 while showing a home in Kingman, USA.

While meeting a client in 2016, Hanle Lategan,52, was murdered, and her body dumped in a wetland in South Africa.

In 2018, Steven Bernard Wilson was murdered in a Model Unit in Maryland, USA

2019, Lalit Vakhatia, was killed after meeting a client in India

In January 2020, Monique Baugh, 28 of Minneapolis, USA, was abducted while conducting a showing and taken to a separate location and shot in the head execution-style.

A female agent stabbed while showing an apartment in Japan in April 2020.

These are just a handful of victims over the years. I could write pages, but I wanted to give you a couple of examples to show you how important it is to safeguard yourself. It would be best if you weren't another statistic, another story on the

news. Protect your safety and follow these tips.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Keisha Gebre
• Release date: Jul 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393856306

Book preview

LITTLE BLACK

BOOK

of SAFETY

150 Real Estate Safety Tips Every Agent Should Consider When Showing A Property

Keisha Gebre

Table of Contents

Tip 1: Caller ID Spoofing

Tip 2: voice analysis

Tip 3: use technology

Tip 4: never be too eager

Tip 5: meeting

Tip 6: eye contact

Tip 7: timing of response

Tip 8: behavior analysis

Tip 9: pre-approval letter

Tip 10: Prospecting Form

Tip 11: ID Copies

Tip 12: ID Validity

Tip 13: ID Validity Globally

Tip 14: SHOWING times

Tip 15: NIGHTTIME showings

Tip 16: arriving at the home

Tip 17: parking

Tip 18: never agree to be kidnapped

Tip 19: approaching front door

Tip 20: checking the home

Tip 21: inform everyone

Tip 22: photo of prospect

Tip 23: generic message

Tip 24: separate social media

Tip 25: cultivating relationships

Tip 26: phone number

Tip 27: office address

Tip 28: Don’ts about taking pictures

Tip 29: using your name when advertising

Tip 30: showing the home

Tip 31: self-defense moves

Tip 32: checkout board

Tip 33: checkout board

Tip 34: checkout board

Tip 35: items to remove before showing

Tip 36: navigating your way around

Tip 37: desktop locking

Tip 38: how to show the home

Tip 39: how to show the home

Tip 40: keys

Tip 41: emergency numbers

Tip 42: rooms to avoid

Tip 43: identification

Tip 44: magnetic sign

Tip 45: valuables

Tip 46: carjacking

Tip 47: cell phone

Tip 48: compromised cell phone

Tip 49: cyber intrusion

Tip 50: impersonation scams

Tip 51: email security

Tip 52: unfamiliar websites

Tip 53: desk safety

Tip 54: purging

Tip 55: passwords

Tip 56: passwords

Tip 57: WIFI

Tip 58: update systems

Tip 59: critical data

Tip 60: apps

Tip 61: unknown senders

Tip 62: it provider

Tip 63: Cyber Security disclosure

Tip 64: cyber security insurance

Tip 65: screening calls

Tip 66: contact list

Tip 67: landlord security

Tip 68: vacant land

Tip 69: commercial property

Tip 70: affiliates

Tip 71: model units

Tip 72: distress code

Tip 73: distress excuse

Tip 74: escaping

Tip 75: Parking

Tip 76: getting lost

Tip 77: be vigilant

Tip 78: lockbox

Tip 79: sharing information

Tip 80: securing medication

Tip 81: neighbors

Tip 82: Bluetooth

Tip 83: stopping at the side of the road

Tip 84: jewelry

Tip 85: flaunting

Tip 86: vacant properties

Tip 87: availability

Tip 88: portable chargers

Tip 89: vehicle

Tip 90: targeting a potential victim

Tip 91: self-defense courses

Tip 92: transporting clients

Tip 93: uber/taxi

Tip 94: self-dense tools

Tip 95: safety Apps

Tip 96: covid- 19

Tip 97: virtual showings

Tip 98: covid-19

Tip 99: covid-19

Tip 100: risk assessment

Tip 101: furniture placement

Tip 102: property defects

Tip 103: ethical and professional standards

Tip 104: mental illness

Tip 105: prospects viewing the home

Tip 106: couples

Tip 107: unusual questions

Tip 108: protracted discussion

Tip 109: weapons

Tip 110: verifying agents identity

Tip 111: key safety

Tip 112: pre-assault indicators

Tip 113: eyebrows

Tip 114: exaggerated nodding

Tip 115: visual signs of attack

Tip 116: prospects hand placement

Tip 117: prospects lower body movement

Tip118: arm movement

Tip 119: prospects breathing pattern

Tip 120: pre assault indicator

Tip 121: signs you may be attacked within seconds

Tip 122: PRE-SEXUAL assault indicator

Tip 123: INDICATOR to look FOR PRIOR to an immediate attack

Tip 124: indicator to look for prior to an immediate attack

Tip 125: predatory movement patterns

Tip 126: PRE-ASSAULT indicator

Tip 127: PRE-ASSAULT indicator

Tip 128: prospects with drug addictions

Tip 129: passive response

Tip 130: active response

Tip 131: self defense plan

Tip 132: using your voice

Tip 133: shrill alarm

Tip 134: using your cell phone as a weapon

Tip 135: using dirt or sand as a weapon

Tip 136: using water bottles AS A weapon

Tip 137: using jewelry as a weapon

Tip 138: using your belt as a weapon

Tip 139: using your pen as a weapon

Tip 140: using boiling water as a weapon

Tip 141: using a fire extinguisher as a weapon

Tip 142: using sharp objects as weapons

Tip 143: using shoes as weapons

Tip 144: using hangers as weapons

Tip 145: using lamps or tables as weapons

Tip 146: preparing each room for self-defense

Tip 147: kitchen items for  self defense

Tip 148: garden tools FOR SELF

Tip 149: safe room

Tip 150: intuition

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In Part 1 of this series, titled, Little Black Book of Safety; 100 Safety Tips that Every Real Estate Agent Should Consider When Conducting an Open House,

I stated that my first real estate role was hosting an open house for a more senior agent, and that was where I sat and compiled these tips.

These are the very same tips that I use up to this day, with the recent addition of the COVID-19 tips.

I have over 15 years of experience in the Security and Safety industry, two Graduate degrees in Security & Community Safety, and I am a licensed realtor.

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